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. IMPALA Calls WMG’s Revelator Acquisition ‘Bad News’ — Though the Fireworks May End There

   On the heels of Warner Music Group’s agreement to acquire B2B music platform Revelator, IMPALA issues a statement weighing the pros and cons. Last week, Warner Music Group (WMG) announced entering into an agreement to acquire independent B2B music distribution platform Revelator. Despite the latter’s founder and CEO asserting that “nothing changes about how we […]

2. Pepsi, Diageo Pull Out of Wireless Festival Following Kanye West Headliner Announcement—Budweiser, PayPal Remain On Board

   Pepsi and Diageo have abruptly withdrawn their sponsorships of Wireless Festival following the news that Kanye West will headline the three-day event. Pepsi has announced its withdrawal as lead sponsor of the Wireless Festival in London this summer, just days after the news that antisemitic rapper Kanye West would be headlining the three-day event. Spirits […]

3. Yale University May Have Put a Nail In the Drake vs. Kendrick Rap Battle Coffin: Law School Backs UMG in Amicus Brief

   Law scholars have filed two amicus briefs siding with UMG following Drake’s appeal in his defamation lawsuit over Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.” On Friday (April 3), two amicus briefs filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit voice support for Universal Music Group (UMG), following Drake’s appeal in his defamation […]

4. Latest Music Industry Hires: Bravo! Vail, Dynamite Songs, iHeartMedia, Kakao, Audacy, TouchTunes, Ultra, More

   Here’s a recap of recent music industry hires and in-house promotions as of April 3rd, 2026. If you have a job shuffle to share, we’re all ears. Send us a note to news@digitalmusicnews.com. If you’d like to post a job on our Job Board, just send us a request to noah@digitalmusicnews.com. And, keep track of all the […]

5. Universal Music and Believe Reach Settlement in Copyright Infringement Dispute — $500 Million Case Dismissed With Prejudice

   17 months later, Universal Music Group (UMG) and Believe have officially resolved their $500 million copyright infringement dispute. Both parties confirmed their lawsuit-ending agreement today, after the presiding judge stayed the case back in late December. That stay followed a fruitful initial settlement discussion, was designed to provide more time to reach a deal, and […]

6. Music Publishers’ X Copyright Lawsuit Officially on Pause Following the Supreme Court’s Cox Decision — ‘All Deadlines’ Shelved as the Social Platform Eyes Dismissal

   Major music publishers’ long-running copyright infringement lawsuit against X is now on hard pause following the Supreme Court’s Cox v. Sony Music decision. The presiding judge made that pause official in a recent order, after the publishers and the Elon Musk-owned social platform asked the court to “stay all current deadlines.” And the stay request […]

7. Norman Feels Catalog Finally Makes It to Streaming Services—After Decades of Only Being Available as Samples in Rap Tracks

   Songs from Norman Feels’ original catalog are now available across DSPs, after being available only through samples in others’ songs for decades. Three songs blending R&B, funk, and soul from Norman Feels’ original catalog are now available across all major digital streaming platforms for the first time. Feels’ work has quietly left a lasting impact […]

8. Will ‘Michael’ Beat ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ at the Box Office? Eye-Popping Advance Ticket Sales Data Emerges

   Lionsgate’s ‘Michael’ opens on April 24th, and it’s already well on its way to beating the musical biopic box office record holder, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody.’ Lionsgate’s Michael is about to be startin’ somethin’. The musical biopic debuts on April 24th, but advance ticket sales data indicates an opening between $55 million and $60 million. That’s more than […]

9. This Man Is Making Music Using His Brain Implant

   A quadriplegic man is using his brain implant to produce musical tones by assigning them to different movements identified by six chips in his brain. Galen Buckwalter has been a quadriplegic since a diving accident when he was 16 left him paralyzed from the chest down. The 69-year-old research psychologist had the opportunity to get […]

10. DOJ, FBI Confirm Pooh Shiesty Faces Multiple Federal Charges — and the Possibility of Life in Prison — After Incident Involving Gucci Mane

    That’s one way to get out of a record deal: Pooh Shiesty is now facing federal charges – and the possibility of life in prison – for allegedly kidnapping and robbing three individuals amid an ill-advised attempt to exit a contract. The Justice Department formally announced the criminal complaint (and held a related press conference) […]

11. NSYNC Choreographer Darrin Henson Sues Sony Music Over ‘Bye Bye Bye’ Dance Appearance in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’

    Today in contentious music industry litigation: Sony Music is facing a lawsuit from NSYNC choreographer Darrin Henson over the “Bye Bye Bye” dance’s appearance in Deadpool & Wolverine. Henson just recently submitted the straightforward complaint to a Georgia federal court, some 27 years after being “commissioned to create” the dance behind the well-known NSYNC track. […]

12. Trump Urges America to Boycott Springsteen’s ‘Overpriced Concerts, Which Suck’ After Artist’s Speech at Minneapolis Show

    Trump’s Thursday morning social media posts focus on his personal grudges once more as he slams Bruce Springsteen and urges a boycott of his concerts. Thursday mornings, it’s time for Trump to tell his fans who to hate in his Truth Social posts, and this week it’s Bruce Springsteen. The posts came just hours after […]

13. Time for a Sober Music Festival? National Sober Community The Phoenix Preps the Booze-Free ‘Music on the Mountain’ Festival In Vermont

    This May, The Phoenix, a national sober community of nearly two million, hosts its third annual Music on the Mountain festival in Ludlow, Vermont. Music festivals have long been synonymous with “drugs and rock ‘n roll” culture, which generally includes an excess of drinking. But for many Americans who identify as sober or “sober curious,” […]

14. TikTok’s SoundOn Partners with ACRCloud’s New Derivative Works Detection Service

    TikTok’s music distribution platform SoundOn partners with ACRCloud’s Derivative Works service to crack down on unauthorized uploads. SoundOn, the music distribution and promotion platform owned by TikTok, has deployed a new detection service from content recognition firm ACRCloud. The partnership will integrate the latter’s Derivative Works Detection tool to identify copyrighted works that have...

15. CTM Outlander Acquires Matt Simons’ Masters Catalog

    CTM Outlander acquires singer-songwriter Matt Simons’ master recording catalog, including the global hit “Catch & Release.” On Wednesday, CTM Outlander announced the acquisition of the master recording catalog of American singer-songwriter Matt Simons. The transaction includes masters spanning Simons’ accomplished career, including the albums Living Proof, Pieces, Catch & Release, When...