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. San Francisco Giants Acquire the Historic Curran Theatre

   The San Francisco Giants have officially acquired the iconic Curran Theatre from long-time owner Carole Shorenstein Hays in a private transaction. Giants President & CEO Larry Baer described the acquisition as an extension of the baseball team’s civic mission. “Acquiring the Curran expands our commitment to San Francisco and reinforces our core belief that sports, […]

2. DOJ Pushes for Jury Trial in Live Nation Antitrust Battle — High-Stakes Summary Judgment Hearing Set for January 23rd

   The Justice Department is firing back against Live Nation’s summary judgment push – and demanding a jury trial – amid an intensifying antitrust showdown. Mid-November brought Live Nation’s formal request for summary judgment. In short, the Ticketmaster parent pointed to the alleged absence of a demonstrable monopoly and resulting “actual anticompetitive effects.” Additionally, taking issue...

3. NITO Calls for American Music Fairness Act Senate Support — NAB Says Its Counter Legislation Has 200+ House Co-Sponsors

   The National Independent Talent Organization (NITO) is urging Senate support for the American Music Fairness Act (AMFA), which would compel AM/FM radio stations to begin coughing up recorded performance royalties. NITO reached out with an in-depth release touting the bipartisan bill, which was reintroduced earlier in 2025 and recently received a congressional hearing. Said release […]

4. 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 […]

5. UMG, Splice Ink AI-Focused Licensing & Content Collaboration Deal

   Universal Music Group (UMG) has inked an agreement to collaborate on the exploration of AI-powered music creation tools for musicians with Splice. UMG and Splice are building a roadmap for the development of commercial AI tools rooted in creative control and sonic excellence. The artist-centric agreement builds on Splice’s suite of AI-enabled creator tools, which […]

6. 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 […]

7. I Like the Way You Stream It— Blackstreet’s “No Diggity” Bags 1 Billion+ Spotify Streams

   After signing with XOXO Entertainment earlier this year, Blackstreet’s “No Diggity” has crossed one billion streams on Spotify—earning the song a spot on the Billions Club playlist. “Thanks to the love of our fans, Blackstreet has officially surpassed one billion streams,” the group says, commenting on the milestone. “We are deeply grateful to everyone who […]

8. Bondi Beach Near Year’s Eve Festival Canceled After Antisemitic Mass Shooting

   A New Year’s Eve festival at Bondi Beach has been cancelled by its promoter after an antisemitic mass shooting occurred this past weekend, killing 16 people. Promoter Fuzzy said the decision was made to cancel the event in consultation with Waverley Council and out of respect for those affected. The New South Wales Police are […]

9. YouTube to Pull All Streaming Data From ‘Outdated’ Billboard Charts; Says Rankings Don’t ‘Reflect How Fans Engage with Music Today’

   YouTube says it’s pulling its data from Billboard in response to a recent change made to its ranking formula, which YouTube believes does not reflect how fans engage with music. Today, YouTube has announced its decision to pull its data from Billboard’s U.S. music charts in a post by Global Head of Music Lyor Cohen. […]

10. YouTube’s the Problem, Not Billboard — And Everybody In the Music Industry Agrees

    For years, YouTube has refused to prioritize paying music subscribers – while artists and rights owners have decried the platform as exploitative. Should that be rewarded on Billboard’s charts? Should every music stream count the same? Perhaps that’s a philosophical question, though Billboard — and the broader music industry — decided long ago that all […]

11. BMG Inks Expanded TikTok Deal Prioritizing ‘Deeper Value for Songwriters’ — But Questions Remain Ahead of a Rumored Royalty-Model Pivot, TikTok U.S. Ownership Change

    BMG and TikTok have inked an expanded partnership deal that they say will prioritize “creating deeper value for songwriters.” The Bertelsmann-owned music company and the short-form giant disclosed their bolstered pact today, about five months removed from TikTok’s “Songwriter Features” beta launch. According to the brass-tacks release, a renewed direct publishing agreement will...

12. D4vd Owned a ‘Burn Cage’ Incinerator Capable of Cremating Remains, Private Investigator Reports

    A “burn cage” incinerator was found by a private investigator at the Hollywood Hills home that singer D4vd had been renting at the time the body of a teen was found in the trunk of his car. The investigation into the body of a missing teenage girl that was found in the front trunk of […]

13. AEG Touts ‘Record-Breaking 2025’ for the O2 Arena, Says the Venue’s Ticket Sales Topped 2.9 Million

    It’s been a “historic record-breaking 2025” for the O2 Arena – according to the London venue’s AEG owner, which is touting double-digit performance-volume and ticket-sales growth. AEG Europe highlighted these and other 2025 stats in a brief release, pointing specifically to 239 shows (up 19% year over year) delivered at the O2 this year. Included […]

14. Trump Administration Threatens Action Against Spotify if EU Regulators Don’t Back Off American Tech Companies

    The Trump administration says it could go after Spotify and other European-based services if the EU doesn’t back off regarding its regulation of US technology companies. The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on Tuesday posted a statement to social media accusing European regulators of discriminatory and harassing lawsuits, taxes, fines, and directives […]

15. John Mayer Deal-Making Frenzy: Opening Artist for Terminal 14 in Bahrain + Neural DSP Partnerships Announced Just In Time for Christmas

    John Mayer is signing lots of deals in time for Christmas, including a collaboration with Neural DSP and an opening gig at a new Bahrain venue. Just in time for Christmas, John Mayer has two major announcements—neither of which has anything to do with the holiday season, really. He’s been officially announced as the first […]