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. Deezer Posts Tepid Q1 Subscriber Results—But Reveals an Interesting AI Detection Deal

   Deezer reports lower revenues and global subscribers in Q1, but its AI-detection tool continues to make it an industry leader in a deal with Hungary-based music rights organization, EJI. Deezer continues to lag behind streaming juggernauts like Spotify and Apple Music, and its Q1 financials reflect that. The France-based streamer posted revenues of $154 million, […]

2. Man Pleads Guilty to Jam Master Jay’s Murder 25 Years Later

   A man has pleaded guilty to his role in the 2002 murder of Run-D.M.C.’s Jam Master Jay. The plea comes three years after he was charged. Jay Bryant, 52, the third man accused in the murder of DJ Jam Master Jay back in 2002, pleaded guilty in federal court on Monday. He was charged nearly […]

3. Apple Faces Refiled Class Action Lawsuit Over AirPods ‘Audio Defect’ — ‘Sound Issues in the AirPods Pro Gen 1 Headphones Are by No Means Isolated Occurrences’

   Apple misled consumers by concealing AirPods Pro 1 sound issues and then rolling out an “ineffective” service program for the defective product – at least according to a newly refiled class action lawsuit alleging false advertising and more. Seven sub-class representatives, hailing from Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, Illinois, and California, just recently doubled down on […]

4. The Vinyl Comeback Has a Dark Side: London Police Shut Down Major Counterfeit Vinyl Operation—Over $350K in Dupe Discs Seized

   London police seized nearly 6,500 records in a raid of a counterfeit vinyl operation that caused an estimated $350,000 loss for the music industry. The vinyl boom that has swept the music industry for the last 20 years amid the rise of streaming has made plenty of headlines for its positive impact on artists with […]

5. Concord Acquisition Streak Continues With Mothership Music Publishing Purchase — Including ‘More Than 5,000 Copyrights’

   Concord’s acquisition streak isn’t finished yet, as the company’s officially purchased the assets of Mothership Music Publishing – chief among them a 5,000-song catalog. Nashville-based Concord and Mothership reached out with word of the transaction today. The selling operation set sail 13 years ago as a partnership between Epitaph founder Brett Gurewitz, longtime exec Lionel […]

6. Shakira Crew Member Killed in Stage Accident While Setting Up Brazil Concert

   A crew member who was setting up for Shakira’s upcoming Brazil concert died in a stage accident on Sunday, according to concert organizers. Concert organizers for Shakira’s upcoming performance in Brazil revealed that a construction worker who was helping set up for the show died in a stage accident on Sunday. Translated from Portuguese, the […]

7. Spotify Quickly Expands Into Fitness With a Broad-Content Peloton Partnership

   Spotify announces a broad-content partnership with Peloton to integrate fitness content into a new category on the digital streaming platform. Spotify has teamed up with Peloton in a broad-content partnership to integrate fitness into a new “Fitness” category on the digital streaming platform. The deal includes over 1,400 on-demand classes across eight categories: Strength, Pilates, […]

8. Avex Music Kicks Off Catalog Expansion With $100 Million ‘Initial Commitment,’ Scores Deal With ‘Lose Control’ Co-Writer Infamous

   A year and change after purchasing S10 Music Publishing, Avex Music Group has unveiled plans to scoop up $100 million worth of catalogs and companies during the next 12 months. LA-based Avex Music formally disclosed those plans today, pointing specifically to “a $100 million initial commitment” to kick off “phase one” of an overhauled publishing […]

9. Trademark (Taylor’s Version): Swift Strikes Back Against Deepfakes by Trademarking Her Voice and Likeness to Combat AI Misuse

   Taylor Swift has just filed multiple new trademark applications to protect her voice and image, specifically designed to guard her against increasing threats from AI. She’s one of the first major celebrities (music or otherwise) to take the aggressive preventative measure. Here’s another Taylor first, and it isn’t a streaming or live concert record. Last […]

10. Too Soon? ‘Michael’ Opening Weekend Success Stirs Sequel Chatter — But Will ‘Part 2’ Head to the Dark Recesses of Neverland?

    After the Antoine Fuqua-directed Michael made history in its opening weekend, talk of a sequel emerges. But would a Lionsgate sequel head to the dark recesses of Neverland? The ending of the Michael Jackson biopic has left many audiences wondering if a sequel is in the cards, with gold lettering that reads, “His Story Continues.” […]

11. iHeartMedia and SiriusXM Are Reportedly In Merger Talks

    iHeartMedia and SiriusXM are reportedly in early merger discussions, with music industry vet Irving Azoff and Apollo Global Management advising on the matter. Following early rumblings of a potential merger between iHeartMedia and SiriusXM, initially reported by Bloomberg, a source has now confirmed to Variety that the companies are in early discussions for a merger—not […]

12. High Winds Wreak Havoc at Stagecoach as Journey, Other Sets Flat-Out Cancelled

    Severe weather plagues Stagecoach over the weekend, leading to cancelled and delayed shows and upset attendees who were given the runaround. High winds in Southern California led to an emergency evacuation at the Stagecoach country music festival, hosted at the same site that Coachella used the past two weekends. Headlined by Cody Johnson, Lainey Wilson, […]

13. D4vd Goes from Fortnite Hero to Zero — Epic Games Issues Refunds for D4vd Cosmetics for Players Who Request Them

    As D4vd faces murder charges, Fortnite creator Epic Games confirms it will refund D4vd cosmetics for any player who requests it via player support. Musician and Fortnite player D4vd, who got his start making content centered on the game before he began making his own music, has been charged with the murder of 14-year-old Celeste […]

14. Sam Altman’s Iris-Scanning Orb Company Announces a Bruno Mars Partnership That Doesn’t Exist

    Sam Altman’s iris-scanning Orb startup announced a partnership with Bruno Mars to promote its new Concert Kit. But the partnership doesn’t exist. Last week, OpenAI head Sam Altman’s iris-scanning Orb company, Tools for Humanity, announced a partnership with Bruno Mars to promote its new Concert Kit product. Designed to give “verified humans” a new way […]

15. Diddy Hopes to Secure Default Win in Defamation Lawsuit Over Sex Tape Claims

    Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs moves to secure a default win in his defamation suit against a woman who failed to respond to the lawsuit over alleged sex tapes. In a lawsuit filed before his conviction on prostitution charges last year, Sean “Diddy” Combs has moved to secure a default win against Courtney Burgess, who failed to […]