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. James McCartney and Sean Ono Lennon Come Together to Co-Write McCartney’s Latest Single, ‘Primrose Hill’

   James McCartney and Sean Ono Lennon, the youngest children of the legendary Beatles musicians, have come together for their first Lennon-McCartney collaboration, ‘Primrose Hill.’ There’s a new Lennon-McCartney song, but this time, it’s from the sons of the Beatles legends. James McCartney, the youngest child and only son of Sir Paul McCartney, has released a […]

2. Birdman Says He Owns 100% of His Masters and Publishing — ‘I Got Nothing But Love and Respect for Universal’

   In a recent interview on Steve-O’s ‘Wild Ride!’ podcast, Birdman says his relationship with Universal Music enabled him to retain 100% ownership of his masters and publishing. In a climate where many artists have been quick to criticize their labels, rapper Birdman recently explained his relationship with Universal Music Group (UMG) has actually enabled him […]

3. Congress Suddenly Fast-Tracks Modified TikTok Ban Bill — House Vote Scheduled for Saturday

   Following weeks of uncertainty as to its legislative path, the TikTok ban bill is being fast-tracked in the 21st Century Peace Through Strength Act – with a House vote set for this weekend. Multiple outlets have reported on the modified legislation’s inclusion in a broader spending package, after the House first passed the forced-sale measure […]

4. 53% of Young Americans Listen to Broadcast Radio in the Car—Joel Denver On How to Reach Them

   Joel Denver is the President & Founder of All Access Music Group—which built out a radio trade publication even before most businesses were online. His life-long obsession has been radio and he’ll discuss how the medium will survive in the future. Denver says he was fascinated by radio from the age of six, spending time […]

5. Did Taylor Swift Break Spotify?—Brief Outage at Midnight for Album Drop

   Did Taylor Swift break Spotify? — Short answer: kinda. The music streaming service experienced brief interruptions at midnight as Swifties rushed to the platform to hear The Tortured Poets Department. Spotify quickly came back online, but a peek at this graph from Down Detector shows the service is experiencing intermittent issues throughout the day. The […]

6. Taylor Swift Gets the Royal Treatment from TikTok — ‘Exclusive’ In-App Experience Launches to Promote New Album

   It turns out Taylor Swift hasn’t just re-added her music to TikTok, as the video-sharing app has launched a multifaceted “in-app experience” to promote the 34-year-old’s latest album. TikTok reached out this morning with word of the marketing initiative, complete with “exclusive and first-of-its-kind features.” As most know, Universal Music Group (UMG), the owner of […]

7. How Do You Say ‘Green Light’ In French? EQT-Led Consortium Acquiring Majority 72% Stake in Believe Following Board Approval, Launching Public Offer on Outstanding Shares

   An investment consortium spearheaded by EQT, alongside Believe’s longtime investor TCV and company CEO and founder Denis Ladegaillerie, is now securing a controlling stake of nearly 72% in digital music distributor Believe. The acquisition go-ahead follows a ringing endorsement from Believe’s Board of Directors, signaling full confidence in the deal. According to details shared late […]

8. NMPA Bristles Against Spotify’s Bundles Due to Lower Publishing Payouts—Spotify Responds

   The National Music Publishers Association (NMPA) is bristling against Spotify’s new audiobooks bundling feature which means it pays a lower mechanical royalty rate to songwriters. A 2022 settlement between NMPA and DSPs included a carve-out for bundled content, which Spotify now has with its audiobook offerings. Spotify added select audiobooks available for Premium users and […]

9. Taylor Swift Breaks Spotify Album Pre-Save Record with ‘The Tortured Poets Department’

   Just one day ahead of the release of her highly anticipated 11th studio album, Taylor Swift broke Spotify’s record for the most pre-saved album countdown page in the streaming platform’s history. The countdown page for Taylor Swift’s latest album, The Tortured Poets Department, launched on March 28, and has been updated all week with new […]

10. Tennessee Bill Creating Live Music Fund Heads to the Governor’s Desk

    A Tennessee bill that would create a live music fund for venues and artists heads to the governor’s desk for a signature after passing the Tennessee General Assembly. The Tennessee General Assembly has passed a bill to create a live music fund for musical artists and venues, and now it heads to Governor Bill Lee’s […]

11. Big Sean, Bazzi Tapped to Play ‘NFL Draft Concert Series’ in Detroit

    The NFL has announced headliners Big Sean, Bazzi, and the Detroit Youth Choir for the NFL Draft Concert Series, part of the 2024 NFL Draft from April 25-27. The 2024 NFL Draft Concert Series, presented by Bud Light, kicks off on April 25-27. The three-day event will focus on Detroit’s vibrant music scene, with performances […]

12. Soundtrack Loops Expands From General Use to AI Licensing — With a Controlled Compositional Catalog for Ethical AI Training 

    On the forefront of recent discussions surrounding fair training practices for AI companies, Soundtrack Loops — with its diverse portfolio of assets — aims to ‘kickstart a shift into more widespread ethical AI training practices.’ Moreover, the company’s founders believe their catalog ‘presents an enormous opportunity for AI generation of incidental music.’ As music IP […]

13. Warner Music South East Europe Launches New EDM Label, Balkan Electro

    Warner Music South East Europe launches Balkan Electro, a new EDM label giving local talent across the Balkans and Ukraine a platform to promote their music worldwide. Formed in collaboration with Ensis Records, one of Eastern Europe’s most significant EDM record labels, Balkan Electro will enable Ensis’ roster to be distributed, upstreamed, and marketed through […]

14. Hipgnosis Stock Jumps 30.5% Following Concord Buyout Proposal — Board Chair Encourages ‘An Orderly Termination of the Investment Advisory Agreement’

    Hipgnosis Songs Fund (HSF) shares surged by more than 30 percent following the announcement of Concord’s $1.4 billion all-cash buyout offer. We covered that offer, already approved by the companies’ respective boards, in detail immediately after its public disclosure late last night. The proposed selloff has arrived about one week before the deadline for the […]

15. BMI Launches Revamped Royalty Dashboard and ‘Fully Featured’ iOS App, Targets Continued Customer Service Improvements

    Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) has officially launched a revamped royalty dashboard that it says will afford member songwriters and composers “greater transparency and insight into their earnings.” The for-profit PRO unveiled the bolstered dashboard today, via a formal release as well as a letter (penned by president and CEO Mike O’Neill) to affiliates. Beginning with […]