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. Indie Music Subreddit Bans ‘Anonymous’ Record Label Accounts

   Independent music subreddit r/indieheads issues a ban on accounts run by record labels posing as regular users to promote artists on their roster. An independent music community on Reddit, the subreddit r/indieheads, has announced that an internal investigation by the moderation team found a surge in accounts run by record labels posing as regular users. […]

2. The Audio Landscape is Overrun by AI ‘Podslop’—It’s Not Just a Music Industry Problem

   The rise of AI isn’t just leading to music slop on streaming services, but a serious increase in automated podcast content flooding the landscape. It’s not exclusive to the music industry. The sheer volume of AI-generated podcast content is beginning to affect traditional discovery methods across the industry that podcast creators and their listeners rely […]

3. The Start of Another Record Quarter? April 2026 Music Industry Funding Hit $2.8 Billion Amid Continued Catalog Acquisition Commitments, DMN Pro Data Shows

   After Q1 2026 delivered nearly $5 billion in core music industry funding, the second quarter hit the ground running with a cumulative total of almost $2.84 billion in publicly disclosed raises during April. Both figures are made possible by DMN Pro’s Music Industry Funding Tracker, which compiles key details about rounds attributable to companies operating […]

4. Pussycat Dolls Cancel North American Tour After Sagging Ticket Sales

   After a broad stroke of tour cancellations across the industry due to weak ticket sales, the Pussycat Dolls pull the plug on their North American run. Just moments after Post Malone pushed back the start of his tour with Jelly Roll and cancelled the first few shows in the process, The Pussycat Dolls have become […]

5. M.I.A. Claps Back After Getting Kicked Off Kid Cudi’s ‘Rebel Ragers Tour’

   M.I.A. got booed for her remarks during her set in Dallas, leading Kid Cudi to remove her from his Rebel Ragers Tour. Now she’s speaking out. Over the weekend, M.I.A. had the crowd booing during her set in Dallas on Kid Cudi’s “Rebel Ragers Tour.” The “Paper Planes” singer and rapper claimed she was “cancelled” […]

6. Live Nation Pushes Back Against FTC Lawsuit Claims, Says Ticketmaster Is ‘The Protected Party Under the BOTS Act, Not a Violator’

   Last week, after beating a dismissal motion in its BOTS Act lawsuit against Key Investment Group, the FTC cited the win in a separate complaint involving Live Nation. Now, the Ticketmaster parent has fired back, claiming that the decision actually supports its own arguments. Live Nation/Ticketmaster just recently took aim at the FTC’s “notice of […]

7. Why Lizzo Won’t Settle Her Sexual Assault Allegations Lawsuit

   Lizzo knows that a settlement with her accusers would probably be easier than continuing to fight, but the singer says she is ready to go to court if necessary. In an interview with Gayle King on CBS Mornings on Monday (May 4), Lizzo explained why she remains firm in her unwillingness to settle the sexual […]

8. Dolly Parton Cancels Las Vegas Residency Due to Ongoing Health Issues

   Dolly Parton cancels her Las Vegas residency, which had been rescheduled for September, citing her previously announced health concerns. Dolly Parton’s Las Vegas residency has been cancelled, after originally being rescheduled for September. The legendary singer cited her previously reported health issues, though she added that she’s been “responding really well” to treatment and medications....

9. Steven Tyler Accused of Child Sexual Assault Back in the ‘70s, Heading to Trial After Judge Dismisses Much of the Case

   Steven Tyler heads to trial for allegations of child sexual assault back in the ‘70s. A judge has dismissed much of the case, citing the statute of limitations in Massachusetts. Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler has been accused of grooming, sexually assaulting, and impregnating a 16-year-old in the 1970s in a lawsuit first filed in 2022. […]

10. Suno Targets Series D Funding at a $5 Billion Valuation — And Plots ‘An AI Native Legal Operations’ Expansion Amid Copyright Lawsuits

    Six months later, Suno is reportedly closing in on another massive funding round – this time at a $5 billion valuation. Meanwhile, as it grapples with ultra-expensive copyright litigation, the startup is looking “to build an AI native legal operations and strategy function from the ground up.” That gargantuan raise would follow a $125 million […]

11. RCN’s Long-Running Legal Battle Against UMG, Sony, WMG Hits the Pause Button

    Internet provider RCN’s legal battle against the major labels seems to be winding down, with proceedings officially paused until June 29. The long-running legal battle between internet provider RCN and the big three (Universal, Sony, and Warner) has been put on pause, with proceedings set to resume on June 29. Both parties put in a […]

12. Spike Lee, Who Worked with Michael Jackson, Slams Critics Questioning Why ‘Michael’ Didn’t Include Abuse Allegations

    Spike Lee defends Lionsgate’s Michael biopic from critics who questioned why the film stopped short of addressing child sex abuse allegations. Director Spike Lee defended Antoine Fuqua’s Michael Jackson biopic from critics who found it odd that the film ended just a few years before the first of the pop legend’s many allegations of child […]

13. Suno Ambitiously Plans to ‘Reimagine’ Songkick and Concert Discovery with AI

    After acquiring Songkick from Warner Music Group in November, Suno plans to use the platform’s juicy user data tranche to reimagine concert discovery with AI. AI startup Suno shook hands with Warner Music Group back in November, a “landmark” licensing deal between a music company and an artificial intelligence company. Accordingly, Suno now has formal […]

14. Barry Manilow Postpones Vegas Residency Due to Cancer

    Barry Manilow is making great progress with his cancer treatment, but postpones the start of his Vegas residency as a result. He’ll be back in July. Over the weekend, legendary singer Barry Manilow announced that while he’s “making great progress” with his cancer treatment, he has to cancel his residency dates in May at the […]

15. Shakira Crushes Copacabana Beach With a Crowd of 2 Million. Amazingly, That’s Not a Record.

    Shakira performed a free concert on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro over the weekend, an event that the city’s mayor said drew a crowd of 2 million. Colombian singer-songwriter, dancer, and producer Shakira stunned on Saturday night, performing a free concert on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro. According to the city’s mayor, the […]