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. Disney Invests $1 Billion in OpenAI, Then Issues a Cease-and-Desist to Google Over ‘Massive-Scale’ Infringement

   Disney issues a cease-and-desist to Google over allegations of widespread copyright infringement as the House of Mouse gets into bed with OpenAI. Disney has slapped Google with a cease-and-desist letter with allegations of copyright infringement on a “massive scale” using AI to “commercially exploit and distribute” the company’s intellectual property. The move comes as Disney […]

2. Jay-Z Is Betting $500 Million on K-Pop and Korean Culture With Newly-Formed Joint Venture Fund

   Jay-Z enters into a partnership with Korea’s Hanwha Asset Management to form a $500 million joint venture fund for K-pop and Korean culture expansion. Jay-Z’s investment firm, MarcyPen Capital Partners, has partnered up with Korea’s Hanwha Asset Management to tap surging global demand for K-pop and other Korean culture through a $500 million joint venture […]

3. GoDigital Acquires Catalog of Marc Anthony Alongside Broader $115 Million Latin Music Content Grab

   GoDigital Music extends its market leadership in Latin music through the acquisition of several music rights catalogs, including Marc Anthony’s. GoDigital Music has announced the acquisition of several Latin music rights catalogs in a transaction valued at approximately $115 million. The deal adds over 30,000 new assets to GoDigital Music’s catalog, marking a significant milestone […]

4. Gamma’s Mariah Carey Holiday Blowout Continues With Waymo Wrap and In-Ride Listening

   Mariah Carey’s Christmastime celebration continues with a Waymo collaboration complete with in-ride listening of her latest album. Hot on the heels of Mariah Carey’s announcement of a holiday livestream in collaboration with TikTok, Apple Music, and gamma, Waymo cars have been spotted getting in on the action. In Los Angeles, Digital Music News spotted a […]

5. The Cost of Creativity: Cover, Derivative, or Stolen Work? — Easy Song, Delgado Law, Black 17 Media Break the Craziness Down In Our Latest Webinar

   A new Digital Music News panel with Easy Song highlights one of the music industry’s thorniest topics—how to navigate the complexities of derivative works. From cover songs, remixes, samples, and other derivatives, the path forward isn’t always straight and narrow. This webinar features three industry experts, moderated by Digital Music News Publisher Paul Resnikoff. This […]

6. Spotify’s New Co-CEO Promises to Let Users ‘Steer the Algorithm’ with AI-Prompted Playlists—Beta Test Begins in New Zealand

   Spotify unveils ‘Prompted Playlists,’ an AI-based feature rolling out in beta for Premium subscribers in New Zealand. On Wednesday, Spotify co-President Gustav Söderström announced the platform’s “Prompted Playlists,” a new way for users to control the streaming service’s algorithm. At least, that’s how Spotify is framing the new AI-based feature, which will initially be available […]

7. Move Over, Universal—Warner Music Experience Holiday Store Pops Up in West Hollywood As UMusic Stores Open in NYC and London

   A limited-run holiday pop-up store from Warner Music hits the heart of Hollywood just days before Universal Music stores opened in NYC and London. Warner Music Group has launched an immersive merch pop-up inside the W Hotel in Hollywood, packed with rare vinyl, archival tour finds, exclusive collabs, daily drops, and giveaways only available in-store. […]

8. Shazam Can Now Tell You the Most Popular Moment of a Song

   Shazam rolls out a new feature that reveals the most popular moments of a particular song among its listeners. Apple-owned song identification platform Shazam has announced a new feature, Popular Segments, that shows exactly which parts of a song are the most popular among listeners. The company says the feature will provide helpful insights for […]

9. WMG Reorganization Continues With Warner Chappell Sync Team Overhaul, ‘Slate of Key Leadership Promotions’ At Warner Music Australasia and SE Asia

   Let the Warner Music Group (WMG) reorganization continue: The major has unveiled a sync-team overhaul at Warner Chappell Music (WCM) and confirmed a bevy of promotions at Warner Music Australasia and Southeast Asia. WMG revealed the Warner Chappell sync pivot today, after disclosing the Australasia and SE Asia personnel changes yesterday afternoon. Beginning with WCM, […]

10. Creed’s Third Annual Summer of ‘99 and Beyond Festival Returns with Limp Bizkit Co-Headlining

    Creed’s Summer of ‘99 and Beyond Festival returns for its third year with its biggest lineup yet, including Limp Bizkit, Cypress Hill, Bush, and more. Brace yourselves, late ‘90s rock fans. Creed’s third annual Summer of ‘99 and Beyond Festival will unite the band with former rivals Limp Bizkit on Saturday, July 18, and Sunday, […]

11. Rostrum Pacific Scores $150 Million to Fund Catalog Acquisitions, Underscores ‘Mission to Be the Preeminent Independent Music Company’

    Does the song-rights arena have room for another investor? Rostrum Pacific believes so, as it’s scored a cool $150 million “to pursue catalog opportunities of any scale.” The Rostrum Records and Fat Beats parent confirmed that sizable raise – as well as its aggressive IP purchase plans – today. Per the involved parties, New York-headquartered […]

12. Sonos Scores a Critical Judgment Against SoundExchange — But Everything’s Now Riding on SoundExchange’s Appeal Against SiriusXM

    A federal judge has stayed SoundExchange’s Sonos Radio royalties lawsuit pending the resolution of an appeal in “a very similar action” involving SiriusXM.  Judge Hernán Vera just recently made that stay official following a mid-November oral argument on Sonos’ related request. Filed in June against Sonos as well as Napster, this complaint specifically accuses the […]

13. Sabrina Carpenter, Jennie Clock Giant Vevo Premieres in 2025—Doechii, Riley Green, Mariah the Scientist Top the Up-and-Comers

    Sabrina Carpenter and Blackpink’s Jennie top Vevo’s premieres in 2025. Top rising stars include Doechii, Riley Green, and Mariah the Scientist. Vevo has unveiled its annual end-of-year charts for 2025, highlighted by major premieres by Sabrina Carpenter and Blackpink star Jennie. Music videos remain a key pillar of entertainment and continue to hold cultural cachet, […]

14. 90s Phenoms 4 Non Blondes Are Selling Out Shows After Blowing Up on TikTok—Now Linda Perry Has Inked Brand-New Label Deal

    4 Non Blondes’ Linda Perry inks a new label deal, with a new solo album on the horizon after her music experiences a TikTok resurgence. Linda Perry of 4 Non Blondes fame has teamed up with Kill Rock Stars to launch a new imprint, 670 Records. The collaboration arrives as Perry prepares a new solo […]

15. Meta Horizon, iHeartMedia Collaborate on Multiple Coldplay Immersive Concert Experiences

    Meta partners with iHeartMedia to bring a free Coldplay immersive VR concert experience to Meta Horizon, based on the band’s stint at Wembley Stadium. Meta has announced a partnership with iHeartMedia to bring Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres tour to Meta Horizon. Kicking off on December 30 at 11 AM PT, the free immersive experience […]