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. Believe Scores Global Publishing Deal With Janet Jackson — ‘Long-Term’ Agreement Covers ‘Her Entire Catalog’

   Five months after setting sail, Believe Music Publishing (BMP) has signed Janet Jackson to a long-term deal. Believe unveiled that high-profile agreement today, after BMP formally launched in October 2025. Evidently, the unit has hit the ground running: the Rock Hall of Fame inductee Jackson is bringing her “entire catalog” to the Paris-based company under […]

2. Taylor Swift Officially Confirmed to Make a ‘Special Appearance’ at 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards Next Week

   Taylor Swift will make a special appearance at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards next week, as the most-nominated artist of the year with nine nods. Today, iHeartMedia and Fox Entertainment announced that Taylor Swift will make a special appearance at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards — her first award show appearance this year. Swift, who […]

3. Spotify’s PC Audiophiles Rejoice as ‘Exclusive Mode’ Hits Windows Machines

   Spotify is rolling out a feature called Exclusive Mode for subscribers to get bit-perfect song playback if they listen on a Windows PC. Spotify has announced Exclusive Mode, now available in the Spotify Windows desktop app for Premium subscribers. The feature enables bit-perfect playback, with the company noting it “pairs great with Lossless turned on […]

4. Primary Wave Acquires ‘Santa Baby’ Singer Eartha Kitt’s Catalog and All-Important NIL Rights: ‘One of the Most Distinctive Voices in Music’

   Let the catalog deals continue: Primary Wave has purchased the IP of Eartha Kitt, including the artist’s 1953 rendition of “Santa Baby.” Primary Wave and the Kitt estate just recently disclosed their agreement, encompassing the South Carolina-born singer-songwriter’s catalog as well as her name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights. On the catalog side, the transaction […]

5. Dynamite Songs Expands Catalog with Acquisitions from Singer-Songwriter Joan Osborne and Composer Lou Pomanti

   Dynamite Songs expands its catalog with acquisitions from singer-songwriter Joan Osborne and Canadian composer Lou Pomanti. Dynamite Songs, a self-titled specialist music publisher dedicated to acquiring and managing smaller catalogs with culturally significant songs, has acquired the publishing rights to songs written by Grammy-nominated American singer-songwriter Joan Osborne and by Lou...

6. Pophouse Acquires ‘A Majority Stake’ in Tina Turner’s ‘Music Interests’ and NIL Under BMG Deal — Is an Avatar Concert on the Way?

   Remember Tina Turner’s 2021 catalog sale? Over four years later, Pophouse has taken a stake in the IP as part of “a strategic transaction” with the original buyer, BMG. BMG and Pophouse disclosed their sub-deal today, after the former company in October 2021 unveiled an agreement with Turner. And as described by BMG then, the […]

7. Zuckerberg’s Billion-Dollar Ballyhoo Meta Horizon Worlds VR Is Shutting Down—Mobile App Remains

   Meta has announced it will shut down the virtual reality version of Meta Horizon Worlds, marking a significant retreat from one of its flagship metaverse projects. Starting March 31, 2026, Quest headset users will lose access to spaces like Horizon Central and the Events Arena. The full closure comes on June 15, 2026. The move […]

8. Sony Music Says It Just Removed 135,000+ Deepfakes of Its Artists’ Music

   Sony Music says it has requested the removal of more than 135,000 songs created by fraudsters impersonating its artists on streaming services. AI deepfakes of Beyoncé, Queen, and Harry Styles are among those removed. Digital Music News has been reporting on the existence of AI deepfakes proliferating on digital streaming providers like Spotify, which does […]

9. Ohio Jury Sides With Afroman In High-Profile First Amendment Lawsuit Over ‘Lemon Pound Cake’

   A jury has sided with Afroman in a lawsuit initiated by deputies who took issue with the artist mocking them in music videos. The rapper quickly fought back on First Amendment and freedom of speech grounds. On Wednesday, an Ohio jury sided with rapper Afroman in a lawsuit filed against him by sheriff’s deputies who […]

10. Deezer Achieves Its First Year of Profitability In Fiscal 2025 — With ‘AI Transparency’ a Serious Differentiator

    Deezer reports its first year of profitability for the fiscal year 2025—the first time the French music streamer has surpassed all key metrics. On Wednesday, French music streamer Deezer unveiled its 2025 financials, reporting profitability for the first time and exceeding all three key metrics across adjusted EBITDA, positive net income, and free cash flow. […]

11. ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Global Concert Tour Planned by Netflix

    Capitalizing on its recent Oscar win and news of a sequel, Netflix is planning a ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ world tour, rumors reveal. Netflix is planning a KPop Demon Hunters global concert tour, according to a source familiar with the discussions on Wednesday. The rumor comes hot on the heels of the film’s Oscar win and […]

12. BMG Files Massive Copyright Suit Against Anthropic — 45-Page Complaint Alleges Training Infringement, Piracy, Unlawful Copying, CMI Removals, and More

    Anthropic is grappling with another massive infringement lawsuit – this time from BMG, which has accused the AI giant of running “roughshod over the rights of countless creatives and rightsholders.” BMG submitted its nearly 50-page complaint to a California federal court yesterday, about seven weeks after Universal Music and Concord fired off a sweeping suit […]

13. US States Suing Live Nation Call Their First Witness: The Live Nation Employee Who Bragged About ‘Robbing Customers Blind’

    The Live Nation employee who bragged to a coworker in private messages about “robbing customers blind” testified at the company’s antitrust trial. Benjamin Baker, Head of Ticketing for Venue Nation, Live Nation’s amphitheater division, became a star witness for the 30-plus states that are suing the company in a high-profile antitrust trial. Baker’s Slack messages […]

14. Vinyl Sales Are on the Rise, IFPI, RIAA, and Luminate Data Shows — But Do These Growth Stats Tell the Full Story?

    The possible “vinyl plateau” drew to a screeching halt during 2025 – at least according to newly released RIAA, IFPI, and Luminate sales data. But following sweeping methodology changes, do these stats tell the full story? As is so often the case in the music world, one seemingly straightforward question has the potential to elicit […]

15. EC Delays Its New Rules on Payouts for Radio and Public Performances—IMPALA Says Europe Desperately Needs to Speed It Up

    IMPALA calls on the EU to speed up its work so European rights holders do not lose revenue to countries that don’t offer the same levels of protection. The European Association of Independent Music Companies, IMPALA, is now calling on the European Commission (EC) to speed up its work. In a message blasted out this […]