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. Massive Catalog Investments Are Driving Music Industry Funding Growth — But Data Points to a Q3 2025 Raise Volume Slowdown for Startups

   Is there any music industry funding left for the little guy? Leading catalog players drove Q3 2025’s cumulative raise total past a staggering $4 billion, but data points to year-over-year slips in both the volume and average size of non-ABS rounds. These and other worthwhile insights are once again made possible by DMN Pro’s Music […]

2. Taylor Tops 4 Million First-Week Album Sales of ‘The Life of a Showgirl’

   The numbers are out, and it’s official—Taylor Swift tops 4 million (equivalent) album units in the first week of her new album’s release. The Life of a Showgirl was destined to be a chart-topper, but it was a matter of just how high the album would soar. In its first week, the album set a […]

3. São Paulo Court Rules Against TurbineDigital Over ‘Misleading Advertising’ As Streaming Manipulation Crackdown Continues

   Another day, another court ruling against an alleged fake streams provider – this time in Brazil, where TurbineDigital is reportedly being decommissioned. That reported takedown arrives just weeks after a French court ordered hosting companies to boot platforms allegedly dealing in artificial streams. Additionally, it’s one of multiple manipulation-focused rulings to come out of Brazil […]

4. Busta Rhymes Launches Defamation Counterclaim Against Ex-Assistant

   Busta Rhymes files a countersuit against his former assistant for defamation after they accused the rapper earlier this summer of workplace assault. Busta Rhymes has filed a countersuit against his former assistant, Dashiel Gables, who sued the rapper earlier this summer with allegations of workplace abuse. Rhymes, whose legal name is Trevor Smith Jr., was […]

5. Former Lostprophets Singer Ian Watkins Killed in Prison Attack

   Detectives in the UK charged two men with murder after former Lostprophets singer and convicted pedophile Ian Watkins was stabbed to death in prison. British authorities have charged two men with murder after former Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins, 48, was stabbed to death in a West Yorkshire prison, where he was serving a 29-year sentence […]

6. UMG’s CEO Lays It All Out on AI Negotiations—’Nearly A Dozen’ Serious Negotiations Happening, AI Slop Cleanup Underway, and Lines Drawn in the Sand

   Universal Music Group (UMG) Chairman & CEO Lucian Grainge has issued a lengthy internal memo obtained by Digital Music News. The memo outlines the label’s progress in forging agreements with AI companies—including lines drawn in the sand. The communication was shared with Digital Music News by a staffer and reveals that UMG is in advanced […]

7. Drake: The Softest Rapper of All Time?

   Drake just got decisively spanked in court — with UMG walking away without a scratch. But is Drake ready to take the ‘L,’ or is an ill-fated appeal next? That’s the million-dollar — or billion-dollar — question now surfacing after Drake got dunked upon by Universal Music Group in federal court last week. And make […]

8. Adidas Takes Its Bad Bunny Partnership to the Next Level Ahead of Super Bowl LX, Teeing Up the Artist’s First Custom Release

   Ahead of Super Bowl LX – and after selling off all its Yeezy inventory – Adidas is ramping up a long-term partnership with Bad Bunny, who’s preparing to release his first signature shoe under the brand. Technically, the Puerto Rican artist and the German company have been partnered for about five years. But the collaboration […]

9. Eagles Officially the Biggest Sphere Concert Attraction with 50 Shows to Celebrate 50 Years of Best-Selling Album—New Dates in 2026

   To celebrate the 50th anniversary of “The Eagles: Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975,” the best-selling album in US history, the band adds more shows in 2026. The Eagles’ residency at the Las Vegas Sphere now totals 52 shows, from Friday, September 20, 2024, through Saturday, February 28, 2026—making it the longest-running Sphere residency since the venue […]

10. Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour Is Now a Six-Part Documentary Coming to Disney+

    Taylor Swift confirms a widely adopted fan theory—she’s releasing a six-part Eras Tour docuseries on Disney+ this December. During her appearance on “Good Morning America” on October 13, Taylor Swift shared the news of her latest collaboration with Disney+. The long-awaited behind-the-scenes footage from her Eras Tour will debut with the first two episodes on […]

11. Behind the Ticket Resale Underground, Part 4—Why Non-Transferable Tickets Don’t Stop Scalpers & Speculators

    Non-transferable tickets are marketed as a form of consumer protection—meant to tighten access, prevent scalping, and ensure tickets remain in the hands of fans. In reality, tech-savvy ticket brokers have already found sophisticated workarounds. One of the most widely used tools for bypassing this particular restriction is called SecureMyPass. Missed our previous articles in this […]

12. Sudden US-China Tariff Flare-Up Threatens to Dismantle ‘TikTok USA’ Agreement

    China retaliates against Trump’s recent 100% tariff threat, potentially leaving the “TikTok USA” agreement on the cutting room floor. At the eleventh hour, it’s not looking good for the future of TikTok in the United States. If U.S. President Donald Trump imposes new 100% tariffs on Chinese imports, as he threatened to do over the […]

13. T-Pain and Crocs Release ‘Unfurgettable’ Boots with the Fur in Brand’s First Boots Collection

    T-Pain is the new face of Crocs for the footwear brand’s first-ever boots collection, featuring the limited edition “boots with the fur.” T-Pain has teamed up with Crocs for the brand’s first-ever boots collection, which features the “Unfurgettable Leopard Knee-High Boots” with faux fur—a nod to the rapper and singer’s famous line in Flo Rida’s […]

14. Neil Young Pulls Music From Amazon—’Bezos Supports This Government’

    Neil Young has announced he is pulling his entire music catalog from Amazon Music, citing opposition to what he sees as corporate overreach. The aging rocker also had a few critical things to say about Jeff Bezos’ support of President Trump. Young has always been known for his outspoken stands and took to his official […]

15. Latest Music Industry Hires: SESAC, WMG, BiCoastal Productions, Youth Music, Position Music, More

    Here’s a recap of recent music industry hires and in-house promotions as of October 10th, 2025. If you have a job shuffle to share, we’re all ears. Send us a note to news@digitalmusicnews.com. If you’d like to post a job on our Job Board, just send us a request to noah@digitalmusicnews.com. And, keep track of all the […]