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. Who Isn’t Cancelling at Trump Kennedy Center?—Vienna Philharmonic, Tyrese, Shen Yun, Chicago the Musical, San Francisco Ballet Remain on the Schedule

   A core group of artists and ensembles remains scheduled at the now-Trump Kennedy Center amid a wave of politically charged cancellations. The Kennedy Center’s performance calendar might seem comparatively sparse amid a wave of cancellations and quiet withdrawals that dramatically reshaped its year. But a core group of artists and ensembles remain publicly scheduled to […]

2. When It Rains, It Pours: Ticketmaster Faces Another Class Action Lawsuit, This Time for Allegedly Illegal Surveillance

   Ticketmaster faces even more litigation, this time in the form of a class action alleging its website employs illegal tracking and surveillance tools. Most litigation against Ticketmaster and its parent company Live Nation in recent months has primarily focused on market dominance and so-called “junk fees.” But a newly proposed class action accuses the company […]

3. Grammy-Winning Banjo Player Béla Fleck Becomes Latest to Bail on the Trump Kennedy Center Rebrand

   Banjo player Béla Fleck is the latest musician to pull out of planned performances at the Kennedy Center amid changes from the Trump administration. Béla Fleck, celebrated banjo player and 18-time Grammy Award winner, announced on Tuesday the cancellation of three concerts at the Kennedy Center. The move makes Fleck the latest artist to bow […]

4. Canadian Musician Loses Gig After Google AI Falsely Labels Him a Sex Offender — Turns Out It Was the Wrong Guy

   Canadian fiddler Ashley MacIsaac had a show cancelled after Google produced an AI-generated summary that falsely identified him as a sex offender. Juno Award-winning musician Ashley MacIsaac was floored to learn that Google produced an AI-generated summary falsely identifying him as a sex offender. The Canadian fiddler said he learned of the potential defamation last […]

5. LANDR Acquires Reason Studios, Establishes ‘Artist Council,’ and Sets Sights on ‘Unlocking New Possibilities for Creators Everywhere’

   Longtime digital audio workstation (DAW) developer Reason Studios officially has a new owner: AI-powered distribution, collaboration, and mastering platform LANDR. Montreal-headquartered LANDR announced its deal and plans for Stockholm-based Reason Studios (formerly Propellerhead Software) today. Besides the mentioned offerings, the purchaser affords subscribers access to stem separation tools,...

6. More Data Emerges on UK Music Industry Growth In 2025, With Streaming Posting Single-Digit Percentage Increases

   Streaming services and retailers grew UK revenues from music, video, and games in 2025 to an all-time record, and four times faster than the economy. Streaming and retail entertainment sales grew four times faster than the UK economy in 2025, with music, video, and games revenues up 7.1% to an all-time record of £13.3 billion […]

7. Triller Group Vows to Appeal NASDAQ Delisting, Doubles Down on Goal of ‘Achieving Key Growth Milestones in 2026’

   On the heels of a NASDAQ delisting, Triller Group has vowed to “regain full filing compliance within weeks” – and to hit “key growth milestones in 2026.” Triller Group just recently confirmed the NASDAQ removal and outlined its relisting goal in a formal release. Having long eyed a public listing, Triller landed on the exchange […]

8. Universal Music Group Announces NVIDIA AI Partnership “To Pioneer Responsible AI for Music Discovery”

   Universal Music Group (UMG) has announced a new collaboration with NVIDIA to “pioneer responsible AI for music discovery, creation, and engagement.” UMG says the collaboration aims to enrich and enhance the music experience of music consumers worldwide. Both companies will undertake collaborative research and development to promote shared objectives of advancing human music creation and […]

9. Spotify ‘Shadow Library’ Loses .Org Address—But the Ripped Archive Is Still Live

   Anna’s Archive’s .org domain has been suspended, but operators say it’s likely unrelated to their Spotify “shadow library,” which remains accessible. Open-source shadow library search engine Anna’s Archive has lost its .org domain, which was suspended and placed in “serverHold” status by the .org registry. The move is likely due to legal pressure from rights […]

10. Live Nation Continues Its Global Expansion With the Acquisition of France’s Paris La Défense Arena, Plans ‘To Host Significantly More Productions Year-Round’

    Live Nation’s aggressive international expansion isn’t through yet: Now, as it grapples with considerable U.S. regulatory scrutiny, the promoter’s inked a deal to acquire France’s Paris La Défense Arena. The Ticketmaster parent unveiled its latest purchase today, less than one month after revealing plans to take over the operations of Thailand’s Impact Arena. By now, […]

11. Once High-Flying Ticketing Startup Fanimal Sues Ticketmaster/Live Nation for Putting It Out of Business

    Now-defunct ticketing startup Fanimal is suing Ticketmaster/Live Nation for claims of antitrust practices designed to keep it out of the market. Once-thriving ticketing startup Fanimal has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation and Ticketmaster with allegations that the live events giant used anti-competitive practices designed to oust the smaller company from the market. According...

12. Taylor Swift Dethroned on Spotify Global by ‘Stranger Things’ Star

    Stranger Things star Joe Keery’s solo music project Djo turns Spotify’s Global Chart upside down and dethrones Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia.” Netflix’s hit show Stranger Things may have boosted the classic catalogs of the likes of Prince, Metallica, and Kate Bush, but now its final bow is buoying the music career of actor […]

13. Sun Records Takes Prices Back to 1952 in Weeklong Birthday Bash Honoring Founder Sam Phillips

    In celebration of Sam Phillips’ 103 birthday, Sun Records is honoring its legendary founder by taking prices backward instead of pushing them higher. Starting January 5 and continuing for a week, throwback pricing will be available on select vinyl titles. The promotion will see these vinyl on offer for prices closer to what fans paid […]

14. Corporation for Public Broadcasting Board Officially Votes to Shut Down the Organization Following Funding Clawback

    In keeping with its previously disclosed shutdown plans, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) board has officially voted to dissolve the organization. The CPB confirmed the vote and the resulting dissolution in a brief release this afternoon. Turning back the clock for a moment, July 2025 brought the passage of a rescissions package that, among […]

15. Is ‘TikTok USA’ Really a Done Deal? Chinese Officials’ New Comments Raise Questions About the Divestment’s Status

    Is “TikTok USA” really a done deal? The video-sharing giant’s stateside divestment appeared imminent last month, but new comments are raising questions about the transaction’s precise status. Chinese officials made those comments – published in English via the Communist nation’s state-run China Daily paper – during the holiday break. Having heretofore flown under the radar, […]