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. Salt-N-Pepa Lawsuit Against UMG Dismissed by Federal Judge Over Technical Contract Details

   Salt-N-Pepa’s copyright lawsuit against Universal to regain their masters was dismissed by a federal judge over technicalities in their contract. Cheryl “Salt” James and Sandra “Pepa” Denton have lost their copyright lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG) to regain their masters as iconic hip-hop Salt-N-Pepa. The duo asserted that UMG was holding their music “hostage” […]

2. Trump Decides Against Issuing Diddy A Pardon, New York Times Interview Reveals

   A new report in the New York Times confirms Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs sought a pardon from President Trump by writing a letter. Trump has confirmed that he is not considering granting the request. Trump confirmed the news alongside a list of other high-profile names that he says he won’t pardon. They include Nicolás Maduro, the […]

3. Fetty Wap Released From Prison Three Years Early After Drug-Related Conviction

   Fetty Wap was released from prison three years into his six-year sentence for drug-related charges. He will continue his sentence in home confinement. Rapper, singer, and songwriter Fetty Wap was released from prison in Minnesota on Thursday after serving three years of his six-year sentence from a drug-related conviction in 2022. He will continue his […]

4. Hybe America Staffs Up for 2026—Ethiopia Habtemariam Named President of Music

   Hybe America has announced several new staff appointments as 2026 rolls onward. Ethiopia Habtemariam has been appointed as President of Music, while PR vet Johanna Fuentes is joining as Executive VP and Head of Communications & Public Relations. Here’s the latest. Habtemariam will help advance Hybe America’s long-term growth strategy, spearheading A&R and artist development […]

5. TikTok Confirms Content Group Shakeup, Aggressively Expands Monetization Team Ahead of ‘TikTok USA’ Launch

   Amid a shakeup in TikTok’s content group, global head of creators Kim Farrell is stepping away from the company. Simultaneously, the short-form giant is aggressively expanding its brand partnerships and monetization teams. These and other personnel changes just recently surfaced, and at least when it comes to the content group layoffs, TikTok itself confirmed the […]

6. UMG Head Lucian Grainge Outlines 2026 Streaming 2.0 Plans, Plots ‘Special Events and Products for Superfans — Both Virtually and in the Physical World’

   Another year, another internal rally-the-troops memo from Universal Music head Lucian Grainge, who’s shed a bit of new light on the major’s 2026 “Streaming 2.0” and superfan plans. Grainge just recently mass-emailed this “UMG New Year’s Memo 2026” to staffers. And naturally, the close to 3,000-word message (plus an additional chart-highlights section on top of […]

7. Spotify Tap Dances on ICE Advertising Issue, Says Recruitment Spots Are Not Currently Running

   Spotify says there are no ICE ads currently running on the platform, but the company is far from changing its stance on the matter. After facing criticism last year for running recruitment ads for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on its platform, Spotify has released a statement asserting that the campaign is no longer running. […]

8. Olivia Rodrigo’s Breakout Track ‘Drivers License’ Is Now Five Years Old—Artist Spins David Byrne Cover on 7-Inch Vinyl

   To celebrate the fifth anniversary of her breakout hit “drivers license,” Olivia Rodrigo drops a vinyl featuring a cover version by David Byrne. Olivia Rodrigo released “drivers license” on January 8, 2020, a song that rapidly became a pop culture phenomenon and secured her place as a force to be reckoned with in pop music. […]

9. Bruno Mars Preps First Album in a Decade with a Major Global Stadium Tour

   Bruno Mars gears up to drop his first new album in a decade, complete with a massive global headlining stadium tour spanning nearly 40 shows. Bruno Mars has announced The Romantic Tour, his first full headline tour in nearly a decade following the massively successful 24K Magic World Tour, which first launched in 2017. The […]

10. Twenty One Pilots ‘More Than We Ever Imagined’ Mexico City Concert Film Set for February Release — With Dedicated Merch Already Available to Preorder

    It turns out Twenty One Pilots is big in Mexico: Now, the duo’s preparing to release a concert film chronicling its sold-out Mexico City stadium performance. Twenty One Pilots delivered that show (one of three Clancy World Tour stops in Mexico) back in February 2025, attracting somewhere in the ballpark of 65,000 supporters to the […]

11. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) Is Kaput. But What Does This Mean for the Music Industry — Including NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert?

    After nearly 60 years, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) is now officially dissolved. But what does this mean for the music business, its artists, and the small-but-mighty influencer, NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert? After months of winding down, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting officially ceased to exist this week. Following a Congressional defunding and a […]

12. Fugees Rapper Pras Michel Fights to Avoid Prison Time As Desperate Appeal of 14-Year Sentence Begins

    Fugees rapper Pras Michel mounts the offensive to stay out of prison as he appeals his 14-year sentence, but the government doubles down. As Pras Michel fights to appeal his 14-year federal prison sentence following a conviction that he claims resulted from an unfair trial, the U.S. Department of Justice asks the court to deny […]

13. Danish Music Festival AiaSound Officially Shuts Down

    The years after the pandemic have taken a toll on live music festivals. That trend appears to be continuing into 2026 as Danish music festival AiaSound throws in the towel. After five years, the festival is taking a break. “For five summers in a row, we have called Tiøren our home turf. We have erected […]

14. MusiCares Reports $15 Million In LA Wildfire Assistance to 3,200 Music Professionals

    A year after the devastating wildfire in Los Angeles, the Grammy’s charitable organization MusiCares has issued a report on how its fire relief efforts have gone. MusiCares says they’ve distributed more than $15 million towards assistance for more than 3,200 music professionals. This includes $7 million deployed in the immediate aftermath of the fires to […]

15. Warner Chappell Music Strikes Global Publishing Deal with Ziggy Alberts

    Warner Chappell Music signs Aussie singer-songwriter Ziggy Alberts to a worldwide publishing deal, encompassing his complete catalog and future works. On Wednesday, January 7, Warner Chappell Music expanded its global roster with the signing of Australian singer-songwriter Ziggy Alberts to a worldwide publishing deal. Signed through Warner Chappell Music Australia, the agreement will encompass...