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. YouTube to Pull All Streaming Data From ‘Outdated’ Billboard Charts; Says Rankings Don’t ‘Reflect How Fans Engage with Music Today’

   YouTube says it’s pulling its data from Billboard in response to a recent change made to its ranking formula, which YouTube believes does not reflect how fans engage with music. Today, YouTube has announced its decision to pull its data from Billboard’s U.S. music charts in a post by Global Head of Music Lyor Cohen. […]

2. YouTube’s the Problem, Not Billboard — And Everybody In the Music Industry Agrees

   For years, YouTube has refused to prioritize paying music subscribers – while artists and rights owners have decried the platform as exploitative. Should that be rewarded on Billboard’s charts? Should every music stream count the same? Perhaps that’s a philosophical question, though Billboard — and the broader music industry — decided long ago that all […]

3. BMG Inks Expanded TikTok Deal Prioritizing ‘Deeper Value for Songwriters’ — But Questions Remain Ahead of a Rumored Royalty-Model Pivot, TikTok U.S. Ownership Change

   BMG and TikTok have inked an expanded partnership deal that they say will prioritize “creating deeper value for songwriters.” The Bertelsmann-owned music company and the short-form giant disclosed their bolstered pact today, about five months removed from TikTok’s “Songwriter Features” beta launch. According to the brass-tacks release, a renewed direct publishing agreement will...

4. D4vd Owned a ‘Burn Cage’ Incinerator Capable of Cremating Remains, Private Investigator Reports

   A “burn cage” incinerator was found by a private investigator at the Hollywood Hills home that singer D4vd had been renting at the time the body of a teen was found in the trunk of his car. The investigation into the body of a missing teenage girl that was found in the front trunk of […]

5. AEG Touts ‘Record-Breaking 2025’ for the O2 Arena, Says the Venue’s Ticket Sales Topped 2.9 Million

   It’s been a “historic record-breaking 2025” for the O2 Arena – according to the London venue’s AEG owner, which is touting double-digit performance-volume and ticket-sales growth. AEG Europe highlighted these and other 2025 stats in a brief release, pointing specifically to 239 shows (up 19% year over year) delivered at the O2 this year. Included […]

6. Trump Administration Threatens Action Against Spotify if EU Regulators Don’t Back Off American Tech Companies

   The Trump administration says it could go after Spotify and other European-based services if the EU doesn’t back off regarding its regulation of US technology companies. The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on Tuesday posted a statement to social media accusing European regulators of discriminatory and harassing lawsuits, taxes, fines, and directives […]

7. John Mayer Deal-Making Frenzy: Opening Artist for Terminal 14 in Bahrain + Neural DSP Partnerships Announced Just In Time for Christmas

   John Mayer is signing lots of deals in time for Christmas, including a collaboration with Neural DSP and an opening gig at a new Bahrain venue. Just in time for Christmas, John Mayer has two major announcements—neither of which has anything to do with the holiday season, really. He’s been officially announced as the first […]

8. Saregama Acquires 28% Stake in Bhansali Productions—$36 Million Investment Includes Exclusive Music Rights to Future Films

   Saregama India gains a 28% stake in Bhansali Productions in a $36 million investment that includes exclusive music rights to all its future projects. Music label and entertainment company Saregama India, part of the RPSG Group, has announced a ₹325 crore ($35.9 million) investment in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film production house, Bhansali Productions. The partnership […]

9. ChatGPT Integrating Apps Into Its Service—Including Apple Music

   OpenAI confirms that Apple Music is among the upcoming integrations with ChatGPT, following the initial rollout of partnerships in October. Apple Music subscribers will soon be able to ask ChatGPT to create playlists and more, thanks to a partnership on the horizon. In a Substack post published on Tuesday, OpenAI’s CEO of applications, Fidji Simo, […]

10. Pentatonix Brings Holiday Cheer to the Empire State Building In iHeartMedia ‘Holiday Pop Up Party’

    Pentatonix is lighting up New York City’s Empire State Building with their festive holiday hits during their exclusive iHeartRadio Holiday Pop Up Party. Five-part a capella group Pentatonix is celebrating the holiday season with iHeartRadio for an exclusive event this Friday, December 19, through Thursday, December 25. The special event will showcase Pentatonix at New […]

11. ASCAP Faces $123 Million Radio Royalties Lawsuit from Production Music Owners: ‘ASCAP Severely Underpays Its Non-Feature Music Members for the Utilization of Their Works’

    Is ASCAP systematically underpaying radio performance royalties for non-feature music? A number of production music owners and publishers believe so, and they’ve slapped the PRO with a $123 million lawsuit as a result. Alibi Music, Capp Records, Manhattan Production Music, and eight others, repped by entertainment attorney Richard Busch, submitted that multimillion-dollar complaint to the...

12. Beyond Borders—Selah Vie’s Unique, Global-First Approach to Artist Growth

    In today’s global music ecosystem, success is increasingly defined by global impact. For independent artists and labels, breaking through internationally has traditionally been an exercise in herding cats. But Kaleena Arbuco, founder of Selah Vie International, believes that the industry is approaching this from an outdated perspective. “Artists no longer need massive budgets or major […]

13. Drill Rapper Kay Flock Hit With 30-Year Prison Term; Judge Dismisses ‘Intellectual Disability’ Claims

    Drill rapper Kay Flock has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for gang violence charges, including various weapons and assault charges, as well as racketeering conspiracy. Kay Flock, the 22-year-old drill rapper best known for the hit “PSA,” has been sentenced to 30 years in prison in a packed courthouse hearing on Tuesday. Judge […]

14. AIM Ireland Pushes for a ‘Spotify Levy’ to Power the Next Generation of Irish Artists

    AIM Ireland wants the government to introduce a content levy on streaming services like Spotify to raise funds for the next generation of Irish musicians. AIM Ireland (Association of Independent Music), a trade body representing the country’s independent music industry, wants to government to introduce a content levy on streaming services such as Spotify to […]

15. PRS Pays Out a Record £274.9 Million ($368 Million) In Its Final Distribution of 2025

    PRS for Music announces its largest-ever royalty payout during its final distribution of the year, with over £274.9 million ($368 million) given to rightsholders worldwide for the quarter. UK organization PRS for Music, which tracks, collects, and pays songwriters, composers, and music publishers for the use of their music across streaming, downloads, broadcast radio, or […]