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. Lightning In a Bottle Lineup Revealed: Zeds Dead, Barry Can’t Swim, Tinashe, Many More

   Lightning In a Bottle reveals the initial lineup for the festival’s 2026 edition, kicking off at SoCal’s Buena Vista Lake from May 20-24. Lightning In a Bottle announced the initial lineup for their 2026 edition, which returns to SoCal’s Buena Vista Lake from May 20 through May 24. News of the lineup arrives on the […]

2. Looks Like Tyler, the Creator is Joining Fortnite’s Icon Series

   Tyler, the Creator is reportedly joining Fortnite’s Icon Series, hinting at a creative collaboration inspired by the artist’s varied music eras. Signs point to Tyler, the Creator being the next big artist to join Fortnite’s Icon Series, according to reports from reliable Fortnite community leakers. While Epic Games hasn’t yet confirmed the news, reports indicate […]

3. Spotify Users On Android Can Now Share Songs to Their WhatsApp Status

   Spotify users on Android can now share content to their WhatsApp status, similar to an Instagram Story. Spotify is rolling out an update for Android users to post their favorite songs, playlists, and podcasts directly to their WhatsApp status, including nifty visuals and instant previews. The update is part of the music streaming giant’s broader […]

4. Artists Fire Back Against Suno’s ‘Legally Unsustainable’ Dismissal Motion in High-Stakes Copyright and Unfair Competition Class Action

   Late last month, Suno moved to dismiss most of the artist-led copyright class action filed against it by Tony Justice and others. Now, the plaintiffs have fired back, including by doubling down on their stream-ripping claims. The dismissal opposition took the form of a nearly 30-page response yesterday, seven weeks after Justice submitted his amended […]

5. Disney Is Losing $4.3 Million a Day to YouTube TV Blackout, Morgan Stanley Estimates

   Disney is losing approximately $30 million a week from its networks like ESPN and ABC being pulled off YouTube TV. According to Morgan Stanley equity analysts Benjamin Swinburne and Thomas Yeh, Disney is losing around $4.3 million each day from its networks being pulled from YouTube TV. In their financial forecast for Disney’s year-end quarter, […]

6. Hollywood Bowl Names Stage After Composer John Williams—’We Love You, Maestro!’

   The Hollywood Bowl stage has been dedicated to composer John Williams in a ceremony hosted by the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The Los Angeles Philharmonic announced the naming of the Hollywood Bowl stage in honor of composer John Williams. In the venue’s 103-year history, it is the first time that the stage has been dedicated to […]

7. Spotify, NMPA Sign Audiovisual Direct-Licensing Pact for Indie Publishers

   Spotify and the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) has launched a new opt-in portal for NMPA members to enter direct licensing agreements for expanded audiovisual rights in the United States. Simply put: these new agreements mean higher royalty payouts for independent music publishers and songwriters. In exchange, Spotify will receive new rights to build video […]

8. GEMA Touts ‘Landmark Ruling’ in OpenAI Infringement Suit — ChatGPT Developer Downplays the Decision As Involving ‘A Limited Set of Lyrics,’ Says It’s ‘Considering Next Steps’

   One year after suing OpenAI for alleged copyright infringement, Germany’s GEMA is touting a Munich court’s “landmark ruling” in the case. Meanwhile, the ChatGPT developer is downplaying the decision as applicable only to “a limited set of lyrics.” GEMA applauded the “very clear verdict” in a formal release today, with its original suit having arrived […]

9. Sony Music Posts 11.7% Q3 2025 Revenue Jump as Publishing Streaming Growth Cracks 23% — Top Sellers Include Bruce Springsteen, SZA, and Tyler, the Creator

   Sony Music has posted a double-digit revenue increase for Q3 2025, when publishing’s contribution spiked nearly 16% year over year (YoY) thanks to significant streaming gains. As usual, the major label’s quarterly results – covering July, August, and September, or the 2025 fiscal year’s second quarter – emerged in a report from the overarching Sony […]

10. Live Nation Global Survey Finds Live Music Is — Surprise! — the World’s Favorite Form of Entertainment

    Live Nation’s new survey spanning 15 countries finds that live music now outranks sports, film, and streaming as the favored form of entertainment. Vendor-sponsored research has its obvious conflicts, though the results are sometimes interesting — even if they need to be read with a grain of salt. Enter Live Nation’s “Living for Live” report, […]

11. Still No Charges in Strange d4vd and Celeste Rivas Hernandez Situation, LAPD Confirms

    Los Angeles police confirm no charges have been made in the curious case of the body of a teenager found in the trunk of d4vd’s car back in September. The investigation into the body of teenager Celeste Rivas Hernandez, which was found in the trunk of a Tesla registered to musician d4vd back in September, […]

12. Salt-N-Pepa Use Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Speech to Broil UMG

    Salt-N-Pepa used their platform at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony to call out UMG, with whom they are still in a heated legal battle. Salt-N-Pepa took the stage at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Saturday night to accept the Musical Influence Award. But the iconic rap […]

13. Viagogo Slapped with UK Tax Bills Nearing $20 Million

    Two UK divisions of ticket resale platform Viagogo owe nearly $20 million in taxes after the government found they had underpaid. Two UK-based divisions of ticket resale platform Viagogo have been slapped with a £15 million ($19.7 million) tax bill after the government found they had not paid enough. Filings for VGL Services and IFOT […]

14. Hybe Posts Record Revenues (And Significant Losses) During Latest Quarter

    Hybe sets a new record for quarterly revenue driven by the global success of K-pop acts like BTS member Jin. But the company’s significant operating loss continues. K-pop juggernaut Hybe has posted record quarterly revenue of $524.7 million (727.2 billion KRW), a 37.8% year-over-year increase. The company behind K-pop powerhouse BTS also posted cumulative sales […]

15. Songtradr’s Paul Langworthy On Why Music Industry Fragmentation Is a ‘Massive’ Opportunity

    The music industry is enjoying record levels of investment in 2025, and the capital isn’t limited to catalogs. But what if the fragmented processes tied to music discovery, licensing, synchronization, and administration could be seamlessly integrated and unified, instead of remaining disparate and disconnected? That’s the big vision behind Songtradr’s recent consolidation of MassiveMusic, with...