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. Spotify Launches Global Campaign Tied to Release of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

   Spotify launches a global campaign for the release of “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,” featuring select tracks from the Super Mario Galaxy video games. To celebrate the Super Mario Bros. franchise’s 40th anniversary, Spotify is launching a global campaign in collaboration with Nintendo, tied to the release of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. As part […]

2. Judge Dismisses Diddy’s $100 Million Defamation Lawsuit Against NBC Over ‘Making of a Bad Boy’ Documentary

   A judge has dismissed Diddy’s $100 million defamation lawsuit against NBC over its “Bad Boy” documentary after the rap mogul admitted in court that he ruined his own career. A New York judge has dismissed Sean “Diddy” Combs’ $100 million defamation lawsuit against NBC and Peacock over the 2025 documentary, Diddy: Making of a Bad […]

3. Rumblings Emerge on a Potential $3 Billion Sale of Wasserman (Sorry, ‘The Team’)

   Suitors are lining up to court the former Wasserman agency since it rebranded and put itself up for sale to distance itself from its namesake. Since Casey Wasserman’s emails surfaced in the Epstein files, the agency that carried his name has been hard at work rebranding to The Team and cutting ties with its now-controversial […]

4. Judge Tosses Smokey Robinson’s $500 Million Defamation Countersuit Against Jane Doe Accusers

   A judge has dismissed Smokey Robinson’s defamation countersuit filed against his accusers, who filed a sexual abuse lawsuit against the Motown legend. A judge has dismissed Smokey Robinson’s defamation claims in a countersuit filed against his former employees, who sued the Motown legend last year. The judge determined there was no evidence that the former […]

5. Longtime San Francisco Symphony Conductor Michael Tilson Thomas Passes Away

   Michael Tilson Thomas, a longtime conductor of the San Francisco Symphony, as well as a storied composer and pianist, has passed away. He was 81. Michael Tilson Thomas, a conductor, composer, and pianist who spent 25 years as music director of the San Francisco Symphony, passed away on Wednesday at his San Francisco home. He […]

6. Major Labels Drop Verizon and Altice Copyright Lawsuits Following ‘Cox v. Sony’ Decision — Both Cases Voluntarily Dismissed With Prejudice

   Just like that, at least two music industry infringement lawsuits against internet service providers – Verizon and Altice USA here – have drawn to an abrupt close following the Supreme Court’s Cox v. Sony decision. We’ve been covering those copyright complaints (plus multiple others filed against ISPs) for years now. Spearheaded by Warner Music and […]

7. Laufey, Damiano David, Kali Uchis Pull D4vd Collabs as Autopsy and Lurid Investigation Details Emerge

   Several artists who had collaborations with singer D4vd have pulled their tracks as the autopsy results in the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez emerge. D4vd’s solo tracks and hits, however, remain on streaming platforms like Spotify. Celeste Rivas Hernandez, the teen girl whose body was found in September in the trunk of a Tesla registered […]

8. Canada’s FACTOR Announces $1.5 Million Live Sector Funding Programs Amid Mounting Festival Cancellations

   As Canadian music festivals continue to call it quits, FACTOR has announced plans to distribute CA$2 million (about $1.5 million) in live sector funding.   The Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings (FACTOR) just recently detailed the funding and the involved programs, one backing event promoters and the other assisting festivals in particular. In keeping […]

9. Early ‘Michael’ Box Office Numbers Are Trickling In From France, UK, Italy, Mexico, Spain, More — We Might Be Looking at Some Record-Setting Global Receipts

   “Michael” comes in strong with initial international box office numbers, generating $18.5 million on its opening day across numerous countries. Lionsgate’s Michael, a musical biopic chronicling the rise of the King of Pop, debuts on Friday, and things are looking good. Over the weekend, the Michael Jackson film is showing signs of robust box office […]

10. Indie Powerhouse Futures Music Group Raises $6 Million to Fund Artist Partnerships

    Futures Music Group raises $6 million to fund infrastructure and artist development, as well as expansion into catalog partnerships. Independent label collective Futures Music Group, founded by Neon Gold’s Derek Davies and Avenue A’s Dave Wallace, has announced raising $6 million in seed financing from a group of strategic music industry investors across the United […]

11. What Price-Gouging Monopolistic Behavior? Live Nation Hawks a ‘Summer of Live’: One Week, $30 Tickets, Over 4,000 Shows

    Live Nation announces Summer of Live, kicking off with a week of $30 tickets to over 4,000 shows, spanning numerous genres in venues of all sizes. Just after their major court loss (the exact damages of which are still to be determined), Live Nation announces Summer of Live, “a celebration of live music” with $30 […]

12. ‘Non-Generative AI Tools’ for Actual Musicians? Sample-Focused Startup Tamber Scores $5 Million Raise Ahead of May Launch

    We’ve heard plenty about straight gen AI, but is there a market for non-gen AI developed with actual musicians in mind? Tamber intends to find out: Ahead of an official launch in May, the sample-focused startup has raised $5 million. LA-based Tamber reached out with word of the funding today, pointing to backers including Adobe […]

13. Unthinkable? New York AG Letitia James Demands Nothing Short of a ‘Breakup of Live Nation’s Monopoly’

    After a jury found Live Nation liable for monopolization earlier this month, 33 states plus D.C. are pushing for a breakup of Live Nation-Ticketmaster. Here’s the latest. While a jury determined on April 15 that Live Nation-Ticketmaster was liable for operating as a monopoly, the final decision as to the total monetary damages and other […]

14. Scooter Braun’s Name Surfaces in Hollywood Smear Operation, Court Filing Reveals

    A court filing alleges Scooter Braun’s involvement with the entertainment industry’s clandestine smear-site operation, The Hollywood Reporter reveals. The entertainment industry’s emerging smear-site scandal has been heating up since The Hollywood Reporter first exposed it in February. Now, the outlet has revealed a new court filing that appears to tie Scooter Braun more closely to […]

15. Alxchange Partnerships Now Include BUMA/Stemra, AFEM, CAPASSO, and SAMPRA as ‘Creative Weight’ and Ethical AI Attribution Gain Momentum

    BUMA/Stemra has become AIxchange’s marquee CMO partner as the creator-friendly attribution framework takes center stage at IMS Ibiza and Africa Rising Music Conference Johannesburg. Other early believers are also rallying around the recently formed AI music initiative. In the wake of multiple major label tie-ups with generative AI music giants, an influential wing of the […]