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. iHeartMedia and TikTok Tout Bruno Mars Album Promo Campaign, Say They’ve Created ‘A New Blueprint for Artist Launches Moving Forward’

   Now united under a multifaceted partnership deal – and having collaborated on a promo campaign for Bruno Mars’ The Romantic – iHeartMedia and TikTok say they’ve developed “a new blueprint for artist launches moving forward.” iHeart and TikTok touted that “next-generation release format” today, three weeks and change after Mars debuted The Romantic. The Avex-partnered […]

2. TLC and Salt-N-Pepa Announce First-Ever Co-Headlining Tour with Special Guest En Vogue

   Salt-N-Pepa and TLC team up for a co-headlining tour across North America, with special guest En Vogue, uniting three iconic groups for the first time. Hot on the heels of their induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Salt-N-Pepa have announced an epic co-headlining tour with fellow 1990s R&B girl group TLC. They […]

3. Chappell Roan’s Brazilian Drama Heats Up—Jude Law’s Ex Puts the Singer on Blast Over Something Apparently Very Important

   After Chappell Roan’s allegedly negative interaction with an 11-year-old in Brazil draws national ire, the girl’s mother puts the singer on blast. Over the weekend, Brazilian soccer star Jorginho Frello accused singer Chappell Roan of making his stepdaughter (actor Jude Law’s biological daughter) cry after an incident with her security at a São Paulo hotel. […]

4. Fans Blast Netflix for AI-Generated Hillel Slovak Voiceover In Red Hot Chili Peppers Documentary

   Netflix’s documentary on the early days of the Red Hot Chili Peppers features an AI-generated voiceover of the band’s late guitarist, Hillel Slovak. On Friday, Netflix’s new documentary, The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother, Hillel, premiered. The film offers a previously unseen look at the band’s early days, and is mostly […]

5. BTS Comeback Concert Dubbed a ‘Disaster’ After Underwhelming Turnout—Hybe Shares Immediately Tank

   The turnout for BTS’ comeback show was much lower than anticipated, negatively affecting local businesses’ bottom lines. Hybe shares take a tumble. K-pop boy band sensation BTS reunited on Saturday night for a free concert in Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square, an event so hotly anticipated that city officials increased security measures to ensure the safety of […]

6. White House Reiterates Support for Fair Use AI Training, Says the Courts Should ‘Resolve This Issue,’ and Backs a Law Enabling Rightsholders ‘To Collectively Negotiate Compensation from AI Providers’

   The Trump administration has reiterated its belief that training AIs on protected IP constitutes fair use – while urging Congress to let the courts “resolve this issue.” Additionally, the White House is calling on lawmakers to establish a system through which rightsholders can seek licensing compensation. We touched on these and other “legislative recommendations” when […]

7. It’s Official: Primary Wave to Acquire Kobalt In Landmark, Multi-Billion Dollar Publishing Deal

   In a move that significantly reshapes the music publishing landscape, Primary Wave Music has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Kobalt from Francisco Partners. The deal, which includes a strategic investment from Brookfield, was confirmed this morning to Digital Music News this morning via email by both Primary Wave and Kobalt. The deal immediately brings […]

8. Chance the Rapper Dodges a $4 Million Bullet In Long-Running Ex-Manager Lawsuit

   Chance the Rapper’s five-year-plus legal battle with his former manager is finally over, and he gets $35 out of the deal. And no, that’s not a typo. After more than five years, Chance the Rapper’s legal battle with his former manager, Pat Corcoran (AKA, Pat the Manager), finally came to an end on Friday. A […]

9. Fallout from Trump’s Live Nation Settlement Continues: Klobuchar’s Antitrust Accountability and Transparency Act’ is Officially On the Books

   Senators pitch legislation to strengthen antitrust settlement procedures after finding the DOJ’s settlement with Live Nation to be lacking. Not only do the state attorneys general find the Department of Justice’s recent settlement with Live Nation lacking, so do senators. Now, they’re pitching legislation to strengthen proceedings for antitrust-related settlements altogether to avoid the same...

10. Rio de Janeiro Mayor Bans Chappell Roan After Ugly Incident Involving Brazilian Soccer Star’s Stepdaughter

    Chappell Roan is banned from Rio de Janeiro by the city’s mayor after an incident that made a Brazilian soccer star’s 11-year-old stepdaughter cry. Brazilian soccer star Jorginho Frello put Chappell Roan on blast after a member of the singer’s security allegedly caused his 11-year-old stepdaughter to cry. Now, Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere […]

11. Justin Timberlake’s Sag Harbor Arrest Footage Released Despite Singer’s Attempts to Block It

    Footage of Justin Timberlake’s June 2024 traffic stop, field sobriety test, and subsequent arrest was released despite his legal efforts to block it. On Friday, Justin Timberlake’s June 2024 DWI arrest footage was released despite the former *NSYNC star’s legal attempt to block it. The footage’s release came after Timberlake reached a settlement with the […]

12. Man Claiming to Be a Roblox Programmer Arrested for Possession of Child Pornography

    A man claiming to work for Roblox was arrested for possession of child pornography and a child sex doll, according to the Louisiana Attorney General. On Friday, the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office announced that a man claiming to be a Roblox programmer was arrested for possession of child pornography and a “child-sized sex doll.” Arrest […]

13. Trump Administration Releases ‘Comprehensive National Legislative Framework on AI’ — With US States Leapfrogged Entirely

    The White House publishes a National AI Legislative Framework, and at least one copyright advocate is applauding the government for taking action to protect IP. Individual states are far less enthusiastic, however. On Friday, the Trump administration released an artificial intelligence (AI) policy urging lawmakers to enact legislation ahead of states imposing their own rules, […]

14. The Michael Smith Streaming Fraud Case Is a Wrap — But Are DSPs Equipped to Stop Similar Schemes in the AI Age?

    One guilty plea later, the federal wire fraud case against streaming scammer Michael Smith is a wrap. But have DSPs remedied the shortcomings that allowed the multimillion-dollar scheme to unfold? Though not quite new, this and related questions are now taking center stage. Ahead of a scheduled October trial, Smith yesterday entered a guilty plea […]

15. Ontario ‘Puts Scalpers on Notice’ With Its Most Extreme Resale Restriction Proposals Yet

    The Ontario government is now planning to ban reselling live event tickets for more than their original price, after promising to revisit the matter in October. Onario Premier Doug Ford now plans to ban the resale of live event tickets above their face value, including fees, service charges, and taxes. The government’s proposal would apply […]