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. Ready for Mega-Fame? Katseye Member Manon Bannerman Abruptly Takes Hiatus to ‘Focus On Her Health and Wellbeing’

   Hot off their Best New Artist nom, Katseye announces that member Manon Bannerman will take a temporary hiatus from the group to focus on her health. Global girl group Katseye has announced that member Manon Bannerman will take a temporary hiatus from group activity to “focus on her health and wellbeing.” The group posted a […]

2. Irving Azoff Lambasts YouTube Over Billboard Charts Pullout, Says the Platform ‘Pays Music Creators — Artists and Songwriters — Less Than Any Other Comparable Digital Service’

   Irving Azoff is once again lambasting YouTube – this time over the Google subsidiary’s much-publicized Billboard charts pullout. Meanwhile, the firmly worded criticism has arrived amid substantial subscriber growth for YouTube Music. The music mogul just recently took aim at YouTube, and specifically its well-documented exit from Billboard’s charts. As many are aware, Azoff has […]

3. Can Salt-N-Pepa Ever Win Back Their Masters? Rap Duo Files Appeal Against Universal Music Group Following Difficult Dismissal

   Salt-N-Pepa file an appeal against Universal Music Group over the dismissal of their copyright lawsuit with the help of a prominent industry lawyer. Legendary female rap duo Salt-N-Pepa have filed a notice of appeal against the dismissal of their lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG) over the rights to their master recordings. But the pair […]

4. Live Nation Pulls Another Lever to Delay Impending Antitrust Trial

   Live Nation files a motion to delay the impending antitrust trial so an appeals court can consider two particular legal questions surrounding the case. On Sunday, Live Nation and Ticketmaster filed a motion to delay the start of proceedings in the U.S. government’s antitrust trial in order to have an appeals court determine whether two […]

5. The Wasserman Fire-Sale Is Looking Like an ‘Inferno-Sale’ After Imagine Dragons Cuts Ties — So What’s Next?

   Watching stuff go down in flames is never easy, though Wasserman majority owner Providence Equity Partners is sporting a stiff upper lip. In the wake of Wasserman Music suffering yet another major artist defection — this time involving mega-superstars Imagine Dragons — serious questions are now surfacing on the future of this once-lofty Hollywood agency. […]

6. Isaac Hayes Estate Settles Litigation Over Trump’s Campaign Use of ‘Hold On, I’m Coming’

   Isaac Hayes’ estate reaches a private settlement with Donald Trump after accusing his campaign of the unauthorized use of a 1966 classic hit, “Hold On, I’m Coming,” at rallies. Isaac Hayes’ estate previously sued Donald Trump and his campaign in 2024 over the unauthorized use of the 1966 hit, “Hold On, I’m Coming” at rallies. […]

7. Blackpink Becomes the First Artist to Hit 100 Million YouTube Subscribers — Now Ranked 16th Across the Entire Platform

   Thanks, Blinks: A decade after debuting, Blackpink has become the first act to crack 100 million YouTube subscribers. Both Blackpink and YouTube itself acknowledged the record, including in a blog post as well as a video from the four-piece girl group. All told, said group is now ranked 16th in overall subs across the platform, […]

8. Jelly Roll Announces ‘The Little Ass Shed Tour’ with Kashus Culpepper to Complement His ‘Big Ass Stadium Tour’ with Post Malone

   Jelly Roll announces a limited run of headlining shows with support from Kashus Culpepper ahead of Part 2 of his stadium tour with Post Malone. On Monday, Nashville native Jelly Roll announced a special limited run of headlining shows, “The Little Ass Shed Tour,” in select markets across the U.S. with support from Kashus Culpepper. […]

9. UMG, J. Cole Partner EVEN Is Now Battling a Lawsuit Over Discrimination, Sexual Misconduct, and Labor Violations

   Just last week, UMG announced a multi-year partnership with superfan app EVEN amid a discrimination lawsuit against the platform filed by a former executive. Late last week, Universal Music Group (UMG) announced a multi-year partnership with EVEN.biz, a direct-to-consumer superfan app. But the move comes less than a week after a former EVEN executive sued […]

10. Tidal Expands ‘Spotlight’ and Introduces ‘Upload’ Alongside a $100,000 Contest—But There’s a Catch

    Tidal rolls out a direct upload feature to enable independent artists to publish their work on the platform with spotlight placement opportunities. Tidal has expanded its direct upload feature to more countries, enabling independent artists to publish their work directly on the streaming platform. The feature, as well as a weekly ‘Spotlight’ program, is now […]

11. Spotify ‘Prompted Playlist’ Beta Expands to the UK, Ireland, Sweden, and Australia — But Diehard Users Still Aren’t Over the Whole AI Slop Avalanche

    Spotify has once again expanded its Prompted Playlist beta, which is now live for Premium users in the UK, Ireland, Sweden, and Australia. The DSP reached out with word of Prompted Playlist’s enhanced availability today, two months and change after bringing the feature to New Zealand. That limited launch made way for a pilot in […]

12. Is Sony Overstating Its AI Detection Capabilities? Signs Point to Yes

    Just after Sony announces an AI detection tool, dance music platform Traxsource puts forth a policy that seems to call such tools into question. Artificial intelligence in music continues to be a hot watercooler topic. That’s especially true as major companies continue playing whack-a-mole against—and then getting into bed with—AI companies that may or may […]

13. Live Nation is Still Battling a Wrongful Death Lawsuit Over 2023 Shooting at Beyond Wonderland—Here’s the Latest

    A judge has denied Live Nation’s bid for summary judgment in the wrongful death suit derived from 2023’s Beyond Wonderland shooting. On February 13, a Washington state judge denied Live Nation’s push for summary judgment in the wrongful death lawsuit tied to 2023’s mass shooting tragedy at the Beyond Wonderland music festival. Filed in King […]

14. Salsa Giant Willie Colón Passes Away Aged 75

    Salsa legend and multi-hyphenate musician Willie Colón passed away on Saturday, his family and record label confirmed over the weekend. He was 75. Multi-talented salsa legend Willie Colón—a trombonist, composer, arranger, vocalist, producer, and bandleader—passed away on Saturday at the age of 75. His family confirmed the news on social media, as did his record […]

15. AI Sample Generator Just 4 Noise Closes $1 Million Round: ‘We Are Scaling the Future Foundation Model for AI Instrument Generation’

    Now boasting approximately 4,000 users, AI-powered sample generator Just 4 Noise has closed a $1 million round. Berlin-headquartered Just 4 Noise reached out with word of the raise, which didn’t have a lead but drew support from BADideas.fund, Sound Hub Denmark, and others. Founded by Max Shafer and Henning Nobmann in 2024, the startup deals […]