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. New Lawsuit Claims Drake and Streamer Adin Ross Misled Fans In Gambling Promos

   Drake, Adin Ross, DJ Akademiks, and gambling website Stake.us have been named in a series of illegal gambling and racketeering lawsuits. Drake, streamer Adin Ross, and DJ Akademiks have been named alongside gambling website Stake.us in an illegal gambling and racketeering lawsuit filed in New Jersey on April 22. The suit echoes similar filings involving […]

2. D4vd Stabbed 14-Year-Old Celeste Rivas Hernandez to Death to Silence Her, Prosecutors Say

   Prosecutors say singer D4vd stabbed 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez multiple times and dismembered her to keep her quiet about their relationship. On Wednesday, prosecutors claimed that singer D4vd, real name David Burke, killed 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez by stabbing her multiple times in order to keep her quiet about their relationship. He allegedly began sexually […]

3. Christian Rock Band Newsboys and Founder Wes Campbell Sue Fellow Group MercyMe, Christian Tour Promoters, Journalists, More

   Christian rockers the Newsboys and founder Wes Campbell file a defamation suit against dozens of defendants, including tour promoters and journalists. Christian rock band the Newsboys and their co-founder, Christian music executive Wes Campbell, have filed a wide-ranging federal lawsuit against dozens of defendants. Their suit alleges an orchestrated campaign to defame the band and […]

4. PRS for Music Paid Out Over £100 Million From Live Music Revenue in 2025, a First in 110 Years

   PRS for Music releases its 2025 financials, revealing that revenue collected from live music generated over £100 million in 2025, a first in 110 years. Royalties are flowing to more creators across an expanding repertoire of works, according to PRS for Music’s 2025 financials. Last year, PRS for Music paid out against 7.8 million unique […]

5. The Pershing Effect? Universal Music Posts Mixed Q1 2026 Financials, Doubles Share-Buyback Program’s Size, and Confirms Spotify Stock Sale Plans

   Universal Music Group (UMG) has reported mixed financials for Q1 2026, including flat overall revenue and modest across-the-board streaming growth. Meanwhile, with a Pershing Square takeover attempt looming large, the major has confirmed plans to sell Spotify stock and supersize its share-buyback program. UMG unveiled its Q1 2026 results – providing a noticeably more detailed […]

6. Hybe Posts Double-Digit Q1 2026 Revenue Growth Amid BTS Comeback — Operating Profit Slips Following Once-Off Employee Stock Award

   Thanks largely to BTS’ comeback, Hybe turned in a nearly 40% year-over-year revenue increase during Q1 2026. However, the K-pop mainstay also reported a sizable operating loss for the period, when concerts revenue slipped by about 43% YoY. According to its newly released earnings breakdown, Hybe (KRX: 352820) generated a cool ₩698.35 billion (currently $469 […]

7. Jon Secada, Karolína Kurková, More Bedazzle at YMU’s $1.8 Million Fundraiser In Miami

   Young Musicians Unite’s 13th annual fundraising gala featured performances from over 150 students across multiple genres, raising over $1.8 million. Young Musicians Unite (YMU) held its 13th Annual “Havana Nights” Gala, one of Miami’s most impactful fundraising events this season. With a sold-out room of over 900 guests and performances from over 150 students, the […]

8. Study Reveals Why Some Scandals Kill Streams, While Others Increase Them

   A new study delves into why fans separate the art from the artist in some instances but not others in the era of widespread social media engagement. A new Cornell study on so-called “cancel culture” has found that music streaming platforms like Spotify hold tremendous swaying power over whether fans listen to a given artist, […]

9. Guilty Plea Emerges In Heinous Taylor Swift Vienna Concert Attack Plot

   A man accused of plotting an attack on a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna has pleaded guilty, nearly two years after authorities intercepted the plot. A man known as Beran A. has pleaded guilty to planning an attack on Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour concert in Vienna, which led to the cancellation of three Swift shows […]

10. Primary Wave Officially Closes $2.2 Billion Fourth Fund, Says It’s ‘The Largest Dedicated Closed-End Music Royalties Fund Raised to Date in the Industry’

    Primary Wave’s dealmaking streak definitely isn’t finished: Following several high-profile 2026 plays – chief among them the acquisition of Kobalt – the publisher has announced the “final closing” of its over $2.2 billion fourth fund. Brookfield Asset Management-partnered Primary Wave confirmed the sizable tranche, specifically consisting of $2.225 billion in commitments, today. That sum,...

11. Jimi Hendrix Bandmates Will Not Experience Copyright Shares, British High Court Rules

    The estates of two former Jimi Hendrix bandmates lose a case against Sony Music UK, claiming they were entitled to copyright and performers’ rights. Owners of the estates of former Jimi Hendrix bandmates, bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell, filed a lawsuit against Sony Music Entertainment UK (SMEUK). The two estates claimed that they […]

12. Spotify Stock Plummets After Q1 2026 Earnings Reveal Subscriber Question-Marks and Ad-Supported Revenue Problems

    Spotify (NYSE: SPOT) has posted solid subscriber growth – and yet another ad-supported revenue decrease – for Q1 2026. But the company is anticipating a modest subscriber-base expansion for Q2, and SPOT suffered a double-digit slip in early trading. All told, Spotify pointed to an average of 761 million MAUs (up 12% year over year) […]

13. Spotify’s Song Library Is a Lot Bigger Than We Thought — Co-CEO Says the Platform Hosts ‘Something Like 250 Million Tracks’ Amid AI Slop Avalanche

    Against the backdrop of continued streaming growth – and an avalanche of AI slop – Spotify’s library now contains a staggering 250 million tracks. But is the platform intentionally leaving the upload floodgates open to benefit its recommendations and accelerate the arrival of authorized derivative works? That eye-popping total came to light during the company’s […]

14. Who Gets to Own T.I.’s Masters? Rapper Sues Cinq/GoDigital After a Serious Album Buyback Dispute

    Rapper T.I. is suing Cinq Music with allegations that the label is refusing to honor a contract provision that allows him to buy back his masters. Clifford Harris, better known as rapper T.I., has filed a lawsuit against Cinq Music, part of the GoDigital Media Group, alleging that the label is refusing to honor a […]

15. ‘Leaving Neverland’ Director Calls Michael Jackson ‘Worse Than Jeffrey Epstein,’ Laments ‘Michael’ Box Office Success

    After a record-breaking opening weekend, Michael remains divisive for its portrayal of the musician’s life, despite only covering his early career. Everyone’s talking about Antoine Fuqua’s Michael, a record-setting romp through the early career of Michael Jackson up until the late ‘80s, just before the height of his fame. But critics note the elephant in […]