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. Quavo Slapped with $3B IRS Tax Lien, Based on Reports

   The IRS files a massive federal tax lien against Quavo, seeking just under $3 billion in a debt they say has been accruing since 2021. New legal filings show the IRS is seeking approximately $2,912,644.33 from Quavo in a tax debt they say has been accruing since 2021. Notably, this massive tax lien specifically targets […]

2. Former Barclays Exec Gives Bombshell Testimony in USA v. Live Nation—Reveals Live Nation Threatened to Pull Major Tours If Ticketmaster Deals Weren’t Renewed

   Testimony in the United States v. Live Nation case has put one specific allegation front and center: that Live Nation weaponized major tours dates to keep venues from switching their ticketing away from Ticketmaster. Former BSE Global CEO John Abbamondi testified that the Barclays Center in Brooklyn was looking to switch away from Ticketmaster. In […]

3. Apple Music Now Requires AI ‘Transparency Tags’ for All Uploaded Music—Here Are the Guidelines

   Apple Music is introducing new metadata requirements aimed at providing better transparency around AI-generated content on the platform. Apple Music has launched “Transparency Tags,” a new system of metadata requirements aimed at disclosing content on the platform. According to details confirmed to Digital Music News, record labels and music distributors can now apply these labels […]

4. U.S. On-Demand and Non-Interactive Music Subscribers Hit 130 Million in 2025, Report Estimates — Up from 29 Million in 2016

   According to a new report, the U.S. has added north of 100 million on-demand and non-interactive music subscribers since 2016, with the total having cracked a record high of 130 million during 2025. That report comes from MusicWatch, which recently released its latest “Annual Music Study.” As in prior years, the decades-running resource produced the […]

5. As Robert Kyncl Embraces AI, South Korea’s Music Industry ‘Declares War’ — New Organization Aims to Tackle the Technology’s ‘Unprecedented Disruption’

   Warner Music CEO Robert Kyncl is lauding artificial intelligence’s perceived ability to unlock value. But the technology is eliciting a far different response in South Korea, where industry orgs are coordinating to address the “unprecedented disruption” ushered in by gen AI. Technically, the group behind the initiative, the K-Music Rights Organizations Mutual Growth Committee, formally […]

6. Let the Takeover Battle Begin: Reservoir Receives Competing Offer Following Irenic Bid, Forms ‘Special Committee’ to Weigh the Proposals

   Let the takeover battle begin: About one week after Irenic Capital Management swooped in with an attempt to take Reservoir Media (NASDAQ: RSVR) private, different shareholders have submitted a competing bid. Word of the latter surfaced in SEC filings this afternoon, following Irenic’s official move to purchase Reservoir. As some will recall from our prior […]

7. Music Industry Coalition Urges Senate Committee to Strengthen Ticketing Reform Bill

   A national alliance of independent music and live entertainment industry figures sent a letter to the Senate urging improvements to the TICKET Act. The Fix the Tix Coalition, a national alliance of music and live event organizations led by the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), sent a letter to leaders of the Senate Committee on […]

8. Charli xcx, RÜFÜS DU SOL, The Strokes, The xx, Baby Keem Lead 2026 Outside Lands Lineup

   Outside Lands reveals its 2026 lineup, featuring Charli xcx, RÜFÜS DU SOL, The Strokes, The xx, Baby Keem, Subtronics, GloRilla, Ethel Cain, and more. Now in its 18th year, Outside Lands is returning to celebrate the finest music, food, wine, beer, cocktails, art, and cannabis in Golden Gate Park on August 7, 8, and 9. […]

9. Who Are the Biggest Music Pirates in the Land? United States Trade Representative Releases Latest ‘Notorious Markets Report’

   The United States Trade Representative releases its annual Notorious Markets Report, identifying markets in which widespread piracy is taking place. The United States Trade Representative (USTR) released its annual Notorious Markets Report, revealing digital and physical markets where widespread copyright piracy is taking place, and identifying the biggest offenders. “With the United States...

10. Another Big AI Music Hire: Charlie Puth Named Chief Music Officer at AI Music Platform Moises

    Charlie Puth joins AI music platform Moises as Chief Music Officer to develop AI tools aimed at amplifying artists’ creativity. Music creation software Moises has announced that musician Charlie Puth has joined the company as its Chief Music Officer. In this role, Puth will help guide Moises’ creative and product direction, bringing the perspective of […]

11. Spotify Tees Up a Splashy SXSW Shindig—And ‘You Oughta Know’ the Marquee Performer

    Spotify celebrates its 20th anniversary this year with a birthday bash at SXSW featuring Alanis Morissette, Ella Langley, and St. Vincent. Spotify turns 20 in April, and to celebrate, the Stockholm streaming giant is holding an event at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, featuring headliner Alanis Morissette. Other performances include Ella Langley, St. Vincent, […]

12. Is a Talking Heads Reunion Impossible? After David Byrne Declined an $80 Million Offer, the Question Still Lingers

    Talking Heads have been having an interesting resurgence thanks to younger generations discovering them on TikTok; their timeless classic “This Must Be the Place” has become the quintessential “ultimate comfort track” for road trip footage, aesthetic bedroom shots, and film clips on the short-form video platform. It should come as no surprise, then, that questions […]

13. Create Music Group Scores $450 Million Raise at $2.2 Billion Valuation

    Three months after launching a half-billion-dollar fund, Create Music Group has officially wrapped a $450 million raise secured at a $2.2 billion valuation. 11-year-old Create formally disclosed that funding blast this morning, 21 months removed from a $165 million strategic round. More recently, besides the mentioned catalog fund, Create earlier in February powered a $300 […]

14. USA v. Live Nation Day One Is a Wrap — Opening Arguments Explore the Promoter’s Alleged ‘Gouging,’ Michael Rapino’s Alleged ‘Threats,’ and the Eras Tour Ticketing Fiasco

    Day one of the high-stakes USA v. Live Nation trial is in the books, and following opening arguments, “logistical issues” delayed an initial witness testimony until tomorrow. Meanwhile, the promoter has fired off fresh motions in an attempt to exclude artist-compensation evidence. As we previously broke down, Live Nation’s prior set of motions – including […]

15. Supreme Court Declines to Review a Monumental AI Copyright Decision — Leaving the ‘Human Authorship’ Standard In Place

    The Supreme Court has opted against hearing a case concerning an attempt to copyright AI-generated artwork – thereby leaving in place an appellate court’s determination that the Copyright Act “requires all eligible work to be authored in the first instance by a human being.” That cert rejection surfaced (along with a number of others) in […]