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. Drake, OVO Sued for Nearly $4M Over ‘Multiple Loan Payment Defaults’

   Drake’s lifestyle brand OVO is locked in ugly litigation with a Florida-based lender over a loan gone sour to the tune of roughly $3.7 million. Drake’s lifestyle brand October’s Very Own (OVO) has been hit with a nearly $4 million lawsuit over “multiple loan payment defaults” from earlier this year. Despite the initial loan having […]

2. In May, Clive Davis Gave One of His Last Interviews in New York—DMN Was There to Cover It

   The late music mogul Clive Davis was interviewed by his son, attorney Fred Davis, just a few weeks ago in an unprecedented father-son conversation that Digital Music News was fortunate enough to capture. The late, great music mogul Clive Davis was interviewed by his son, influential industry attorney Fred Davis, just a few weeks ago […]

3. ‘Michael’ Emerges as a Global Box Office Beast, With Gross Receipts Rapidly Approaching $1 Billion

   Michael has become a global phenomenon, crossing the $960 million threshold on its way to gross $1 billion worldwide and shattering numerous records. Lionsgate’s Michael Jackson biopic continues to rewrite box office history across the globe at just shy of $960 million, with data from Brazil, Japan, and now Russia suggesting the film is well […]

4. 29 Organizations Rally Behind ‘No Consent, No Deal’ AI Approach, Call on Labels and Publishers to End ‘Default Opt-Ins,’ ‘Forced AI Clauses,’ and More

   Looks like the AFM’s lawsuit against Universal Music and Warner Music was just the beginning. Now, 29 organizations are calling on labels and publishers to prioritize “meaningful consent, fair remuneration and full transparency” in their AI licensing agreements. Those organizations, repping artists, songwriters, and music managers alike, today voiced several pressing concerns in an open […]

5. Federal Judge Dismisses Spotify Class Action Suit Alleging ‘Mass-Scale Fraudulent Streaming’ on Drake’s Catalog

   A federal judge has officially dismissed a class action lawsuit filed against Spotify over its alleged failure to stop “billions of fraudulent streams” from reaching Drake’s music. Judge Josephine Staton today granted Spotify’s motion to toss the multifaceted complaint, which set sail this past November with rapper (and Snoop Dogg cousin) RBX aboard as the […]

6. Mureka Becomes the First AI-Native Music Platform, Closing the Loop the Industry Split Apart — From Creation to Listening

   Mureka announced the brand and platform evolution into the world’s first AI-native music platform — built on a single conviction: in music, creation and listening matter equally. A song’s life shouldn’t end the moment it’s generated. In Mureka, it is made, discovered, remixed, and grown. The following comes from Mureka, a partner of DMN. For […]

7. Warner Music, Crumbl Cookies Put the Finishing Touches On Their Settlement After $24 Million Legal Battle

   After a year of litigation and a month of finalizing a settlement, Warner Music and Crumbl have officially put their copyright infringement battle to bed. Warner Music Group (WMG) and cookie chain Crumbl have finalized the agreement behind their copyright infringement settlement, which was announced last month. The settlement was initially confirmed in a Utah […]

8. Live Nation Takes a Break from Price-Gouging With ‘Summer of Live’ Deals

   Live Nation unveils $99 four-packs of tickets to certain shows throughout North America this summer, going on now until July 17 while supplies last. Late last week, Live Nation announced its Summer of Live 4-Pack, a bundle offering four general admission lawn tickets to participating amphitheater shows for $99 before taxes, with all fees included. […]

9. [PIAS] Acquires Signum Records, Expanding Its Classical Music Presence

   [PIAS] announces the acquisition of acclaimed indie classical label Signum Records, expanding its classical music presence in a global agreement. This week, leading music company [PIAS] announced the acquisition of acclaimed independent classical label Signum Records. It’s an agreement that sees the latter retain its distinctive identity and artist-first approach, while further expanding the...

10. So Why Was the Madonna Biopic Scrapped, Anyway?

    Madonna planned to direct a movie about her life, but it never came to fruition. In a new interview, the music icon reveals why the project fell apart. During an in-depth discussion with Interview, pop icon Madonna revealed why the biopic she planned to direct about her life never moved forward, despite talks with both […]

11. What a Life! Legendary Music Mogul Clive Davis Passes Away at 94

    Clive Davis, the legendary music executive whose golden ears and stunningly sharp instincts shaped the sound of popular music for more than half a century, died on Monday at his home in Manhattan. He was 94. Davis’ family confirmed the very sad news this morning, noting that Davis had recently been hospitalized with age-related respiratory […]

12. Rightsholders Have Inked Nearly 300 Commercial AI Agreements — But Only 16% of BPI Indie Label Members Have ‘Begun Exploring Licensing Partnerships,’ Report Finds

    Rightsholders from in and beyond the industry have inked a total of nearly 300 commercial AI agreements — though less than one-fifth of indie labels are actively exploring licensing deals. Both stats come from a BPI-commissioned WPI Economics report based on surveys of labels and consumers. Technically published last month, said report was cited by […]

13. San Antonio Mayor Calls for Cancellation of Kanye West Concert at Taxpayer-Funded Alamodome

    San Antonio’s mayor is urging the cancellation of a planned Kanye West concert at the Alamodome on July 4th, saying the city should not host the antisemitic artist in a city-funded venue. Over the weekend, San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones called for the cancellation of an upcoming Kanye West concert at the Alamodome on […]

14. Tragedy Strikes a Goose Concert as Fan Falls to His Death at Madison Square Garden

    A man fell 150 feet to his death into the section below the balcony at Madison Square Garden during a Goose concert on Saturday night. The man fell 150 feet from the Chase Bridge during a Goose concert shortly before 10 PM and was found “unconscious and unresponsive.” He was identified as 51-year-old Paul Kueker […]

15. MF Doom Estate and Temu Settle Counterfeit Merch Trademark Suit — Ecommerce Platform Seemingly Removes Allegedly Infringing Items

    10 months later, the MF Doom estate is nearing a settlement in its counterfeit merch lawsuit against Temu. Meanwhile, Twenty One Pilots’ decidedly similar case is heading to arbitration. The MF Doom estate fired off its complaint in August 2025, and Twenty One Pilots’ namesake LLC submitted an action of its own the following month. […]