Digital Music News – studio recording, publishing, streaming, live concerts, talent development

The latest music news from Digital Music News, affecting recording industry, music publishing, mp3 streaming, concert industry, talent development, venture capital, and music technology, with reporting on artists new releases and where to get new mp3 songs.

1. Rapper Russ Honored With NMPA Gold & Platinum Recognition at Music Biz 2026

   The Music Business Association’s annual conference, Music Biz 2026, saw artist Russ honored with a gargantuan NMPA Gold & Platinum Recognition plaque. Hosted by the Music Business Association, Music Biz 2026 took place from May 11 to May 14 at the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly, the annual event’s second edition in the city. Attendees were treated […]

2. Democrats Intensify the Pressure on a Live Nation/Ticketmaster Split: “It’s Time for Structural Remedies”

   At a congressional hearing this week on Capitol Hill, lawmakers and industry advocates argued that the antitrust verdict against Live Nation was simply wrong. On Monday, lawmakers, artists, promoters, and independent venue operators used a congressional forum to argue for widespread structural changes across the live entertainment industry in light of the antitrust verdict against […]

3. Apple Music Says AI-Generated Music Accounts for ‘Significantly Less Than 1%’ of Total Listening

   Apple Music shares an open letter with the industry to reaffirm its commitment to “keep music fair” and navigate the use of AI in the music business. On Wednesday, Apple Music shared an open letter with the music industry entitled “What We’re Doing to Keep Music Fair,” which outlines the streamer’s commitment to navigating the […]

4. Time to Cut Off Streaming Revenue for AI Slop? Saregama MD Vikram Mehra Says Royalties Should ‘Be Distributed Only to Genuine IP’

   Is it time to cut off streaming payments for works pumped out with artificial intelligence? Saregama India MD Vikram Mehra believes so, as he’s calling for “AI-generated slop” to be booted from the royalty pool altogether. The Saregama higher-up of about 12 years explored this and other interesting subjects during his company’s earnings call for […]

5. How Music Reports Solved the Complex World of Claims-Based Royalties for DSPs & Global Rights Owners

   As digital streaming platforms (DSPs) continue to expand worldwide, rendering national borders irrelevant, the burden of managing publishing licenses has grown exponentially. One neutral and objective service provider has consistently worked to innovate and unwind red tape. Music Reports has steadily positioned itself as a key infrastructure partner to stakeholders across the digital music...

6. Shamrock Scores $813 Million ‘Content Strategy Fund,’ Eyes Investments Across Music, Film/TV, Sports, Gaming, and the ‘Creator Economy’

   Are additional song rights investments in the near-term cards for Shamrock? Possibly, as the firm has officially closed its Content Fund IV with $813 million worth of capital commitments. Shamrock Capital formally announced that oversubscribed fourth fund’s final closing today. All told, the LA-based entity’s 11-year-old “Content Strategy” is said to have north of $3.3 […]

7. As the Lionsgate Film Continues to Break Records, Netflix Tees Up a Very, Very Different ‘Michael’ Biopic

   Netflix is releasing a three-part series about the 2005 Michael Jackson trial covering the pop star’s charges of child molestation, debuting on June 3. Lionsgate’s Michael biopic is still filling seats at the box office, but Netflix is preparing to release a very different kind of Michael Jackson documentary. “Michael Jackson: The Verdict” is a […]

8. Saweetie, Jason Derulo Sued for Ditching Japan’s Afro Jam Fest and Pocketing the Advances

   A pair of Japanese concert promoters file breach-of-contract lawsuits against Jason Derulo and Saweetie for backing out of scheduled performances. Concert promoters Moon Dream Production Co. and SFL Group filed separate breach-of-contract lawsuits against Jason Derulo and Saweetie for backing out of their scheduled performances at the July 2025 Afro Jam Festival in Japan. Originally, […]

9. A 12-Day Music Festival? EDC Las Vegas 2027 Adds a Second Weekend, Tees Up Nearly Two-Week-Long ‘Dusk Till Dawn Experience’

   A 12-day music festival? Hot on the heels of its sold-out 2026 edition, EDC Las Vegas has teed up a double-weekend 2027 installment as well as an accompanying “Dusk Till Dawn Experience” that’s set to span almost two weeks. Insomniac disclosed its ambitious EDC Las Vegas 2027 plans today, just three days following the 2026 […]

10. Drowning Pool Cancels South American Tour After Low Ticket Sales, Band Blames ‘Logistics’

    Nu metal band Drowning Pool cancels their South American tour, with the tour organizer citing low ticket sales, but the band blames “logistics.” Dallas-based nu-metal band Drowning Pool has canceled their South American tour due to low ticket sales, according to the tour organizer. But the band simply blames “logistics.” The band was preparing to […]

11. After Watching 80% of Their Earnings Evaporate, Successful Music Production Duo Sues Suno for $35 Million

    Suno faces a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by ambient instrumental duo The American Dollar, alleging the platform ingested 236 of their songs to train its AI models. Poseidon Wave Media, the company representing ambient instrumental duo The American Dollar, has filed a lawsuit against AI music platform Suno, alleging the platform ingested 236 of the […]

12. D4vd’s ‘Arcane’ Anthem Removed From Spotify, Apple Music, and Other Streaming Services

    D4vd’s track “Remember Me” from Netflix and Riot Games’ “Arcane” series has been removed from some streaming services and official playlists. Disgraced singer-songwriter D4vd (David Burke) was arrested earlier this year in connection to the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose dismembered body was found in the trunk of a car registered in his […]

13. Virgin’s FUGA Renews Global Distribution Partnership With Insomniac Music Group

    B2B distributor FUGA, now part of the UMG-owned Virgin Music Group,  announces the renewal and expansion of its partnership and continuing marketing support with Insomniac Music Group. Downtown’s FUGA, now part of the venerable UMG-owned Virgin Music Group, is now slated to renew its partnership with Insomniac Music Group, a mainstay in the global electronic […]

14. The Wixen vs. Meta Showdown Intensifies: Publisher Doubles Down on Defamation Allegations In Expanded $100 Million-Plus Lawsuit

    Right on cue, Wixen Music Publishing has fired off a supersized copyright infringement and defamation lawsuit – now including detailed allegations of reputational harm – against Meta. Wixen just recently made its first amended complaint official, about four months after initially suing Meta and weeks after a counsel-to-counsel meeting failed to produce a resolution. We […]

15. BMI Scoops Up Cue Sheet Specialist Soundmouse from Orfium

    BMI announces an agreement to acquire Soundmouse in a partnership to create the industry’s most comprehensive database of global cue sheets. Today, BMI, the world’s largest performing rights organization (PRO), announced that it will acquire Soundmouse, a global leader in music cue sheet reporting and monitoring for the broadcast and entertainment production industries. Through this […]