BMG acquires the remaining interests in the landmark songwriting works of the publishing catalogs of Hal David, John Lee Hooker, and ARC Music. BMG has announced its acquisition of the remaining interests in the songwriting works of the legendary publishing catalogs of Hal David,…

CISAC President and ABBA co-founder Björn Ulvaeus gave a detailed speech about creators’ relationship with AI at the UN’s AI for Good Summit in Geneva, while questioning the approach of some licensing dealmakers. Björn Ulvaeus, CISAC President and ABBA co-founder, gave his most d…

Fans waited over three hours for the finale of Jay-Z’s three-night stand at Yankee Stadium on Sunday. Now, the rapper has addressed the delay. On Sunday, fans gathered at Yankee Stadium for the third and final show in Jay-Z’s three-night stand in his hometown. But the rapper didn…

Major League Soccer is smartly capitalizing on FIFA World Cup excitement to launch a post-Cup ad campaign, the largest of its kind in MLS’ 33-year history. Amazon Music is directing the soundtrack with a clever refresh of A Tribe Called Quest classic. The 2026 FIFA World Cup is c…

Two weeks later, the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) has officially made the proposed Phonorecords V “Subpart B” settlement available for comment, and the opposing parties now have until August 10th to weigh in. The CRB quietly kicked off Phono V’s settlement-comment period this pa…

Jay-Z promised a celebration of the anniversaries of two of his most iconic albums, and fans turned out for him at Yankee Stadium in record numbers. Jay-Z is celebrating the 25th anniversary of The Blueprint plus the 30th anniversary of his debut, Reasonable Doubt, and he’s pulle…

Sam Smith and Normani asked a federal judge to toss out a copyright lawsuit that alleges their 2019 hit “Dancing With a Stranger” copies an earlier track with a similar name. It’s been a long road for Sam Smith and Normani, who previously triumphed against a long-running copyrigh…

The Super Bowl took the concept of a halftime show to extreme heights. Now, FIFA is adopting the concept for a jam-packed, star-studded 11-minute halftime show in New York. Last week, Global Citizen announced that Justin Bieber had been added to the mix as a co-headliner of the F…

An band’s music was stolen, pitch-shifted, and re-uploaded under a fake name with AI-generated artwork, snatching up over 90% of their Spotify royalties. Musician Owen Lyman-Schmidt found out that his work had been stolen when a longtime fan of his band, Makeshift Hammer, message…

Michael beats the odds, becoming the first biopic in history to surpass $1 billion in ticket sales at the global box office: $629.8 million overseas and $371.8 million domestically, according to stats confirmed over the weekend. Despite critics shrugging off Lionsgate’s Michael J…

Across multiple countries and generations, music – and especially music videos – is the “ultimate driving force of nostalgia,” outranking film, television, gaming, and more, according to a new study of media-consumption attitudes. Said study comes from Vevo, which surveyed 1,800…

The seemingly mundane deliberations over future mechanical royalty rates in the US are starting to feel like a Verdi opera — with colorful industry titan Irving Azoff and his Global Music Rights (GMR) playing an unexpected cameo role. But why are major streaming platforms so inte…

Here’s a recap of recent music industry hires and in-house promotions as of July 10th, 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@digitalmusicn…

A new SEC filing reveals that StubHub’s “marketplace for fans” is run by a CEO who also owns and manages a fund that scalps tickets on the platform. An investigation by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) has found that StubHub’s claims of being a “marketplace for fans to…

YouTube continues to steamroll Spotify in the podcasting game, despite the latter’s billion-dollar investment in the medium over the last few years. YouTube has, unsurprisingly, been the dominating force in the video content space for years now. But it’s also the leader in the po…

One AI audio avalanche later, the RIAA, A2IM, IMPALA, and several others have introduced a program to label machine-generated tracks on streaming services. The mentioned organizations, besides the IFPI, the Worldwide Independent Network (WIN), the Recording Academy, the Human Art…

Ticket prices have dropped for Jay-Z’s three-night stand at Yankee Stadium, now approximately $100 to $200 cheaper with seats available across all dates. Jay-Z is celebrating the 25th and 30th anniversaries of two of his iconic albums, The Blueprint and his debut Reasonable Doubt…

A coalition of US music organizations urges the US Trade Representative to oppose an EU proposal that will cost American artists over $300 million. Radio stations in the United States not having to pay royalties to the owners of recordings for their broadcasts has led to numerous…

Another day, another high-profile song-rights play – this time from Reservoir Media, which has scooped up T.I.’s publishing catalog and a piece of his non-Atlantic recordings. New York City-headquartered Reservoir and Atlanta-born T.I. (real name Clifford Joseph Harris Jr.) forma…

Pop-punk rockers Lit, best known for the 1999 single “My Own Worst Enemy,” have settled their lawsuit against Sony Music over streaming royalties. Lit, the band behind the 1999 hits “My Own Worst Enemy” and “Miserable,” has settled its lawsuit against Sony Music Entertainment ove…

Oasis, Beyonce, and Dua Lipa helped attract a record number of music tourists to events across the UK, pushing music tourism spending to a new high. Oasis, Beyonce, Dua Lipa, Coldplay, Lana Del Rey, and Kendrick Lamar helped attract a record 24.7 million music tourists to concert…

The poet whose case against Taylor Swift was just dismissed by a federal judge has already filed an appeal—following her similar defeat against Swift last year. Earlier this week, in addition to getting married, Taylor Swift just beat a poetry copyright lawsuit brought against he…

iHeartMedia is entering into a consent decree with the FCC over the investigation into the radio giant’s alleged “showola” scheme. The FCC probe into iHeartMedia’s alleged payola scheme—or, more accurately, “showola” scheme—has concluded, with the radio giant entering into a cons…

thumpN, billed as “India’s first AI-native live entertainment platform,” has officially launched in beta with a nearly $4 million pre-seed war chest at its disposal. Mumbai-headquartered thumpN announced its public rollout and its multimillion-dollar raise earlier this week. Feat…

A Madison Square Garden database allegedly tracked and categorized celebrities who have visited the venue, including labels from low to high “risk.” A new report from Wired revealed that a database allegedly kept by Madison Square Garden tracked and categorized “hundreds” of cele…

Dynamite Songs has acquired the music catalog of Terry Kirkman, co-founder, multi-instrumentalist, and primary songwriter of The Association. Dynamite Songs, the specialist music publisher dedicated to acquiring and managing smaller catalogs with culturally significant songs, has…

The Rolling Stones are coming to Roblox in an immersive music experience set to launch on July 10, the same day as their highly anticipated new album, Foreign Tongues. The Rolling Stones will bring their legendary rock history to life through a new immersive music game on Roblox…

Bonnie Tyler, known for global hits “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and “Holding Out for a Hero,” passed away in a hospital in Portugal, aged 75. Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler, best known for her global hits “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and “Holding Out for a Hero,” passed away on Wedne…

The O-1 visa has become one of the biggest obstacles facing international artists who want to tour in the U.S. Rising application costs, processing delays, and stricter documentation requirements are changing how musicians plan their careers and connect with American audiences. T…

Two weeks after Wiz Khalifa nixed his European tour, one of the impacted events, Clout Czechia, has pulled the plug on its 2026 edition. Organizers took to social media to reveal the unfortunate news, which arrived not long before Clout Czechia’s scheduled early July kickoff. Tur…

Albania’s prime minister defended a decision to inject over $4 million to ensure a Kanye concert would take place in the country. On Wednesday, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama defended the decision to financially support a concert by the disgraced rapper formerly known as Kanye…

The FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Halftime Show will feature a cast of performers including headliners Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira, and BTS. FIFA and Global Citizen have announced that Justin Bieber has joined the roster of headliners for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Halftime Sh…

Primary Wave has scored a partnership deal with Foreigner founder Mick Jones, who’s sold a piece of his IP and teed up a collaboration covering touring, NIL, and more. Jones and Primary Wave unveiled their multifaceted tie-up today, and at the top level, the securitization-center…

Donald Trump’s name will stay off the Kennedy Center after the Court of Appeals ruled against the board’s motion to stay the decision to remove it. On Wednesday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled against the Trump-appointed Kennedy Center board’s motion to stay…

Meta has launched a new AI generator, available for free through the Meta AI app, as well as on Instagram Stories and WhatsApp. It’s already a problem. On Tuesday, Meta announced the launch of its new AI image generator, Muse Image, built by its dedicated AI unit, Meta Superintel…

United Musicians and Allied Workers launches the Raise the Bar campaign to improve artist treatment at music venues and put an end to worst practices. United Musicians and Allied Workers (UMAW) launched its “Raise the Bar” campaign to improve artist treatment at music venues ever…

UMG’s GTS has inked a partnership with Telemundo for the US edition of the Spanish music competition, Operación Triunfo Estados Unidos. Universal Music Group’s Global Talent Services (GTS) has signed a deal with Telemundo for Operación Triunfo Estados Unidos, the U.S. adaptation…

Warner Music Group (WMG) has unveiled “a major strategic expansion” at ADA, complete with a new leadership structure and the integration of Revelator’s tech. Meanwhile, Africori and Qanawat are set to begin operating under the ADA banner. WMG disclosed the changes in a formal rel…

This year’s Emmy nominations include Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show, Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour concert film, and 50 Cent’s Diddy documentary. The 2026 Emmy Awards nominees have been revealed, including some music-oriented television events, such as Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour c…

ValuePunks has officially launched, positioning itself as a free and fast catalog valuation platform aimed at artists and independent labels seeking greater transparency in music asset pricing. The platform is developed by Tribe Music Group and hopes to challenge long-standing in…

Three decades and “at least seven” contracts later, Jermaine Dupri is suing Sony Music for allegedly failing to pay north of $18 million in owed royalties due to a combination of “reporting errors” and “contemptuous accounting practices.” Dupri and So So Def Recordings submitted…

NewJeans, label ADOR, and parent company HYBE face a copyright infringement lawsuit for allegedly lifting from an earlier track for their hit “ETA.” A lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California accuses K-pop girl group NewJeans, their label AD…

The Danish indie label behind Scatman John has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Spanish artists Moncho Chavea and Morad over a scat sample. Iceberg Records, the Danish independent label behind the late jazz musician Scatman John, has filed a copyright infringement l…

The Spice Girls have regained the rights to the 1997 Spice World movie and have plans to re-release it for their fans after a fresh edit and makeover. Time to spice up your life! The Spice Girls have taken back the rights to the 1997 Spice World movie and have plans to re-release…

Elton John returns to Mexico City after 14 years for two nights in October to bid the city a proper farewell. The shows arrive as he prepares to film in the UK for his Las Vegas hologram residency. After much anticipation, Elton John is finally returning to Mexico City, a major m…

Shakira will make her return to Egypt after nearly 20 years for a concert at the Great Pyramids of Giza in November, organized by Venture Lifestyle. Colombian superstar Shakira will perform a concert at the Great Pyramids of Giza on November 28 in a show organized by Venture Life…

A music powerhouse in the making? Looking to capitalize on “Asia’s fast-growing entertainment market,” Alibaba subsidiary Damai International has formally debuted a label and set out to discover global talent. Damai International just recently announced the expansion, with the la…

Ed Sheeran is reportedly signing a deal with Interscope, marking the next step in his career after the singer-songwriter left longtime home Atlantic. Rumors are bubbling that Ed Sheeran is preparing to sign a deal with Interscope, a move that follows the hit-maker’s recent decisi…

The Dolly Parton musical opens on Broadway on the singer’s 81st birthday in January. But you can catch previews a month early at the St. James Theatre. Dolly: A True Original Musical, the renamed Dolly Parton bio-musical, is scheduled to open on Broadway on January 19 at the St.…

Volvo has officially announced the native integration of Apple Music into more than two million of its vehicles – including Spatial Audio support in certain models. The Gothenburg-headquartered luxury-auto manufacturer confirmed the integration, technically set in motion closer t…

Live Nation makes a bold move to invalidate the momentous trial verdict versus the states, backing its bid for judgement in its favor and a new trial. Live Nation has asked a New York federal judge to grant judgement against a coalition of U.S. states who succeeded in their antit…

A federal judge has dismissed with prejudice a copyright infringement lawsuit that accused Taylor Swift of lifting creative elements from multiple poems across several albums. Judge Aileen M. Cannon made that dismissal official today, after the plaintiff, a Florida-based writer n…

DistroKid has a new majority owner: CVC Capital Partners, which has inked “a definitive agreement” to take a controlling stake in the distributor. CVC announced the investment (and the close of its $3.4 billion CVC Catalyst private equity fund) this afternoon. Though the entity r…

Three sold-out BTS shows in Chile were not authorized in advance by the country’s National Sports Institute, putting the October dates in jeopardy. BTS recently sold out three stadium dates at the National Stadium in Santiago scheduled for October 14, 16, and 17 as part of the K-…

The legal battle between photographer Jamie Nelson and punk singer Amy Taylor has become a landmark case in the landscape of artist likeness rights. In July 2025, Los Angeles photographer Jamie Nelson photographed Amy Taylor, the lead singer of Australian punk band Amyl and the S…

Lil Wayne was late to a show in New Hampshire after having rescheduled a show in Maine that was meant to kick off his new tour. Lil Wayne remains an institution in rap music, with a legendary career and droves of devoted fans. So it’s easy enough for him to change plans at the la…

The transition from a solo musician to a member of a major professional orchestra is one of the most demanding shifts in classical music. It requires more than just technical skill. It demands a high level of mental stamina, an ability to read complex music instantly, and a willi…

What the f*!% happened to all the expletives? Now, just 13% of Spotify Top 50 tracks are tagged as explicit – down from closer to 70% in the not-so-distant past. Those noteworthy stats come from data journalist Daniel Parris, who indicated that about 45% of Spotify Top 50 songs f…

Warner Music Finland secures a strategic acquisition of Mökkitie Records’ music catalog and publishing rights, deepening a decade-long partnership. Warner Music Finland and Mökkitie Records have announced the signing of a definitive agreement under which Mökkitie Records’ extensi…

Swedish singer-songwriter Zara Larsson moved house from Epic Records to RCA Records, sources say; a sidestep under the broader Sony Music umbrella. Pop star Zara Larsson recently left her longtime home of Epic Records and is now signed to RCA Records. Multiple sources confirm tha…