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. Curve Royalty Systems to Be Acquired by Jamen Capital and Merlin

   Virgin Music Group agrees to sell Curve Royalty Systems to Jamen Capital and Merlin in a deal designed to preserve the company’s independence. Virgin Music Group has agreed to the sale of Curve Royalty Systems to Jamen Capital and Merlin, laying the groundwork for Curve Royalty Systems to operate as an independent company again. The […]

2. US Trade Representative Weighs Enforcement Action Against Vietnam for IP Infringement Issues, Including ‘High Levels of Music Piracy’

   The US Trade Representative opens an investigation into Vietnam a month after designating it as a “Priority Foreign Country” over its failure to deter online piracy. The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has formally opened an investigation just a month after designating Vietnam as a “Priority Foreign Country” over inadequate measures taken to deter online piracy. […]

3. Morgan Wallen Responds to ‘Nonsense’ After Pittsburgh Show Cancellation

   Morgan Wallen’s second show in Pittsburgh over the weekend was cancelled due to the threat of bad weather, leaving fans disgruntled when the storm didn’t roll in. Morgan Wallen made the decision after consulting with multiple parties to cancel his Saturday show in Pittsburgh at Acrisure Stadium due to inclement weather. Wallen played his first […]

4. Garth Brooks Celebrates ‘250 Years of American Music’ — and a Massive Commercial Milestone — At National Archives Event Amid Reported Catalog Sale Talks

   Ahead of America’s 250th anniversary – and with Garth Brooks having now moved 200 million albums – why not celebrate the nation and the artist together? As the country mainstay reportedly explores a blockbuster catalog sale, “An Evening with Garth Brooks” recently did just that. Organized by the RIAA and the National Archives Foundation, An […]

5. AFM Sues Universal Music, Warner Music for Failing ‘To Share in the Settlement Proceeds and Future Revenue’ Under Their Suno and Udio Deals

   The major labels are anticipating big things, in terms of revenue and otherwise, from their Suno and Udio agreements. But according to a new AFM lawsuit, they’ve also “failed to share in the settlement proceeds and future revenue with those same artists whose music was copied” by the AI audio platforms. The American Federation of […]

6. Madonna Releasing ‘Confessions II – The Film’ on YouTube

   Madonna announces the release of “Confessions II – The Film,” directed by David Toro and Solomon Chase, on YouTube on June 8 at 11 AM ET. Today (June 5), Madonna announced online that she will release “Confessions II – The Film” on YouTube on June 8 at 11 AM ET. Directed by David Toro and […]

7. Federal Judge Vacates Order Sealing Udio’s Training Data — Are We About to Learn How Many Recordings the Platform Ingested?

   Are we about to learn Udio’s definitive “training number”? Perhaps, as a federal judge has vacated an earlier motion concerning the AI music platform’s purportedly confidential data. Both Suno and Udio, repped by the same counsel in two distinct infringement complaints from the major labels, are aggressively pushing to prevent the public disclosure of their […]

8. Florida Senator Urges Cancellation of Kanye’s Upcoming Tampa Shows; Raymond James Stadium Pushes Back

   Florida Senator Rick Scott sends a letter urging Raymond James Stadium in Tampa to reconsider platforming the antisemitic rapper now known as Ye. On Thursday, Florida Senator Rick Scott sent a letter to the Tampa Sports Authority Board of Directors over Kanye West’s upcoming concert at Raymond James Stadium. The rapper was originally scheduled to […]

9. ‘Michael’ Is About to Become Lionsgate’s Most Successful Movie Ever

   Antoine Fuqua’s Michael Jackson biopic sensation continues dancing past its competition to become Lionsgate’s highest-grossing movie of all time. The summer box office is already heating up, and Michael Jackson continues to sizzle on the big screen. The Antoine Fuqua-directed Michael has raked in $97.2 million domestically and $217.4 million worldwide in its opening week, […]

10. Dublin-Based Tickets.ie Abruptly Shuts Down After 22 Years — Festival Organizers Fight to Obtain Nearly $675,000 in Due Payments

    22 years after its founding, ticketing platform Tickets.ie has abruptly shut down – leaving some organizers unable to access revenue from their newly concluded festivals. Unsurprisingly, Dublin-headquartered Tickets.ie’s demise initially entered the media spotlight in Ireland. And in keeping with the “abrupt” descriptor, regional outlets appear to have learned of the news via a message […]

11. Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square Officially Sells Its ‘Entire’ Universal Music Position — UMG Buys Back 14.2 Million Shares

    That didn’t take long: Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square has officially offloaded its Universal Music Group (UMG) stock, and the major label itself has purchased about 14.2 million of the shares. Universal Music disclosed the buyback this morning, moments after Pershing unveiled plans to divest its remaining UMG position following a failed takeover attempt. Although the […]

12. ‘Say No To Suno’ Protesters Bring the Drama to a Swanky Santa Monica AI Conference — They Even Circled a Plane With a ‘Say No to Suno’ Banner Above the Conference Hotel

    Disrupting the UBS AI in Entertainment Summit in Santa Monica this week was the Human Artistry Campaign, who contracted a plane to circle over Santa Monica with the words “Say No To Suno.” Trucks in the city carried multiple mobile billboards with the same sentiment. On Wednesday, the exclusive, invite-only UBS AI in Entertainment Summit […]

13. Canadian Government Walks Back Controversial ‘Streaming Tax’ Plans: ‘Now Is Not the Time to Make Culture and Entertainment More Expensive’

    Following ample criticism from on-demand music and video platforms, the Canadian government has walked back its controversial “streaming tax.” Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture Marc Miller just recently announced the regulatory pivot as well as a fresh funding package for the sectors. To bring the uninitiated up to speed, the short-ish version is that […]

14. Concord Expands Into Latin Hip-Hop, Reggaeton, and Urban with Lito Music Pair-Up

    Concord announces a partnership with Lito Music, marking a strategic step in the company’s expansion into the global Latin music market. Leading independent music company Concord has announced a partnership with Lito MC Cassidy’s Lito Music, marking a strategic step in the company’s continued expansion into the global Latin music market. It also signals a […]

15. ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus Defends Human Expression as CISAC Celebrates 100 Years in Paris

    ABBA co-founder and CISAC president Björn Ulvaeus opened CISAC’s event in Paris celebrating its 100th anniversary, providing a statement on AI. CISAC, the global network representing over 5 million creators of music, audio-visual, drama, literature, and visual arts, celebrated its 100th anniversary this week in Paris. ABBA co-founder and CISAC president Björn Ulvaeus opened the […]