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. Latest Music Industry Hires: TuneCore, UMG, Gap, Fender, SESAC, Merlin, Rostrum Pacific, More

   Here’s a recap of recent music industry hires and in-house promotions as of January 16th, 2026. If you have a job shuffle to share, we’re all ears. Send us a note to news@digitalmusicnews.com. If you’d like to post a job on our Job Board, just send us a request to noah@digitalmusicnews.com. And, keep track of all the […]

2. Ludacris Removed From ‘Rock the Country’ Lineup After Broiling Backlash

   Ludacris is no longer on the bill for the 2026 Rock the Country music festival after backlash from fans, but Nelly is still set to perform. Kid Rock’s Rock the Country music festival has removed rapper Ludacris from the lineup with no announcement. Organizers confirmed the news when the eight-location event posted its scheduled performers […]

3. How Much Additional Revenue Will Spotify’s U.S. Price Increases Generate? Analysts Weigh In Amid Lackluster SPOT Performance

   How much additional revenue will Spotify generate thanks to its latest U.S. price increases? As soft SPOT targets continue to surface, analysts are weighing in with growth estimates. We covered Spotify’s stateside price bumps soon after their announcement yesterday morning. And while logic suggested that the increases would drive a share-price spike, that wasn’t the […]

4. Amazon Music Premieres ‘Songline’ Series with A$AP Rocky Album Preview, Plus Twitch and Prime Video Tie-Ins

   Amazon Music taps A$AP Rocky to headline the upcoming episode of its Songline performance series to promote his new album. A$AP Rocky will headline the next episode of Amazon Music’s Songline performance series to deliver an exclusive presentation of new music from his latest album, Don’t Be Dumb. The special drops on Yams Day, January […]

5. Roblox Hit ‘Steal a Brainrot’ Taps Bruno Mars for Celebrity Concert Collaboration

   Roblox hit “Steal a Brainrot” gets its first celebrity concert, with Bruno Mars set to play the virtual venue this weekend to promote his new single. Multiplayer gaming platform Roblox’s smash hit Steal a Brainrot—the first game on the platform to hit 25 million concurrent players after its launch last year—is now a big enough […]

6. Apple Music Blitzes Bad Bunny Super Bowl Halftime Show Trailer — And Pushes Multi-Month Free Trials — Immediately Following Spotify’s U.S. Price Bumps

   Hot on the heels of Spotify’s stateside price bumps, Apple Music has put out an official trailer for Bad Bunny’s quick-approaching Super Bowl Halftime Show. Meanwhile, the Apple-owned DSP and the NFL are also offering three-month free trials to new subscribers. The Super Bowl Halftime Show sponsor Apple Music released the teaser this morning, three […]

7. Calvin Harris Wins $13.5 Million Payout In Legal Battle Against Ex-Manager—Though Another $12 Million Remains Under Dispute

   Calvin Harris has just won $13.5 million in a loan dispute with his former advisor, but the remaining legal battle over $12 million in equity investments continues. Calvin Harris scored a win in his ongoing legal war with his former financial advisor, Thomas St. John, whom he accused of embezzling millions from the DJ back […]

8. Right on Cue, Spotify Confirms U.S. Price Increases — Individual Rises to $12.99 Per Month, Duo Hits $18.99, and Family Jumps to $21.99

   Right on cue, Spotify has upped its prices in the U.S., where Individual now costs $12.99 per month (up from $11.99) and Family will set subscribers back $21.99 per month (previously $19.99). Spotify implemented the long-anticipated stateside increases (on top of pricing boosts in Estonia and Latvia) this morning, against the backdrop of slowing subscriber […]

9. Construction Is a Go on $21.3 Million Legends-Operated Long Beach Amphitheater—Mötley Crüe, Toto Already Booked at 11K-Capacity Venue

   Long Beach begins construction on the much-anticipated $21.3 million waterfront amphitheater, with acts like Mötley Crüe and Toto already booked. Long Beach broke ground this week on its highly anticipated amphitheater, a $21.3 million outdoor entertainment venue due to open this summer to host artists including 80s legends Mötley Crüe and Toto. The temporary venue […]

10. Bruno Mars Breaks Live Nation’s Single-Day Ticket Sales Record in North America—’The Romantic Tour’ Quickly Adds 30 More Dates

    Bruno Mars breaks Live Nation’s single-day ticket sales record in North America and adds 30 more dates to his explosive new Romantic Tour. Yes, we’re talking about Bruno. Due to incredible demand, Bruno Mars has tacked on 30 more dates to his highly anticipated The Romantic Tour, marking his first full headline tour in nearly […]

11. As Corporation for Public Broadcasting Shuts Down, Congress Votes to Keep the National Endowment for the Arts Alive

    Congress votes to fund the National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities, despite Trump’s efforts to shutter both. Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives voted on a budget proposal that includes funding for both the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), granting […]

12. Spotify Stock Slips Following U.S. Price Increases — Some Investors Anticipated Larger Bumps, Citi’s Jason Bazinet Notes

    At least for now, Wall Street doesn’t seem enthusiastic about Spotify’s latest U.S. price increases. During Thursday’s trading, the company’s stock (NYSE: SPOT) parted with 4% of its value and, in the process, reduced its year-over-year growth to 3.5%. We broke down those stateside price bumps (plus adjustments in Estonia and Latvia) soon after their […]

13. Hybe CEO Jason Jaesang Lee and Other Execs Exercise $3.5 Million Worth of Stock Options Ahead of BTS Mega-Tour

    Ahead of BTS’ mega-tour blowout – and with their company’s stock price up more than 50% from mid-January 2025 – Hybe execs are exercising $3.5 million worth of stock options. Technically, the multimillion-dollar stock options appeared to enter the media spotlight in a 10-word “headline-only” TradingView piece. But in the regulatory disclosure itself, dated January […]

14. Eurovision Song Contest Is Hitting the Road — 70th Anniversary Tour Criss-Crossing Europe This Summer

    Eurovision is going on tour across Europe this summer for its 70th anniversary, bringing together iconic performers from across the contest’s legacy. To celebrate the Eurovision Song Contest’s 70th anniversary, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has announced the first official Eurovision Song Contest Live Tour, set to travel across Europe this summer. Created especially for […]

15. BTS Tour Drama Continues: Massive Number of ‘Restricted Viewing’ Seats Draws Outrage In Seoul

    Fans are outraged by a huge portion of seats for BTS’ shows in Seoul being marked as “restricted view,” despite promises of 360-degree enhanced views. BTS had no sooner announced their reunion and world tour than fans had multiple panic-inducing moments. It can be hard enough just to secure tickets for a tour in such […]