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. Santa Monica Announces an Annual Music Festival with Goldenvoice Tapped to Put It Together

   Santa Monica city officials announce five major events leading up to the 2028 Olympics, including a major music festival from Coachella organizer Goldenvoice. On Wednesday, December 17, city officials in Santa Monica announced five major events leading up to the 2028 Olympics. These include a large-scale music festival next to the Pier, produced by the […]

2. Who Actually Killed Jam Master Jay? Judge Acquits Alleged Killer After Jury Conviction

   A judge tosses the conviction of one of the two men found guilty of the 2002 killing of Run-DMC’s Jam Master Jay, ruling there was insufficient evidence. On Friday, a judge nixed the conviction of one of the two men found guilty of the 2002 killing of Run-D.M.C. legend Jam Master Jay. U.S. District Judge […]

3. Kennedy Center Signage Officially Changed to ‘Trump Kennedy Center’

   New signage was installed at the Kennedy Center on Friday to include President Donald Trump’s name. The move comes after the board of trustees (mostly appointed by Trump) voted to rename the facility in honor of him. The building was previously known as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Now it will […]

4. Avicii Estate Faces Lawsuit from Former Manager Ash Pournouri Over ‘Misdirected Attacks’ and Reputational Damage: ‘I Was Blamed and Judged in Public for Things I Didn’t Do’

   Ash Pournouri is suing the Avicii estate in Sweden, claiming he’s been “overwhelmed with misdirected attacks” and reputational damage due to inaccurate portrayals of his role in the late artist’s life. Pournouri, who managed Avicii (real name Tim Bergling) until 2016, confirmed the litigation on Instagram earlier this week. Regional reports followed before the complaint, […]

5. Who Is BubbleUp? Meet the Company Powering Digital Ecosystems for Jimmy Buffett, Toby Keith, Luke Bryan, and More

   You may not know BubbleUp by name, but you definitely know the company they keep. Their client roster reads like a who’s who of music (and entertainment) royalty — Jimmy Buffett, Toby Keith, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Cody Johnson, Lainey Wilson, Tom Petty, James Brown, Wanda Sykes, The Black Keys, Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Eagles, […]

6. Bullish Analysts See Spotify Stock Hitting $800 or Even $900 Per Share — So Why Is SPOT Slumping Beneath $600?

   Bullish Spotify stock (NYSE: SPOT) targets are continuing to pour in – with analysts now predicting that shares will hit $900 apiece. But there’s a growing disconnect between their targets and SPOT’s actual value, which has slumped beneath $600. Technically, this isn’t Spotify stock’s first sub-$600 journey of 2025; SPOT was hovering around $460 when […]

7. When It Rains, It Pours—Warner Music Canada Lays Off at Least 24 People Amid Wider Global WMG Restructuring

   Warner Music Canada has laid off at least 24 people amid major global restructuring this year, eliminating positions in marketing, A&R, catalog, and more. As Warner Music Group (WMG) shakes things up in ongoing restructuring efforts, Warner Music Canada has laid off at least 24 people, according to Billboard Canada. Multiple former staffers report that […]

8. TikTok Crowns Alex Warren ‘Breakthrough Artist’ at Inaugural US-Based Awards

   Alex Warren was named Breakthrough Artist of the Year at the inaugural US-based TikTok Awards at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles on Thursday, December 18. The inaugural TikTok Awards at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles last night saw Alex Warren crowned Breakthrough Artist of the Year. That’s no small feat, with the artist […]

9. After Hot 97 Drops Ebro, iHeartMedia, Power 105 Re-Up Charlamagne Tha God and ‘The Breakfast Club’

   New York’s Power 105 and iHeartMedia have extended their relationship with media mogul and “The Breakfast Club” host Charlamagne Tha God as a number of shakeups hit the NYC hip-hop radio circuit. According to details emailed to DMN this morning. iHeartMedia has confirmed the extension of its relationship with culture-shifter and media mogul Charlamagne Tha […]

10. YeaH1 Group and Sony Music Announce Joint Venture In Vietnam

    Sony Music and Vietnam’s YeaH1 Group announce a joint venture to find and develop Vietnamese musical talent and debut a new boy band. Today, Sony Music and Vietnam’s YeaH1 Group Corporation have announced a new joint venture to find and develop Vietnamese musical talent. This partnership aims to create a sustainable model for the country’s […]

11. Universal Music and Roblox Ink Expanded Partnership Deal, Teeing Up Additional Artist Activations, On-Platform Physical Merch, and AI Initiatives

    Universal Music Group (UMG) and Roblox have inked an expanded strategic agreement – including plans for additional physical merch offerings, possible AI collaborations, and more. UMG and the self-described “immersive gaming and creation platform” unveiled their bolstered deal this morning, pointing to forthcoming joint efforts “to enhance music and commercial integrations across artist and fan...

12. Is Sony Music Going the Distance Against Udio? And Will Other Suno Deals Follow Warner Music’s Settlement? Remaining Litigants Tee Up Packed 2026 Case Schedules

    Is Sony Music Entertainment (SME) going the distance in its Udio legal battle? And will additional Suno settlements follow the resolution of Warner Music’s claims? At least for now, evidence suggests that both cases will plow ahead into the new year. That evidence just recently arrived in the form of new filings from the remaining […]

13. Major Layoffs Hit Billboard, Rolling Stone, Variety as Penske Media Realigns

    Penske Media Corporation (PMC) has conducted multiple rounds of layoffs across its music and entertainment outlets in 2025. These cuts have impacted writers at Billboard, Rolling Stone, and Variety as the corporation faces revenue pressures from Google’s AI summaries. Rolling Stone laid off writers Andre Gee and Brittany Spanos on Monday. Gee stated the recent […]

14. Today in Catalog Explosions—T.A.T.u’s “All The Things She Said” From 2002 Surges After HBO ‘Heated Rivalry’ Sync

    T.A.T.u’s 2002 anthem “All The Things She Said” is enjoying a massive resurgence on streaming services thanks to the fourth episode of the steamy HBO hockey drama ‘Heated Rivalry.’ The Hollywood Reporter reports that Spotify shared data citing that streams of the song on the platform have more than doubled since the episode aired. They’ve […]

15. Romanian Court Sentences Wiz Khalifa to Nine Months for Drug Possession

    Rapper Wiz Khalifa has been sentenced in Romania to nine months in prison for possession of drugs for personal use according to a decision made by the Constanța Court of Appeal. The decision comes after the court upheld the appeal filed by DIICOT—Constanța Territorial Service, which had only imposed a criminal fine of 3,000 lei […]