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. Chord Music Leverages Its $uicideboy$, Morgan Wallen, and Ryan Tedder Catalogs Into a $500 Million ABS

   Chord Music is sponsoring $500 million in asset-backed securities (ABS) from a portfolio of music rights featuring Morgan Wallen, ZZ Top, and more. Chord Music Partners, born from a partnership between Dundee Partners and KKR, has announced plans to sponsor $500 million in asset-backed securities (ABS) based on a portfolio of music, publishing, and master […]

2. Olivia Rodrigo Drops Separate, Exclusive ‘drop dead’ Videos on Spotify and Apple Music

   After the release of the music video for her new single, “drop dead,” Olivia Rodrigo surprises with two exclusive versions on Spotify and Apple Music. On the heels of Olivia Rodrigo’s official music video for her new single, “drop dead,” which released last week, the singer has taken things a step further with two more […]

3. Today in Social Media Infringement Litigation: UMG, Concord Slap Quince with Major Lawsuit Over TikTok, Instagram Infringement Allegations

   Universal Music Group and Concord sue fashion startup Quince for “rampant and brazen” copyright infringement on social media posts. Universal Music Group (UMG) and Concord Music Group, along with Capitol Records and six Universal Music Publishing entities, have filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against popular direct-to-consumer fashion startup Quince. According to the filing, Quince has...

4. Deezer Now Identifies Nearly 75,000 ‘Fully AI-Generated’ Uploads Per Day, Up 650% from January 2025

   First, the good news: Machine-made audio still accounts for a small percentage of Deezer’s total streams. As for the bad news, 44% of daily uploads – roughly 75,000 tracks – are now “fully” generated by AI, per the DSP. Paris-based Deezer provided a fresh update on its AI slop crusade today. As many know, that […]

5. Drake Comes Out Swinging Against Universal Music in ‘Not Like Us’ Suit Appeal; Accuses UMG Of Wanting a ‘Free Pass for Defamation’

   Can a diss track go too far? Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” caused the public to view Drake “as another Jeffrey Epstein” – at least according to Drake himself, who’s come out swinging against Universal Music Group in their high-stakes appeal battle. Drake just recently doubled down on his push to revive the billion-dollar complaint, […]

6. The Data Deep-Dive: Pop’s Slump Continues Into 2026 as Global Charts Remain Stagnant

   After a massive year for pop in 2024, the charts have slowed to a crawl. New releases are struggling to compete with long-running hits and resurgent catalog tracks, leaving 2025 –and early 2026– defined by stagnation. This article was written by April Clare Welsh in collaboration with How Music Charts. Music Trends on Digital Music News […]

7. Live Nation/Ticketmaster Ordered to Pay $9.9 Million Back to Residents of Washington, DC

   Live Nation and Ticketmaster will be required to pay $9.9 million for its misleading ticketing practices, the D.C. Attorney General announced. On Monday, Washington D.C. Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb announced that Live Nation/Ticketmaster will be required to pay $9.9 million to settle allegations that its ticketing practices were misleading to customers and charged deceptive […]

8. Amy Winehouse’s Father Loses Court Battle v. Friends Over Auctioned Items

   Amy Winehouse’s father, Mitch Winehouse, has lost his court case versus friends who auctioned dozens of her belongings. The case was brought against Naomi Parry and Catriona Gourlay, who Mitch Winehouse accuse of having profited from items sold at auction in the US. According to the BBC, lawyers representing Winehouse told the court that the […]

9. D4vd Potentially Faces the Death Penalty Following First-Degree Murder Charges

   Singer D4vd has been charged with murder following his arrest last week for the death of the teen girl whose body was found in his car last year. At a press conference on Monday, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said that singer D4vd has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of […]

10. Is Kanye’s Entire European Tour About to Get Nixed? Signs Point to Yes

    With most of his European shows cancelled, including Poland and Switzerland, will Kanye West’s entire European tour get called off? Here’s the latest. It started with the UK government barring Kanye West’s entry to the country after he was announced as the headliner for Wireless Festival, which was then cancelled. Then, with the French government […]

11. Reservoir-Partnered PopArabia’s MENA Expansion Continues With Viral Wave Acquisition: ‘We’re Across the Region and Embedded’

    Reservoir Media-backed PopArabia has once again expanded its reach in MENA, this time with the acquisition of distributor and label Viral Wave. Reservoir and Abu Dhabi-headquartered PopArabia, having coordinated on catalog plays and more in recent years, announced the purchase today. With clients including Ramy Sabry, Ruby, Tamer Ashour, and Ahmed Saad, Viral Wave deals in straight distribution,...

12. Swiss Football Club Becomes Latest European Venue to Cancel a Kanye West Concert

    A Swiss football club has cancelled a Kanye West concert at St. Jakob-Park, stating that after a review, they found it did not align with their values. Swiss football club FC Basel has decided not to host a Kanye West concert at its St. Jakob-Park stadium, making it the latest European venue to turn the […]

13. Tory Lanez Sues California Prison System for $100 Million Following Brutal Stabbing by Fellow Inmate

    Tory Lanez is suing the California Department of Corrections for $100 million over an incident last year in which he was stabbed 16 times by a fellow inmate. Rapper Tory Lanez has filed a $100 million lawsuit against the California Department of Corrections over an incident in May last year in which he was stabbed […]

14. NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani Earned Over $1,600 in Rap Royalties Last Year

    New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is still earning royalties from his fleeting rap career, reporting $1,643 in 2025 and $1,267 in 2024. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani saw renewed interest in his short-lived rap career after his mayoral candidacy. The music he recorded as Young Cardamom and Mr. Cardamom earned him $1,643 in […]

15. Universal Music Kicks Off Major Jazz Push With ‘Everything Jazz’ Digital Platform Launch, Crowded ‘Verve Vault’ 2026 Reissue Series

    Universal Music Group’s betting big on jazz with a slate of reissues as well as the official debut of an Everything Jazz digital platform and online store. Specifically part of the major’s Global Classics & Jazz division, the newly expanded Everything Jazz counts longtime Universal Music higher-up Tina Poyser as its vice president. Developed “in […]