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. Kratter v. Spotify Venue Battle Intensifies — Artist and Attorney Fires Back Against Transfer Request, Demands Legal Fees

   Artist Mark Kratter’s “undisclosed filtering practices” lawsuit against Spotify has gotten very ugly, very fast: Moments after the DSP moved to shift the case to federal court, Kratter has fired back against the “frivolous” request and demanded attorney’s fees for his trouble. We covered Spotify’s straightforward notice of removal yesterday. In short, citing potential damages […]

2. T.I. and Tiny Awarded $0 in Punitive Damages Following Fourth Trial in Marathon OMG Girlz Legal Battle

   With a fourth trial now in the books, T.I. and Tameka “Tiny” Harris have been awarded a whopping $0 in punitive damages in their long-running legal battle with Bratz and Little Tikes maker MGA Entertainment. A California jury just recently decided on that total following yet another trial in the marathon dispute. We’ve been covering […]

3. Sydney Beach Brand Beats Eminem In Legal Battle Over ‘Swim Shady’ Trademark

   Sydney beach brand Swim Shady has secured a trademark victory against rapper Eminem, who argued the company’s name was too similar to his alter ego. Will the real Swim Shady please stand up? The Sydney beach brand won a major victory in the trademark fight against rapper Eminem, who argued that the company’s name was […]

4. Weird Al Yankovic Abruptly Pulls Out of a Lucrative AI Ad Spot: ‘I Can’t Be the Poster Boy for AI’

   Weird Al reveals that he was offered a lucrative ad spot for productivity software, but he backed out once he realized the product involved AI. “I’m not a fan of AI.” Parody king Weird Al Yankovic sat down for an interview with Syracuse.com ahead of his Syracuse stop on his Bigger & Weirder Tour, where […]

5. Exceleration Music and NexTone Acquire Ryuichi Sakamoto’s Catalog—One of Japan’s Most Important Cultural Legacies

   Exceleration Music and NexTone have acquired the recording and publishing catalog of Ryuichi Sakamoto, one of Japan’s most celebrated cultural legacies. U.S.-based independent music company Exceleration Music has acquired the recording and publishing catalog of composer Ryuichi Sakamoto in a landmark joint venture with Tokyo-based rights administrator and distributor NexTone. Acquired directly...

6. Irving Azoff’s Global Music Rights Was Edged Out of Recent Phonorecords V Deliberations — So What Happened? (Updated)

   Earlier this week, Digital Music News broke the news of a voluntary settlement proposal tied to upcoming US-based mechanical licensing rates as part of the broader Phonorecords V CRB proceedings. That settlement, which focused on a number of non-streaming formats, involved a ‘who’s who’ of organizations across the label, publishing, and, surprisingly, indie realms — […]

7. YouTube Shorts Adds 15-Second Music Clips to Image Posts

   YouTube Shorts announces some new features, including adding 15-second music clips to image posts and enabling users to double their playback speed. YouTube has announced some new functionality to expand YouTube Shorts and further vie with TikTok and Instagram Reels. Image posts, including carousels, can now appear in the Shorts feed to help creators’ audiences […]

8. Rap’s Elite Turn Out for Music Producer Tay Keith’s Funeral in Memphis—Gunna, Sexyy Red, Murda Beatz, Turbo, Plus Label and Political Bigwigs

   On June 30, family, friends, collaborators, and leaders from across the industry gathered in Memphis to celebrate the life of producer Tay Keith. On Tuesday, June 30, family, friends, collaborators, and leaders from across the music industry—including Gunna, Sexyy Red, Murda Beatz, Turbo, Ryan Press of Warner Chappell Music, and songwriter Cambrian Strong, alongside Tennessee […]

9. Spotify Asks Judge to Shift ‘Undisclosed Filtering Practices’ Lawsuit to Federal Court

   Spotify has officially moved to shift to federal court the “undisclosed filtering practices” lawsuit filed against it by artist and attorney Mark Kratter. Spotify set that shift in motion with a notice of removal yesterday, after Kratter fired off an amended complaint (and aggressively sought an injunction) in late June. We covered the expanded action […]

10. Federal Judge Rejects Sony Music’s Request to Supersize Its Udio Lawsuit, Says Doing So Would ‘Considerably Prolong the Proceedings’

    A federal judge has denied Sony Music’s request to dramatically expand the list of allegedly infringed works in its lawsuit against Udio. As we previously reported, Sony Music, the sole major still litigating against Udio, moved to supersize its infringement action in late May. Per the plaintiff, a marathon discovery process enabled it to identify […]

11. Metallica Donates $100,000 to Venezuela Relief Efforts After Back-to-Back Earthquakes

    Metallica’s All Within My Hands foundation is granting $100,000 to earthquake relief efforts in Venezuela following back-to-back devastating earthquakes. Back-to-back devastating earthquakes hit Venezuela on June 24, registering at magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 and hitting less than a minute apart. Over 600 aftershocks have continued to swell, making already strenuous rescue operations even more...

12. Hacker Uses Claude to Score Free Tickets to Nearly Every Major Music Festival In the US

    A white-hat hacker and security researcher discovered an AI exploit using chatbot Claude to gain full access to the systems that handle ticketing for nearly every major US festival. In April, security researcher and “white-hat” hacker Ian Carroll used the AI tool Claude Opus 4.7 to discover an exploit that allowed him full access to […]

13. Makin’ Moves in MENA: Anghami Majority Stakeholder OSN Announces Plans to Acquire Remaining Shares

    Following last year’s merger between media and entertainment giant OSN and music streaming platform Anghami, OSN is looking to acquire full ownership. Dubai-based entertainment and media giant OSN has launched a bid for full ownership of UAE music streamer Anghami, after acquiring a majority share under last year’s merger between the two companies. The acquisition […]

14. Tasha K Ordered to Pay Cardi B $60,000 After Violating Her Previous Agreement—On Top of the $4 Million She Already Owes

    Cardi B secures another win against gossip vlogger Tasha K, who now owes the star $60,000 for violating a previously established non-disparagement agreement. Tasha K keeps setting them up; Cardi B keeps knocking them down. The gossip vlogger has agreed to pay the rap star $60,000 for violating a previously established non-disparagement settlement. That’s on […]

15. Elton John Is About to Become a Las Vegas Fixture—As a Hologram

    Elton John has signed a multi-million-dollar deal to star in a Last Vegas residency as a hologram, set to open at the new Hard Rock Hotel next summer. The legendary Elton John has signed a multi-million-dollar deal to star in a first-of-its-kind Las Vegas residency—as a hologram. The show is set to become one of […]