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. $64 Billion for Universal Music Group? Bill Ackman-led Pershing Square Dangles the Takeover Deal

   Sorry, how much? Billionaire hedge-funder Bill Ackman and his Pershing Square have now proposed a $64 billion+ deal to acquire Universal Music Group (UMG), a takeover that would include a shift to the New York Stock Exchange. The offer, which values the world’s largest music label at €30.4 ($35.06) per share, represents a substantial 78% […]

2. The Start of Another Record Year? Core Music Industry Funding Approached $5 Billion During Q1 2026, DMN Pro Data Shows

   If Q1 2025’s nearly $2 billion in music industry funding seemed like a lot, you’ll want to take a seat for this one. Thanks in large part to another huge contribution from catalog, core music funding approached a staggering $5 billion during 2026’s opening quarter. As usual, that figure and other valuable takeaways come from […]

3. Music Industry Lobbying Shifts Towards Site-Blocking Legislation Following Cox Supreme Court Ruling — And Other Rumblings from Capitol Hill

   After the Supreme Court’s decision to reverse the liability verdict against Cox Communications, new site-blocking proposals emerge in Congress. But can this lobbying shift make up for a disastrous Supreme Court gavel drop in Cox v. Sony Music? The Supreme Court recently ruled to reverse the piracy liability verdict against Cox Communications, a significant win […]

4. Ugly Epidemic Sound v. Meta Copyright Battle Rages on — Dueling Summary Judgment Pushes Take Center Stage as Meta Moves to Invoke ‘Cox v. Sony’

   Nearly four years later, the ugly Epidemic Sound v. Meta copyright infringement lawsuit still hasn’t resolved. Now, both sides are pushing for summary judgment, and the Facebook parent is looking to explore the impact of the Supreme Court’s Cox v. Sony decision. We briefly touched on the marathon legal battle’s status last week, when exploring […]

5. After Booking the Sphere, Metallica Adds — Mohegan Sun?

   Metallica will play two concerts at Mohegan Sun Arena to celebrate the venue’s 25th anniversary, following the band’s Sphere residency. Metallica has added two concerts at Mohegan Sun Arena to the band’s upcoming tour dates, following their sold-out residency at Sphere in Las Vegas. The shows, scheduled for November 19 and 21, will serve as […]

6. Me Gusta Fest Rebranded to Sublime Fest After Cypress Hill Drops Out

   Music festival Me Gusta is now called Sublime Fest, after hip-hop stars Cypress Hill dropped out, with rumors citing political differences. Me Gusta Fest has been rebranded to Sublime Fest after hip-hop headliners Cypress Hill backed out, according to festival producers Brew Ha Ha Productions. The festival will still take place on the same dates […]

7. Lil Nas X Says He Checked Himself Into a Mental Health Facility After His Arrest on Felony Assault Charges

   Lil Nas X hopes to have his felony assault charges dismissed after a judge granted him entry into a mental health diversion program. On Monday, rapper Lil Nas X, whose legal name is Montero Hill, appeared in Los Angeles court. There, Judge Alan Schneider ruled that the musician’s felony assault charges would be cleared as […]

8. Howard Stern Sued by Former Staffer for Creating ‘Hostile Work Environment’

   Former Howard Stern executive assistant Leslie Kuhn is suing the radio host and his wife over allegations of a hostile work environment. Howard Stern and his wife Beth are being sued by their former executive assistant for an alleged hostile work environment and “immense pressure” caused by Beth’s large-scale at-home animal rescue organization and disorganized […]

9. Music Publishers Move to Shut Down X’s ‘Retaliatory Antitrust Suit,’ Say the ‘Complaint Should Be Dismissed in Its Entirety’

   Music publishers have moved to shut down X’s massive antitrust suit, pointing to the alleged absence of a related injury and maintaining that the social platform’s complaint “suffers from numerous additional fatal flaws” to boot. The National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) and a number of its member publishers just recently fired back, after X submitted […]

10. Multiple Tracks Officially Removed from Kanye West’s ‘Bully’; Album Release Mired in Metadata Problems, Copyright Claims, and Glitches

    Kanye West’s new album release has been riddled with problems, from uncleared samples to metadata issues leading to greyed-out tracks. Sounds like typical Ye — though Gamma/Vydia is also getting dragged into this distribution quagmire. Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West, dropped his latest project, Bully, just a couple of weeks ago, and […]

11. K-Pop Powerhouse Monsta X Announce North American Dates on World Tour

    Global K-pop superstars Monsta X announce a North American leg on their 2026 Monsta X World Tour [The X : Nexus], kicking off in October. Today, K-pop superstar group Monsta X announced a slew of North American dates on their 2026 Monsta X World Tour [The X : Nexus]. Promoted by Live Nation, the newly […]

12. After Pepsi’s Pullout, Pressure Mounts to Cancel Kanye West’s Headlining Sets in London—More Sponsors Withdraw

    As multiple sponsors jump ship, the British government is now facing increasing pressure to prevent Kanye West from performing at Wireless Festival this summer. Kanye West is scheduled to headline all three days of London’s Wireless Festival in July. But it remains uncertain if he will actually get to play there after Prime Minister Keir […]

13. IMPALA Calls WMG’s Revelator Acquisition ‘Bad News’ — Though the Fireworks May End There

    On the heels of Warner Music Group’s agreement to acquire B2B music platform Revelator, IMPALA issues a statement weighing the pros and cons. Last week, Warner Music Group (WMG) announced entering into an agreement to acquire independent B2B music distribution platform Revelator. Despite the latter’s founder and CEO asserting that “nothing changes about how we […]

14. Pepsi, Diageo Pull Out of Wireless Festival Following Kanye West Headliner Announcement—Budweiser, PayPal Remain On Board

    Pepsi and Diageo have abruptly withdrawn their sponsorships of Wireless Festival following the news that Kanye West will headline the three-day event. Pepsi has announced its withdrawal as lead sponsor of the Wireless Festival in London this summer, just days after the news that antisemitic rapper Kanye West would be headlining the three-day event. Spirits […]

15. Yale University May Have Put a Nail In the Drake vs. Kendrick Rap Battle Coffin: Law School Backs UMG in Amicus Brief

    Law scholars have filed two amicus briefs siding with UMG following Drake’s appeal in his defamation lawsuit over Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.” On Friday (April 3), two amicus briefs filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit voice support for Universal Music Group (UMG), following Drake’s appeal in his defamation […]