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. Federal Lawmaker Requests FTC Investigation Into AllTrack and Pro Music Rights Over ‘Potential Unfair or Deceptive Acts,’ Says Both PROs ‘Feign Legitimacy’

   Lawmakers’ scrutiny of PROs isn’t letting up: Now, U.S. Representative Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI) has asked the FTC to “examine potential unfair or deceptive acts” in the public performance space – with a specific focus on AllTrack and Pro Music Rights. Representative Fitzgerald made that request in a recent letter to FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson, and […]

2. Federal Judge Tosses MF Doom Estate’s Temu Trademark Suit — Dismissal Motion Hearing Scheduled in Twenty One Pilots’ Similar Complaint

   A federal judge has tossed the MF Doom estate’s Temu trademark infringement suit with leave to amend. Meanwhile, the ecommerce platform is looking to dismiss a similar complaint filed by Twenty One Pilots, with a related hearing now set for March. Judge Stanley Blumenfeld Jr. just recently granted Temu’s motion to dismiss the MF Doom […]

3. Sony Music Publishing Signs Global Deal With Southern Rap Phenom BigXthaPlug

   Sony Music Publishing signs a global deal with BigXthaPlug, who has collaborated with stars like Post Malone, Jelly Roll, Shaboozey, and more. Sony Music Publishing announces signing a global publishing deal with award-winning breakout star BigXthaPlug, who has quickly established himself as a powerful storyteller. With his unmistakable Texas-rooted sound, BigXthaPlug has earned widespread...

4. Iceland Pulls Out of Eurovision 2026—Here’s the Official Statement

   Iceland pulls out of Eurovision 2026, joining a growing list of countries boycotting the event over Israel’s participation. Iceland’s national broadcaster RÚV announced on Wednesday that it will boycott next year’s Eurovision Song Contest in protest of Israel’s participation. The country joins four others in boycotting the music competition. Broadcasters in Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands,...

5. StubHub’s CFO Says the Company Earned $41 Million In Extra Interest by Delaying Payments to Ticket Sellers

   StubHub’s recent financial disclosures are shining new light on a long-standing frustration among small and mid-tier ticket sellers—delayed payouts. While StubHub officially states that payments to sellers are remitted five to eight business days after an event takes place, the on-the-ground reality seems more complicated. Numerous independent sellers have taken to social media to complain...

6. TikTok Announces Music-Focused Live Podcast Series, ‘TikTok in the Mix’ with Demi Lovato Kicking Off Episode One

   TikTok announces the launch of a new live podcast series, ‘TikTok in the Mix,’ a four-episode season of conversations with artists like Demi Lovato. TikTok has announced “TikTok in the Mix,” a new live podcast series with a four-episode season of authentic and candid conversations with major artists. The series launches on December 11 at […]

7. 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 […]

8. Big Label In Store: Universal Music Group Announces New UMusic Shops in New York and London

   Universal Music Group opens two new UMusic Shop locations in New York and London with exclusive custom collections and pieces inspired by UMG artists. Universal Music Group (UMG), in partnership with its entertainment hospitality venture, UMusic Hospitality & Lifestyle, has announced the opening of two new UMusic Shop locations in New York and London. Each […]

9. Saudi Arabia’s EIF and Legends Global Unveil XXL-Sized Venue Management JV: ‘We Are Building the Foundation for a Sustainable, Globally Competitive Industry’

   Saudi Arabia’s Events Investment Fund (EIF) has finalized a joint venture with Legends Global, which will “exclusively” provide management services for EIF-developed venues moving forward. The nearly seven-year-old Events Investment Fund unveiled the JV today, about three months after Legends and ASM Global officially rebranded as Legends Global. As the self-described “premier partner to the...

10. Great Mountain Partners Launches $600 Million Media and Entertainment Fund, Targets Deals ‘At the Intersection of Premium Content, Audiences, and New Monetization Models’

    Targeting plays in music, live entertainment, and more, Concord stakeholder Great Mountain Partners (GMP) has launched a $600 million investment fund called Saranac Holdings LP. GMP today disclosed the launch of Saranac Holdings, not to be confused with the existing Boise-based investor of the same name or London-headquartered Saranac Partners. According to the appropriate release, […]

11. Sorry, No Hangout Music Fest or Sand In My Boots In 2026 — Alabama Festival On Pause Until 2027

    There will be no Hangout Music Fest or Sand in My Boots festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama, in 2026, the city’s mayor confirmed on Monday night. Mayor Robert Craft of Gulf Shores, Alabama, announced toward the end of a regular city council meeting on Monday evening that the Hangout Music Fest, which was renamed Sand […]

12. Weeks Later, Spotify Finally Removes a King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard AI Copycat — Here’s the Company’s Statement

    Spotify has finally removed a genAI King Gizzard clone on its platform after failing to catch the culprit — part of the platform’s broader move to address the spread of AI imposters bilking artists. Despite making efforts to address the widespread presence of AI-generated audio on its platform, Spotify failed to catch an imitator of […]

13. 1962’s “Pretty Little Baby” Was the Biggest Song on TikTok In 2025

    TikTok unveils its Year in Music Report, headed by KATSEYE and a hit song from the early 60s. The report covers the most popular artists, songs, and trends on the platform in 2025. TikTok’s year-end music report named Los Angeles-based girl group KATSEYE as the platform’s Global Artist of the Year. Despite only forming in […]

14. Celebrated Opera Singer Jubilant Sykes Murdered in Santa Monica; Son Arrested by Police

    Opera and gospel singer Jubilant Sykes was stabbed to death in his Santa Monica home on Monday, allegedly by his son, who is in police custody. Classical, opera, and gospel singer Jubilant Sykes was stabbed to death on Monday in his Santa Monica home, allegedly by his son, who is in custody, police told KTLA. […]

15. Dynamic Duo Gene Simmons and Michael Huppe Tell Senators to ‘Close the Radio Loophole’ in America

    KISS’s Gene Simmons and SoundExchange President Michael Huppe called on Congress to require AM/FM radio stations to pay recording artists for using their music. A dynamic — and unlikely — duo of KISS’s Gene Simmons and SoundExchange President and CEO Michael Huppe have forcefully called on Congress to require AM/FM radio corporations to pay recording […]