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. Music AI Startup Arthos Scores $730,000 Pre-Seed Raise, Tees Up ‘Mozart AI’ DAW Launch

   Music AI startup Arthos has announced a $730,000 raise and the upcoming launch of its first product, a digital audio workstation (DAW) called Mozart AI. London-based Arthos reached out today with word of the pre-seed funding and the debuting DAW. Co-founded and led by Sundar Arvind, the startup says it’s “on a mission to 10x […]

2. Warner Music Launches $1.2 Billion Song Rights JV With Bain Capital, Says It’ll Become ‘The Destination of Choice for Preeminent Catalogs’

   Let the catalog funding commitments continue: Warner Music Group (WMG) has launched a $1.2 billion IP-focused joint venture with Bain Capital. The major label and the Boston-headquartered investment firm unveiled their song rights JV today. With each party putting up “equal equity commitments” – $600 million apiece, that is – the capital will reach “legendary […]

3. Tomorrowland and Apple Music Unveil Unreleased Avicii DJ Mixes

   Tomorrowland and Apple Music will unveil previously unreleased DJ mixes from the late Avicii’s sets at Tomorrowland 2012, 2014, and 2015. Ten years after his final performance at Tomorrowland, the Belgian festival has teamed up with Apple Music to pay tribute to the late Tim Bergling, better known as Avicii. For the first time, people […]

4. Senate Blocks AI Moratorium In a Near-Unanimous Vote, Preserves State Power to Protect Music Creators with AI Regulation

   A decisive 99-1 Senate vote early Tuesday stripped a controversial federal moratorium on state-level artificial intelligence (AI) regulation from the sweeping budget reconciliation bill. The amendment, co-sponsored by Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Edward Markey (D-MA) was adopted after weeks of bipartisan pushback against a provision that would have barred states...

5. America’s Creative Edge—New Copyright Alliance Campaign Rallies Music Pros to Shape AI Policy

   The Copyright Alliance has launched a nationwide initiative mobilizing creators to influence upcoming U.S. policies on artificial intelligence. Their campaign urges lawmakers to adopt approaches that protect creative works used in AI development. The organization wants to ensure that American artists and professionals retain control over their output and receive fair compensation for its use....

6. Who’s Gonna Buy TikTok? Familiar Names Resurface: Oracle, Blackstone, Andreessen Horowitz

   Trump says a group of wealthy people are interested in buying TikTok. Bloomberg says it’s the same group that came close to reaching a deal before. On the heels of extending the deadline by which China-based ByteDance must divest its TikTok assets in the U.S. or face a nationwide ban, President Trump asserts that a […]

7. UMG and UCLA Cut the Ribbon on the ‘Berry Gordy Music Industry Scholarship’

   Universal Music Group and the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music establish the Berry Gordy Music Industry Scholarship to honor the pioneer’s legacy. Universal Music Group (UMG) has announced the establishment of the Berry Gordy Music Industry Scholarship at the Herb Alpert School of Music. In partnership with the UCLA Foundation, UMG has endowed a […]

8. Ticket Scalpers Are Driving O2 London Ticket Prices Up to 490%—Industry Calls for Urgent Cap

   Music’s biggest acts are drawing more than just crowds to London’s O2 this summer—they’re attracting scalpers who are inflating ticket prices by up to five times their original value. New analysis of over 1,000 tickets on uncapped resale sites reveals that fans hoping to catch shows like Billie Eilish, Diana Ross, and Lady Gaga are […]

9. The Velvet Sundown Plot Thickens: Alleged AI ‘Band’ Says ‘Our Music Is 100% Human-Made’ As Spotify Monthly Listeners Top 550,000

   The Velvet Sundown plot is thickening, as the allegedly AI-powered “band” has topped 550,000 Spotify monthly listeners and pushed back against intensifying criticism. Meanwhile, Spotify is remaining silent on the rapid consumption growth. Since our initial Velvet Sundown coverage – which arrived after Redditors began speculating that the playlist-heavy act might be the result of […]

10. Beyond the Soundtrack: Royalties, Rights, and Revenue in the Gaming-Music Crossover — A Webinar With EA, Tipalti, and DMN

    As the digital economy surges ahead, the intersection of music and gaming is rewriting the rules of rights management, royalties, and creator payouts. Digital Music News, EA Music Group, and Tipalti have joined forces to discuss this and more in a must-watch webinar, “Beyond the Soundtrack: Royalties, Rights, and Revenue in the Gaming-Music Crossover.” If […]

11. Cox Communications’ Long-Running Legal War Against the Major Labels Is Heading to the Supreme Court

    The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case brought by ISP Cox Communications over whether — or exactly how — the company should be held liable for the music piracy committed by its users. Cox Communications’ request for the Supreme Court to hear its case over whether it should be held liable for music […]

12. Indie Rock Band Deerhoof Removing Music From Spotify Over CEO Daniel Ek’s Military Investments

    Indie rock band Deerhoof announces removing their music from Spotify in light of CEO Daniel Ek’s military investments. San Francisco-based indie rock group Deerhoof will be removing their music from Spotify. The band made the announcement on their website and social media. News of their decision comes on the heels of Spotify CEO Daniel Ek’s […]

13. Marilyn Manson Concert in Brighton Cancelled After Pressure from Campaigners

    The first show of Marilyn Manson’s UK tour has been cancelled after pressure from an online campaign group, No Stage for Abusers. Marilyn Manson was set to kick off the UK leg of his One Assassination Under God Tour in Brighton on October 29. But Ticketmaster has since informed ticketholders that the event will not […]

14. Yes, There’s a Good Side to AI: A Look at Music AI and the Next Ethical AI Breakthroughs

    Generative AI presents serious threats and challenges to the music industry, and it’s something we cover exhaustively at DMN. However, alongside these daunting problems are exciting AI breakthroughs that are transforming the music creation and collaboration process, intensifying fan engagement, and solving consumer electronics problems. Just ask Music AI, the company behind the Moises app...

15. UTA Immediately Drops Bob Vylan After Glastonbury Political Rant — US State Department Revokes Travel Visas

    The fallout from British rap-punk grime duo Bob Vylan’s set at Glastonbury Festival 2025 has grown rapidly. Major industry and governmental repercussions have now landed for the band—UTA dropped them and the US State Department has revoked their travel visas. During their performance on the festival’s West Holts Stage, Bob Vylan led the crowd in […]