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. Latest Music Industry Hires: Warner Music, CAA, UMG UK, Believe, Babygrande Records, Paragon, Bucks Music Group, More

   Here’s a recap of recent music industry hires and in-house promotions as of December 15th, 2025. 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 […]

2. Why AI Music Companies Urgently Need Access to Accurate Music Rights Data 

   In the wake of groundbreaking AI music deals recently announced, Music Reports has an urgent message for the music industry. Simply stated: without accurate and timely music rights data, the most ambitious AI music partnerships are unlikely to succeed, with billions in added revenue squandered. Here’s the company’s letter to the music industry, the AI […]

3. Louis Vuitton Names Future Latest Ambassador and ‘Friend of the House’ Thanks to Praise from Current Men’s Creative Director Pharrell Williams

   On the heels of the appointment of its current Men’s Creative Director Pharrell, Louis Vuitton names Future its latest Friend of the House ambassador. French luxury fashion house Louis Vuitton has named Future as its latest “Friend of the House” ambassador. He joins his “Move That Dope” collaborator Pharrell Williams, the brand’s current Men’s Creative […]

4. Dionne Warwick Sued by Management Rights Company That Negotiated Her ‘Walk on By’ Doja Cat Sample Deal

   Dionne Warwick is being sued by the company that negotiated her deal for the “Walk on By” sample used in Doja Cat’s “Paint the Town Red.” R&B legend Dionne Warwick has been hit with a lawsuit from the management rights company that negotiated her deal for the sample of her song “Walk on By” used […]

5. TikTok Taps Ciara As Music Guest at Upcoming Creator Awards in Hollywood

   TikTok announces music guest Ciara and unveils new hosts for the upcoming Creator Awards at the Hollywood Palladium on December 18. TikTok’s first-ever U.S. edition of its awards show kicks off on Thursday, December 18, streaming live from the Hollywood Palladium on TikTok Live and official streaming partner Tubi. The short-form video platform has announced […]

6. Lady Gaga Scores Legal Victory Against Surf Company Over ‘Mayhem’ Branding — But This Battle Ain’t Over Yet

   A judge has ruled that Lady Gaga can continue to sell ‘Mayhem’ merch despite a surf company’s ongoing lawsuit to stop her. Lost Surfboards sued the singer back in March. Shortly after the release of Lady Gaga’s latest album, Mayhem, a company called Lost Surfboards sued the pop superstar over her merch that used a […]

7. Universal Music Reportedly Offers to Sell Curve Amid EU’s Downtown Acquisition Review — IMPALA Adamant That ‘The Best Solution Is Blocking the Whole Deal Outright’

   A new report is shedding light on the “robust remedy” submitted to the European Commission by Universal Music Group (UMG), which could be willing to divest Curve Royalty Systems to get the nearly $800 million Downtown deal over the finish line. That interesting detail surfaced in a brief MLex update today, just days after UMG […]

8. FTC Says ‘No Comment’ on Possible Pro Music Rights, AllTrack Investigation — But PMR Is ‘Actively Exploring Legal Action’

   The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has declined to comment on its possible probe into AllTrack and Pro Music Rights (PMR). Meanwhile, PMR says it’s “actively exploring legal action” against the congressman who requested the investigation. One week ago, that congressman, U.S. Representative Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI), asked the FTC to “examine potential unfair or deceptive acts […]

9. Streaming Data Shows Holiday Music Is Sadder Than Ever

   Holiday music is getting sadder. Artists like Phoebe Bridgers, Sabrina Carpenter, and Ed Sheeran are driving the shift with sad Christmas tracks as playlists for melancholy holiday moods surge across Spotify and Apple Music. This article was written by April Clare Welsh in collaboration with How Music Charts. Music Trends on Digital Music News is powered […]

10. Is Christmas Starting Earlier and Earlier for the Music Industry?

    Christmas music is charting earlier each year—just after the summer ends, according to Spotify. But Scrooges might be surprised to learn it’s not strictly due to commercialism. By the second week of December, 20 of the top 25 tracks on Spotify are Christmas-themed. Only heavy-hitters like Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia” or “Golden” from […]

11. Tyla Gets a Brand Boost—Singer’s Management Partners with Hybe In Broader African Expansion

    Hybe partners with Tyla’s managers Brandon Hixon and Colin Gayle in a significant expansion into the African music market. South Korean music giant Hybe has announced a major expansion into the ever-growing African music market in a global management partnership with Brandon Hixon and Colin Gayle. Known for their work with Tyla, who will be […]

12. Today In TikTok Catalog Explosions: Kato’s 15-Year-Old ‘Turn the Lights Off’ Surges Thanks to a Jon Hamm-Fueled Meme

    Kato’s 2010 dance track ‘Turn the Lights Off’ surges to the top of Spotify’s viral charts thanks to a Jon Hamm meme on TikTok. A meme involving a clip of actor Jon Hamm vibing in a nightclub from the Apple TV+ series “Your Friends & Neighbors” is breathing new life into Kato’s 15-year-old dance hit […]

13. Are People Really Listening to AI Podcasts? Yup—and a Startup is Churning Out 3,000 Episodes a Week

    At least 175,000 AI-generated podcast episodes are available on platforms like Spotify and Apple. This company is churning out 3,000 episodes a week. As the rise of artificial intelligence seems to affect most of the entertainment and tech sectors, at least podcasting remains safe, right? Wrong. Already, there are at least 175,000 AI-generated podcast episodes […]

14. NYC Radio Show Shutdowns: Hot 97 Abruptly Cancels ‘Ebro in the Morning,’ The Block Says Goodbye to Miss Jones and Ed Lover

    Two of New York City’s most popular hip-hop morning shows have been shut down: Hot 97’s Ebro in the Morning, and The Block’s Miss Jones and Ed Lover. Major changes are coming to New York City’s morning hip-hop radio offerings. Hot 97 has cancelled Ebro in the Morning, while 94.7 The Block has removed radio […]

15. The Weeknd Finalizes $1 Billion+ Catalog Mega-Deal with Lyric Capital—’No ABS or Securitization Deal Here’

    The Weeknd closes a $1 billion-plus catalog deal with Lyric Capital in which the artist and his team maintain creative control over his body of work. After rumors over the summer that The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye) was seeking $1 billion for his catalog, a deal has finally materialized with Lyric Capital Group. The deal—which is […]