Global players dominate the market. Will public sector buyers give local suppliers a look-in?
The list will be celebrated with an exclusive event as part of the conference’s official programming.
SPONSORED FEATURE: Toolstation swapped aging Linux tills across branches for compact ASUS NUCs on ChromeOS Flex, cutting support tickets and freeing counter space
“Freaked Out” gave Fat Papi his first career entry on the Billboard Hot 100, debuting at No. 89 and lifting to No. 88 on the latest chart.
Let's all go a bit mad scientist and see if software can validate our wildest theories
The rap star revealed his unfortunate old nickname while going a few rounds with Jimmy Fallon on his new TV series, and philanthropic ventures.
Manus AI will delete some data to satisfy legal requirements
The actor was a surprise guest during the band's concert at Madison Square Garden
Facing elimination, the pair performed an original number.
Millions of machine-generated tracks – and more than a few listener complaints – later, Spotify is officially set to begin labeling AI artist profiles. The DSP formally revealed the incoming labels and the policy particulars thereof today.
The pair teamed up for the single's fantastically campy video in 2024
John Oliver famously lambasted Live Nation/Ticketmaster for its “chokehold” on live entertainment. Now, he’s selling tickets for his comedy tour using Ticketmaster.
Levon Helm Studios’ new leadership team claims Helm’s daughter Amy was the cause of “millions” in damages during her tenure as president of the venue. Singer-songwriter Amy Helm, daughter of musician and actor Levon Helm, is accused of causing at least $2 million in damages to Levon Helm Studios in...
Following many ticked-off customer comments – and steadfast denials on the company’s end – D’Addario has acknowledged that generative AI pumped out the music featured in a demo clip showcasing its NYXL high-density electric strings.
The Kennedy Center has been ordered to pay over $250,000 to jazz musician Chuck Redd, who canceled his appearance in protest of Trump’s takeover that began last year. A legal battle between jazz musician Chuck Redd and the Trump-led Kennedy Center has concluded in favor of the musician.
Music Reports is marking a decade since the release of Songdex Marketplace, a platform designed to simplify music licensing at scale. The Songdex name stands for more than just the world’s largest music rights registry.
Beyoncé is being sued over an allegedly unauthorized sample on her 2022 hit “Alien Superstar” from Renaissance. A lawsuit has been filed against Beyoncé for allegedly using an unauthorized sample in the track “Alien Superstar” from her 2022 album, Renaissance.
The American Federation of Musicians Local 47 of Los Angeles announces its support for AB 2319, the Post Production Tax Credit Bill. The American Federation of Musicians Local 47 of Los Angeles has announced its support for the passage of AB 2319, the Post Production Tax Credit Bill authored by...
The pop superstar will headline the all-women fest later this month, the schedule for which has been published.
The high-stakes Phonorecords V rate-setting battle is now in full swing – with Word Collections and the Songwriters Guild of America (SGA) among those urging the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) judges to reject the “demonstrably unreasonable” proposed settlement.
Olly Arkins, chief executive officer of the AFA, will depart from the trade body with effect from Aug. 21.
"JUMP" sees Liu Yuning teaming up with J Balvin on a track that blends rock with traditional Chinese instruments.
Regulator hopes for greater financial inclusion, without extra risk or blaming models for bad decisions
Original article: https://lefsetz.com/wordpress/2026/08/10/long-hair-tattoos/ The original e-mail that inspired my screed: Bob…. Long time reader and have enjoyed your postings so much but what is your thing against long hair on guys?
AEG Presents and Creativeman announced the deal on Tuesday (August 11), expanding AEG Presents' presence in Japan. Source
The Japanese promotion giant's portfolio includes events like Summer Sonic, Sonicmania, Loud Park and Springroove.
The group will be headlining KCON LA, where fans can get an early preview of the album this weekend.
Developers await open source compiler release to dispel uncertainty following Qualcomm acquisition
After its expanded reissue, the best-of bounds to new highs on multiple charts.
Suno stated in a blog post on Monday (August 10) that the download restrictions "will make it harder for bad actors to mass-export music" Source
After a routine coronary stent procedure, the singer is taking time off his One Last Time Tour to heal
One big caveat, though: You need your contact's phone number
Live Nation and MGM Resorts open Vinyl Room Las Vegas, a music-anchored dining experience in a design inspired by Japanese hi-fi listening lounges. Vinyl Room Las Vegas, located on the rooftop of Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, is now open.
Rod Stewart has announced that he will be canceling the next four weeks of performances as part of his “One Last Time” farewell tour and “The Encore Shows” Las Vegas residency after undergoing a routine coronary stent procedure.
Sysadmins, welcome to your new norm
Indie-focused global record company Exceleration Music has announced a far-reaching strategic partnership with Atlanta-based Christian hip-hop label Reach Records.
Draft memo taps AI data analysis biz for help with military production efficiency
The organization tried to sue Chuck Redd for backing out of an annual Christmas eve gig, but a judge dismissed the suit in June
Exceleration's distribution company Redeye Worldwide will handle global physical and digital distribution for Reach's new releases Source
Deal to fund 'large' deployment of Nvidia's last-gen HGX B300 systems launching in Q1 2027
Superstar’s Catalog Certified for 85.5-Million Units Country Music Icon Achieves Notable Gold, Platinum & Multi-Platinum Milestones Alan Jackson’s career music sales have reached new heights as his recorded catalog has been certified by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for...
Ibiza officials consider proposals that would ban any new nightclubs from opening there, in an effort to “contain the existing nightlife.” Ibiza has reached its limit on nightclubs, according to the island’s government.
A judge has ruled that the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. must pay a jazz musician $252,000 in legal fees and costs, following the organization’s unsuccessful lawsuit against him for pulling out of a concert in the wake of a rebranding to include Donald J. Trump’s name.
The two-day event will take place in Stowe, Vermont, this September
Emmy-nominated composer Kris Bowers is set to score Netflix’s upcoming animated comedy “Steps.” The score was recorded in July and August at London’s Abbey Road Studios. Slated for release on Nov. 20, “Steps” marks the first film to be fully animated in-house within Netflix Animation Studios.
People will have the opportunity to self-disclose with an “AI Persona” badge. Otherwise, the streaming giant will start identifying and tagging relevant profiles
The guitarist shares his memories of collaborating with the late producer on 1999’s 13, the experimental album that also included “Tender” and “Coffee & TV.”
This is why we can't have nice things, people
Semiconductor giant says opaquely it will use the proceeds for 'general corporate purposes'
Swift will join the likes of Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, and Willie Nelson when she is honored later this year alongside Lyle Lovett
Taylor Swift will be adding another trophy to her shelf, as the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame announced Tuesday that the superstar will be inducted into the hall this fall, becoming, at 36, the youngest writer ever to receive the honor.
Ukraine, Iran, and football inspire geopolitically motivated DDoS attacks, while 1 Tbps traffic jams up 519 percent
The Woodstock venue’s new leadership team claims Levon Helm’s daughter was behind “millions of dollars of self-dealing transactions” during her tenure as president
Newly minted RaaS crew breaks in through using internet-facing kit via known Fortinet flaws, then steals and scrambles data
The Dave Matthews Band has announced its 2026 Fall Tour, which will kick off on November 4 at Kohl Center in Madison, WI. The U.S. headline run will include shows at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, United Center in Chicago, CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, and Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence,...
GMR filed the complaint on June 8, alleging that Music Choice continued performing songs from its catalog after the companies' license agreement lapsed. Source
For five years, Spotify’s EQUAL program has helped amplify and celebrate women artists around the world. Since launching in 2021, EQUAL has supported more than 1,400 women artists across more than 40 markets through editorial programming, marketing campaigns, and cultural moments designed to help...
Hook founder and CEO Gaurav Sharma explains why fan-made creations and remixes on social media are becoming the music industry’s next major consumption category… Source
Valve, Bol, ING, Ajax, and others affected as pwnage disrupts eight European warehouses
Spotify’s work to tackle the challenge of an avalanche of AI-generated music continues with a new labelling system for AI artists.
British singer-songwriter and pop diva Marina (formerly Marina and the Diamonds) has signed with United Talent Agency for global representation in all areas, encompassing touring, media, filmed entertainment, brand partnerships, and more.
Koneksi antara artis dan fans yang sesungguhnya hanya dapat terbagun dengan landasan kepercayaan dan autentisitas. Dalam dunia musik, ini berarti pendengar harus bisa percaya bahwa artis di balik musik yang mereka dengarkan benar-benar sesuai dengan yang ditampilkan.
Eine echte Verbindung zwischen Künstler*innen und Fans braucht Vertrauen und Authentizität. Gerade im Zeitalter generativer KI müssen Hörer*innen darauf vertrauen können, dass die Künstler*innen hinter der Musik auch diejenigen sind, als die sie sich ausgeben.
Le lien entre un artiste et ses fans ne peut être construit que sur une base de confiance et d’authenticité. Les auditeurs doivent pouvoir savoir qui se trouve réellement derrière la musique qu’ils écoutent. Cela est plus vrai que jamais à l’ère de l’IA générative.
Una vera connessione tra artisti e fan si costruisce soltanto sulla base della fiducia e dell’autenticità. Nella musica, significa che gli ascoltatori debbano potersi fidare che l’artista dei brani che amano sia chi dice di essere. Questo è ancora più importante nell’era dell’AI generativa.
True artist-fan connection can only be built on a foundation of trust and authenticity. In music, that means listeners need to be able to trust that the artist behind the music is who they say they are. That’s more essential than ever in the age of generative AI.
As the AI era threatens to lay further siege to Spotify, the streaming service is drawing a line in the sand in the battle against AI slop artists. Spotify is rolling out a new label next month for accounts on the platform that appear to be AI generated, the company said Tuesday.
Spotify will soon label AI artists and remove their music from your recommendations. The change, which will start rolling out in mid-September, means you'll see an "AI Persona" badge on an artist's profile across the app if they do "not represent a real person." The music streaming platform will...
China’s Tencent Music Entertainment Group posted total revenues of RMB8.93 billion ($1.32 billion) for the second quarter of 2026 – a 5.8% year-over-year gain – as its music services arm delivered double-digit growth and the newly integrated Ximalaya platform began contributing to the bottom line.
Activity to support and grow Australia’s grassroots music scene continues to ramp up. The latest example is a new site called the Australian Music Touring Network.
YouTube is making some changes to the way it YouTube Partner Program (YPP) works, including raising the thresholds at which creators can start earning a share of its revenues.
Face-swap software blinked for 'barely a second,' giving Spanish cops the break they needed
The badge is designed to tell listeners that an artist's identity "may be AI-generated and does not represent a real person" Source
From February 1, 2027, new applicants to the YouTube Partner Program will need about 20 million qualified Shorts views over the previous 90 days. Source
Audit logs found no unexpected visitors, but release verification still needs an update
Overall revenues were driven by an 11% YoY rise in the company's music-related services division Source
Whether you’re into epic fantasies or juicy celebrity memoirs, getting lost in a great book is always time well spent. Now, Spotify is making it easier than ever to discover new stories and dive deeper into what you’re already listening to with three new features that let you create personalized...
The bigger risk is underinvestment, claims consulting biz McKinsey
Today, we have released MusicBrainz Picard 3 beta 9. This new versions brings several fixes over the last beta 7 (yes, we have skipped a beta number again), but also improvements and some new features.
British singer-songwriter Raye released her second studio album, This Music May Contain Hope, in March 2026. Lead single ‘Where Is My Husband!’ dropped over half a year prior to the album - a move that seemed like a gamble on paper, but ultimately built massive anticipation.
Researchers find standards-compliant functionality can be abused to hijack modems, downgrade connections, and even execute code
SPONSORED EXPLAINER: There's nothing wrong with hybrid cloud. It's the one-size-fits-all strategy on top of it that's the problem.
The documentary film, about the Blink-182 drummer’s near-death experience in a plane crash, premieres on streaming this week
Irving Azoff’s Global Music Rights has ended its $14 million licensing suit against Music Choice. Both sides seemingly reached a swift resolution. Back in June, U.S.
Suno announces plans for a song download cap for free and paid tiers to limit the amount of “slop” that circulates from the platform. Last week, Suno said that it had plans to impose download limits on users of its AI music generator to limit the amount of “slop” that spreads off-platform as it...
Apple has fired off a patent non-infringement complaint against Boomcloud 360, a self-described “innovator and pioneer in audio rendering and spatial audio.” The iPhone developer just recently submitted the straightforward action to a California federal court, after Boomcloud itself filed patent...
Rock and roll was the other. Outsiders questioning precepts. It was anything but me-too. No one wore their hair long before the Beatles. And isn’t it interesting that today Paul & Ringo wear their hair short, and have for quite a while.
Glass will lead its Business & Legal Affairs function and take on responsibility for its Partnerships team. Source
Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” is unquestionably the biggest hit single of the year, and all that’s left to decide is where the seemingly unstoppable song ultimately lands among the biggest chart hits of all time. The country crossover smash just landed its 17th week at No.
If you want to feel left out… Unless, of course, you were there. So what did I learn… Doc McGhee is a sharp guy with a lot of insight, as are the most successful people in rock and roll. They may not have a CV, but they’ve got brains, and they know how to use […]
For three decades, rap legend and cultural icon Tupac Shakur’s killing has remained one of America’s great unsolved mysteries, spawning countless books, documentaries and long-form investigative journalism pieces.
UK podcast listening is remarkably fragmented by taste: sport, comedy, true crime, news – and that fragmentation is precisely the opportunity. There isn't just one podcast audience to court ; there are several, each with its own tone, trust dynamics, and level of political engagement. Source
Live Nation subsidiary Merch Traffic files a trademark lawsuit against an anonymous group of online sellers with allegations of counterfeiting. Live Nation Entertainment subsidiary Merch Traffic, LLC, has filed a lawsuit against a group of anonymous online sellers overseas, alleging they sold...
Beginning next year, creators who want to monetize their YouTube channel through the Partner Program will need twice as many watch hours to qualify. On Monday, YouTube announced some major changes coming to its Partner Program, through which creators can earn ad and Premium revenue.
Universal Music Group (UMG) has officially kicked off another share buyback program by repurchasing nearly $60 million worth of its own stock. UMG shed light on this latest multimillion-dollar transaction today, just weeks after confirming that it’d deployed €500 million (currently $577 million)...
Sportswear brand Champion announces BTS’ V as the new global ambassador for its “True Champion” fall campaign. Classic sportswear brand Champion has tapped V, from K-pop mega-star group BTS, as the latest brand ambassador for its new global fall campaign, “True Champion.” Known for his cultural...
Rod Stewart was rushed to the hospital to undergo a medical procedure, forcing him to postpone his Cincinnati concert at the last minute. Rod Stewart was hospitalized for a medical procedure, forcing him to postpone his Cincinnati concert at Riverbend Music Center at the last minute.
The new hires include former Warner Records executive Todd L. Perry II, alongside Goldie Harris, Luca Zanello and Jason Peerless. Source
We know what face many of you will be making while reading that headline. We made it too. But Zuckerberg’s latest screed is worth reading.
UnitedMasters built its brand on its claim to be the bridge between DIY distribution and major label-level infrastructure for artists.
Canada’s Angine de Poitrine have been one of the most discussed breakout stories of 2026. The experimental/math rock duo from Saguenay, Quebec gained widespread attention through their early 2026 KEPX performance, and stand out through their anonymous identities matched with their oversized...
Credit to Concord’s long-term investment in the Stax Music Academy, which provides music education to young people in Memphis.
Zac Brown band are currently touring the US with their Love & Fear Tour and have partnered with cruise line Margaritaville at Sea for the largest audience gifting in live entertainment history. The band is giving away 4 cruises at each of their 27 shows.
Snapchat is officially putting its foot down on AI-generated content. The platform has updated its Spotlight algorithm (its short-form video feed) to demote wholly AI-generated videos, stripping them of recommendation eligibility to protect user experience from low-quality AI slop.
Blue dot fever is spreading through the music industry as Post Malone, ZAYN, Meghan Trainor, and the Pussycat Dolls cancel tours. Here's what the data reveals about fandoms, ticket sales, and why artists are rethinking how they tour in 2026.
Chappell Roan is following Olivia Rodrigo in launching her own festival. Well, a two-day charity drive in her case. It’s called The Super Graphic Spectacular and takes place in LA on 21-22 October.
It’s a busy month for AI-music startup Suno, and not just on the ‘declaring principles to show how supportive it is of human artistry’ front.
If you’re interested in how K-Pop marketing is evolving in 2026, we recommend keeping a close eye on Tuide, the latest group to emerge from the Hybe empire – in this case, one of its newest sub-labels, ABD.
We linked to a Wall Street Journal profile of live-shopping startup Whatnot last week, and the claim that it was on course for more than $1bn of revenues in 2026.
In the latest sad day in a long line of sad days for music journalism, there have reportedly been significant layoffs at US publications BrooklynVegan, Alternative Press, Revolver and Goldmine.
Sadly, there hasn't been a new episode of No Dogs in Space since July of 2024. Part four of the podcast's series on Can wrapped up an abbreviated season 3, which focused on experimental rock.
This is the song I woke up with in my head this morning. Actually, it was the tail end of “Can’t Find My Way Home,” which segued into “Well All Right.” And as I sat up in bed, I thought how that was the sequence on the album. No one ever talks about “Had to […]
Tom, we can’t see your face. | Image: Tom Vek Tom Vek burst onto the scene in 2005 with his album We Have Sound, which garnered a solid 7.6 from the tastemakers of the day over at Pitchfork.
That cover art is almost certainly AI too. | Image: Fenix Flexin It took long enough, but now LA rapper Fenix Flexin appears to have admitted using AI for the 80s synth pop-themed song "Rubberz." His comments follow the producer Medasin's videos claiming that an AI tool called Treblo (formerly...
TL;DR: We introduce Stochastic Primal-Dual Decoding (SPDD), a lightweight inference-time method that steers... The post Balancing Multiple Objectives in Generative Recommendations with Adaptive Decoding appeared first on Spotify Engineering.
AI Developers’ Trail of Book Destruction — There is no “loophole” in copyright that permits scanning books if you destroy the original. There is a single federal district court decision that did not acknowledge the body of case law that says otherwise, including binding precedent from its own...
Suno’s AI vocalists could learn a thing or two from this glitchy image. | Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge, Getty Images Suno announced plans to implement a new watermarking technology and download policy to limit the spread of spammy AI tracks and increase transparency.
The biggest fears AI stokes are most often rooted in displacement. Generative AI music models are trained on vast quantities of existing music and capable of producing songs that are catchy, enjoyable, and even beautiful. Source
Exclusive: They came to him young, dreaming of a career in the music industry. Now former employees have come forward, accusing the Melbourne talent manager of intimidating behaviour and sexual harassment going back decades Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast On 22 October...
No two fans connect with an artist in exactly the same way. Some have been listening since the very beginning, while others may be discovering them through a shared playlist today. Some return to the same songs for comfort, while others are always eager to hear what’s next.
Since ChatGPT first launched in November of 2022, AI-generated and augmented content has flooded social platforms. Initially lauded as a new tool to superpower creators and marketers alike, AI has instead exacerbated a pre-existing problem: an overwhelming amount of content that has left everyone...
And you thought we were done with this one… | Image: Fenix Flexin We were pretty sure that Fenix Flexin's "Rubberz" was made using AI, but musician Medasin was confident that it was made using Treblo specifically. Now the company and a new detection tool seem to confirm it.
Texas' data center backlash accelerates as Governor Abbott orders an audit, transmission politics intensify, and Willie Nelson brings the AI infrastructure debate into Texas culture.
