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. LA City Council Approves Resolution to Reconsider Wasserman’s Position on LA28 Olympic Committee

   LA City Council approved a resolution in a 12-0 vote to reconsider Casey Wasserman’s position as chairman of the LA28 Olympic Organizing Committee. On Friday, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved a resolution in a 12-0 vote to reconsider a resolution to oust Casey Wasserman as LA28 Olympic Organizing Committee chair. The resolution returned […]

2. Suno CEO Backtracks on ‘People Don’t Enjoy Making Music’ Remarks

   Suno CEO Mikey Shulman walks back on his earlier opinion that most people “don’t enjoy” making music: “I really wish I had chosen different words.” Last year, CEO and co-founder of AI music platform Suno, Mikey Shulman, made a comment about musicians that stirred quite a bit of controversy, and he seems to regret that […]

3. HarbourView Scores Broad Quincy Jones Catalog Deal — Including Publishing, Recordings, NIL, and ‘Ancillary Rights’ Alike

   HarbourView Equity Partners has finalized an IP-acquisition deal, encompassing music and non-music assets alike, with the estate of Quincy Jones. HarbourView recently disclosed the sweeping investment, which, at the top level, is said to include Quincy Jones’ “recorded music and publishing assets.” Just in passing – assembling a comprehensive list would require quite a bit […]

4. Live Nation Responds to ‘Robbing Them Blind’ Slack Messages—But Doesn’t Deny That Those Employees Still Work at the Company

   Live Nation is doing damage control after the bombshell “robbing them blind” Slack messages dropped this week. But their response raises more questions than it answers. Yesterday, Digital Music News covered a tranche of previously hidden documents revealing Live Nation employees bragging about “gouging” customers and “robbing them blind” with fees for ancillary services. Now, […]

5. Chad Hugo Slaps Pharrell Williams With Expanded Unpaid-Royalties Suit, Demands Credits on Tracks from Tyler the Creator, Latto, and Rosalía

   Less than two months after filing a massive unpaid-royalties lawsuit against Pharrell Williams, Chad Hugo has fired off an expanded complaint. Now, The Neptunes co-founder is demanding credits on releases from Tyler the Creator, Latto, and Rosalía. As we broke down closer to 2026’s beginning, Hugo and Williams established The Neptunes nearly 35 years ago, […]

6. Rumblings of an iPod Resurgence—Young Music Listeners Look to Distance Themselves From Streaming

   A growing number of people, especially Gen Z, are looking to move away from streaming services, and Apple’s old iPod devices are having a resurgence. People are buying up Apple’s retired tech like it’s going out of style—again—as an increasing number of music listeners long for a break from streaming services and smartphones. Especially among […]

7. Swifties in Vancouver Are Getting Full Refunds from StubHub After Regulators Step In

   StubHub Canada customers who purchased certain Taylor Swift tickets in Vancouver in December 2024 may be eligible for a full refund. Canada’s Consumer Protection BC (British Columbia) has reached an agreement with StubHub Canada after a consumer complaint and subsequent investigation into the company’s ticket sales practices. This legally enforceable agreement, called an “undertaking,” was...

8. Zebralution Changes Hands Again as Germany’s Bookwire Snags the Distributor

   Frankfurt-based Bookwire acquires 100% of Berlin-based digital distributor Zebralution’s shares from German rights collection society GEMA. On Monday, Frankfurt-based e-book platform Bookwire announced the 100% acquisition of Berlin-based digital distributor Zebralution from German music rights collection society GEMA. The deal comes just two months after GEMA sold Zebralution to New York-based...

9. TikTok Radio Officially Departs SiriusXM, Launches With iHeart: ‘This Station Is Built to Feel Like a Living, Breathing For You Feed’

   TikTok Radio has officially shifted from SiriusXM to iHeartMedia, which has launched the “fast-paced” listening option on its app as well as 28 broadcast stations. “TikTok Radio from iHeart” set sail today, a couple months ahead of the fifth anniversary of SiriusXM’s own TikTok Radio rollout. And while the station’s shift is noteworthy, it’s one […]

10. Netflix Green-Lights a ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Sequel — Folks, This Gravy Train Is Just Getting Started

    Netflix confirms a sequel to its enormously successful animated flick KPop Demon Hunters, with Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans back as directors. After the worldwide success of its animated film KPop Demon Hunters, Netflix has confirmed a sequel is on the way. Sony Pictures will produce the flick, with Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans returning […]

11. UMG Is Now In the Beach Club Business With a Brand-New Division and JV — Anyone Need Some UMusic UV 100 Sunscreen®?

    UMG enters a new era of music-led beach club culture with a global expansion of 0 Beach and joint venture with IMI Group. Universal Music Group’s UMusic Hospitality & Lifestyle and IMI Group, the founders of 0 Beach, have announced the formation of UMusic Beach Clubs & Lifestyle, a joint venture designed to expand 0 […]

12. Slipstream Acquires LA-Based Production Music Library Megatrax

    Production music licensing platform Slipstream acquires production music library Megatrax in a deal that significantly grows Slipstream’s catalog. Slipstream has announced the acquisition of Los Angeles-based production music library Megatrax. The acquisition significantly expands Slipstream’s global catalog to over a million tracks available for commercial use worldwide. The deal also...

13. Venu Closes $86.25 Million Raise, Says It Has ‘A Clear Strategic Path to Becoming Fully Funded and Operationally Profitable’

    Six weeks after shelving plans for a $75 million public offering, Venu (NYSE American: VENU) has wrapped an over $86 million raise. Nine-year-old Venu today confirmed the new raise, which delivered gross proceeds of $86.25 million and, specifically with regard to an underwritten public offering, net proceeds of closer to $80 million. According to the […]

14. Live Nation Employees Bragged About ‘Gouging’ Customers and ‘Robbing Them Blind’ In Dozens of Leaked Exchanges—Here’s a Look at the Unsealed Documents

    A tranche of previously-hidden documents reveal Live Nation employees boasting about “gouging” customers and “robbing them blind” with fees for ancillary services. Newly revealed documents might complicate things for Live Nation, which tried to exclude company Slack messages from the evidence at trial. We’re not clear how this correspondence surfaced, though there are dozens of […]

15. Complete List of ‘Divesting’ Live Nation Amphitheaters Emerges — Here’s What Venues Are Included

    Which amphitheaters has the Justice Department ordered Live Nation to “divest” under its antitrust-action settlement? Multiple reports – and a good bit of confusion – later, here’s the complete list. Much of that confusion stemmed from the vague language used in a term sheet hammered out by the DOJ and Live Nation. But a preliminary […]