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. AI-Powered Audio Transcriber Songscription Announces $5 Million Raise: ‘Now Artists Can Instantly Create Notation for Their Songs’

   AI-powered audio transcriber Songscription has secured $5 million from investors and disclosed long-term plans to develop an app enabling users to “learn any song on any instrument.” Having set sail last year, Songscription announced the multimillion-dollar seed round today. Existing stakeholder Reach Capital led the raise, with other backers including London’s Emerge Capital, Munich’s 10x...

2. The Weeknd Donates $350,000 for Hurricane Melissa Relief in Jamaica

   Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye is donating $350,000 to support emergency relief efforts in Jamaica in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa. The World Food Program (WFP) posted an emergency response in the aftermath of the destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa, and WFP Ambassador Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye is stepping up to the cause. The superstar is […]

3. Twitter Co-Founder Jack Dorsey Funds the Launch of Vine Reboot diVine, Where AI Is Not Allowed

   Remember Vine? It’s back, and it’s called diVine, a new app from a developer of the original Vine and funding from Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey. Vine is back in a big way. A new app launched with funding from Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, diVine seeks to bring back the spirit of the original Vine app. […]

4. Music Creators North America Demands UMG-Udio Licensing Transparency, Says It Can’t Accept Opt-In Assurances Before Seeing ‘The Entirety of the Deal in Writing’

   As UMG and Udio continue to hold their cards close to the vest, Music Creators North America (MCNA) has added its voice to the chorus of demands for deal-terms transparency. MCNA laid out its misgivings and reiterated its broader stance on AI regulations today, in a release that was emailed to DMN. By now, most […]

5. NewJeans Members Begrudgingly Return to Work at ADOR/Hybe Following Court Setback

   K-pop group NewJeans announce their return to record label ADOR following their prolonged legal dispute over their contracts. After a lengthy legal dispute over their contracts, K-pop girl group NewJeans has agreed to return to record label ADOR, which is an imprint of K-pop juggernaut Hybe. ADOR announced to the press that NewJeans members Hyein […]

6. Agitated Songwriter Seeks to Reopen Publishers’ NBA Copyright Infringement Case—Publishers Say They Already Settled

   An “interested party” seeks to reopen music publishers’ case against over a dozen NBA teams. But the publishers say they had nothing to do with the move to reopen it. Last week, we reported that an “interested party” identified in court documents as Jonna Johnson filed a motion seeking to reopen music publishers’ settled copyright […]

7. GoDigital Music Acquires Distribution Platform Octiive & Announces SoundCloud Partnership

   GoDigital Music has acquired Switzerland-based digital music distributor Octiive, which just launched a first-of-its-kind partnership with SoundCloud. Just after news of GoDigital’s rebrand and $230 million in funding last week, GoDigital Music has announced the full acquisition of Octiive, a Switzerland-based digital music distributor serving thousands of independent artists around the world....

8. Spotify Overhauls Its Premium Monetization Approach In India, Indonesia, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa — Launching Lossless-Equipped ‘Platinum’ and Axing Duo, Family

   Spotify is stepping up its monetization game in emerging markets including India and South Africa, where three different ‘Platinum’ tiers are hiking prices significantly. As part of the rollout, lower-earning Family and Duo plans are being nixed. Let the experimentation begin! This and other Premium changes just recently hit Spotify in India, Indonesia, South Africa, […]

9. Too Lost Expands Global Reach, Inking New Deal With Melon in South Korea

   Independent music company Too Lost has signed a direct partnership with Melon, South Korea’s largest local digital service provider (DSP). This deal gives Too Lost’s roster of artists and labels access to one of Asia’s most important music markets. This article was created in collaboration with DMN partner Too Lost. Melon, which is operated by […]

10. Belgian Government Launches Investigation Into Live Nation’s Pukkelpop Acquisition

    The Belgian government has launched an investigation into Live Nation’s acquisition of the country’s Pukkelpop music festival. The probe seeks to determine whether the acquisition could harm competition within Belgium’s live entertainment sector. The Belgian Competition Authority (BCA) has launched an investigation into Live Nation’s acquisition of the Pukkelpop Festival, per a directive from...

11. Italian Photographer Slaps Drake, Republic, OVO With Copyright Infringement Lawsuit — But Is This Infringement or Inspiration?

    Italian photographer Gabriele Galimberti sues Drake over a famous scene in a music video that he claims infringes on his work. But is this actually infringement, or mere innocent reinterpretation? Drake can’t seem to go a month without a new lawsuit, either filed by or against the “Certified Lover Boy.” The latest comes from an […]

12. AI Hits Country: Breaking Rust and Cain Walker—Both Completely AI-Generated Country Artists—Are Suddenly Charting on Spotify, Shazam, iTunes, and Billboard

    We’ve covered AI artist Xania Monet becoming the first AI artist to receive serious traditional radio play. Now get ready for more charting AI artists—Breaking Rust and Cain Walker—who are both making waves on a number of major platforms. This week, Breaking Rust landed the top spot on Billboard’s Country Digital Song Sales chart for […]

13. Canada Wants to Join Eurovision In Strategic Bid to Align More Closely With Europe

    Canada’s government is working with its national broadcaster in a push to join the Eurovision Song Contest amid broader efforts to cozy up to Europe. Canada’s federal budget, released earlier this month, included an interesting nugget amid an otherwise standard 500-page document: a mention that the government is working with Canada’s national broadcaster about joining […]

14. After Inking an NMPA AV-Focused Agreement, Spotify Plans Music Video Rollout in the US

    Spotify announces plans to bring music videos to its platform in the US, following an AV-focused licensing agreement with the NMPA. Spotify has confirmed plans to integrate music videos on the platform over the next few weeks, starting with users in the United States. The move follows a beta launch last year in 12 markets […]

15. Only 36% of UK Club Royalties Reach the Right Creators, New Study Reveals

    A new independent UK initiative has released its first report on how effectively club royalties are distributed in the digital music era. A six-month audit published by Fair Play, a new independent initiative aiming for transparency and accountability in electronic music royalties, provides some much-needed insight into how UK royalties are collected and distributed, and […]