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. Spotify Rolls Out Music Videos in the U.S. and Canada

   Spotify has started the beta launch of music videos to premium users across the U.S. and Canada after launching in dozens of other markets worldwide. Music streaming giant Spotify is finally rolling out music videos in a beta launch to premium subscribers across the U.S. and Canada after launching them in dozens of other markets […]

2. USCO Leadership Battle Rages On: Government Says Shira Perlmutter ‘Was Lawfully Removed As Register of Copyrights—Either by Mr. Blanche or by the President’

   Seven months later, the Copyright Office leadership battle is raging on – with the litigation now playing out across a district court, an appellate court, and the Supreme Court alike. We’ve covered the multifaceted dispute since USCO head Shira Perlmutter was fired in May. And for a courtroom confrontation revolving around one seemingly straightforward question […]

3. Paramount Makes $108 Billion Hostile All-Cash Bid for Warner Bros. Discovery — Though Either Mega-Merger Likely to Face Regulatory Scrutiny

   Paramount announces an all-cash bid to acquire all outstanding shares of Warner Bros. Discovery after Netflix’s $83 billion offer to buy it last week. On Friday, Netflix announced an $83 billion deal to buy a significant part of Warner Bros. Discovery in an agreement approved by the boards of both companies. Now, Paramount has bypassed […]

4. King Gizzard Pulled Their Music from Spotify In Protest—Now AI Rip-Offs Are Running Rampant

   Aussie prog rockers King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard pulled their music from Spotify in July. Now, copycats are using genAI to clone the band’s sound. Australian prog rock band King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard joined an ever-growing list of artists when it pulled its music from Spotify in July. But now, impersonators are […]

5. Trump Promises to Block Any State-Specific AI Rules—But Doing So Will Likely Require Congress Approval

   Trump wants to enact ‘one rule’ to rule all AI legislation across the US to prevent state-specific laws surrounding artificial intelligence. U.S. President Donald Trump announced on his Truth Social platform on Monday that he would sign an executive order this week to create a single national rule for artificial intelligence. The move would deliver […]

6. Looks Like a Sony Music-Udio Settlement Will Have to Wait: Presiding Judge Officially Cancels Status Conference as Discovery Continues

   A Sony Music-Udio settlement appears unlikely for 2025: In keeping with early evidence that the companies would continue litigating, a previously scheduled status conference has officially been axed. Technically, the major label and the AI music generator started December by asking the court to shelve their planned December 12th conference. In the same letter to […]

7. Don’t Call It a Comeback—Billy McFarland’s PHNX Wasn’t Quite Fyre Fest 3

   Third time’s the charm? Billy McFarland’s PHNX festival actually went off (mostly) without a hitch, complete with artists, attendees, and bathrooms. After the infamous failures of Fyre Fests 1 and 2, Billy McFarland stunned critics over the weekend by actually putting on a music festival. PHNX took place in Honduras on Saturday night, complete with […]

8. CRB Confirms 2026 Mechanical Royalty Rate Increase — Cost of Living Bump Set to Reach Downloads and Physical Formats

   The Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) has announced a 2026 mechanical rate cost of living adjustment for permanent downloads and physical formats including vinyl. The CRB (and specifically Christina Shifton, the Board’s interim chief copyright royalty judge) just recently disclosed the statutory license rate increase in the Federal Register. Turning the clock back a few years, […]

9. Coldplay Named Top Touring Artist of the Millennium—24.8 Million Tickets Sold Since 2001

   Pollstar announces the 25 most popular touring artists of the millennium, led by Coldplay with 24.8 million tickets sold since 2001. Pollstar has announced the “25 Most Popular Touring Artists of the Millennium,” led by Coldplay, U2, Ed Sheeran, Dave Matthews Band, and Taylor Swift. The list is based on worldwide ticket sales reported to […]

10. Warner Music India Expansion Continues With Rthyms.Life Partnership: ‘We’re Enabling Creators to Turn Their Stories Into Global Sounds’

    Warner Music Group (WMG) isn’t taking its foot off the gas in India (or MENA): Now, the major’s unveiled a strategic partnership with self-described “creator-first music ecosystem” Rthyms.Life. WMG and Rthyms disclosed their tie-up today, weeks removed from Warner Music India’s Ultra Music distribution deal announcement. Founded earlier this year, Rthyms operates as “more than […]

11. Justin Trudeau and Katy Perry Confirm Their Relationship by Going ‘Instagram Official’

    Pop star Katy Perry and former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau seem to confirm their relationship with a series of photos on Instagram. Pop singer Katy Perry posted a carousel of photos to Instagram over the weekend, featuring herself and former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, with whom she has been rumored for months to […]

12. TikTok, Apple Music, and Gamma Prep Mariah Carey Christmas Special Livestream from Vegas

    TikTok and Apple Music, in partnership with gamma., will broadcast Mariah Carey’s final show of her Christmastime residency live from Las Vegas. TikTok, Apple Music, and former Apple exec Larry Jackson’s gamma. have announced a team-up with global Christmas music icon Mariah Carey to bring festive cheer to her fans worldwide with a holiday livestream. […]

13. Live Nation Investors Contacted Ahead of Possible Class Action Lawsuit; Officers Probed for ‘Breaching Their Fiduciary Duties’

    An investor-rights law firm is investigating Live Nation’s leadership for potential breaches of fiduciary duty and asks shareholders to contact them. Halper Sadeh, an investor-rights law firm, has announced its investigation into Live Nation’s leadership for potential breaches of fiduciary duty. To that end, it is inviting Live Nation shareholders to contact the firm to […]

14. What Prompted Oak View Ex-CEO Tim Leiweke’s Pardon? A Round of Golf With Trump

    Entertainment executive Tim Leiweke got a full pardon from Trump just weeks after his attorney played a round of golf with the president at Mar-a-Lago. Mounting legal and political drama surround Oak View Group (OVG) founder and former CEO Tim Leiweke, who received a full pardon from President Trump for his alleged crimes of bid-rigging […]

15. Hollywood’s Tilly Norwood Nightmare Grows Worse as the ‘Tilly-Verse’ Takes Shape

    The AI talent studio behind Tilly Norwood, established by Particle6 and creator Eline van der Velden, is preparing to expand its ‘Tilly-verse.’ Xicoia, the AI talent studio from Particle6 and synthetic actress Tilly Norwood-creator Eline van der Velden, is looking to assemble an Avengers-esque team of creators, innovators, and “delightful chaos-tamers” to help build the […]