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. Rod Stewart Fans Angered by Star Seen at Scotland World Cup Match After Cancelling California Show at the Last Minute

   Fans are outraged as Rod Stewart was spotted at a Scotland FIFA World Cup match less than a day after he abruptly cancelled a California show due to illness. Rock icon Rod Stewart nixed his scheduled Friday night show in San Diego just 40 minutes before he was due to hit the stage, with organizers […]

2. ‘Michael’ Officially Becomes the Highest-Grossing Musical Biopic in History

   The King of Pop is now the King of Biopics, as Michael moonwalks past Bohemian Rhapsody to become the highest-grossing musical biopic in history. It’s official: Universal and Lionsgate’s Michael Jackson biopic Michael has surpassed the Queen/Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody to become the highest-grossing musical biopic of all time with $911.9 million worldwide. The […]

3. AI-Cloned Vocals Fuel Late Minnesota Rapper Eyedea’s New LP

   The late Minnesota rapper Eyedea has a new LP, thanks to AI-cloned vocals and handwritten lyrics preserved by the artist’s mom. A new 14-song collection, 15-Year-Old Shit Talking, recreating the voice of late underground rapper Eyedea, is out now via most streaming platforms and on CD through Bandcamp. But it’s been a long road to […]

4. Fast-Rising Singer Oliver Tree Dies After a Horrific Helicopter Crash In Brazil — Here Are the Confirmed Details

   Singer Oliver Tree has died after a helicopter crash in Brazil that resulted in the deaths of six people. He was just 32 years old. Oliver Tree, who first gained fame in 2010 at the age of 17 working with artists like Skrillex and Zeds Dead, has died after two helicopters collided in the air […]

5. After Salt-N-Pepa and 2 Live Crew Legal Battles, Another Termination Showdown Emerges Over the University of Michigan Fight Song

   The original songwriters of a University of Michigan fight song are fighting back against the song’s publishers over alleged licensing interference. The realm of termination clause legal battles continues to heat up, following the high-profile cases involving Salt-N-Pepa and 2 Live Crew. Both of those cases ended in opposition to the artists based on matters […]

6. Lionel Richie Moves to Trademark His Voice, Filing Sound Mark Applications for ‘Easy Like Sunday Morning’ and More

   Is the era of voice trademarks upon us? It seems that way, as Lionel Richie has become the latest entertainment professional to file related applications amid AI’s rapid expansion. Specifically, Tuskegee-born Richie moved to obtain four trademarks yesterday – joining the likes of Taylor Swift and Matthew McConaughey, both of whom have sought voice and […]

7. Alleged Napster Funding Fraudster Faces Criminal and Civil Cases — Company ‘Never Received Any Money’ Despite the Individual’s ‘Promise to Invest $3.36 Billion’

   It turns out Infinite Reality/Napster’s huge funding round was even more suspicious than we thought: Now, two federal cases are in motion against the individual who allegedly “fraudulently obtained” almost 240 million of the company’s shares. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York formally announced a criminal indictment against the alleged […]

8. Morrissey Releases Statement About Alleged Impersonators Defaming Him

   Morrissey releases a statement about people he claims to have identified who posed as him online to spread misinformation about his political ties. Morrissey has remained popular in the decades since the Smiths broke up, but certainly not without numerous controversies. In recent years, these have included his sudden show cancellations and leaving the stage […]

9. Kanye’s Antisemitism Definitely Isn’t Flying In Europe; Prague the Latest to Shut Down a Ye Show

   The rapper formerly known as Kanye West will not be performing in Prague after the venue set to host him backed out. It’s the latest cancelled show for the outwardly antisemitic artist. Kanye West, who now goes by Ye, was set to perform in Prague as part of his proposed comeback tour, but the show […]

10. The AFM’s AI Lawsuit Is Now Part of ‘A Global Fight’ — UK’s Musicians’ Union Urges Others to ‘Take on Major Corporations Who Intend to Exploit Their Rights Without Consent’

    The AFM’s lawsuit against Universal Music and Warner Music is now one component of “a global fight,” as the UK’s Musicians’ Union has backed the litigation and urged other unions yet to “take on major corporations who intend to exploit their rights without consent.” The Musicians’ Union today voiced support for the high-stakes suit, which […]

11. Lil Wayne Secures “A Milli” (Minus $970,000, That Is) After Ex-Guard’s Lawsuit Fizzles Out

    Lil Wayne is victorious in the lawsuit filed against him by a former security guard who alleged the rapper pulled a gun on him. Now the guard must pay up, to the tune of nearly $30,000. A Los Angeles Superior Court judge ordered Lil Wayne’s former security guard, Christian Carlos, to pay the rapper $29,225 […]

12. Spotify and Amazon Music’s Bundling Shenanigans Have Cost Music Publishers Nearly $500 Million Since 2024, NMPA Reveals

    Spotify and Amazon’s bundling strategy has had a major impact on music publishers’ royalty haul, resulting in nearly $500 million in lost royalties since 2024. The National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) revealed some worrying data tied to the sustained hit the industry has taken from streaming providers’ “bundles.” As Spotify (and similarly, Amazon Music) started […]

13. Is Spotify’s ‘Artist Profile Protection’ Actually Working? Fans Confused After Bridgit Mendler’s ‘New EP’ Appears

    Bridgit Mendler says a surprise EP attributed to her on Spotify and Apple Music isn’t her, raising questions about streaming platforms’ efforts to curb AI impersonators. Last week, fans of former Disney Channel star Bridgit Mendler were thrilled to see she had released a new EP titled “Once Again…” on Spotify and Apple Music. But […]

14. Distribution Startup Madverse Scores Willard Ahdritz-Led Seed Round, Says Its Userbase Has Grown ‘25% in the Last Month Alone’

    Amid rapid music sector growth in India – and on its own platform, which has seen its userbase expand by “25% in the last month alone” – Madverse Music Group has scored an Ahdritz Capital-led seed round. New Delhi-headquartered Madverse unveiled the raise, but not the precise funding at hand, today. Founded in 2023 by […]

15. Deezer Launches AI Detection Tool for Playlists, Says 43% of New Users’ Libraries Contain ‘AI Music’

    Deezer is kicking its AI detection capabilities up a notch with a new tool that identifies machine-generated tracks in playlists – including those saved to competing streaming platforms. The Paris-headquartered DSP announced and launched its artificial intelligence music detector today. And while Deezer itself is pinpointing the AI audio, it’s playlist-transfer service Tune My Music […]