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. TikTok Won’t Be Killed By Canadian Government, After All

   The Canadian government will let TikTok continue to operate in Canada, subject to new legal stipulations, after completing a national security review. On Monday, the Canadian government announced that it will allow TikTok to continue operation in Canada after completing a national security review. The approval is subject to new legally binding stipulations, and will […]

2. 26 States (Plus D.C.) Seek Mistrial in Live Nation Legal Battle — Ticketmaster Parent Pushes for Settlement Conference as Part of ‘Pragmatic Solution’

   On the heels of the Justice Department’s Live Nation settlement, more than two dozen states are plowing ahead with litigation – and aggressively pushing for a mistrial. The relevant states entreated the court to declare a mistrial yesterday, soon after the DOJ and Live Nation revealed their mid-trial agreement. Of course, it’s not every day […]

3. First Study of Investor Sentiment on Music Aims to Bring More Transparency to the Inner Workings of Music Investment

   Fourth Pillar’s Music Investment Barometer offers the first dedicated study into the views, behaviors, and outlook of global music investors. Corporate and financial strategic communications firm Fourth Pillar has announced the findings of its inaugural Music Investment Barometer, the first dedicated study designed to track sentiment across the global music investment community. Drawing on...

4. Anna’s Archive Sued by Lengthy List of Publishers—Book Publishers, That Is

   A coalition of major book publishers files suit against Anna’s Archive over “staggering” levels of piracy, echoing the suit filed by Spotify and several major record labels in December. A group of 13 major book publishers, including HarperCollins, Penguin Random House, and Elsevier, has filed a lawsuit against the shadow library Anna’s Archive. The filing […]

5. Indie Artist Coalition Files Major Lawsuit Against Google Over AI Copyright Theft—’Broadest, Most Comprehensive Attack’ Against AI Music Models

   A group of independent musicians is suing Google over the alleged widespread theft and distribution of copyrighted material. A coalition of independent musicians from across the United States has filed a lawsuit against tech giant Google over more than just allegations that the company’s AI models rely on stealing and copying original works. In fact, […]

6. GEMA v. Suno Copyright Case Ramps Up in Germany — High-Stakes Ruling Officially Scheduled for June 12th

   As one high-profile music-world trial draws to an abrupt close, another case is ramping up: Over in Germany, proceedings are officially underway in GEMA’s copyright infringement action against Suno. We initially covered that action in early 2025, shortly after GEMA submitted the suit to the Munich Regional Court. And against the backdrop of stateside Suno […]

7. USA vs. Live Nation Is Officially Over: DOJ’s Case Abruptly Settled — With Some Very Important Concessions

   The U.S. Department of Justice’s case against Live Nation has abruptly been settled, according to a raft of details confirmed to Digital Music News by the concert giant. For months, sources to Digital Music News had indicated — even promised — that USA v. Live Nation would never head to trial, thanks to feverish, late-stage […]

8. Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Many Fires: Nearly 30 States Vow to Continue Litigating Against Live Nation Following Trial-Ending DOJ Settlement

   Live Nation has settled with the Justice Department, but more than 25 states have disclosed plans to continue litigating against the Ticketmaster parent. Several of those states’ attorneys general confirmed as much today, shortly after Live Nation and the DOJ reached a trial-ending agreement. As we broke down, the agreement contains significant concessions — the […]

9. Shazam Now Available on ChatGPT—Here’s How It Works

   Apple reveals that Shazam is now available within ChatGPT, following the Apple Music integration several months ago. On the heels of Apple Music coming to ChatGPT, which enables using the AI platform to create playlists, Apple-owned Shazam is now available in ChatGPT. This allows users to ask, “Shazam, what’s playing?” or “Shazam, what is this […]

10. DMN’s Inbox Got Flooded With Emails After Live Nation’s DOJ Settlement — And Not One Had a Nice Thing to Say

    A raft of prominent industry (and non-industry) figures and organizations are now speaking out on Live Nation’s settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice. Here’s a rundown of who’s saying what (spoiler alert: the responses have been overwhelmingly negative — to put it mildly). No sooner had Live Nation/Ticketmaster secured a settlement with the U.S. […]

11. When It Rains, It Pours: Valve Faces PRS Lawsuit Over Allegedly Unlicensed Steam Music, Still Staring Down $880 Million+ UK Consumer-Harm Complaint

    Valve Corporation has for decades been operating Steam without the required UK public performance license – at least according to a new lawsuit from PRS for Music. PRS formally announced the complaint, technically filed closer to March’s beginning, today. As some know, Bellevue, Washington-headquartered Valve is the company behind (among other things) Steam, the largest […]

12. ‘Wasserman’ Name Officially Wiped as Agency Sale Process Inches Forward

    The Wasserman Agency is rebranding as “The Team” as the company scrubs the disgraced executive’s surname from the agency. So what’s next? Though Casey Wasserman’s ties to the Epstein Files are decidedly limited, the executive has stepped away from the talent agency that bears his name—and now that agency is rebranding as formal bidding for […]

13. Boston’s Tommy DeCarlo Tragically Passes Away — Replacement Singer Was a Superfan Who Kept the Band Going After Brad Delp’s 2007 Suicide

    Tommy DeCarlo, lead singer of the rock band Boston since the 2007 passing of original singer Brad Delp, has died after a battle with brain cancer. He was 60. Tommy DeCarlo, the lead singer of the rock band Boston since 2007, has passed away at age 60 following a brain cancer diagnosis back in September. […]

14. Rihanna’s Beverly Hills Mansion Riddled by Bullets from an AR-15 Rifle — In Broad Daylight

    A 35-year-old woman fired a flurry of shots from an AR-15 into Rihanna’s Beverly Hills-area home on Sunday, with one round penetrating the wall of the mansion. Law enforcement has identified 35-year-old Florida resident Ivanna Ortiz, who fired several shots into Rihanna’s Beverly Hills-area mansion with an “AR-15 style weapon” on Sunday. One round penetrated […]

15. HYBE and Spotify Ink K-Pop Video Podcast Series — As the Podcast Wars Escalate

    K-pop giant HYBE signs a partnership with Spotify to launch a video podcast show on the streaming platform, set to launch on March 23rd. Korean entertainment giant HYBE has inked a partnership with Spotify to launch a video podcast show on the streaming platform, set to debut on March 23. Starting in April, the episodes […]