Amazon says it will train AI on Twitch streamers’ content by default, unless they opt out—because “if this was opt-in, nobody would opt in.” Content creators on Twitch are raging at the Amazon-owned streaming platform, which the company says will train its AI on Twitch streamers’…

StubHub’s lobbying efforts have reached record highs in California as the company pushes against a bill that would cap resale prices. StubHub has spent millions on lobbying efforts in California, reaching an all-time high as the company fights against a bill that would place limi…

Another day, another high-profile AI licensing deal – this time between Spotify and Kobalt, which is officially set to participate in the streaming platform’s forthcoming AI-powered remix and cover tool. The involved companies confirmed their agreement today, hot on the heels of…

A Japanese K-pop influencer died seemingly by suicide during a TikTok livestream in Seoul. Police received an emergency call after concerns about her safety arose during the broadcast. A 26-year-old Japanese K-pop influencer living in South Korea has died, seemingly by suicide du…

Boy George cut his performance short at an ’80s-themed event in Frankfurt after technical difficulties. He alleged sabotage before seemingly walking back that claim. Boy George continues to make headlines in the weeks following the release of his controversial pro-Israel, AI-assi…

The latest individual to weigh in on the proposed Phonorecords V settlement? Stevie Wonder, who may have submitted a comment to the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) as part of the ongoing rate-determination proceedings. Like a significant number of others, that comment arrived soon…

With an eye on expanding its presence in MENA’s quick-growing music markets, Influence Media Partners has taken a stake in what’s being billed as today’s “first investment platform dedicated exclusively to Arabic music catalogs.” BlackRock-backed Influence reached out with word o…

Rod Stewart is recovering after undergoing a coronary procedure, forcing him to cancel his remaining US tour dates as he takes at least four weeks off. Over the weekend, Rod Stewart was forced to cancel a performance at the last minute as he was rushed to the hospital for an emer…

Quebec is the latest market experiencing a steep decrease in local music content consumption, with album sales declining for the fourth year. As reports of major declines in local content pop up in major areas like Australia, new data from Luminate reveals that Quebec is the late…

In a broader shift toward transparency and tagging across a variety of AI platforms, Anthropic says it will watermark text generated by its AI models. As AI platforms strive for legitimacy across sectors, much of it driven by EU regulations, Anthropic says it will watermark text…

The NFL announces the Jonas Brothers as headliners of the halftime show during the Melbourne game on September 11 (September 10 in the US) on Netflix. The 2026 NFL Melbourne Game between the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams will feature a halftime show by the Jonas Brothe…

Less than one week after announcing a series of far-reaching policy changes and safeguards, Suno has inked a global licensing agreement with BMG. The AI music platform and the Bertelsmann subsidiary disclosed their “landmark” pact in a brief release (plus a separate blog post fro…

Levon Helm Studios’ new leadership team claims Helm’s daughter Amy was the cause of “millions” in damages during her tenure as president of the venue. Singer-songwriter Amy Helm, daughter of musician and actor Levon Helm, is accused of causing at least $2 million in damages to Le…

Following many ticked-off customer comments – and steadfast denials on the company’s end – D’Addario has acknowledged that generative AI pumped out the music featured in a demo clip showcasing its NYXL high-density electric strings. D’Addario, having previously defended the no-AI…

The Kennedy Center has been ordered to pay over $250,000 to jazz musician Chuck Redd, who canceled his appearance in protest of Trump’s takeover that began last year. A legal battle between jazz musician Chuck Redd and the Trump-led Kennedy Center has concluded in favor of the mu…

The American Federation of Musicians Local 47 of Los Angeles announces its support for AB 2319, the Post Production Tax Credit Bill. The American Federation of Musicians Local 47 of Los Angeles has announced its support for the passage of AB 2319, the Post Production Tax Credit B…

The high-stakes Phonorecords V rate-setting battle is now in full swing – with Word Collections and the Songwriters Guild of America (SGA) among those urging the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) judges to reject the “demonstrably unreasonable” proposed settlement. Jeff Price’s Word…

Live Nation and MGM Resorts open Vinyl Room Las Vegas, a music-anchored dining experience in a design inspired by Japanese hi-fi listening lounges. Vinyl Room Las Vegas, located on the rooftop of Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, is now open. According to creators Live Nation and MGM…

Indie-focused global record company Exceleration Music has announced a far-reaching strategic partnership with Atlanta-based Christian hip-hop label Reach Records. Exceleration Music, a global record company focused on independent labels and artists, has announced a far-reaching…

John Oliver famously lambasted Live Nation/Ticketmaster for its “chokehold” on live entertainment. Now, he’s selling tickets for his comedy tour using Ticketmaster. In 2022, comedian John Oliver famously dumped on Live Nation and Ticketmaster during a segment on HBO’s “Last Week…

Beyoncé is being sued over an allegedly unauthorized sample on her 2022 hit “Alien Superstar” from Renaissance. A lawsuit has been filed against Beyoncé for allegedly using an unauthorized sample in the track “Alien Superstar” from her 2022 album, Renaissance. The filing claims t…

Ibiza officials consider proposals that would ban any new nightclubs from opening there, in an effort to “contain the existing nightlife.” Ibiza has reached its limit on nightclubs, according to the island’s government. Mariano Juan, Vice President of Ibiza’s self-governing counc…

Millions of machine-generated tracks – and more than a few listener complaints – later, Spotify is officially set to begin labeling AI artist profiles. The DSP formally disclosed the incoming labels and the policy particulars thereof today. At present, one can self-disclose that…

Music Reports is marking a decade since the release of Songdex Marketplace, a platform designed to simplify music licensing at scale. The Songdex name stands for more than just the world’s largest music rights registry. Over the last 10 years, the Songdex Marketplace—its revoluti…

Apple has fired off a patent non-infringement complaint against Boomcloud 360, a self-described “innovator and pioneer in audio rendering and spatial audio.” The iPhone developer just recently submitted the straightforward action to a California federal court, after Boomcloud its…

Suno announces plans for a song download cap for free and paid tiers to limit the amount of “slop” that circulates from the platform. Last week, Suno said that it had plans to impose download limits on users of its AI music generator to limit the amount of “slop” that spreads off…

Live Nation subsidiary Merch Traffic files a trademark lawsuit against an anonymous group of online sellers with allegations of counterfeiting. Live Nation Entertainment subsidiary Merch Traffic, LLC, has filed a lawsuit against a group of anonymous online sellers overseas, alleg…

Irving Azoff’s Global Music Rights has ended its $14 million licensing suit against Music Choice. Both sides seemingly reached a swift resolution. Back in June, U.S. performance rights collective Global Music Rights (GMR) sued TV music service Music Choice for “willful copyright…

Beginning next year, creators who want to monetize their YouTube channel through the Partner Program will need twice as many watch hours to qualify. On Monday, YouTube announced some major changes coming to its Partner Program, through which creators can earn ad and Premium reven…

Universal Music Group (UMG) has officially kicked off another share buyback program by repurchasing nearly $60 million worth of its own stock. UMG shed light on this latest multimillion-dollar transaction today, just weeks after confirming that it’d deployed €500 million (current…

Sportswear brand Champion announces BTS’ V as the new global ambassador for its “True Champion” fall campaign. Classic sportswear brand Champion has tapped V, from K-pop mega-star group BTS, as the latest brand ambassador for its new global fall campaign, “True Champion.” Known f…

Rod Stewart was rushed to the hospital to undergo a medical procedure, forcing him to postpone his Cincinnati concert at the last minute. Rod Stewart was hospitalized for a medical procedure, forcing him to postpone his Cincinnati concert at Riverbend Music Center at the last min…

On August 9, Mattel released the Barbie Signature Whitney Houston Doll, celebrating the singer’s career and legacy on what would have been her 63rd birthday. Whitney Houston has been immortalized in her first-ever Barbie doll, released on August 9, which would have been the iconi…

Morrissey has canceled his four-date Vegas residency just a week before it was due to kick off. It’s the latest cancellation for the Smiths frontman. Morrissey was scheduled to perform at the Wynn Las Vegas’ Encore Theater for four nights, starting on Friday, August 14. But the 6…

The inaugural LA Jazz Festival, which was expected to feature performances from the likes of John Legend and Janelle Monáe, has been abruptly nixed due to “unanticipated last-minute public safety and municipal costs.” That explanation comes from LA Jazz Fest founder Martin Ludlow…

Boy George’s “We Will Dance Again” was removed from Bandcamp for violating its no-AI policy, but the singer claims it’s because of the song’s message. Boy George accused Bandcamp of “bowing to the pressure of antisemites” after it removed his controversial pro-Israel song, “We Wi…

Here’s a recap of recent music industry hires and in-house promotions as of August 7th, 2026. 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@digitalmusic…

Australia’s New Year’s bash Beyond the Valley 2026 has sold out before tickets even reached the general public. This year’s edition of Australia’s New Year’s festival, Beyond the Valley, has already sold its entire ticket allocation before they even reached the general sale. The…

British powerhouse music producer William Orbit, known for his work with Madonna, Blur, Pink, and All Saints, has died at age 69. William Orbit, a giant among British music producers best known for his work with the likes of Madonna, Blur, Pink, and All Saints, has passed away. A…

A year and change later, a federal judge has partially dismissed the declaratory judgment complaint filed by Designer Shoe Warehouse (DSW) against Sony Music, Universal Music, and BMG. However, the wider copyright infringement battle, complete with multiple intensifying actions,…

Amazon Music tees up another Outside Lands livestream, with Twitch, Prime Video, Fire TV, and Samsung TV Plus all part of the network. Amazon Music may not have maintained the momentum of its rivals Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Qobuz in terms of subscriber growth, but it conti…

Kickstarter launches the Kickstarter Culture Fund, a $1 million fund supporting independent creators across music, art, fashion, film, and music. Kickstarter has announced the launch of the Kickstarter Culture Fund, a $1 million fund to support independent creators working across…

Hot on the heels of Music Canada securing a mass court order to block YouTube stream-ripping sites, IFPI takes aim at Musi—after Apple already roughed them up. Back in June, major labels in Canada secured a major win against stream-ripping sites with a mass court order from the F…

Katseye’s Sophia becomes the latest member of the group to take a step back from upcoming promo activities, citing prioritizing her mental health. Katseye member Sophia Laforteza has become the latest in the group to take a break from Katseye’s upcoming promotional activities. In…

Live Nation’s aggressive international expansion has delivered yet another high-profile play – this time in Prague, where the promoter’s scored a JV deal covering venues including the O2 Arena. The Ticketmaster parent shed light on its Czech Republic buildout today, just days aft…

The sequel to Lionsgate’s record-setting Michael Jackson biopic could start filming later this year for a 2028 release, according to studio executives. No sooner had Lionsgate reported some serious profits last quarter, thanks in no small part to the success of Michael, than the…

Tyga isn’t bothered to admit he used Suno to create his new album. But does that fact make it chart ineligible per new rules laid out by the IFPI? Tyga’s new album, the ‘80s synthpop-inspired project $tarface, faced allegations of AI use from the beginning. But the West Coast rap…

WMG plows ahead with more AI licensing deals, counting its money while UMG and Sony continue to duke it out in court with AI companies like Suno and Udio. While Universal and Sony continue battling it out with AI companies in the court system, Warner is breaking new ground with A…

Suno sent out an update and then quickly issued a new press release that excluded a previously announced partner. The company says nothing has changed about the partnership. Earlier today (August 6), AI music company Suno sent out an industry update titled “How We’re Building the…

APAC-focused live events specialist Triangle Group (formerly Creation Collective) has announced a $15 million raise and welcomed ex-Live Nation higher-up Roger Field to its executive team. Singapore-headquartered Triangle Group revealed the funding and the appointment in a formal…

Live Nation’s majority-owned livestreaming platform Veeps has begun the process of mass layoffs across its entire music media portfolio. Veeps, the ticketed livestreaming platform majority-owned by Live Nation, has started the process of laying off massive swaths of employees acr…

After announcing a massive expansion in the heart of Nashville, TikTok shutters its office in Music City, laying off 250 people to “streamline” its operations. TikTok’s U.S. joint venture has laid off 250 employees in Nashville as the office closes its doors on October 5. Notably…

Some artists spend lots of time, lots of money and personal capital winning a statue. So what? Every musician wants to hear their name followed by two magical words: “Grammy winner”. For decades, winning a Grammy has been considered one of the highest achievements in the music in…

Two weeks after the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) fired off an amended suit against Warner Music and Universal Music, the latter major is doubling down on its dismissal push. This latest dismissal demand surfaced in a newly submitted motion from Universal Music Group (UM…

ZZ Top canceled their Tuesday performance in Chula Vista and their Wednesday show at the Hollywood Bowl, citing “insurmountable obstacles.” Their touring partner Cheap Trick held an “intimate” show at the Troubadour. This week, ZZ Top canceled their Tuesday show in Chula Vista, C…

As it fends off multiple high-stakes copyright suits – and eyes additional licensing pacts – Suno has unveiled plans to adopt “new audio watermarking” tech and implement “a new downloads policy designed to limit the ability to mass distribute songs on streaming platforms.” The ge…

You can snag some unbelievably cheap tickets to BTS shows in the Boston area if you’re quick, with nosebleeds going for as little as $8. If you’re in the Boston area this week looking for tickets to see BTS at Gillette Stadium, you’re in for a treat. Tickets to shows for August 5…

Anthropic is looking to chip away at the second copyright suit it’s facing from major music publishers including Concord – in part by urging the court to toss a direct infringement claim centering on co-founder Dario Amodei’s alleged torrenting. Having brushed off vicarious infri…

A musicologist has identified a pattern that’s emerged in modern pop music. He’s calling it the Gen Alpha Melody and it’s everywhere. Danish musicologist Carl E. Martin discovered an emerging pattern in popular music while he was researching for his thesis at the University of Co…

Udio has come up short in its attempt to toss the copyright class action lawsuit filed by indie artists including Attack the Sound frontman David Woulard, but the case is being transferred to the Southern District of New York. Both the dismissal denial and the venue change surfac…