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. Drowning Pool Cancels South American Tour After Low Ticket Sales, Band Blames ‘Logistics’

   Nu metal band Drowning Pool cancels their South American tour, with the tour organizer citing low ticket sales, but the band blames “logistics.” Dallas-based nu-metal band Drowning Pool has canceled their South American tour due to low ticket sales, according to the tour organizer. But the band simply blames “logistics.” The band was preparing to […]

2. Shamrock Scores $813 Million ‘Content Strategy Fund,’ Eyes Investments Across Music, Film/TV, Sports, Gaming, and the ‘Creator Economy’

   Are additional song rights investments in the near-term cards for Shamrock? Possibly, as the firm has officially closed its Content Fund IV with $813 million worth of capital commitments. Shamrock Capital formally announced that oversubscribed fourth fund’s final closing today. All told, the LA-based entity’s 11-year-old “Content Strategy” is said to have north of $3.3 […]

3. As the Lionsgate Film Continues to Make Waves, Netflix Tees Up a Very, Very Different ‘Michael’ Biopic

   Netflix is releasing a three-part series about the 2005 Michael Jackson trial covering the pop star’s charges of child molestation, debuting on June 3. Lionsgate’s Michael biopic is still filling seats at the box office, but Netflix is preparing to release a very different kind of Michael Jackson documentary. “Michael Jackson: The Verdict” is a […]

4. Saweetie, Jason Derulo Sued for Ditching Japan’s Afro Jam Fest and Pocketing the Advances

   A pair of Japanese concert promoters file breach-of-contract lawsuits against Jason Derulo and Saweetie for backing out of scheduled performances. Concert promoters Moon Dream Production Co. and SFL Group filed separate breach-of-contract lawsuits against Jason Derulo and Saweetie for backing out of their scheduled performances at the July 2025 Afro Jam Festival in Japan. Originally, […]

5. A 12-Day Music Festival? EDC Las Vegas 2027 Adds a Second Weekend, Tees Up Nearly Two-Week-Long ‘Dusk Till Dawn Experience’

   A 12-day music festival? Hot on the heels of its sold-out 2026 edition, EDC Las Vegas has teed up a double-weekend 2027 installment as well as an accompanying “Dusk Till Dawn Experience” that’s set to span almost two weeks. Insomniac disclosed its ambitious EDC Las Vegas 2027 plans today, just three days following the 2026 […]

6. How Music Reports Solved the Complex World of Claims-Based Royalties for DSPs & Global Rights Owners

   As digital streaming platforms (DSPs) continue to expand worldwide, rendering national borders irrelevant, the burden of managing publishing licenses has grown exponentially. One neutral and objective service provider has consistently worked to innovate and unwind red tape. Music Reports has steadily positioned itself as a key infrastructure partner to stakeholders across the digital music...

7. After Watching 80% of Their Earnings Evaporate, Successful Music Production Duo Sues Suno for $35 Million

   Suno faces a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by ambient instrumental duo The American Dollar, alleging the platform ingested 236 of their songs to train its AI models. Poseidon Wave Media, the company representing ambient instrumental duo The American Dollar, has filed a lawsuit against AI music platform Suno, alleging the platform ingested 236 of the […]

8. D4vd’s ‘Arcane’ Anthem Removed From Spotify, Apple Music, and Other Streaming Services

   D4vd’s track “Remember Me” from Netflix and Riot Games’ “Arcane” series has been removed from some streaming services and official playlists. Disgraced singer-songwriter D4vd (David Burke) was arrested earlier this year in connection to the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose dismembered body was found in the trunk of a car registered in his […]

9. Virgin’s FUGA Renews Global Distribution Partnership With Insomniac Music Group

   B2B distributor FUGA, now part of the UMG-owned Virgin Music Group,  announces the renewal and expansion of its partnership and continuing marketing support with Insomniac Music Group. Downtown’s FUGA, now part of the venerable UMG-owned Virgin Music Group, is now slated to renew its partnership with Insomniac Music Group, a mainstay in the global electronic […]

10. The Wixen vs. Meta Showdown Intensifies: Publisher Doubles Down on Defamation Allegations In Expanded $100 Million-Plus Lawsuit

    Right on cue, Wixen Music Publishing has fired off a supersized copyright infringement and defamation lawsuit – now including detailed allegations of reputational harm – against Meta. Wixen just recently made its first amended complaint official, about four months after initially suing Meta and weeks after a counsel-to-counsel meeting failed to produce a resolution. We […]

11. BMI Scoops Up Cue Sheet Specialist Soundmouse from Orfium

    BMI announces an agreement to acquire Soundmouse in a partnership to create the industry’s most comprehensive database of global cue sheets. Today, BMI, the world’s largest performing rights organization (PRO), announced that it will acquire Soundmouse, a global leader in music cue sheet reporting and monitoring for the broadcast and entertainment production industries. Through this […]

12. Tencent Music Acquires Audio Platform Ximalaya in $2.7B Cash-and-Stock Deal

    Tencent Music Entertainment completes its acquisition of Chinese audio platform Ximalaya in a $2.7 billion cash-and-stock deal. Tencent Music Entertainment has announced the completion of its full acquisition of Chinese audio platform Ximalaya in a deal valued at around 18.6 billion yuan ($2.7 billion). The deal sees Ximalaya shareholders (including Tencent Holdings, Baidu, and Sony […]

13. Lang Lang’s Latest Stage Isn’t a Concert Hall — It’s a TikTok Vertical Video Feed

    TikTok Live partners with renowned pianist Lang Lang for a global campaign celebrating classical music—and to find a new generation of fans. As classical music finds a new generation of fans on TikTok, with creators reinventing how the genre is discovered and experienced online, TikTok Live is taking up the mantle as an increasingly important […]

14. Billie Eilish Concert Film Crashes In Week 2: James Cameron-Directed Film Drops 88% as Broader Demo Fails to Materialize

    After a strong opening weekend, Billie Eilish’s concert film takes a nosedive in its second week, failing to reach outside its core audience. The premiere of Billie Eilish’s concert film, Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D), drew a massive crowd at Los Angeles’ Westwood Village Theater. The film, […]

15. Primary Wave Acquires the Entire Hipgnosis Collection (of Artwork, That Is)

    Primary Wave Music acquires Hipgnosis’ entire collection of artwork, including those from Black Sabbath, Def Leppard, Queen, Bad Company, and more. On Monday, leading independent publisher Primary Wave Music announced its acquisition of the iconic catalog of Hipgnosis artwork. Terms of the deal will see the publishing giant acquire Aubrey “Po” Powell’s interests in the […]