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. Clarifying or Confusing? CISAC Introduces AVR+ Global Format for Audiovisual Music Data

   CISAC launches the first global format to modernize audiovisual music data and improve payments, but will it cause more confusion than clarification? The International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC) has announced the launch of AVR+, the first fully documented and machine-readable technical format designed to transform how music data is shared and […]

2. Scottish Fave Callum Beattie Tapped to Perform at FIFA’s Final Scotland World Cup Battles

   Scottish singer Callum Beattie will perform at the official FIFA World Cup fanzone for Scotland’s final group stage match against Brazil on June 24. Glasgow’s OVO Hydro has announced that Scottish singer Callum Beattie will perform at its official FIFA World Cup 2026 fanzone for Scotland’s final group stage match against Brazil on Wednesday, June […]

3. Spotify ‘Reserved’ Kicks Off With Role Model Pre-Sale — Though Fans Can Score Even Earlier Tickets Through American Airlines, Mastercard, or the Artist’s Site

   Spotify is kicking off its “Reserved” pre-sale program with Role Model’s upcoming tour – though fans will also have the chance to grab early passes via Mastercard and American Airlines as well as a distinct artist pre-sale. Live Nation shed light on the 34-date concert series – and its multifaceted ticket-availability schedule – today. As […]

4. Knicks Championship Parade Will Feature a Who’s Who of NYC Rappers—Starting with Wu-Tang Clan

   The championship parade to honor the Knicks for their historic win will feature a who’s who of NYC rappers, per unofficial team ambassador Fat Joe. As a regular at Madison Square Garden during the New York Knicks’ championship games this season, Fat Joe has been tapped by Knicks and MSG owner James Dolan to lead […]

5. No UMG-Style Coal-Raking Here: The BMG+Concord Merger Is Rapidly Getting Cleared by Global Regulators

   Global regulators are swiftly clearing the BMG+Concord merger, keeping the transaction on track to close in Q4 2026, pending other international approvals. On Wednesday, German media group Bertelsmann said U.S. competition authorities have approved the planned merger of BMG (Bertelsmann’s music division) and Concord. The combined entity is valued at around $15 billion and would […]

6. Major Labels Secure Sweeping Site-Blocking Orders Against YouTube Stream-Rippers in Canada

   The Federal Court in Ottawa has issued Canada’s first music industry-requested site-blocking order targeting YouTube stream-ripping services. The major labels have secured a major win in Canada against the operators of YouTube stream-ripping sites Y2Mate, YTMP3, and remaining Savefrom domains over copyright infringement. The original case, filed in November by Sony Music Entertainment, Universal...

7. Meta Moves to Dismiss ‘Serial Litigant’ Wixen’s $100 Million+ Suit, Says the Publisher Is ‘Seeking to Transform a Routine Licensing Dispute Into a Sweeping’ Legal Battle

   Moments after failing to dismiss Eight Mile Style’s copyright lawsuit, Meta has officially moved to toss a different $100 million+ complaint, filed this time by Wixen Music Publishing. Wixen doubled down on that multifaceted complaint last month, accusing the Facebook parent of copyright infringement, defamation, and more. The way the publisher tells the story, Meta […]

8. Apple CEO Says Across-the-Board Price Increases Are Coming—But Will That Include Apple Music?

   Apple CEO Tim Cook says raising prices on its products will be necessary to offset the skyrocketing costs of memory and storage. But will subscriptions like Apple Music be affected? As memory and other components surge in price due to artificial intelligence and other tech companies buying them up to build data centers, Apple CEO […]

9. Spotify Expands Full-Length Video Support — Now Artists Can Add Music Videos, Covers, and Live Performances Directly to the Platform

   As it battles YouTube for video supremacy – and grapples with an intensifying AI audio avalanche – Spotify is now enabling artists to directly upload full-length music videos, live performance videos, and more. Spotify announced this latest video expansion, plus a couple adjacent changes, today. At the top level, eligible artists needn’t use a distributor […]

10. South Korea Launches a $2.2 Million K-Pop Expansion Fund to Boost Developing Artists

    The South Korean government launches an initiative aimed at fortifying the country’s developing K-pop artists with a $2.2 million injection. South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, as well as the Korea Creative Content Agency, has announced an initiative to further strengthen the country’s music industry with the selection of 10 independent K-pop agencies […]

11. Bose Wants a Bigger Piece of the Music Business: New Record Label, New Content Studio, Live Events Ahead

    Bose is branching out into other facets of the music industry with the launch of an in-house content studio, Bose Studios, and a new record label, Bose Records. Audio equipment manufacturer Bose is expanding its music business horizons with the launch of Bose Studios, an in-house content studio, and a new record label, Bose Records. […]

12. Warner Music’s Aggressive Global Buildout Continues With Virtual Artist Deal in China, ‘Expansion Into the Bengali Music Market’ in India

    Warner Music is betting big on virtual artists in China, where it’s partnered with an avatar-focused company called Dream Maker. Meanwhile, the major is also looking “to take Bengali music to a much wider audience” under an SVF Entertainment tie-up. Warner Music China just recently unveiled the Dream Maker deal, which came to light in […]

13. ‘Michael’ Goes Big In Japan as Record-Setting Biopic Closes In on the Historic $1 Billion Mark

    The Michael Jackson biopic continues to make film history with an epic showing in Japan that could finally push it over the billion-dollar threshold. Michael, Lionsgate’s Michael Jackson biopic directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by John Logan, has already had an epic run at the domestic box office and abroad. It’s already made music […]

14. Chicago Founding Member and Saxophonist Walter Parazaider Dies at 81

    Walter Parazaider, a founding member of rock and jazz ensemble Chicago, has passed away at 81 after complications related to Alzheimer’s disease. Walter Parazaider, saxophonist and one of the founding members of rock and jazz band Chicago, has passed away following complications related to a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was 81. His wife […]

15. Meta Must Face the Music (Infringement Litigation): $109 Million Lawsuit from Eminem’s Publisher Shall Proceed, Federal Judge Rules

    A federal judge denies Meta’s motion to dismiss a copyright infringement claim from Eminem’s publisher, allowing the case to move forward. After Meta filed to dismiss Eminem publisher Eight Mile Style’s direct copyright infringement claim, a federal judge has denied the motion, allowing the case to head into discovery. Eight Mile Style is seeking maximum […]