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. Alleged Napster Funding Fraudster Faces Criminal and Civil Cases — Company ‘Never Received Any Money’ Despite the Individual’s ‘Promise to Invest $3.36 Billion’

   It turns out Infinite Reality/Napster’s huge funding round was even more suspicious than we thought: Now, two federal cases are in motion against the individual who allegedly “fraudulently obtained” almost 240 million of the company’s shares. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York formally announced a criminal indictment against the alleged […]

2. Morrissey Releases Statement About Alleged Impersonators Defaming Him

   Morrissey releases a statement about people he claims to have identified who posed as him online to spread misinformation about his political ties. Morrissey has remained popular in the decades since the Smiths broke up, but certainly not without numerous controversies. In recent years, these have included his sudden show cancellations and leaving the stage […]

3. After Salt-N-Pepa and 2 Live Crew Legal Battles, Another Termination Showdown Emerges Over the University of Michigan Fight Song

   The original songwriters of a University of Michigan fight song are fighting back against the song’s publishers over alleged licensing interference. The realm of termination clause legal battles continues to heat up, following the high-profile cases involving Salt-N-Pepa and 2 Live Crew. Both of those cases ended in opposition to the artists based on matters […]

4. Kanye’s Antisemitism Definitely Isn’t Flying In Europe; Prague the Latest to Shut Down a Ye Show

   The rapper formerly known as Kanye West will not be performing in Prague after the venue set to host him backed out. It’s the latest cancelled show for the outwardly antisemitic artist. Kanye West, who now goes by Ye, was set to perform in Prague as part of his proposed comeback tour, but the show […]

5. The AFM’s AI Lawsuit Is Now Part of ‘A Global Fight’ — UK’s Musicians’ Union Urges Others to ‘Take on Major Corporations Who Intend to Exploit Their Rights Without Consent’

   The AFM’s lawsuit against Universal Music and Warner Music is now one component of “a global fight,” as the UK’s Musicians’ Union has backed the litigation and urged other unions yet to “take on major corporations who intend to exploit their rights without consent.” The Musicians’ Union today voiced support for the high-stakes suit, which […]

6. Lil Wayne Secures “A Milli” (Minus $970,000, That Is) After Ex-Guard’s Lawsuit Fizzles Out

   Lil Wayne is victorious in the lawsuit filed against him by a former security guard who alleged the rapper pulled a gun on him. Now the guard must pay up, to the tune of nearly $30,000. A Los Angeles Superior Court judge ordered Lil Wayne’s former security guard, Christian Carlos, to pay the rapper $29,225 […]

7. Spotify and Amazon Music’s Bundling Shenanigans Have Cost Music Publishers Nearly $500 Million Since 2024, NMPA Reveals

   Spotify and Amazon’s bundling strategy has had a major impact on music publishers’ royalty haul, resulting in nearly $500 million in lost royalties since 2024. The National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) revealed some worrying data tied to the sustained hit the industry has taken from streaming providers’ “bundles.” As Spotify (and similarly, Amazon Music) started […]

8. Is Spotify’s ‘Artist Profile Protection’ Actually Working? Fans Confused After Bridgit Mendler’s ‘New EP’ Appears

   Bridgit Mendler says a surprise EP attributed to her on Spotify and Apple Music isn’t her, raising questions about streaming platforms’ efforts to curb AI impersonators. Last week, fans of former Disney Channel star Bridgit Mendler were thrilled to see she had released a new EP titled “Once Again…” on Spotify and Apple Music. But […]

9. Distribution Startup Madverse Scores Willard Ahdritz-Led Seed Round, Says Its Userbase Has Grown ‘25% in the Last Month Alone’

   Amid rapid music sector growth in India – and on its own platform, which has seen its userbase expand by “25% in the last month alone” – Madverse Music Group has scored an Ahdritz Capital-led seed round. New Delhi-headquartered Madverse unveiled the raise, but not the precise funding at hand, today. Founded in 2023 by […]

10. Deezer Launches AI Detection Tool for Playlists, Says 43% of New Users’ Libraries Contain ‘AI Music’

    Deezer is kicking its AI detection capabilities up a notch with a new tool that identifies machine-generated tracks in playlists – including those saved to competing streaming platforms. The Paris-headquartered DSP announced and launched its artificial intelligence music detector today. And while Deezer itself is pinpointing the AI audio, it’s playlist-transfer service Tune My Music […]

11. BLAM at Carnegie Hall: Pianist Xijuan Zong Performs Contemporary Work at Apex Grand Award Winners’ Concert

    Xijuan Zong performs award-winning work at Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall following Global Music Awards Silver Medal recognition.  The following artist profile was provided by Rainyard International Music Advisory, a partner of Digital Music News. On May 24, 2026, pianist Xijuan Zong appeared at Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall in New York City as an invited performer […]

12. Francisco Partners Exits Muse Group Minority Position — Hal Leonard Parent Plots ‘Its Next Chapter of Growth’

    30 months later, Francisco Partners has officially exited its minority position in Muse Group, which is eyeing acquisitions and more in “its next chapter of growth.” Cyprus-based Muse Group reached out to DMN with word of the transaction, which was powered by “cash on hand” as well as senior facilities arranged by J.P. Morgan. Like […]

13. Irish Music Festivals Facing Devastating Financial Deficits Following Tickets.ie Collapse

    Irish lawmakers are looking into offering governmental support after the collapse of Tickets.ie devastates the country’s live music industry. Tickets.ie was Ireland’s largest independent ticketing company, handling ticketing for thousands of live events each year since 2004. But last week, the service abruptly shut down, leaving some organizers unable to access revenue from recently concluded...

14. What Is Anthropic’s ‘Claude FM’ and Is Your Music Part of It?

    Anthropic’s Claude FM is a 24-7 music stream playlist on YouTube comprised of actual artists’ music. But is the music being properly licensed? AI company Anthropic has been beefing with the music industry in the form of a legal battle with publishers who have sued it for copyright infringement. To help boost its image, the […]

15. Spotify Is Purging Tens of Thousands of Illegal Drug-Peddling Podcasts Amid Congressional Investigation

    Spotify has taken down “tens of thousands” of podcasts promoting illegal drugs since a congressional investigation began last year. According to U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Spotify told her office that it took down “tens of thousands” of podcasts promoting opioids since her office raised concerns about the issue last year. First reported by numerous […]