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. The Music Industry Has a Growing Data Overload Problem. Octave Media’s Matt Jacoby Says There’s Hope.

   The music industry of 2026 is exploding everywhere all-at-once, with catalog investments, creative outputs, and AI-generated mayhem part of a pedal-to-the-metal growth expansion. On the ground, that means more companies are battling an avalanche of data overload and disconnected processes, though systems and experts are quickly adapting and figuring out solutions. That includes Octave Media...

2. Coca-Cola Fires Back Against Johnny Cash Estate’s ELVIS Act Lawsuit, Denies Its Alleged ‘Soundalike’ Advert Is Infringing

   Remember the Johnny Cash estate’s ELVIS Act lawsuit against the Coca-Cola Company? Nearly six months later, the beverage giant has officially fired back against the complaint. Coca-Cola just recently submitted a straightforward answer to the suit, which, we reported this past November, revolves around an August 2025 Coke and college-football advert entitled “Go the Distance.” […]

3. Journey Supersizes Its Final Frontier Tour With 40 New Dates — 101-Show Farewell Tour Now Set to Wrap in November

   Journey has supersized its Final Frontier Tour with 40 new dates, thereby pushing the farewell concert series’ total show count past 100. The veteran rock group unveiled the expanded schedule (and made the fresh tickets available) today, two months and change after kicking off the Final Frontier Tour. Out of the gate, Journey teed up […]

4. UMG Unlocks 24/7 Mental Health Support for Artists and Songwriters

   UMG announces a partnership with Amber Health to deliver 24/7, industry-specific mental health support for artists and songwriters. The move aims to advance industry well-being as a founding member of Project Healthy Minds’ workforce mental health research initiative. Today (May 13), Universal Music Group (UMG) has announced the expansion of its mental health and wellbeing […]

5. Weverse Scores Major Pre-Sale, VIP Sales for Hybe x Geffen’s Katseye World Tour

   Katseye announces their global Wildworld Tour, taking the group to arenas across the UK, Europe, and North America this fall. On Wednesday (May 13), Katseye announced their Wildworld Tour, a headline outing that will see the global girl group travel to arenas across the UK, Europe, and North America this fall. Produced by Live Nation, […]

6. UK Government’s Draft Bill on ‘Ticket Touting’ Ban Included in King’s Speech As Predicted, But the Music Industry is No Less Disappointed

   As predicted, the King’s Speech on Wednesday only included the draft bill on a ticket tout ban, but the music industry is nonetheless disappointed. The UK government’s draft bill on a so-called ticket tout ban was included in the King’s Speech on Wednesday (May 13), illustrating a lack of urgency among parliamentary issues and disappointing […]

7. TikTok Toes the Subscription Waters With ‘Ad-Free’ Plan In the UK

   TikTok is rolling out an ad-free subscription plan in the UK for users 18 and over for £3.99 a month. Users who subscribe won’t see ads on the platform, and their data won’t be used for advertising purposes. In the coming months, TikTok will be introducing an ad-free subscription plan in the UK for £3.99 […]

8. Samsung Denies ‘Any Allegations of Intentional Misuse’ Amid $15 Million Dua Lipa Lawsuit, Says It Remains ‘Open to a Constructive Resolution’

   Samsung has officially responded to Dua Lipa’s copyright infringement lawsuit by denying “any allegations of intentional misuse” and underscoring that it’s “open to a constructive resolution with Ms. Lipa’s team.” Samsung addressed the $15 million complaint in response to DMN’s comment request; we previously broke down the straightforward suit in detail. But to recap, the […]

9. Tencent Music Posts 7.3% Q1 2026 Revenue Jump, Points to Triple-Digit Live Growth and Continued Superfan Expansion

   Amid a continued SVIP expansion and a triple-digit revenue boost on the concerts side, Tencent Music Entertainment (TME) has reported nearly $1.2 billion in Q1 2026 revenue. The QQ, Kugou, Kuwo, and WeSing operator shed light on its first-quarter financials today. Unfortunately for us, there isn’t a ton of depth to the report; execs previously […]

10. The Twigs Countersue FKA Twigs Amid Intensifying Trademark Dispute; New Claims Look to Bar the Name ‘FKA Twigs’ for LIfe

    The Twigs v. Twigs trademark showdown just got even uglier: Now, The Twigs have fired back against FKA Twigs’ lawsuit with a firmly worded countercomplaint seeking, among other things, an order barring the artist from using the contested name. The Twigs – or the indie-pop duo consisting of twin sisters Laura and Linda Good – […]

11. UMG’s Hybe x Geffen Announces Their Second Girl Group After Katseye

    Hybe and Geffen Records announce their second global girl group, Saint Satine, after the finale of music survival show “World Scout: The Final Piece.” It’s official: Hybe and Geffen Records have unveiled their second global girl group following the worldwide success of Katseye. Saint Satine is a four-piece group that was mainly known as Prelude […]

12. Spotify Is Smartly Expanding Its Fan-Favorite Wrapped-Style Recaps

    Spotify ramps up its Wrapped recaps as part of its 20th anniversary celebration, releasing a limited-time look at your entire listening history. As part of Spotify’s 20th anniversary celebration, the streamer has unveiled a limited-time, mobile-only in-app experience giving users a “playful, nostalgia-driven look back at your music listening history.” It contains moments such as […]

13. The Thief Who Swiped Beyoncé’s Unreleased Tracks In a Brazen Heist Is Now Going to Prison

    The man accused of stealing hard drives containing unreleased Beyoncé music has avoided a jury trial by pleading guilty and will serve prison time. Kelvin Evans, the 40-year-old man accused of stealing hard drives from Beyoncé’s team containing unreleased music, pleaded guilty in Fulton County Superior Court on Tuesday, thus avoiding a jury trial. Evans […]

14. Apple Music Drops the Paywall for Lady Gaga’s Mayhem Requiem Premiere Alongside AMC Screenings

    Apple Music is inviting all of Lady Gaga’s Little Monsters to the final chapter of her Mayhem era with “Apple Music Live: Lady Gaga Mayhem Requiem.” Lady Gaga has teamed up with Apple Music for a special recorded live performance, “Apple Music Live: Lady Gaga Mayhem Requiem.” The show was filmed live in January at […]

15. Michael Jackson’s ‘Secret Family’ Doubles Down on Abuse Accusations After Legal Setbacks

    Amid the success of the new Michael Jackson biopic, four siblings alleging child sex abuse double down on their claims in a new interview. The Cascio family, four siblings who filed a lawsuit against the Michael Jackson estate in February, doubled down on their claims of child sexual abuse in a new interview with “60 […]