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. Why Is the Music Industry Still Estimating Public Performance Plays? New Research Explores the Hidden Resistance to Better Tracking

   It’s a relatively amazing feat of humankind: whenever a song is played in public, it’s typically tracked and paid for, with billions of dollars reaching their proper IP owners worldwide. That is, in theory at least. At a top level, public performances of musical works – at sporting events, coffeehouses, restaurants, airports, wherever – are […]

2. Shakira Invades Europe with a Six-Date Madrid Residency at Custom-Built ‘Shakira Stadium’

   Shakira kicks off the 2026 dates of her world tour with a six-show Madrid residency at the custom-built Shakira Stadium, specially built for the event. Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira has already announced three additional dates for her historic Spain residency, almost before the initial dates were even revealed. The limited series of shows takes place on […]

3. Trump Faces Lawsuit from Coalition of Cultural and Historic Preservation Groups Over Kennedy Center Changes

   A group of cultural and historic preservation organizations is suing Donald Trump to block changes to the Kennedy Center ahead of renovations. Now that Donald Trump’s planned two-year closure of the Kennedy Center has been confirmed to kick off this summer, a coalition of cultural and historic preservation groups is suing the president and Kennedy […]

4. Trump Personally Pushed the DOJ’s Live Nation Settlement, Latest Intel Reveals

   Reports reveal that Donald Trump personally called around pushing the Justice Department to settle its Live Nation-Ticketmaster antitrust lawsuit. After the Department of Justice suddenly reached a settlement with Live Nation and Ticketmaster in the federal antitrust lawsuit filed against the companies when Joe Biden was still in office, critics wondered what went wrong—especially when […]

5. Spotify Triggers More Podcast Layoffs—The Ringer & Spotify Studios Hit

   Spotify’s podcast group has been hit by new layoffs, with The Ringer and Spotify Studios impacted. Reports suggest around 15 people lost their jobs, or about 3% of the podcast organizations’ headcount. Spotify is describing the changes internally as improving execution, speed, and alignment across its podcasting teams. The company says it is still investing […]

6. Live Nation Global Expansion Continues With Investments in Romania’s Emagic and Slovakia’s Vivien

   Live Nation has announced yet another international expansion – this time in Romania as well as Slovakia, where it now owns pieces of Emagic and Vivien, respectively. Technically unveiled late last week, that expansion has been flying under the radar amid the promoter’s high-stakes stateside legal battle. Founded in 2005, Emagic has worked with the likes […]

7. iHeartMedia and TikTok Tout Bruno Mars Album Promo Campaign, Say They’ve Created ‘A New Blueprint for Artist Launches Moving Forward’

   Now united under a multifaceted partnership deal – and having collaborated on a promo campaign for Bruno Mars’ The Romantic – iHeartMedia and TikTok say they’ve developed “a new blueprint for artist launches moving forward.” iHeart and TikTok touted that “next-generation release format” today, three weeks and change after Mars debuted The Romantic. The Avex-partnered […]

8. TLC and Salt-N-Pepa Announce First-Ever Co-Headlining Tour with Special Guest En Vogue

   Salt-N-Pepa and TLC are teaming up for a co-headlining tour across North America, with special guest En Vogue, uniting three iconic groups for the first time. Hot on the heels of their induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Salt-N-Pepa have announced an epic co-headlining tour with fellow 1990s R&B girl group TLC. […]

9. Chappell Roan’s Brazilian Drama Heats Up—Jude Law’s Ex Puts the Singer on Blast Over Something Apparently Very Important

   After Chappell Roan’s allegedly negative interaction with an 11-year-old in Brazil draws national ire, the girl’s mother puts the singer on blast. Over the weekend, Brazilian soccer star Jorginho Frello accused singer Chappell Roan of making his stepdaughter (actor Jude Law’s biological daughter) cry after an incident with her security at a São Paulo hotel. […]

10. BTS Comeback Concert Dubbed a ‘Disaster’ After Underwhelming Turnout—Hybe Shares Immediately Tank

    The turnout for BTS’ comeback show was much lower than anticipated, negatively affecting local businesses’ bottom lines. Hybe shares take a tumble. K-pop boy band sensation BTS reunited on Saturday night for a free concert in Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square, an event so hotly anticipated that city officials increased security measures to ensure the safety of […]

11. Fans Blast Netflix for AI-Generated Hillel Slovak Voiceover In Red Hot Chili Peppers Documentary

    Netflix’s documentary on the early days of the Red Hot Chili Peppers features an AI-generated voiceover of the band’s late guitarist, Hillel Slovak. On Friday, Netflix’s new documentary, The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother, Hillel, premiered. The film offers a previously unseen look at the band’s early days, and is mostly […]

12. White House Reiterates Support for Fair Use AI Training, Says the Courts Should ‘Resolve This Issue,’ and Backs a Law Enabling Rightsholders ‘To Collectively Negotiate Compensation from AI Providers’

    The Trump administration has reiterated its belief that training AIs on protected IP constitutes fair use – while urging Congress to let the courts “resolve this issue.” Additionally, the White House is calling on lawmakers to establish a system through which rightsholders can seek licensing compensation. We touched on these and other “legislative recommendations” when […]

13. It’s Official: Primary Wave to Acquire Kobalt In Landmark, Multi-Billion Dollar Publishing Deal

    In a move that significantly reshapes the music publishing landscape, Primary Wave Music has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Kobalt from Francisco Partners. The deal, which includes a strategic investment from Brookfield, was confirmed this morning to Digital Music News this morning via email by both Primary Wave and Kobalt. The deal immediately brings […]

14. Chance the Rapper Dodges a $4 Million Bullet In Long-Running Ex-Manager Lawsuit

    Chance the Rapper’s five-year-plus legal battle with his former manager is finally over, and he gets $35 out of the deal. And no, that’s not a typo. After more than five years, Chance the Rapper’s legal battle with his former manager, Pat Corcoran (AKA, Pat the Manager), finally came to an end on Friday. A […]

15. Fallout from Trump’s Live Nation Settlement Continues: Klobuchar’s Antitrust Accountability and Transparency Act’ is Officially On the Books

    Senators pitch legislation to strengthen antitrust settlement procedures after finding the DOJ’s settlement with Live Nation to be lacking. Not only do the state attorneys general find the Department of Justice’s recent settlement with Live Nation lacking, so do senators. Now, they’re pitching legislation to strengthen proceedings for antitrust-related settlements altogether to avoid the same...