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. Major TikTok + Apple Music Integrations Are Now In the Works—Including Full-Length In-App Listening and ‘Listening Parties’

   TikTok is teaming up with Apple Music for two new integrations: full-length in-app listening in TikTok, and a Listening Party feature. Apple Music is teaming up with TikTok to launch two new features in the short-form video app, according to preliminary details tipped to Digital Music News this weekend. It’s unclear how broad this partnership […]

2. Wasserman Majority Investor Providence Equity Partners Enters Damage Control Following Friday’s Bombshell Announcement

   After Casey Wasserman’s announcement that he’s putting his agency up for sale, Providence Equity issues a statement about the future of the company. Providence Equity has entered damage control mode in the wake of Casey Wasserman’s announcement on Friday night that he’s putting his agency up for sale. Wasserman’s appearance in the Epstein files quickly […]

3. Apple Music and YouTube Music Join the AI-Generated Playlist Party — As Across-the-Board ‘AI Slop’ Criticism Continues

   Apple Music and YouTube Music have joined the AI-generated playlist party with features designed to turn text and voice prompts into personalized music selections. YouTube Music just recently revealed its AI Playlist feature, and Redditors today spotted Apple Music’s “Playlist Playground” beta. On YouTube’s end, the playlist generator is live for Premium subscribers in the […]

4. Podcast Wars Intensify as Apple Layers ‘Advanced Video Podcast Capabilities’ Into iOS 26.4

   Apple overhauls its Podcasts app to bring “advanced video podcast capabilities,” enabling users to seamlessly switch between viewing and listening. As Apple continues to compete with Spotify and YouTube for podcast audiences, the company is upgrading its Podcasts app to cash in on an “enhanced video podcast experience.” The functionality enables users to seamlessly switch […]

5. TikTok Launches Wuthering Heights In-App Content Hub, with Charli XCX a Monster Draw

   TikTok taps Charli xcx for an in-app “Wuthering Heights” experience featuring the star’s soundtrack to Emerald Fennell’s film adaptation. With the debut of Emerald Fennell’s “Wuthering Heights” film over the weekend, clips are already flooding TikTok—especially those featuring Charli xcx’s soundtrack. To capitalize on that buzz, TikTok has launched an in-app “Wuthering Heights” hub featuring...

6. Apple Music Strongly Hints That It Won’t Be Lowering Prices Following Spotify and Amazon’s Increases — How Much Will This Matter In 2026?

   At least for now, Apple Music is holding steady on pricing – thereby capitalizing on a $2 Individual-tier advantage over both Spotify and Amazon Music. Will the widening gap – and an aggressive three-month trial offer – drive a noticeable marketshare shift in the U.S.? Drawing from exclusive data, DMN Pro will be tracking this […]

7. Sony Says It Can Detect the Protected Music Behind AI Outputs — Including Work-by-Work Percentage Contributions

   Has Sony developed a game-changing AI-detection app? We’ll soon find out, as the conglomerate is touting a new tool that it says can pinpoint the use of protected works in machine outputs. The overarching Sony Group’s AI division just recently unveiled said tool, details about which surfaced in a brief Nikkei Asia piece. In keeping […]

8. Bedding Company Quickly Faces the Wrath of Taylor Swift’s Legal Team After Filing ‘Swift Home’ Trademark Application

   A bedding company that applied for a “Swift Home” trademark has abandoned its application after pressure from Taylor Swift’s legal team. On Friday, a bedding company that applied for a federal trademark for the name “Swift Home” abandoned its application following legal pressure from Taylor Swift’s legal team. Swift’s company, TAS Rights Management, wrote to […]

9. Trump’s DOJ Chief Abruptly Jumps Ship — Chatter Points to a Rift Over Live Nation’s Backroom Dealings

   Justice Department antitrust chief Gail Slater steps down amid reports Live Nation is looking to cut a backroom deal ahead of the DOJ trial next month. On Thursday, Justice Department antitrust chief Gail Slater announced she would step down from her position. The move comes amid swirling reports of Live Nation looking to cut a […]

10. Wasserman’s Selling — But Who’s Buying?

    Casey Wasserman is now hitting the eject button on his own company, according to details confirmed ahead of the weekend. But who’s ready to buy what’s left? Can Casey Wasserman save his own agency by leaving it? That’s the operative question following a bombshell internal memo sent by Casey Wasserman to staffers on Friday. After […]

11. ByteDance’s ‘Seedance 2.0’ Gets a Resounding Thumbs Down from Hollywood—Disney Lawyers Are Already All Over This One

    Disney issues a cease and desist letter to ByteDance following the release of the Chinese tech giant’s Seedance 2.0 last week. On Thursday, Chinese tech company and TikTok parent ByteDance released Seedance 2.0, an AI video generation tool that quickly earned the wrath of The Walt Disney Company. Just a day later, Disney issued a […]

12. Wasserman Is Selling His Agency Following the Epstein Debacle — Wasserman Exits the Day-to-Day After ‘Becoming a Distraction’

    Casey Wasserman told staff on Friday night that he will be putting his talent agency up for sale amid the fallout from the Epstein files. In a memo sent to staff on Friday night, Casey Wasserman announced he would be putting his talent and marketing agency up for sale. The news follows the recent release […]

13. Bard College President Leon Botstein Isn’t Resigning After a Trove of Incriminating Epstein Emails Surface—Including Some Uncomfortable Details About Epstein’s Private Island

    Longtime Bard College president and classical conductor Leon Botstein is now feeling the heat as a trove of emails connecting him to Jeffrey Epstein come to light. Here’s what we know. Bard College has long been associated with its president, Leon Botstein, whose tenure and influence in higher education have been celebrated for decades across […]

14. Latest Music Industry Hires: NIVA, Bar/None, Warner Chappell, Too Lost, Vydia, Hybe, Create Music, Peermusic, More

    Here’s a recap of recent music industry hires and in-house promotions as of February 13th, 2026. If you have a job shuffle to share, we’re all ears. Send us a note to news@digitalmusicnews.com. If you’d like to post a job on our Job Board, just send us a request to noah@digitalmusicnews.com. And, keep track of all the […]

15. IMPALA, AIM, and Others Respond to the EU’s Universal Music-Downtown Deal Approval: ‘UMG Must Now Fully Respect Labels and Artists Freedom to Leave Without Incentive or Penalty’

    After spearheading a concerted effort to block the Universal Music-Downtown deal, IMPALA, AIM, and others are reacting to the European Commission’s approval of the purchase. The mentioned entities, having voiced competition-related concerns from the get-go, reached out with responses to the long-running investigation’s outcome. And as we broke down this morning, the Commission expressed the...