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. Prince Estate Settles With Apollonia — Trademark Lawsuit Voluntarily Dismissed Without Prejudice

   One long-running trademark dispute later, Apollonia and the Prince estate have put their legal battle to rest – albeit without prejudice. Prince’s Paisley Park Enterprises and the Purple Rain co-star Apollonia (birth name Patricia Kotero) voluntarily moved to dismiss their case yesterday, days ahead of a previously scheduled hearing. And while that case only kicked […]

2. Amazon Music Drops Third Eye Blind Exclusive Ahead of Stagecoach 2026 Livestream

   Ahead of its Stagecoach 2026 livestream, Amazon Music unveils new exclusives with Third Eye Blind and Michael Marcagi for some reimagined hits. Today, Amazon Music has announced two new exclusives from Third Eye Blind and Michael Marcagi to help build excitement for this year’s Stagecoach Festival later this month. Third Eye Blind delivers a rendition […]

3. Federal Judge Slaps Down Temu’s Attempt to Dismiss Twenty One Pilots Trademark Infringement Complaint

   Twenty One Pilots’ trademark infringement case against Temu will proceed with an amended complaint after a judge denied an attempt to dismiss it. Online marketplace Temu has faced several trademark infringement lawsuits from artists incensed over the selling of bootleg merchandise. But the company tried to have the claims dismissed—both in the matter lodged by […]

4. Udio Inks Licensing Deal With Primary Wave’s Kobalt, Tees Up ‘New Platform’ Supporting Soundalike Voice Models, Remixes, and More

   Weeks removed from its sale to Primary Wave, Kobalt has announced a strategic partnership with Udio – including plans to collaborate on a suite of forthcoming products. Kobalt and Udio reached out with word of their pact today, after the AI startup scored a Merlin deal in January. All told, then, Udio now has licensing […]

5. Another Big Blow to London’s Festival Scene: LIDO Forced to Abruptly Cancel Most of Its Shows

   In the latest blow to London’s festival scene, LIDO Festival has been forced to reschedule and cancel a majority of its shows to protect park ground conditions in Victoria Park. On the heels of the highly publicized cancellation of London’s Wireless Festival, another local festival is seemingly on the rocks. LIDO Festival has rescheduled from […]

6. Now You Can Turn Off All of Spotify’s Video Content

   Just after rebranding itself as a multi-content platform, Spotify is rolling out new controls to stop video from playing alongside music and podcasts. Spotify is introducing new video controls that enable users to turn off video content, including music videos or video podcasts, as well as Canvas looping visuals. The toggles will be available for […]

7. Former Kanye West Security Guard Sues for Unpaid Wages Totaling Nearly $900,000

   Kanye West’s former security guard is suing the musician for nearly $900,000 over allegedly unpaid wages dating back to 2021. The artist formerly known as Kanye West is being sued by a former security guard at his Malibu property, alleging unpaid wages dating back to 2021. Jonathan Monroe is seeking nearly $900,000. Monroe first alleged […]

8. Universal Music, Sony Music, and Suno Reportedly Hit Hard Impasse in Settlement Discussions — As Warner Music’s Suno Partnership Takes Shape

   Universal Music, Sony Music, and Suno have reportedly hit a hard impasse in their settlement discussions, where, unsurprisingly, the “walled garden” hang-up is said to be taking center stage. Word of that resolution roadblock surfaced in a recent Financial Times piece – though admittedly, the rumored standstill doesn’t come as a shock. In the first […]

9. A Single Fan’s Bootleg Recordings of Over 10,000 Concerts Are Now a Curated Online Archive

   A fan’s recordings of over 10,000 concerts across four decades are now becoming a curated online archive, thanks to a group of volunteers. Since 1984, a music fan named Aadam Jacobs has been recording audio of sets from up-and-coming bands, predominantly in Chicago. Now, thanks to a group of volunteers across the United States and […]

10. Secretly Distribution Acquires Entertainment Intelligence and Babel Ops

    Secretly Distribution acquires Entertainment Intelligence and Babel Ops, which develop bespoke data and analytics tools for the independent sector. Secretly Distribution (SD) has announced its acquisition of Babel Ops, the technology firm responsible for Entertainment Intelligence (Ei) as well as bespoke data and analytics tools for a myriad of music business clients in the independent […]

11. Supreme Court’s Cox v. Sony Decision Disrupts Another ISP Legal Battle — And Prompts Changes in Music Publishers’ Anthropic Complaint

    Another ISP legal battle has been disrupted by the Supreme Court’s Cox v. Sony decision. Now, the major labels and Altice have jointly moved to pause their years-old copyright dispute. The litigating labels and Altice (which currently operates as Optimum Communications) just recently asked the court for a response-deadline extension. Like multiple other rightsholder-versus-ISP infringement...

12. Second Circuit Court of Appeals Refuses to Reconsider BMI Concert Rate Decision — A Huge Win for Live Nation, AEG, MSG, C3, and Others

    The Second Circuit Court of Appeals has refused to reconsider its rate-setting decision in a marathon legal battle involving Live Nation and different promoters. The appropriate two-judge panel and the appellate court itself just recently rejected a pair of related requests from Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI). And these requests followed a late-February decision in favor […]

13. Sony Music and Universal Music Partner on Japan-Based ‘Nine by Nine’ Festival JV, Plot Initial Event for 2027

    Sony Music and Universal Music are looking to capitalize on Asia’s booming festival sector with a newly launched JV called Nine by Nine. Announced in Japan closer to April’s start, Tokyo-based Nine by Nine, not to be confused with the former Thai boy band of the same name, is just now making a media splash […]

14. Apple-Backed Gamma Disputes Disappointing Kanye West ‘Bully’ First-Week Album Sales Figures

    Gamma is now disputing somewhat underwhelming first-week album sales figures for Ye’s ‘Bully’ on the heels of the cancellation of Wireless Fest. The album struggled to top 150,000 ‘album equivalent’ units despite an ultra-expensive rollout campaign. Ye, the disgraced artist formerly known as Kanye West, has been pushing for a comeback after his pivot into […]

15. Patreon Podcasters Earned $629 Million In 2025, Platform Reveals

    Podcasts are having a major boom on Patreon, generating $629 million in revenue on the direct-to-fan platform in 2025. If you thought Spotify was out of its element in pushing to expand into podcasting, you’d be sorely mistaken. Podcasts are having a boom on Patreon, generating over $629 million in revenue on the direct-to-fan platform […]