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. Suno Raises $250 Million at a $2.45 Billion Valuation, Says It’s ‘Proud to Be at the Forefront of This Historic Moment for Music’

   Suno is a lot of things – including a defendant in multiple music-space infringement suits – but it definitely isn’t strapped for cash. Now, the AI music generator has raised $250 million at a $2.45 billion valuation. Cambridge-headquartered Suno confirmed the quarter-billion-dollar Series C today, on the heels of October funding rumblings. Those rumblings, we […]

2. King’s Hawaiian Taps Bing Crosby’s ‘Mele Kalikimaka’ for Latest Branding Campaign

   Two holiday kings unite as King’s Hawaiian and Bing Crosby’s “Mele Kalikimaka” celebrate 75 years with a new remix of a classic Christmas favorite. King’s Hawaiian and Bing Crosby join forces for the holiday season in celebration of their 75th anniversaries: beloved bakery brand King’s Hawaiian’s sweet rolls, and Bing Crosby’s classic holiday hit, “Mele […]

3. UK Government Reveals Much-Anticipated Plans to Ban Ticket Touting—AXS Applauds the Move While StubHub Balks

   The UK government unveils its highly anticipated plans to make it illegal to resell tickets to live events for more than their original cost. After days of speculation awaiting the official news, the UK government has announced plans to make it illegal to resell tickets to concerts, theatre, sports, and other live events for more […]

4. Warner Music Inks Blockbuster ‘Artist-First’ AI Deals with Udio, Stability AI

   Warner Music Group signs landmark “artist-first” AI agreements with Udio and Stability AI, resolving the companies’ copyright infringement litigation. Warner Music Group (WMG) has announced the signing of two blockbuster AI deals with Udio and Stability AI. The former resolves the company’s copyright infringement litigation and establishes a clear framework for the development of Udio’s […]

5. Live Nation Moves to Dismiss Entire US Department of Justice Antitrust Case — Ripping the Feds’ Case as Flimsy

   Live Nation files a motion to dismiss the DOJ’s antitrust case, arguing that the government fails to prove the company operates as a monopoly. Live Nation and Ticketmaster hope to end the Department of Justice’s antitrust case before it goes to trial. The ticketing giant’s attorneys filed a 51-page summary-judgment motion that argues the claims […]

6. beatBread Appoints Tracy Maddux as Interim CEO Following Tragic Passing of Peter Sinclair

   Former CD Baby and Downtown Music executive Tracy Maddux has been appointed interim CEO at beatBread, succeeding the late Peter Sinclair. Independent label and musician funding platform beatBread has announced that industry veteran Tracy Maddux has been appointed interim CEO. Maddux brings decades of leadership experience at the intersection of music, technology, and finance, and […]

7. Spotify Officially Expands Song Credits, Confirms Early 2026 Launch Plans for SongDNA and About the Song

   Spotify has officially expanded its credits and unveiled SongDNA, a feature designed to shine a bit more of the spotlight on the many professionals who contribute to tracks. The streaming platform today got the credits-expansion ball rolling and confirmed About the Song as well as the already-spotted SongDNA. On the credits front, Spotify previously displayed […]

8. Nicki Minaj Calls for ‘Urgent Action’ on Christian Persecution In Nigeria

   Nicki Minaj was invited to address the UN on Tuesday, publicly backing Trump’s allegations that Christians face persecution in Nigeria. Rapper and singer-songwriter Nicki Minaj was invited to address the United Nations on Tuesday, delivering a warning about Christians being attacked and killed in Nigeria. The move publicly backs President Trump’s allegations that Christians face […]

9. MassiveMusic and Vocana Partner to Power a Fairer Future for Independent Music

   MassiveMusic has announced a strategic partnership with Vocana to build a new independent music platform built around fairness, transparency, and artist-fan connection. The collaboration combines Vocana’s user-centric payout model with MassiveMusic’s global infrastructure and metadata expertise. This article was created in collaboration with DMN partner Songtradr. Based in Nashville, Vocana has...

10. European Commission Reportedly Preps ‘Formal Warning’ About Universal Music’s Downtown Acquisition — Final Decision Still Set for February

    The European Commission is reportedly preparing to hand down a “formal warning” about Universal Music’s proposed $775 million Downtown buyout – albeit without blocking the deal outright. That reportedly imminent development surfaced in a recent Bloomberg piece. Additionally, IMPALA, which has from the get-go opposed the play on competition and market-concentration grounds, reached out with...

11. DMN & Tipalti’s Music Monetization 2.0 Webinar Is A Wrap! — Post-Streaming Revenues, Global Royalty Capture, and Content Ownership Take Center Stage

    As streaming matures, the music business is heading into new territory. A new webinar from Digital Music News and Tipalti features a frank conversation on the current state of the music and entertainment world, a discussion about new models that are reshaping music monetization, and solving rights management at scale. The conversation also dips into […]

12. StubHub Lashes Out at UK Government’s Plan to Ban Scalping, Promises ‘Transactions Will Move to Black Markets’

    As the UK government prepares to introduce a price cap on the resale of tickets to live events, ticket resale platforms are speaking out. The UK government plans to ban the resale of live event tickets at inflated prices in a bid to tackle the onslaught of ticket touts snapping up tickets for popular events […]

13. NPR Secures $36 Million In Critical Federal Funding In Court Settlement Against Trump

    NPR will receive approximately $36 million in grant money to keep its interconnection system operational amid the fallout from Trump’s executive order. National Public Radio (NPR) has reached a resolution with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) concerning the disbursement of federal funds for its interconnection services. NPR will receive approximately $36 million in grant […]

14. Roblox Facial Safety Checks Aim to Prevent Kids Talking Outside of Their Age Groups

    Online game platform Roblox will start blocking children from talking to adult strangers starting next month using facial age estimation. As online games platform Roblox faces fresh lawsuits alleging the system’s design has made children “easy prey” for predators, Roblox will start blocking children from talking to adults and older teen strangers starting next month. […]

15. Singer D4vd Now Considered a Suspect In Investigation of Teen Girl Found Dead In His Car

    Singer D4vd is now considered a suspect in the ongoing investigation of the teenage girl found dead in the trunk of his Tesla. David Anthony Burke, better known as singer d4vd, is now considered a suspect in the investigation of the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Hernandez is the teenage girl whose body was found […]