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. Bonnie Tyler Emerges From Induced Coma in Portugal But ‘Very Unwell’ After Emergency Surgery

   Bonnie Tyler is no longer in a coma, but remains “very unwell” in intensive care in Portugal following emergency surgery back in May. “Total Eclipse of the Heart” singer Bonnie Tyler is still recovering after undergoing emergency intestinal surgery last month that saw her placed in an induced coma. She is no longer in a […]

2. Lil Baby v. Bay Smokes Legal Battle Intensifies — Hemp Company Fires Back With Countersuit After WHAM! Partnership Turns Sour

   Back in April, Lil Baby sued hemp brand Bay Smokes over a marketing partnership turned sour. Now, we have a full-fledged legal battle on our hands, as the self-proclaimed “#1 online dispensary” has fired back with a countersuit. Both the original complaint (technically levied by The Holding Company, which manages Lil Baby’s IP) and the […]

3. Wu-Tang Clan Re-Join the Knicks During a Full ‘Tonight Show’ Takeover Celebration

   After the Knicks’ first NBA Championship win in over 50 years, the team will appear on The Tonight Show for a special episode featuring Wu-Tang Clan. New York City is celebrating this week after the Knicks’ first NBA Championship win in over 50 years, culminating in the team’s appearance on Monday’s Tonight Show for a […]

4. Severe Storms Wreak Havoc on Bonnaroo Again This Year

   Weather-related delays, evacuations, and logistical issues bombarded the final day of the 2026 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Tennessee. Bonnaroo 2026 was hit with inclement weather on its final day, echoing the weather-related issues that beset the 2025 edition of the Tennessee music and arts festival. Event organizers announced a weather-related delay and an […]

5. After Spotify Eyes Concert Streaming, YouTube Launches ‘Music Nights’ Exclusive Live Concert Series

   YouTube launches ‘Music Nights,’ a series of exclusive live concerts “for dedicated fans,” featuring album release parties and more. Just a week after Spotify reportedly began shopping around to secure licensing to stream live events, YouTube claps back with “Music Nights.” The new series of exclusive concerts designed “for dedicated fans” will include release parties, […]

6. HarbourView Scores Chaka Khan ‘Strategic Partnership,’ Acquiring a Catalog Stake and Teeing Up ‘New Creative Ventures’

   HarbourView has scored a multifaceted partnership agreement, extending to catalog development, “new creative ventures,” and more, with former Rufus lead singer Chaka Khan.   Newark-based HarbourView and Chicago-born Chaka Khan (real name Yvette Stevens) just recently announced their deal – albeit without shedding light on its hard financials. Despite the lack of specifics in this […]

7. Keeping Pace with Catalog Growth — Vydia Streamlines Rising Royalty Volumes with Tipalti Mass Payments

   Vydia operates a cloud-based platform that supports labels, artists, and agencies across the music ecosystem. As its client roster expanded, each new label deal brought a surge in payees and monthly transactions, putting pressure on Vydia’s royalty and advances processes. To keep pace with this growth, the company implemented Tipalti’s Mass Payments solution to centralize […]

8. ‘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 […]

9. 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 […]

10. 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 […]

11. Rod Stewart Parties It Up at a Scotland World Cup Match — Just Moments After Cancelling a 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 […]

12. 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 […]

13. 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 […]

14. 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 […]

15. 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 […]