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. Jon Secada, Karolína Kurková & More Attend YMU’s $1.8M Fundraiser

   Young Musicians Unite’s 13th annual fundraising gala featured performances from over 150 students across multiple genres, raising over $1.8 million. Young Musicians Unite (YMU) held its 13th Annual “Havana Nights” Gala, one of Miami’s most impactful fundraising events this season. With a sold-out room of over 900 guests and performances from over 150 students, the […]

2. Study Reveals Why Some Scandals Kill Streams, While Others Increase Them

   A new study delves into why fans separate the art from the artist in some instances but not others in the era of widespread social media engagement. A new Cornell study on so-called “cancel culture” has found that music streaming platforms like Spotify hold tremendous swaying power over whether fans listen to a given artist, […]

3. Man Pleads Guilty in Taylor Swift Vienna Concert Attack Plot

   A man accused of plotting an attack on a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna has pleaded guilty, nearly two years after authorities intercepted the plot. A man known as Beran A. has pleaded guilty to planning an attack on Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour concert in Vienna, which led to the cancellation of three Swift shows […]

4. Primary Wave Officially Closes $2.2 Billion Fourth Fund, Says It’s ‘The Largest Dedicated Closed-End Music Royalties Fund Raised to Date in the Industry’

   Primary Wave’s dealmaking streak definitely isn’t finished: Following several high-profile 2026 plays – chief among them the acquisition of Kobalt – the publisher has announced the “final closing” of its over $2.2 billion fourth fund. Brookfield Asset Management-partnered Primary Wave confirmed the sizable tranche, specifically consisting of $2.225 billion in commitments, today. That sum,...

5. Jimi Hendrix Bandmates Will Not Experience Copyright Shares, British High Court Rules

   The estates of two former Jimi Hendrix bandmates lose a case against Sony Music UK, claiming they were entitled to copyright and performers’ rights. Owners of the estates of former Jimi Hendrix bandmates, bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell, filed a lawsuit against Sony Music Entertainment UK (SMEUK). The two estates claimed that they […]

6. Spotify Stock Plummets After Q1 2026 Earnings Reveal Subscriber Question-Marks and Ad-Supported Revenue Problems

   Spotify (NYSE: SPOT) has posted solid subscriber growth – and yet another ad-supported revenue decrease – for Q1 2026. But the company is anticipating a modest subscriber-base expansion for Q2, and SPOT suffered a double-digit slip in early trading. All told, Spotify pointed to an average of 761 million MAUs (up 12% year over year) […]

7. Spotify’s Song Library Is a Lot Bigger Than We Thought — Co-CEO Says the Platform Hosts ‘Something Like 250 Million Tracks’ Amid AI Slop Avalanche

   Against the backdrop of continued streaming growth – and an avalanche of AI slop – Spotify’s library now contains a staggering 250 million tracks. But is the platform intentionally leaving the upload floodgates open to benefit its recommendations and accelerate the arrival of authorized derivative works? That eye-popping total came to light during the company’s […]

8. Who Gets to Own T.I.’s Masters? Rapper Sues Cinq/GoDigital After a Serious Album Buyback Dispute

   Rapper T.I. is suing Cinq Music with allegations that the label is refusing to honor a contract provision that allows him to buy back his masters. Clifford Harris, better known as rapper T.I., has filed a lawsuit against Cinq Music, part of the GoDigital Media Group, alleging that the label is refusing to honor a […]

9. ‘Leaving Neverland’ Director Calls Michael Jackson ‘Worse Than Jeffrey Epstein,’ Laments ‘Michael’ Box Office Success

   After a record-breaking opening weekend, Michael remains divisive for its portrayal of the musician’s life, despite only covering his early career. Everyone’s talking about Antoine Fuqua’s Michael, a record-setting romp through the early career of Michael Jackson up until the late ‘80s, just before the height of his fame. But critics note the elephant in […]

10. YouTube TV’s ‘Multiview,’ Recently Teased During Coachella, Goes Live

    Following a lengthy development phase, YouTube TV rolls out a customizable multiview feature for subscribers after teasing it at Coachella. YouTube TV is finally rolling out its customizable multiview feature for subscribers, which allows viewing up to four channels on one screen. The feature was released in a limited version back in 2023, and was […]

11. Even Better Than Your Phone: Fred Again Teams Up With Dropbox to Share Creative Files From His ‘USB002’ Tour

    Fred Again has teamed up with Dropbox to share never-before-seen creative and raw material from his USB002 tour.  It’s a fan-focused template designed to de-emphasize phones and increase post-show engagement. Producer and musician Fred Again has teamed up with file-sharing service Dropbox to share previously unseen creative and raw material from his USB002 tour. The […]

12. Is This the Industry’s ‘4th Major Label’? BMG Officially Consummates Its Concord Marriage

    BMG and Concord announce a definitive agreement to combine their businesses, creating the largest independent music company in the world. BMG and Concord have finally announced a definitive agreement to combine their businesses, after weeks of rumors that a deal was forthcoming. Operating under the BMG name, the combined company will unite two complementary businesses […]

13. Primary Wave Scores Catalog and NIL Partnership With the Harry Chapin Estate — Deal Covers ‘Cat’s in the Cradle,’ ‘Taxi,’ and Many More

    Primary Wave has officially taken a stake in the IP of Harry Chapin, including the “Cat’s in the Cradle” singer-songwriter’s catalog as well as his name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights. New York City-headquartered Primary Wave and the Chapin estate formally disclosed their partnership, but not the financial and ownership particulars thereof, today. On the […]

14. As Lawsuits Rage, Suno Posts a ‘Music Industry Partnerships’ Job Listing (And Even Generates a Song About It)

    Suno posts a job opening for a director of business development and music industry partnerships while the AI company remains locked in litigation with the majors. Although AI music company Suno came to the table with Warner Music Group late last year, the company remains locked in ongoing litigation with Sony Music Entertainment and Universal […]

15. Deezer Latest Earnings Report Is Mostly Uninteresting. But Buried In the Financials Is a Curious AI Detection Deal

    Deezer reports lower revenues and global subscribers in Q1, but its AI-detection tool continues to make it an industry leader. Now, there’s a licensing deal afoot with Hungary-based music rights organization, EJI. Deezer continues to lag behind streaming juggernauts like Spotify and Apple Music, and its Q1 financials reflect that. The France-based streamer posted revenues […]