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. Spike Lee, Who Worked with Michael Jackson, Slams Critics Questioning Why ‘Michael’ Didn’t Include Abuse Allegations

   Spike Lee defends Lionsgate’s Michael biopic from critics who questioned why the film stopped short of addressing child sex abuse allegations. Director Spike Lee defended Antoine Fuqua’s Michael Jackson biopic from critics who found it odd that the film ended just a few years before the first of the pop legend’s many allegations of child […]

2. Suno Ambitiously Plans to ‘Reimagine’ Songkick and Concert Discovery with AI

   After acquiring Songkick from Warner Music Group in November, Suno plans to use the platform’s juicy user data tranche to reimagine concert discovery with AI. AI startup Suno shook hands with Warner Music Group back in November, a “landmark” licensing deal between a music company and an artificial intelligence company. Accordingly, Suno now has formal […]

3. Barry Manilow Postpones Vegas Residency Due to Cancer

   Barry Manilow is making great progress with his cancer treatment, but postpones the start of his Vegas residency as a result. He’ll be back in July. Over the weekend, legendary singer Barry Manilow announced that while he’s “making great progress” with his cancer treatment, he has to cancel his residency dates in May at the […]

4. Shakira Crushes Copacabana Beach With a Crowd of 2 Million. Amazingly, That’s Not a Record.

   Shakira performed a free concert on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro over the weekend, an event that the city’s mayor said drew a crowd of 2 million. Colombian singer-songwriter, dancer, and producer Shakira stunned on Saturday night, performing a free concert on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro. According to the city’s mayor, the […]

5. Postponed Malone? ‘Big Ass Stadium Tour 2’ Cancels Several Dates As Ticket Sales Stall

   Post Malone has cancelled six dates at the beginning of his Big Ass Stadium Tour 2, moving the start of the tour to June 9. Post Malone and Jelly Roll have cancelled several upcoming dates on their Big Ass Stadium Tour Part 2, moving the start of the tour back a few weeks to June […]

6. Sony Music v. Udio Legal Battle Heats Up — AI Music Generator Acknowledges Obtaining ‘Audio Data from YouTube,’ Using Stream-Ripper YT-DLP

   Still fending off a high-stakes lawsuit from Sony Music, Udio is doubling down on its longstanding fair use arguments and defending its training-related ingestion of “audio data from YouTube.” The AI music generator just recently touched on these and other noteworthy subjects when answering Sony Music’s amended action. As we reported, the retooled suit arrived […]

7. What’s Next in the FTC’s Live Nation/Ticketmaster Lawsuit? BOTS Act Case Takes Center Stage Following States’ Antitrust Trial Win

   Following a federal ruling confirming that the BOTS Act doesn’t just apply to bot-powered ticket purchases – or individuals – where does the FTC v. Live Nation case go from here? That pressing question is front of mind for two main reasons. Most immediately, pretty much everyone is aware of states’ recent victory over Live […]

8. Federal Judge Shuts Down Spotify ‘Payola’ Class Action — Case Officially Stayed, Ordered to Arbitration

   Six months later, a federal judge has shut down a lawsuit centering on Spotify’s allegedly deceptive editorial playlist placements and algorithmic recommendations. Now, the proposed class action complaint is heading to arbitration, and its class claims are no more. Judge John G. Koeltl just recently granted Spotify’s motion to compel arbitration and do away with […]

9. Kanye Concert in Albania Given the Go-Ahead Amid European Cancellations

   The Albanian Prime Minister confirms that a Kanye West concert will go ahead in the country, despite several cancelled shows in Europe and Australia. On Thursday, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama announced on social media that a Kanye West concert will go ahead as planned in the country on July 11 in Tirana. The Prime […]

10. Instagram Debuts More ‘Original Content’ Protections for Creators

    Instagram announces that accounts regularly reposting content they didn’t create will no longer be eligible for recommendations across the platform. On Thursday, Instagram announced some changes to ensure creators on the platform get the credit and distribution they deserve. Accounts that regularly repost content they didn’t create, or primarily share other people’s work in photos […]

11. What Streaming Plateau? YouTube Music and Premium Achieved Record Subscriber Growth in Q1 2026, Alphabet CEO Says

    As Spotify and others grapple with a subscriber-growth slowdown in established markets, YouTube Music and Premium are said to be adding a record number of paid users. Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai confirmed that all-time-high subscriber boost during his company’s first-quarter earnings call. In the exec’s own words, 2026’s first three months saw YouTube […]

12. AI-Generated Taylor Swift, Rihanna, and Kim Kardashian Scams Surge on TikTok

    Online scammers are using AI deepfakes of celebrities like Taylor Swift and Rihanna to trick TikTok users into signing up for fake rewards programs. Over the past month, TikTok has experienced a rise in videos of AI-generated celebrities, including Taylor Swift, Rihanna, and Kim Kardashian, encouraging users to sign up for fraudulent rewards programs or […]

13. The BOTS Act Isn’t Just for Bots: Federal Judge Denies Key Investment Group Dismissal Motion — FTC Promptly Cites the Ruling in Its Live Nation Case

    Despite its title, the BOTS Act applies to more than bot-powered efforts to bypass ticketing-platform security measures – at least according to a new order allowing an FTC lawsuit to proceed. We covered that single-count action in detail soon after its August 2025 filing. But to recap, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) accused Key Investment […]

14. Busta Rhymes Settles ‘Horrible Boss’ Lawsuit After Allegedly Punching His Assistant

    Busta Rhymes settles a lawsuit filed by his former personal assistant, who claimed the rapper attacked and punched him in the face. Busta Rhymes has settled a legal battle with his former personal assistant, Dashiel Gables, who alleged that the rapper attacked and punched him in the face in a work-related dispute. Rhymes had denied […]

15. Looks Like UK’s Ticket-Scalping Ban Is Getting Shelved for at Least a Year

    The UK’s ticket scalping ban is set to be delayed by at least a year, with only draft legislation likely to be included in next month’s King’s Speech. A new report from Financial Times revealed that the UK’s ticket tout ban is due to be shelved for a year, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirming […]