Music News

Photo Credit: Apple Inc. Apple loses its request to pause a court order requiring it to let app developers direct users to payment options outside the App Store. On Wednesday, a ruling by a federal appears court in San Francisco has rejected Apple’s request to pause the court order forcing it to allow app developers to steer users to payment options outside the App Store. It’s the latest setback for the tech juggernaut in a long-running court battle with Fortnite developer Epic Games over the

Photo Credit: Apple Apple’s new HomePad might launch by the end of this year. Though rumors suggest it may have fewer features than originally planned. Apple has been planning a smart home command center product for a long time, with a 7-inch display and support for Apple Intelligence. The product was originally meant to launch this spring, but continued issues—like the company’s failed AI push—have forced that timeline back. But now, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports the so-called “HomePad” may

Photo Credit: McDonald’s After a report that tickets to Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour cost “less than a McDonald’s Happy Meal,” fans took to social media to debunk that claim. Last week, ahead of Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour kicking off in Los Angeles, the lack of interest in tickets saw some uncharacteristically low prices—leading to plenty of roasting online. One user claimed they found resale tickets available for just $20, calling it “less than a McDonald’s Happy Meal.” If you think that s

Photo Credit: Victrola Record Players Vinyl sales slowdowns amid broader economic uncertainty spell trouble for several smaller vinyl companies. Vinyl records surpassed CDs as the most popular physical music format over the past few years; 2024 marked the 18th consecutive year that vinyl record sales grew. But the strain on vinyl production facilities has only been compounded by the increased demand. That increased demand was made all the more difficult by many manufacturing plants having clo

Photo Credit: Ari Lennox by Justin LaMotte / CC by 4.0 Ari Lennox parts ways with J. Cole’s Dreamville Records months after ranting about the label on social media. Back in October, R&B singer Ari Lennox aired her various grievances with Dreamville on social media, demanding her release from the label. Now, she has officially (and quietly) parted ways with the company, and will now be releasing music solely through Interscope Records. “I’m so tired. Where do I f—ing start? My heart’s beat

ASCAP and BMI have officially responded to the Copyright Office’s performing rights inquiry, which was set in motion after lawmakers raised transparency concerns last year. We covered those concerns – extending to the accuracy of public performance payments, the “increased costs and burdens imposed on licensees,” and more – back in September 2024. Then, the Copyright Office in February 2025 kicked off the mentioned inquiry and set an April 11th deadline for comments. Unsurprisingly, ASCAP and

Photo Credit: Blue Man Group by Léo Pinheiro / CC by 3.0 No Guarantees Productions secures the long-term lease of the historic Astor Place Theatre, with plans to give it a significant makeover. No Guarantees Productions has announced that it has secured the long-term lease of the historic Astor Place Theatre, with plans to transform it into a dynamic cultural hub. Amplifying artists and shows outside of the traditional Broadway model, the venue’s makeover will utilize the entirety of the space

Photo Credit: Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix Atlantic Records and Hard Rock International are curating the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix with chart-topping EDM artists heading the bill. South Florida Motorsports (SFM), organizers of the Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix, have announced along with founding partner and music lineup curator Hard Rock International and Atlantic Records, a weekend filled with live music and entertainment for the event’s fourth year. Taking place from May 2-

Since its birth in 1987, SXSW has grown into one of the largest of its kind — attracting thousands of visitors each year. Attendance was noticeably down at SXSW 2025, but in 2026, SXSW attendees may have an entirely different experience in store. SXSW 2026 is planning to go big with format changes. For those trekking to SXSW this year, crowds were noticeably thinner. But that didn’t dilute the experience — in fact, many actually appreciated the extra elbow room. Starting with the tech expo that

Photo Credit: Bluefest Australia’s Bluefest 2025 drew a record 109,000 attendees—the third-highest in its history. It’s also the largest attendance record for any Australian festival since the pandemic. Despite organizers’ stating ‘festivals are back’, the live music scene in Australia is still struggling. Bluefest’s success has been attributed to its loyal fan base and due to the fact that the festival was marketed as potentially the last Bluefest—driving ticket sales. A look at the data show

Photo Credit: Eurovision Austrian artist JJ has won Eurovision Song Contest 2025 with his powerful single, “Wasted Love.” The track is a break-up inspired pop-opera track, featuring explosive techno beats. The track captivated international audiences and propelled JJ to victory—but Spotify data reveals other favorites among competitors. Born in Vienna and raised in Dubai, the 24-year-old JJ returned to Austria in 2016. Known for his soprano-range voice, JJ has performed at the Vienna State Ope

The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) headquarters in Seoul. Photo Credit: Wikiwater2020 The trading-focused investigations into Hybe founder Bang Si-hyuk and other execs look to be intensifying. According to regional reports, authorities have conducted a raid of the K-pop giant’s Seoul headquarters. As things stand, we don’t know the precise extent of these investigations. However, it’s been nearly six months since local media first linked Bang to scrutiny concerning alleged private-equity

A live performance from Dirty Heads, which has sold “publishing and artist royalties” to Round Hill Music. Photo Credit: Constantino14 Back in “acquisition mode,” Round Hill Music has scooped up “a range of different rights and income streams,” among them interests in Rod Stewart’s “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” and Icona Pop’s “I Love It.” Round Hill reached out with word of the plays today. Beginning on the compositional side, the UK-based IP investor now owns the publishing catalogs of Terry Shadd

Photo Credit: Live Nation / Rimas Nation Bad Bunny announces an international stadium tour, kicking off in November after his 30-date Puerto Rico residency in September. On the heels of his 30-date residency in his native Puerto Rico on September 14, reggaeton superstar Bad Bunny hits the road for an international stadium tour that kicks off in November. Benito will visit the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Australia, Japan, Spain, Portugal, Ge

A live performance from Bakar, whose viral ‘Hell N Back’ is at the center of a new copyright infringement lawsuit. Photo Credit: Tackofall099 Bakar’s viral “Hell N Back” has crashed into a massive copyright infringement lawsuit for allegedly sampling a decades-old track without proper authorization. New York City-based Tuff City Records fired off the multifaceted complaint yesterday, naming as defendants not only Bakar, but Resnik Music Group, Sony Music UK, its Black Butter Records imprint,

A view from the booth at Barry Can’t Swim’s Friday night Shrine throwdown (Photo: Digital Music News) Searing Scottish DJ Barry Can’t Swim packed The Shrine for two nights in Los Angeles this weekend — with his full band in tow. Ninja Tune phenom Barry Can’t Swim capped his West Coast mini-tour this weekend with a pair of packed gigs at The Shrine — with a Bonnaroo slot next.  The fast-rising Scot is quickly making friends and influencing people, with the first Los Angeles gig oversold and exp

Photo Credit: Beyoncé by Billy Briggs / CC by 2.0 Beyoncé was sent a cease-and-desist letter from James Dolan’s lawyers over a video at her new show depicting her picking up the Las Vegas Sphere. Madison Square Garden and Las Vegas Sphere boss James Dolan is not interested in sharing his toys. That was made clear when his lawyers hit Beyoncé’s Parkwood Entertainment with a cease-and-desist letter over a video shown at her Cowboy Carter concert. The video depicts a giant Beyoncé striding throug

Photo Credit: Parkwood Entertainment Superfans who dished out thousands to secure Beyoncé tickets during the pre-sale are experiencing buyer’s remorse that on-sale prices have been significantly less. Tickets for major acts like Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar, and Beyoncé are known to go fast, so fans are accustomed to acting accordingly during pre-sales in order to avoid being shut out. But things have been different for Queen Bey’s Cowboy Carter tour, in which many tickets are winding up availabl

A live performance from Beyonce, who’s updated a promo video to remove a depiction of the Sphere. Meanwhile, Beyhive superfans are swarming the Vegas venue’s social profiles. Photo Credit: Raph_PH One cease-and-desist letter later, Beyoncé has removed a depiction of the Sphere from a video released as part of her ongoing world tour. The clip’s retooled version debuted during a SoFi Stadium concert yesterday, according to Variety. And as we previously noted, it’s been just days since Sphere at

Photo Credit: Ticketmaster Beyoncé tickets for her Cowboy Carter tour are hitting new low prices—some as cheap as a McDonald’s Minecraft meal—sparking viral chatter online. Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour may have hit too closely on the heels of her career-spanning Renaissance tour, leading to some incredibly low ticket prices. Concertgoers have been roasting the low demand for her upcoming shows online, with one user on the former Twitter claiming they found resale tickets available for just $20

Photo: Joshua Sortino As someone who has spent years navigating the complexities of digital music, I’ve seen firsthand how crucial it is for rightsholders to take control of their content and data. The ability to manage your assets independently isn’t just a matter of convenience – it’s a strategic advantage that unlocks new opportunities, reduces operational headaches and gives you the flexibility to work with the best partners for your needs. In an increasingly complex digital landscape, dire

Photo Credit: Morgan Wallen by Andrew Wendowski / CC by 4.0 Nashville record label Big Loud has sold a minority stake in Morgan Wallen’s catalog to Chord Music Partners for $200 million. A representative for Big Loud, the Nashville label that’s home to country star Morgan Wallen, confirmed the sale of a minority stake in the singer’s catalog to Chord Music Partners. Chord made the purchase for $200 million, sources close to the matter said. “Big Loud has sold a minority stake in Morgan Wallen

Photo Credit: Live Nation Billie Eilish announces 23 additional dates for her Hit Me Hard And Soft Tour in Japan and North America this year. Since launching last September, Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard And Soft arena tour has brought sold-out shows across North America and Australia. The tour is currently traveling across Europe, the UK, and Ireland, and has featured multiple-night stops in several cities. Now, Billie has announced 23 additional dates in Japan and North America. The newly add

Photo Credit: Billy Joel by slgckgc / CC by 2.0 Billy Joel cancels all scheduled concerts in North America and England due to a diagnosis of a brain disorder, normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). Billy Joel has been diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), a brain disorder in which excess fluid accumulates in the brain’s ventricles. As a result, the star has cancelled all concerts on his itinerary—17 shows in total, across stadiums in North America and England. “I’m sincerely sorry

Photo Credit: Rory Kramer Blink-182 is set to hit the road again after their blockbuster 2024 tour. Mark Hoppus, Tom Delonge, and Travis Barker have announced their ‘Missionary Impossible’ tour supporting the release of their latest album, One More Time…. This is the first album in over a decade that features the original trio back in the studio. The upcoming shows will lean into Blink-182’s punk roots, with a setlist packed with classics spanning their entire catalog. The multi-city trek is p