The former Twitter moves to strike the entire multi-million-dollar lawsuit filed against it by music publishers on the grounds of the Cox v. Sony decision. Elon Musk’s X Corp. is moving to dismiss the copyright infringement lawsuit filed against it by a group of music publishers,…

Spotify is kicking off its “Reserved” pre-sale program with Role Model’s upcoming tour – though fans will also have the chance to grab early passes via Mastercard and American Airlines as well as a distinct artist pre-sale. Live Nation shed light on the 34-date concert series – a…

The reintroduced No Fakes Act is one step closer to becoming law, as it’s been unanimously advanced by the Senate Judiciary Committee. That across-the-board committee support arrives about one month after the legislation – full title Nurture Originals, Foster Art, and Keep Entert…

Scottish singer Callum Beattie will perform at the official FIFA World Cup fanzone for Scotland’s final group stage match against Brazil on June 24. Glasgow’s OVO Hydro has announced that Scottish singer Callum Beattie will perform at its official FIFA World Cup 2026 fanzone for…

The championship parade to honor the Knicks for their historic win will feature a who’s who of NYC rappers, per unofficial team ambassador Fat Joe. As a regular at Madison Square Garden during the New York Knicks’ championship games this season, Fat Joe has been tapped by Knicks…

Global regulators are swiftly clearing the BMG+Concord merger, keeping the transaction on track to close in Q4 2026, pending other international approvals. On Wednesday, German media group Bertelsmann said U.S. competition authorities have approved the planned merger of BMG (Bert…

The Federal Court in Ottawa has issued Canada’s first music industry-requested site-blocking order targeting YouTube stream-ripping services. The major labels have secured a major win in Canada against the operators of YouTube stream-ripping sites Y2Mate, YTMP3, and remaining Sav…

Moments after failing to dismiss Eight Mile Style’s copyright lawsuit, Meta has officially moved to toss a different $100 million+ complaint, filed this time by Wixen Music Publishing. Wixen doubled down on that multifaceted complaint last month, accusing the Facebook parent of c…

Apple CEO Tim Cook says raising prices on its products will be necessary to offset the skyrocketing costs of memory and storage. But will subscriptions like Apple Music be affected? As memory and other components surge in price due to artificial intelligence and other tech compan…

As it battles YouTube for video supremacy – and grapples with an intensifying AI audio avalanche – Spotify is now enabling artists to directly upload full-length music videos, live performance videos, and more. Spotify announced this latest video expansion, plus a couple adjacent…

The South Korean government launches an initiative aimed at fortifying the country’s developing K-pop artists with a $2.2 million injection. South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, as well as the Korea Creative Content Agency, has announced an initiative to furthe…

Bose is branching out into other facets of the music industry with the launch of an in-house content studio, Bose Studios, and a new record label, Bose Records. Audio equipment manufacturer Bose is expanding its music business horizons with the launch of Bose Studios, an in-house…

Warner Music is betting big on virtual artists in China, where it’s partnered with an avatar-focused company called Dream Maker. Meanwhile, the major is also looking “to take Bengali music to a much wider audience” under an SVF Entertainment tie-up. Warner Music China just recent…

The Michael Jackson biopic continues to make film history with an epic showing in Japan that could finally push it over the billion-dollar threshold. Michael, Lionsgate’s Michael Jackson biopic directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by John Logan, has already had an epic run at th…

A federal judge denies Meta’s motion to dismiss a copyright infringement claim from Eminem’s publisher, allowing the case to move forward. After Meta filed to dismiss Eminem publisher Eight Mile Style’s direct copyright infringement claim, a federal judge has denied the motion, a…

Live Nation acquires a majority stake in Buenos Aires’ Movistar Arena, launching the company’s stock to an all-time high. Live Nation has announced the acquisition of a majority stake in Movistar Arena Buenos Aires, giving the concert giant ownership of one of Latin America’s big…

The Recording Academy announces some changes ahead of the next Grammy Awards, including five new categories and Best New Artist changes. The Recording Academy has announced some updated rules and categories ahead of the 2027 Grammy Awards, which will broadcast live across ABC, Di…

Qobuz is rapidly becoming a global player alongside the music streaming giants in a major success story for the independent French company. Qobuz, the high-res streamer founded in 2007, started out as a niche platform prized by audiophiles, but has rapidly ascended as a global pl…

Amazon Music’s scored another big livestream – this time from Goose, which is now set to make an upcoming Madison Square Garden concert “available to watch for free worldwide.” Technically, the Wilton, Connecticut-based group has MSG shows teed up for Friday, June 19th as well as…

For decades, the music industry has accepted a compromise in how royalties from public performance are distributed. When music is played in cafes, restaurants, retail stores, gyms, and other licensed venues, businesses pay fees with the expectation that the rights creators will b…

America’s Block Party, celebrating the nation’s 250th birthday on July 4th, will include a benefit concert in Los Angeles hosted by Queen Latifah with performances from Chris Stapleton, The Smashing Pumpkins, and more. America’s Block Party, the celebration event for the nation’s…

Live Nation Studios announces comedy-horror “Youth Juice,” written by “KPop Demon Hunters” scribes Danya Jimenez and Hannah McMechan. Live Nation Studios has broken ground in Southern California on the production of Youth Juice, a “creepy satire” starring Gideon Adlon (“Euphoria”…

Lee Mendelson Film Productions (LMFP) – the owner of the famed Peanuts music catalog – has reached an agreement with CBS over the allegedly unauthorized use of “Linus and Lucy” in a Late Show with Stephen Colbert bit. LMFP announced as much this afternoon, in a formal release tha…

Live-focused superfan platform Swsh has announced a $4 million seed round that drew support from Scooter Braun, Julie Greenwald, Guy Oseary, and others. Four year-old Swsh reached out with word of the multimillion-dollar raise – and plans for an expansion beyond music – today. Co…

Rod Stewart postpones his June 15th and 16th Red Rocks shows at his doctor’s request to rest his voice as he recovers from laryngitis. But fans are once again upset at the last-minute call-off. After cancelling his San Diego show last week due to illness that was later diagnosed…

Rapper Mystikal has received a 20-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to rape in a 2022 incident in his Louisiana home. On Tuesday (June 16), rapper Mystikal, whose real name is Michael Tyler, was sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to rape. The 55-year-o…

HarbourView has scored a multifaceted partnership agreement, extending to catalog development, “new creative ventures,” and more, with former Rufus lead singer Chaka Khan. Newark-based HarbourView and Chicago-born Chaka Khan (real name Yvette Stevens) just recently announced thei…

A songwriter’s lawsuit against Ricky Martin over his 2014 hit “Vida” has been revived on appeal in a “perpetual quest” for “copyright justice,” sending the case back to trial for another round of litigation. Songwriter Luis Adrián Cortés-Ramos has been granted the revival of his…

A federal judge has dismissed singer Dawn Richard’s sexual abuse and breach of contract lawsuit against Sean Combs, citing the statute of limitations. A federal judge has dismissed all 18 causes of action in singer Dawn Richard’s sexual abuse and breach of contract lawsuit filed…

Jay-Z’s classic 1996 debut is getting the exclusive reissue treatment as Target releases a 30th anniversary limited-edition white vinyl run. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Jay-Z’s 1996 debut album, Reasonable Doubt, Target is offering an exclusive anniversary edition of the…

Are gen AI companies actively developing their music models with the same collections of copyrighted tracks? And despite ongoing discussions about free-for-all training, is this process far more systematic than we’ve been led to believe? These and other pressing questions are tak…

Bonnie Tyler is no longer in a coma, but remains “very unwell” in intensive care in Portugal following emergency surgery back in May. “Total Eclipse of the Heart” singer Bonnie Tyler is still recovering after undergoing emergency intestinal surgery last month that saw her placed…

Vydia operates a cloud-based platform that supports labels, artists, and agencies across the music ecosystem. As its client roster expanded, each new label deal brought a surge in payees and monthly transactions, putting pressure on Vydia’s royalty and advances processes. To keep…

After the Knicks’ first NBA Championship win in over 50 years, the team will appear on The Tonight Show for a special episode featuring Wu-Tang Clan. New York City is celebrating this week after the Knicks’ first NBA Championship win in over 50 years, culminating in the team’s ap…

Weather-related delays, evacuations, and logistical issues bombarded the final day of the 2026 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Tennessee. Bonnaroo 2026 was hit with inclement weather on its final day, echoing the weather-related issues that beset the 2025 edition of the Tenne…

YouTube launches ‘Music Nights,’ a series of exclusive live concerts “for dedicated fans,” featuring album release parties and more. Just a week after Spotify reportedly began shopping around to secure licensing to stream live events, YouTube claps back with “Music Nights.” The n…

Back in April, Lil Baby sued hemp brand Bay Smokes over a marketing partnership turned sour. Now, we have a full-fledged legal battle on our hands, as the self-proclaimed “#1 online dispensary” has fired back with a countersuit. Both the original complaint (technically levied by…

The King of Pop is now the King of Biopics, as Michael moonwalks past Bohemian Rhapsody to become the highest-grossing musical biopic in history. It’s official: Universal and Lionsgate’s Michael Jackson biopic Michael has surpassed the Queen/Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapso…

The late Minnesota rapper Eyedea has a new LP, thanks to AI-cloned vocals and handwritten lyrics preserved by the artist’s mom. A new 14-song collection, 15-Year-Old Shit Talking, recreating the voice of late underground rapper Eyedea, is out now via most streaming platforms and…

Singer Oliver Tree has died after a helicopter crash in Brazil that resulted in the deaths of six people. He was just 32 years old. Oliver Tree, who first gained fame in 2010 at the age of 17 working with artists like Skrillex and Zeds Dead, has died after two helicopters collide…

Fans are outraged as Rod Stewart was spotted at a Scotland FIFA World Cup match less than a day after he abruptly cancelled a California show due to illness. Rock icon Rod Stewart nixed his scheduled Friday night show in San Diego just 40 minutes before he was due to hit the stag…

The AFM’s lawsuit against Universal Music and Warner Music is now one component of “a global fight,” as the UK’s Musicians’ Union has backed the litigation and urged other unions yet to “take on major corporations who intend to exploit their rights without consent.” The Musicians…

The original songwriters of a University of Michigan fight song are fighting back against the song’s publishers over alleged licensing interference. The realm of termination clause legal battles continues to heat up, following the high-profile cases involving Salt-N-Pepa and 2 Li…

Is the era of voice trademarks upon us? It seems that way, as Lionel Richie has become the latest entertainment professional to file related applications amid AI’s rapid expansion. Specifically, Tuskegee-born Richie moved to obtain four trademarks yesterday – joining the likes of…

It turns out Infinite Reality/Napster’s huge funding round was even more suspicious than we thought: Now, two federal cases are in motion against the individual who allegedly “fraudulently obtained” almost 240 million of the company’s shares. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the So…

Morrissey releases a statement about people he claims to have identified who posed as him online to spread misinformation about his political ties. Morrissey has remained popular in the decades since the Smiths broke up, but certainly not without numerous controversies. In recent…

The rapper formerly known as Kanye West will not be performing in Prague after the venue set to host him backed out. It’s the latest cancelled show for the outwardly antisemitic artist. Kanye West, who now goes by Ye, was set to perform in Prague as part of his proposed comeback…

Lil Wayne is victorious in the lawsuit filed against him by a former security guard who alleged the rapper pulled a gun on him. Now the guard must pay up, to the tune of nearly $30,000. A Los Angeles Superior Court judge ordered Lil Wayne’s former security guard, Christian Carlos…

Spotify and Amazon’s bundling strategy has had a major impact on music publishers’ royalty haul, resulting in nearly $500 million in lost royalties since 2024. The National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) revealed some worrying data tied to the sustained hit the industry has…

Bridgit Mendler says a surprise EP attributed to her on Spotify and Apple Music isn’t her, raising questions about streaming platforms’ efforts to curb AI impersonators. Last week, fans of former Disney Channel star Bridgit Mendler were thrilled to see she had released a new EP t…

Amid rapid music sector growth in India – and on its own platform, which has seen its userbase expand by “25% in the last month alone” – Madverse Music Group has scored an Ahdritz Capital-led seed round. New Delhi-headquartered Madverse unveiled the raise, but not the precise fun…

Deezer is kicking its AI detection capabilities up a notch with a new tool that identifies machine-generated tracks in playlists – including those saved to competing streaming platforms. The Paris-headquartered DSP announced and launched its artificial intelligence music detector…

Xijuan Zong performs award-winning work at Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall following Global Music Awards Silver Medal recognition. The following artist profile was provided by Rainyard International Music Advisory, a partner of Digital Music News. On May 24, 2026, pianist Xijuan Zong…

30 months later, Francisco Partners has officially exited its minority position in Muse Group, which is eyeing acquisitions and more in “its next chapter of growth.” Cyprus-based Muse Group reached out to DMN with word of the transaction, which was powered by “cash on hand” as we…

Irish lawmakers are looking into offering governmental support after the collapse of Tickets.ie devastates the country’s live music industry. Tickets.ie was Ireland’s largest independent ticketing company, handling ticketing for thousands of live events each year since 2004. But…

Anthropic’s Claude FM is a 24-7 music stream playlist on YouTube comprised of actual artists’ music. But is the music being properly licensed? AI company Anthropic has been beefing with the music industry in the form of a legal battle with publishers who have sued it for copyrigh…

Spotify has taken down “tens of thousands” of podcasts promoting illegal drugs since a congressional investigation began last year. According to U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Spotify told her office that it took down “tens of thousands” of podcasts promoting opioids since he…

Maná plans a long-awaited return to Latin America with five stadium dates announced just hours before their headlining set for the FIFA World Cup. Maná, the most successful and influential Spanish-language rock band of all time, has announced five special stadium dates across Lat…

AMC Theatres puts a planned series of concert screenings featuring stars like Bebe Rexha, Paris Hilton, and Maren Morris on the back burner amid a piping hot summer box office. AMC Theatres has announced its highest May attendance since pre-COVID levels, signaling a major return…

Nearly two years after its kickoff, a patent infringement lawsuit against BMG is now less than one week away from potentially being dismissed. The presiding judge established this possible dismissal deadline, falling on Tuesday, June 16th, in a recent order. Therein, he noted tha…