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. Universal Music, Sony Music, and Suno Reportedly Hit Hard Impasse in Settlement Discussions — As Warner Music’s Suno Partnership Takes Shape

   Universal Music, Sony Music, and Suno have reportedly hit a hard impasse in their settlement discussions, where, unsurprisingly, the “walled garden” hang-up is said to be taking center stage. Word of that resolution roadblock surfaced in a recent Financial Times piece – though admittedly, the rumored standstill doesn’t come as a shock. In the first […]

2. A Fan’s Recordings of Over 10,000 Concerts Are Now a Curated Online Archive

   A fan’s recordings of over 10,000 concerts across four decades are now becoming a curated online archive, thanks to a group of volunteers. Since 1984, a music fan named Aadam Jacobs has been recording audio of sets from up-and-coming bands, predominantly in Chicago. Now, thanks to a group of volunteers across the United States and […]

3. Secretly Distribution Acquires Entertainment Intelligence and Babel Ops

   Secretly Distribution acquires Entertainment Intelligence and Babel Ops, which develop bespoke data and analytics tools for the independent sector. Secretly Distribution (SD) has announced its acquisition of Babel Ops, the technology firm responsible for Entertainment Intelligence (Ei) as well as bespoke data and analytics tools for a myriad of music business clients in the independent […]

4. Supreme Court’s Cox v. Sony Decision Disrupts Another ISP Legal Battle — And Prompts Changes in Music Publishers’ Anthropic Complaint

   Another ISP legal battle has been disrupted by the Supreme Court’s Cox v. Sony decision. Now, the major labels and Altice have jointly moved to pause their years-old copyright dispute. The litigating labels and Altice (which currently operates as Optimum Communications) just recently asked the court for a response-deadline extension. Like multiple other rightsholder-versus-ISP infringement...

5. Second Circuit Court of Appeals Refuses to Reconsider BMI Concert Rate Decision — A Huge Win for Live Nation, AEG, MSG, C3, and Others

   The Second Circuit Court of Appeals has refused to reconsider its rate-setting decision in a marathon legal battle involving Live Nation and different promoters. The appropriate two-judge panel and the appellate court itself just recently rejected a pair of related requests from Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI). And these requests followed a late-February decision in favor […]

6. Sony Music and Universal Music Partner on Japan-Based ‘Nine by Nine’ Festival JV, Plot Initial Event for 2027

   Sony Music and Universal Music are looking to capitalize on Asia’s booming festival sector with a newly launched JV called Nine by Nine. Announced in Japan closer to April’s start, Tokyo-based Nine by Nine, not to be confused with the former Thai boy band of the same name, is just now making a media splash […]

7. Apple-Backed Gamma Disputes Disappointing Kanye West ‘Bully’ First-Week Album Sales Figures

   Gamma is now disputing somewhat underwhelming first-week album sales figures for Ye’s ‘Bully’ on the heels of the cancellation of Wireless Fest. The album struggled to top 150,000 ‘album equivalent’ units despite an ultra-expensive rollout campaign. Ye, the disgraced artist formerly known as Kanye West, has been pushing for a comeback after his pivot into […]

8. Patreon Podcasters Earned $629 Million In 2025, Platform Reveals

   Podcasts are having a major boom on Patreon, generating $629 million in revenue on the direct-to-fan platform in 2025. If you thought Spotify was out of its element in pushing to expand into podcasting, you’d be sorely mistaken. Podcasts are having a boom on Patreon, generating over $629 million in revenue on the direct-to-fan platform […]

9. Industry Mogul David Geffen Quietly Settles Nasty Divorce Battle

   Billionaire music mogul David Geffen finally settles his highly publicized divorce with model David Armstrong, 50 years his junior. David Geffen has finally settled his highly contentious divorce with the much-younger model and former go-go dancer David Armstrong. Court documents reveal that the 83-year-old billionaire marked “uncontested,” meaning that both parties agreed on every key […]

10. Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne’s Los Angeles Mansion Is Now Up for Sale for a Cool $17 Million

    Sharon Osbourne puts her Los Angeles mansion, shared with the late Ozzy, up for sale for $17 million, located in Hancock Park, just south of Hollywood. The Los Angeles home of Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne is now on the market. The couple purchased the seven-bedroom, 11-bathroom Hancock Park mansion in 2015 and originally listed it […]

11. Police Arrest Top Suspect Following Offset Shooting In Florida

    Rapper Lil Tjay was arrested on Monday night and charged in connection with the shooting of fellow rapper Offset in South Florida. Update: Tjay’s attorney has sent the following statement to Digital Music News.  “We are issuing this release in regards to false rumors that Lil Tjay was involved in a shooting which occurred at […]

12. Italian Court Deems Netflix Price Hikes Illegal, Orders Immediate Rollbacks and Refunds

    An Italian court has ruled that Netflix illegally raised monthly subscriber rates without providing a valid reason to consumers, and now it must pay. An Italian court in Rome has ruled that Netflix price hikes from 2017 to 2024 are illegal, and subscribers are entitled to a refund. According to the court, Netflix did not […]

13. Universal Music’s Board Offers an Official ‘Meh’ on Pershing Square’s $64 Billion Bid

    Universal Music Group issues a statement on Pershing Square’s unsolicited offer ahead of the Board of Directors completing its review of the proposal. Pershing Square’s proposed $64 billion takeover scheme for Universal Music Group (UMG) has the industry buzzing and stocks soaring. But the company’s Board of Directors doesn’t seem too keen on the offer, […]

14. YouTube Pulls Out All the Stops for Coachella 2026 — Seven-Stage Livestreaming, ‘Coachella TV,’ Exclusive Merch, and More

    YouTube is pulling out all the stops for its Coachella 2026 experience, including with seven simultaneous livestream feeds, exclusive merch, and more. The video-sharing giant just recently confirmed its bolstered Coachella hub, which is poised to receive a full-scale launch in tandem with the festival kickoff this Friday. Following well-documented attendance woes, the 2026 installment’s...

15. $75 Million for a 50 Cent Documentary? It’s More Likely Than You Think—Hulu Greenlights Three-Part Rapper Profile

    50 Cent teased that Hulu was paying $75M for a documentary about him, but since it was April 1, fans weren’t sure if it was a joke. It wasn’t. On April 1, rapper 50 Cent posted on social media that Hulu was paying $75 million for a documentary about him, having beaten out Apple, Netflix, […]