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. In Focus Episode 3: Life of A Label – Starting a Label

   Karma Bertelsen, FUGA’s Marketing Strategy Director, EMEA, in conversation with artist and songwriter, Nina Nesbitt, on how she started her own label, Apple Tree, and how it brought about creative and commercial control of her music. “It’s kind of like if you’re building your own burrito. You pick all the things you want, and you […]

2. In Focus Episode 2: Fandom – Finding Community Through Authenticity

   FUGA’s Marketing Strategy Manager, Rock, Ben Patashnik, is joined by Mark Walker, Managing Director at Free Focus, for a discussion on finding an authentic artist community, using that knowledge to build an informed content strategy, and taking care of your fans with a long-term trust strategy. The following is created in collaboration with Downtown Music, […]

3. Spotify Stock (SPOT) Hit with Multiple Price Target Drops—Wells Fargo, Bernstein, Oppenheimer, UBS, Cantor Fitzgerald, Guggenheim Soften Their Forecasts for 2026

   Spotify’s stock is still on the decline in 2026 despite broader market upticks. Now, a flurry of reduced price targets are buffeting SPOT after a Goldman Sachs downgrade last year. It’s no secret that Spotify’s stock (SPOT) has been trending downward since last year. While multiple contributing factors are at play—including the departure of co-founder […]

4. Bandcamp Takes a Stand and Bans AI-Generated Music

   Bandcamp takes an official stance against artificial intelligence by banning AI-generated audio and music from its platform. Bandcamp keeps providing users with even more reasons to love its platform. The latest move came in an announcement on Tuesday, in which Bandcamp Support took to Reddit to announce the company’s stance on artificial intelligence: Bandcamp has […]

5. Here We Go Again: BTS Premium Seats Already Hitting $5,000 on Resale Sites, Pre-Sale ‘Applications’ Now Being Accepted

   BTS is back, and it’s already a circus to try to secure tickets across the monster 79-show stadium run. Expect to pay a pretty penny to see the K-pop kings in action. The long-awaited return of BTS to the global stage is much more than just a milestone for the K-pop sensation’s devoted ARMY fanbase: […]

6. Australia Preps 38% Rate Hike for Commercial Radio Recordings — PPCA Says It ‘Will Continue to Engage With Government, Parliament, and Industry Stakeholders on the Policy Settings’

   Following a multiyear rate-setting showdown, Australia’s commercial radio broadcasters will begin paying nearly 40% more for the use of recordings. Australia’s Copyright Tribunal finalized this licensing-rate hike in a mid-December decision, and the Phonographic Performance Company of Australia (PPCA) today “acknowledged” the development. At a glance, “acknowledge” might not seem an...

7. 2026 Ushers in a Pair of C-Suite Changes: CMA Chief Announces Retirement, TuneCore CEO Steps Down

   The new year sees a pair of C-suite shakeups as CMA CEO Sarah Trahern announces her retirement, and TuneCore CEO Andreea Gleeson steps down. Country Music Association (CMA) CEO Sarah Trahern has announced her decision to retire at the end of 2026 after leading the organization since 2014. Her announcement comes alongside that of Andreea […]

8. Atlantic Screen Group Secures $30 Million from Corrum Capital for Film, TV Score, Music Catalog Acquisitions

   Atlantic Screen Group announces a $30 million injection of funds from Corrum Capital to accelerate its strategic acquisitions of film and TV scores. Atlantic Screen Group (ASG) has secured $30 million in funding from Corrum Capital, which will enable the company to continue its strategic acquisition of film and television scores. The investment will also […]

9. Judge Tosses Chris Brown’s $500 Million Defamation Lawsuit Over ‘A History of Violence’ Documentary

   A judge dismisses Chris Brown’s $500 million defamation suit against Warner Bros. Discovery over the documentary “Chris Brown: A History of Violence.” Chris Brown’s aggressive lawsuit against Warner Bros. Discovery and Ample Entertainment over the documentary “Chris Brown: A History of Violence” has been quickly shot down by a Los Angeles judge. According to Judge […]

10. SXSW Sydney Cancelled After Just Three Years

    After only a three-year run, Australia’s SXSW Sydney has been cancelled following the New South Wales government pulling its funding. SXSW Sydney, Australia’s version of the music, technology, and media conference, will not return this year after the New South Wales government pulled its funding. Organizers confirmed the news in a message posted on the […]

11. Instagram Wants You to Personalize ‘Your Algorithm’ for 2026

    Instagram starts rolling out a new set of controls to enable users to personalize the topics recommended to them, starting with the Reels algorithm. Instagram began rolling out a new set of controls to enable users to personalize the topics recommended to them by the Reels algorithm, starting last month. Now, the company is expanding […]

12. Emo Night Brooklyn Organizer Burwoodland Scores ‘Significant Investment’ from Mark Cuban, Says It’s Sold Over 1.5 Million Tickets

    Burwoodland, the social entertainment events organizer behind Emo Night Brooklyn and more, has scored “a significant investment” from Mark Cuban. New York City-headquartered Burwoodland confirmed the investment – but not the deal’s dollar amount or ownership stake – today. Founded 11 years back by Ethan Maccoby and Alex Badanes, Burwoodland is said to produce north […]

13. Google Aggressively Moves to Dismiss Billboard Parent Penske Media’s AI Antitrust Suit: ‘It Remains Legally Defective in Every Way’

    Google is doubling down on its push to dismiss Penske Media Corporation’s amended antitrust suit, which allegedly “remains legally defective in every way.” The tech giant and its Alphabet parent just recently moved to toss the high-stakes complaint with prejudice. We last checked in on the legal battle closer to December’s start, when the Billboard […]

14. How Labelcaster Is Powering the New Generation of Indie Labels

    Independent labels are no longer fringe players in the music industry—they’ve become a powerful global force in the recorded music economy. Independent labels have risen to a 35% share of the overall U.S. on-demand audio streaming market in 2025. With the onslaught of uploaded music to DSPs, now over 120,000 tracks per day*, indie labels’ […]

15. Fugees Collaborator John Forté Dead at 50, No Cause of Death Yet Revealed

    John Forté, Grammy-nominated musician best known for his work with the Fugees, was found dead in his home in Massachusetts. He was 50 years old. Grammy-nominated musician John Forté, best known for his work with the Fugees and the Refugee Camp All-Stars, including Wyclef Jean, A Tribe Called Quest, and Busta Rhymes, has died at […]