Whatever its other breezy benefits might be, Santa Monica has not been much of a music destination since the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium stopped hosting concerts and especially since the beachside city’s famous Twilight Series on the pier came to an end a dozen years ago.
Reservoir and Nacional Records announce a partnership that marks a comprehensive expansion of Reservoir’s Latin music strategy with the acquisition of Nacional’s recorded and publishing catalogs, plus a new joint venture.
Taking place on the Santa Monica Beach in late September, the two-day Ocean Way will also feature sets from Sublime and Alvvays
The Rolling Stones also gave their impression of Olivia Rodrigo's rock music in a new interview
The Sept. 26-27 event will be the first major music festival on the city's iconic beach.
Billboard's Makin' Tracks column looks at the writing and recording behind Corey Kent's "Empty Words."
The collection includes a Jinu doll and six HUNTR/X-inspired figures who also sing.
A complete rundown of the most important events across the music business.
This is partner content. Clave Especial discuss how both American and Mexican music have influenced their work
Ashish Hemrajani is founder and CEO of BookMyShow, India’s premier concert promotion company. This is a developing market with opportunity for all. If you want the skinny on touring in India, this is the place! Apple:...
Apple TV’s “Acapulco” led all series as the Imagen Foundation announced nominations for the 41st Annual Imagen Awards on Thursday. “Acapulco” scored 13 nods in the competition, which recognizes Latino talent and creative work across film, television, documentaries, digital media and music.
This is partner content. Clave Especial performs “EA EA EA” live for Billboard
A new lawsuit targets the 2024 track "Where They At," which starts with a clip from Kanye's iconic 2013 clash with photographers outside of an L.A. restaurant.
The Chocolate Factory is not amused
This is partner content. Clave Especial sobre la importancia de su canción “TU TU TU” y cómo redefinió su sonido
Forrester warns price hikes and usage charges will pump up software budgets next year
A deep dive into "Dai Dai" and its international streaming, country by country.
The latest KPop Demon Hunters merch drop turns the Saja Boy Demon and Derpy Tiger into the furry interactive toys.
The story of digital music has been one of expanding choice. Streaming's initial proposition was for the crate-diggers – a way of bringing the passion of music discovery into the digital age. However, the number of passive listeners on DSPs quickly outnumbered dedicated fans and the model...
Fellow 120 Minutes hosts Matt Pinfield and Jim Shearer remember the VJ who brought alternative music to MTV
Neverclick avoids being limited to certain apps by ditching accessibility APIs for a quick, lightweight computer vision model.
Newly documented stealer ClickLock comes for the more trusting Mac user with spot of social engineering
When Intocable lead singer and founding member Ricky Muñoz was growing up in Zapata, Texas, his grandfather sold a cow to buy him an accordion. Muñoz’s grandfather never got to see his grandson onstage, let alone witness the rise of Intocable as one of the most inspired and commercially successful...
Blue Origin and SpaceX get their turn to prove they can dock, loiter, and not blow up the launch pad
Last year, I helped sync an Arabic track called ‘Fa9la’ by Bahraini rapper Flipperachi into a Bollywood film called Dhurandhar. The post is from Music Ally.
The past year has minted a pair of new superstars as Ella Langley and Olivia Dean dominate the 2026 top songs chart from Luminate, Variety and Billboard’s official data partner, amid global trends that sees global streaming climb 10% and Spanish-language music soar to 1 in 10 U.S.
The code was obtained by a hacker who breached Suno and shared it with 404 Media. Source
Bad Bunny and his label, Rimas Entertainment, have asked a US federal judge to reconsider a ruling that is keeping them in a copyright lawsuit over reggaeton’s “dembow” rhythm.
Slick Rick also takes the stage as ESPN’s annual award show celebrates New York’s NBA title
Total of 900 applications including ERP, CRM, and manufacturing systems going to be kept 'under European control'
Company described the deal as one of the largest ever completed for the rights of a single film and TV composer Source
There’s been a gradual increase in the number of music conferences in India over the last few years, including Soundboard. The post is from Music Ally.
Reservoir acquired the catalog of indie label Nacional Records, along with the catalog of its publishing arm, Canciones Nacionales Source
Sentencing bookends the biggest cybercrime conviction in UK history
For Indian independent artists in the early stages of their career, access to funding “remains one of the biggest challenges”. The post is from Music Ally.
With regulators around the world eyeing digital services used by children with intent, Spotify has announced an expansion of its ‘managed accounts’ for kids.
AI-music firm Suno’s big announcement yesterday was a new integration with Apple’s iMessage app, but it was rather undercut by an investigative report claiming to answer the longstanding question of what it trained its model on.
Last week, a group of music-industry bodies published proposals for a two-badge system to label music that’s wholly AI-generated or AI-assisted. Humans disclosing this information are key to the system… but how will *they* be verified?
The two latest music-industry acquisitions cover different areas: one an extension of AI-assisted music-making, and the other an expansion into Australasia and Asia-Pacific.
The work to continue the legacy of Swedish electronic-music star Avicii continues, eight years after his death. The latest initiative, from Pophouse and his estate, is the online Avicii Community.
Low-carbon projects reap accidental windfall as billions chase compute infrastructure
Fellow stat-nerds, assemble! Luminate’s mid-year report is out, with all manner of figures on music (not to mention TV and film) in the first half of 2026.
One in six machines still run the old OS as migration stalls and patch deadlines creep closer
AI-and-X subsidiary now claims to offer ‘complete user privacy’ days after Elon Musk confirmed the data would be deleted
Storm sends winds whipping beyond cloud giant, knocking out services including Hugging Face and the UK's National Lottery
The judgment also awarded Merlin $667,636.36 in pre-judgment interest and $717.05 in costs, plus post-judgment interest. Source
t.me borked for a day until platform proved it had no ties to service favored by cybercriminals
Goldsen is based at the company's Los Angeles headquarters and will continue to report to Ryan Press, President, North America, WCM. Source
Music industry professionals still betting on major labels to develop artists should know the system has structurally exited that business. On this week’s podcast episode, I break down the data showing UMG and WMG now redirect spending toward catalog acquisitions rather than new careers. . . . . .
Why to do it, and what to watch out for
“It just happened to be at Madison Square Garden, with security making sure everybody was safe and good, and they could just have a night for themselves”
“No company should use Australian books, music, art or news to build or train AI without the artist’s control…”
Using the admin password, you could be anyone and see anything
It’s possible to leak PII describing 5.7 million people without breaching privacy rules
Regulator fines PC and printer giant for rigged tender bids and collusion
Just under a year ago, Cameron Almasi and Eddie Hermida co-founded Arson Theory. 300m streams later, the company is thriving.
The singer-songwriter enlisted a band of veteran musicians, including the legendary Dan Reeder
A federal court has officially entered a $3.2 million default judgment against Triller in a missing-compensation lawsuit filed by Merlin. Meanwhile, the social media company has resumed trading on NASDAQ, changed its name, and deemed 2026 “the monetization year.” We exclusively covered that default...
iPhone users with the Suno app installed can now generate songs from their iMessage app using text or voice prompts, leaning into the TikTok trend. One of the most popular AI song-generation platforms on the market, Suno sees 7 million songs generated each day.
FIFA adds another big-name artist to its impressive World Cup Finals performance cast. Post Malone will headline the closing ceremony on Sunday. As if the FIFA World Cup 2026 halftime show wasn’t already stacked with iconic performers, global superstar Post Malone has been announced to headline the...
The singer said the secondary LP was “compiled by as many people as I could find to help me gather my thoughts about how much was changing”
The Colonel stops taking online orders and may close stores after logistics partner’s systems go down
The disgraced R&B singer was convicted of racketeering and sex trafficking
Thinking Machines' first open weights model is a 975 billion parameter alternative to Chinese LLMs
One-two punch offers a glimpse of how low-precision AI can complement high-precision simulations
Sony Music Publishing already administered the Recognition catalog before completing the acquisition. Source
It's one of the many facets of music's aesthetic malleability and ability to touch upon numerous dimensions. It's also something that the singer ...
Combs bought the Miami property from Gloria and Emilio Estefan in 2021
The song appears in the thriller miniseries starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Annette Bening
Amid double-digit streaming consumption growth for dance/electronic and world music, U.S. on-demand streams increased by about 4.8% during H1 2026, when physical sales topped 38 million units. These and other stats come from Luminate, which today released its midyear report.
Retail foundation leader Dave Treadwell takes over as senior leader and 19-year vet Dave Brown departs for pastures unknown
A new hack sheds some light on how Suno pulled from streaming services and websites like YouTube Music, Deezer, and Genius to train its product. As Suno brawls with the majors over copyright infringement, a hacker who breached the company’s data shared information with 404 Media about Suno’s...
Cutting Edge Group acquires the music rights and royalties of composer Brian Tyler, marking one of the largest deals with a single film composer. Cutting Edge Group (CEG), a leading investor in and manager of media music rights, has announced the acquisition of the music rights and royalty streams...
More than half a century ago, Johnny Cash stood in front of a group of inmates at California’s San Quentin State Prison and delivered one of a career’s worth of legendary prison performances.
BandLab announces the acquisition of Aiode, an AI-powered music studio utilizing fully licensed audio-to-audio models developed with professional session musicians and producers.
Too Lost has announced a partnership with GYRO.Group, a Brisbane-based company widely regarded as Australia’s largest independent music distribution and artist services provider.
Samsung has launched a strategic collaboration with Amazon Music to bring the app to the Galaxy Store and pre-install it on millions of Samsung devices.
Lily Allen trades her arena shows for smaller venues across most of the dates of the upcoming U.S. leg of her West End Girl Tour. Due to somewhat soft demand, Lily Allen is turning most of the arena dates on the U.S. leg of her West End Girl Tour into smaller engagements, the singer announced […]
R. Kelly has formally asked President Donald Trump to commute his 30-year sentence, according to court records made public this week by the Office of the Pardon Attorney.
Suno has long acknowledged that its AI music generator relied on the scraping of millions of songs available across the internet, but a new hack reveals just how the company pulled from streaming services and websites such as YouTube Music, Deezer and Genius to power its product — all while user...
So when is fair use actually just stealing? | Cath Virginia / The Verge | Photo from Getty Images Suno data obtained in a hacking incident has exposed that the AI music generator was trained by scraping millions of songs and lyrics from online audio platforms, including YouTube Music, Deezer, and...
He will lead the Believe-owned distributor’s growth strategy, artist roster and partnerships in the market. Source
Lightspeed was the lead investor in AI music generator Suno's $125 million Series B round in 2024. Source
The Australian government has announced plans to develop a comprehensive artificial intelligence regulatory framework featuring training-related protections for artists and others.
Wright will lead the company’s London-based music team alongside long-standing UK Co-Head Neil Warnock. Source
Soho theatre, London Josh Radnor is a music executive whose life is upended by his wayward brother, in a play about masculinity, creativity, appropriation and trauma On paper, writer Jonathan Caren’s Hit Machine has all the makings of a chart-topping smash.
Following the ongoing “Avatar: The Last Airbender in Concert,” Paramount has set a similar tour pegged to the 15th anniversary of “The Legend of Korra.” Produced in partnership with GEA Live and Senbla, “The Legend of Korra In Concert” will begin in January with two concurrent legs, touring across...
Dave Kendall, creator and former host of MTV’s “120 Minutes,” has died, according to a post from his friend and latter-day host of the show, Matt Pinfield. No cause of death or age were cited, although he was likely in his sixties.
At Spotify, we want to create an experience that makes time spent with us feel personal and fun for users of all ages. That’s why we’re excited to announce that managed accounts are expanding again to now allow families on any plan—free or Premium—in the U.S., U.K., Australia, France, Germany, and...
Given everything going on around AI right now, it’s hardly a neck-sticking-out prediction to say that conversation is going to be the next big leap for the way people use music services. Spotify’s latest announcement offers more evidence.
We’re entering an era where the biggest, sold-outest festivals use livestreams as a core part of their strategy to reach larger audiences online, and build their brands globally. Two announcements yesterday continue the trend.
British rock veterans Iron Maiden have become the latest artist to strike a wide-ranging rights deal with Swedish company Pophouse, joining Kiss, Cyndi Lauper, Swedish House Mafia and the late Tina Turner and Avicii in its portfolio.
We last wrote about royalty-management startup Mogul in February when it raised a $5m funding round. Now it has become the latest company to launch a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server to play nicely with AI assistants.
Album marketing rollouts are moving to centre stage as a growing number of artists and labels incorporate interactive experiences into their digital album promotions. For example, with Olivia Rodrigo’s recent release you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love , TikTok launched an in-app experience...
Anthropic is currently embroiled in multiple lawsuits against major music publishers, with billions of dollars at stake. But according to legal filings shared with Digital Music News, the Claude creator is also locking horns ‘mano-a-mano’ with Gang Tyre attorney Donald Passman, author of the music...
The Justice Department has officially published its proposed Live Nation settlement for comment, and NIVA is urging the public to speak out about how the promoter and its Ticketmaster subsidiary “have made for a terrible live experience for them.” The DOJ-Live Nation agreement was just recently...
Washington DC passes a robust consumer protection law for concert fans in the form of the RESALE Act, which establishes a 10% price cap for resellers. Independent Concert Promotion (IMP) joins the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) and the Fix the Tix Coalition in applauding the D.C.
The growing national opposition to hyperscale AI data centers encompasses various groups united by concerns over local control, transparency, and the impact on resources, leading to significant political mobilization.
Bangkok police have arrested five individuals in connection with an alleged BTS concert ticket scam ring, ranging in age from 18 to 27. Police in Thailand have arrested five suspects in connection with an alleged BTS concert ticket scam ring, which is accused of defrauding over a hundred BTS fans...
LANDR is moving its Fair Trade AI program into a new phase, introducing an upfront payment program and an expanded revenue model that directly compensates independent artists for AI training use. The initiative now includes more than 30,000 artists.
The UK government has unveiled its “Turn It Up” music industry support (and reform) plan, including fresh funding, “stable, pro-growth regulatory framework” commitments, music education initiatives, and more.
It knocked the sh*t out of me. Literally. As you might remember, after taking the steroid dosepak, I was supposed to return to UCLA hospital for a follow-up cystoscopy three months later. Today was the day. I haven’t pissed blood since.
Pophouse Entertainment has scored a high-profile catalog partnership with Iron Maiden, acquiring a stake in the group’s publishing, masters, and all-important name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights.
Lily Allen’s “West End Girl” tour was one of the year’s most acclaimed pop outings when it played U.S. theaters earlier this year, but there was some question about whether the intimate and highly theatrical one-woman show would translate to huge venues, when the British singer booked a tour...
Nicki Minaj faces yet another legal battle over her unpaid debts—this time from a law firm that claims the rapper is ghosting them over the $230,000 she owes them.
Adam Friedland will gladly admit that he doesn’t quite have the résumé of your typical sports commentator. Or, as he puts it, “I have absolutely no qualifications whatsoever.” But as fans of the host of The Adam Friedland Show know, the comedian is a longtime sports fan, and well-versed in the...
This is what the “Talk to Spotify” chatbox (left) looks like on the homepage. | Image: Spotify Spotify is experimenting with a new AI feature that allows Premium subscribers to play and explore music, audiobooks, and podcasts by having conversations with a chatbot.
Grammy-nominated artists Tate McRae and Sombr, along with actors Tyriq Withers and Malachi Barton, will be honored at Variety’s 2026 Power of Young Hollywood presented by Disney+, on Aug. 5 in Los Angeles.
Listen closely: In community halls, youth clubs, and local studios across the U.K., the future of music is taking shape. These are the spaces where young creators find their voice, hone their craft, and build the foundation for a life of creativity.
Spotify is rolling out a new AI-powered conversational feature that lets Premium subscribers chat with the app to discover music, podcasts, audiobooks, and more.
Spotify has always been built around your taste. Now, we’re making it easier to shape what you hear, understand what’s playing, and explore your listening—just by asking. Eligible Premium users will see new ways to talk to Spotify across Home and the Now Playing view on mobile.
https://shorturl.at/F1xh8 I don’t want the Ellisons and Bari Weiss in charge of CNN, I don’t want Zaslav to get three-quarters of a billion in payment, but that does not mean this merger should be stopped.
The Copyright Royalty Judges have initiated a public comment period for the proposed Phonorecords V settlement, due August 10, 2026, extending existing regulations in a new freeze.
The primary objective of fair use is not to confer a private benefit on those who copy the works of others, but to promote the progress of science and useful arts.1Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, Inc., 510 U.S.
Today you’re selling streams, not physical product, and they’re doing a piss-poor job of it. There are two issues in today’s music business: attention and friction.
Lorde performing at the 2026 Governors Ball. | Photo: Siegfried Anthony/Billboard via Getty Images Lorde was performing at the Mad Cool Festival in Madrid on Thursday and took some time during her set to speak out against AI glasses.
Matmos are an incredibly accomplished duo between their own solo records like the masterpiece A Chance to Cut Is a Chance to Cure and production classic Björk records like Vespertine. But Drew Daniel, one half of Matmos, is fiendishly prolific.
More mint green synths, please. | Image: Nopia After setting the music gear corner of the internet on fire back in 2023 with the first glimpse at the Nopia, creators Martin Grieco and Rocío Gal are almost ready to bring it to market.
If you're a music maker of a certain age, then you probably once dabbled with a pirated copy of a little app called Fruity Loops. These days it's called FL Studio, and Constantin Koehncke, is the man responsible for shepherding the pioneering digital audio workstation (DAW) through the modern age.
Spotify is giving listeners control to fine-tune what gets surfaced for them in Release Radar - one of its most popular weekly playlists. The new options allow you to narrow the playlist to a specific genre, focus on artists that are new to you, and more.
If there’s one thing that most of the music industry agrees on, it’s that songs that are AI-generated should be labeled. The amazing thing is that there’s finally a full industry push to do so.
Hyperpop may be taking on a new form. Artists like Slayyyter, Kim Petras, and Tiffany Day are finding success by embracing electropop, suggesting the genre could be entering its next phase.
New York Times-led group asks court to sanction OpenAI in US copyright dispute — In litigation originally filed in 2023 alleging the AI developer infringed copyright in news publishers’ works when it trained its Large Language Models, the group of newspapers this week asked the court to impose...
Discovery has always been a core part of the Spotify experience. Whether you’re diving into curated editorial playlists like Artists To Watch or using personalization features like DJ, there’s always something new to explore.
Broad Support from IFPI, RIAA, A2IM, WIN, IMPALA, The Grammys,SAG-AFTRA & Human Artistry Campaign Track-Level Labels to Provide Transparency for Fans AcrossDigital Music Services and Partners NOTE: Suggested Icons for “AI-Generated” and “AI-Assisted” Labels WASHINGTON / NEW YORK / LONDON (July 10,...
Gender inequity in creative industries is often treated as a series of one-off incidents – individual acts of bias, isolated pay gaps, or a singular unsafe workspace. This fragmented view is, itself, part of the problem. Source
Gigs by Gallagher brothers, Coldplay, Lana Del Rey and Beyonce gives £11bn boost to the economy Big name artists including Oasis with their highly anticipated reunion tour, Coldplay and Beyoncé helped to attract a record number of fans to travel to watch live music last year, helped by a surge in...