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. Deezer and Sonos Renew and Expand Long-Term Collaboration

   Deezer and Sonos announce the renewal of their longstanding partnership, expanding their collaboration to include its revamped Deezer for Business. During its recent earnings call, Deezer announced the renewal of its longstanding partnership with Sonos, expanding the collaboration to include ad-supported monetization on Sonos Radio through Deezer Ad Exchange. The renewal also coincides with...

2. Indie Label Owner Says Streaming Has Failed ‘The Middle Class of Musicians’ — But Maybe There’s a Solution

   Streaming has failed “the ‘middle class’ of musicians” – at least according to Hopeless Records founder Louis Posen, who’s calling for major changes to the current pro-rata compensation model. Posen took aim at streaming’s shortcomings – and floated an interesting solution – in a blog post entitled “The Digital Paradox.” Technically, said post was attributed […]

3. Warner Music Group Inks Netflix Partnership — With a Slate of WMG-Inked Artist Documentaries On Deck

   WMG and Netflix strike a creative partnership with an exclusive multi-year deal that sees the streamer making documentaries about Warner artists. Warner Music Group (WMG) and Netflix have formed a creative partnership under an exclusive multi-year first-look deal that will see the streamer create documentary series and films exploring the lives and music of WMG’s […]

4. After Taylor, Target Scores Major BTS Exclusive Spanning Vinyl, CDs, Merch

   BTS partners with Target to release several exclusive merch items, vinyl with unique variant art, CDs with collectible photocards, and more. Like Taylor Swift before them, K-pop megastar group BTS has partnered with Target for a release of several exclusive merchandise items to capitalize on the highly anticipated release of their new album, ARIRANG. These […]

5. Mixed Growth Picture Continues in Europe—Italy and Sweden Reveal Strikingly Different Recorded Music Stats from 2025

   Italy’s recorded music market grew substantially in 2025, doubling the European average growth rate and surpassing global trends by a wide margin. Last year was a mixed bag for Europe’s recorded music market, with Italy showing impressive growth year-over-year and doubling the European average. Meanwhile, like much of Europe, Sweden remained “stable.” Its subscription-based audio […]

6. State Attorneys Grill Live Nation CEO Over ‘Robbing Them Blind’ Employee Boast

   Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino was called to testify in the civil antitrust trial against the company filed by two dozen state attorneys general. Michael Rapino, Live Nation’s CEO since 2005, was called to testify on Thursday in the civil antitrust trial from over two dozen states that allege Live Nation-Ticketmaster is a monopoly. The […]

7. First-Ever US Streaming Music Fraud Case Ends In a Guilty Plea: Slop Scammer Hit With $8.1 Million Fine, Up to 5 Years In Prison

   The man who defrauded streaming services of $8 million with AI-generated slop songs has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. On Thursday, Michael Smith, the man accused of defrauding music streaming services with AI-generated slop tracks, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Smith agreed to pay back the […]

8. Pophouse Acquires ‘A Majority Stake’ in Tina Turner’s ‘Music Interests’ and NIL Under BMG Deal — Is an Avatar Concert on the Way?

   Remember Tina Turner’s 2021 catalog sale? Over four years later, Pophouse has taken a stake in the IP as part of “a strategic transaction” with the original buyer, BMG. BMG and Pophouse disclosed their sub-deal today, after the former company in October 2021 unveiled an agreement with Turner. And as described by BMG then, the […]

9. Taylor Swift Officially Confirmed to Make a ‘Special Appearance’ at 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards Next Week

   Taylor Swift will make a special appearance at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards next week, as the most-nominated artist of the year with nine nods. Today, iHeartMedia and Fox Entertainment announced that Taylor Swift will make a special appearance at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards — her first award show appearance this year. Swift, who […]

10. Spotify’s PC Audiophiles Rejoice as ‘Exclusive Mode’ Hits Windows Machines

    Spotify is rolling out a feature called Exclusive Mode for subscribers to get bit-perfect song playback if they listen on a Windows PC. Spotify has announced Exclusive Mode, now available in the Spotify Windows desktop app for Premium subscribers. The feature enables bit-perfect playback, with the company noting it “pairs great with Lossless turned on […]

11. Primary Wave Acquires ‘Santa Baby’ Singer Eartha Kitt’s Catalog and All-Important NIL Rights: ‘One of the Most Distinctive Voices in Music’

    Let the catalog deals continue: Primary Wave has purchased the IP of Eartha Kitt, including the artist’s 1953 rendition of “Santa Baby.” Primary Wave and the Kitt estate just recently disclosed their agreement, encompassing the South Carolina-born singer-songwriter’s catalog as well as her name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights. On the catalog side, the transaction […]

12. Dynamite Songs Expands Catalog with Acquisitions from Singer-Songwriter Joan Osborne and Composer Lou Pomanti

    Dynamite Songs expands its catalog with acquisitions from singer-songwriter Joan Osborne and Canadian composer Lou Pomanti. Dynamite Songs, a self-titled specialist music publisher dedicated to acquiring and managing smaller catalogs with culturally significant songs, has acquired the publishing rights to songs written by Grammy-nominated American singer-songwriter Joan Osborne and by Lou...

13. Believe Scores Global Publishing Deal With Janet Jackson — ‘Long-Term’ Agreement Covers ‘Her Entire Catalog’

    Five months after setting sail, Believe Music Publishing (BMP) has signed Janet Jackson to a long-term deal. Believe unveiled that high-profile agreement today, after BMP formally launched in October 2025. Evidently, the unit has hit the ground running: the Rock Hall of Fame inductee Jackson is bringing her “entire catalog” to the Paris-based company under […]

14. Zuckerberg’s Billion-Dollar Ballyhoo Meta Horizon Worlds VR Is Shutting Down—Mobile App Remains

    Meta has announced it will shut down the virtual reality version of Meta Horizon Worlds, marking a significant retreat from one of its flagship metaverse projects. Starting March 31, 2026, Quest headset users will lose access to spaces like Horizon Central and the Events Arena. The full closure comes on June 15, 2026. The move […]

15. Sony Music Says It Just Removed 135,000+ Deepfakes of Its Artists’ Music

    Sony Music says it has requested the removal of more than 135,000 songs created by fraudsters impersonating its artists on streaming services. AI deepfakes of Beyoncé, Queen, and Harry Styles are among those removed. Digital Music News has been reporting on the existence of AI deepfakes proliferating on digital streaming providers like Spotify, which does […]