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Max Styler is keeping his foot on the gas with a massive summer tour spanning multiple continents this summer. Styler, the house music breakout and newly minted member of the EDM.com Class of 2025, announced the tour via social media this week. His schedule features a packed itinerary of 40 shows from mid-April through late-August, including major U.S. cities and high-profile performances across South America, Europe and the UAE. Fans can catch him at marquee festivals like EDC Las Vegas, Bonnaroo, Tomorrowland and Creamfields, alongside headlining club gigs that promise to bring his surging catalog to life. The California-based producer has been on fire with releases like "I Know You Want To," his electrifying Don't Stop EP and an official remix of John Summit’s "Tears." His groove-forward sound is equal parts dark and unapologetically fun, earning him a a rapidly growing fan base and acclaim from Tiësto, Afrojack, Dom Dolla, Alison Wonderland, MEDUZA and many more electronic heavyweights. You can purchase tickets to Styler's summer tour here. Max Styler/X Follow Max Styler:X: x.com/maxstylermusic Instagram: instagram.com/maxstyler TikTok: tiktok.com/@maxstylermusic Facebook: facebook.com/maxstylerofficial Spotify: tinyurl.com/5n7exwyp

​Rounding up festival news from across the dance and electronic world​ Continue reading... View the full article

Luxembourg City. Photo Credit: Cedric Letsch Is Spotify kicking off another major pricing recalibration? Possibly, as the service has nixed its “Mini” plan and rolled out across-the-board Benelux price increases. Spotify just recently emailed the relevant customers with word of the price increases, which are also making a splash in local media. And the axed “Mini” tier, which had offered mobile-only Premium access on a week-to-week (and, in some countries, day-to-day) basis, is spurring discussion on Reddit and Spotify’s forums. (According to Wayback Machine captures, the Mini phase-out might have started last year, when the daily option was quietly replaced with a week-long sub in India, for instance.) Beginning with the Spotify price increases, Individual now costs €12.99 per month in Luxembourg and the Netherlands, compared to €11.99 in Belgium. Meanwhile, Student will set fans back €6.99 per month, compared to €17.99 monthly for Duo (except in Belgium, where the price is €16.99) and €21.99 monthly for Family (€20.99 in Belgium). With price increases now common enough – and with on-demand platforms carrying more plans and “bundles” than ever – it’s difficult to track streaming packages’ costs, besides the precise timing of changes, across all markets. But Spotify’s competitors are likewise opting for heightened prices in Benelux, where regional outlets have closely covered the increases from the outset. Evidently, the Stockholm-based service is confident that it has price-ceiling space to spare. Against the backdrop of streaming-growth slowdowns in established markets, the increased prices may represent one component of a wider 2025 strategy. More immediately, following not-so-subtle calls last year to begin charging for ad-supported tiers, Spotify is leaning harder than ever into advertising. Plus, earlier this week, the service went ahead and denied rumored plans to begin integrating adverts into Premium. Despite Spotify’s current position, logic suggests that there’s still a long-term opportunity to (if so inclined) sneak a few ads into Premium. In theory, the forthcoming “Super-Premium” tier could fit into the possible strategy, which would presumably leverage new releases from commercially prominent acts. Closer to the present, other plan changes are afoot at Spotify, which looks to have shelved the aforementioned Mini tier at April’s beginning. That development came to light in updates provided by users themselves, who, far from thrilled with the change, are taking to Spotify’s help board to vent. Mini had been available in a variety of emerging markets, among them Egypt, India, and South Africa. In general, these nations are achieving strong streaming-adoption and -volume improvements but comparatively limited revenue increases. It remains to be seen whether the demise of Mini will fuel accelerated conversions for monthly and annual subs. View the full article

Mumbai, where Hungama, now preparing to shut down its music streaming service, is headquartered. Photo Credit: Hardik Joshi So long, Hungama Music: The Indian streaming service is reportedly set to cease operating this coming Tuesday, April 15th. Music Ally identified the quick-approaching shutdown today, pointing to an official update that the Mumbai-headquartered company provided to users. “Starting 15th April, 2025, the Music Section will bid goodbye as we make way for exciting new experiences!” the update reads, proceeding to confirm the continued availability of movies and more on the overarching Hungama OTT app. Meanwhile, Hungama Music looks to have deleted both its X and Instagram accounts. And higher-ups didn’t appear to have put out a formal statement at the time of this writing. But as noted by the mentioned outlet, Hungama had just pivoted to a subscription-only model in 2023. ByteDance’s Resso also dropped its free tier during 2023 – and proceeded to shut down in India the following year, when Airtel’s Wynk Music called it quits as well. In other words, when it comes to straight volume, the music-streaming competition is in some ways thinning out in India, where Gaana was comparatively early to put ad-supported listening in the rearview. Furthermore, after extending its “Mini” plan’s length from one day to one week in India last year, Spotify did away with the shorter-term subscription option in all markets this month. Now, India-based subscribers must spring for Individual at ₹119 (currently $1.38) per month, Duo (₹149/$1.73), or Family (₹179/$2.08). Of course, the developments raise several pressing questions. Chief among them: Exactly how long will it be before subscription adoption becomes the norm in India? At least according to one in-depth 2024 report, lessened streaming competition or not, it’ll take years for services’ paid-listening prioritization to translate into material results. Per the 2024 analysis, streaming platforms’ listener base actually shrunk in India last year, when the nation’s total on-demand subscribers finished at approximately 11 million. By 2027, the subscribership figure will roughly double, and total industry revenue will crack ₹78 billion (currently $906 million), the EY report estimated. “We believe that for the subscription model to achieve its potential in India,” the document elaborated, “platforms will need to work towards making prices more attractive and comparable with other competing products, embrace extensive bundling and provide exclusive content around artists to engage with their fan base.” View the full article

The electronic music community is constantly evolving with new sounds inspired by the scene of yesteryear. EDM.com's weekly Fresh Picks series discovers new music and unearths influential tracks that help define the underground dance scene. You can find the below tracks on EDM.com's Fresh Picks Playlist. Follow to stay up-to-date and submit tracks for consideration here. EDM.com Fresh PicksTheodore Shapiro - Elevator Down (ODESZA Remix)Rich DietZ & 2AR - All I NeedHarry Hayes - More of YouAmtrac - Heart StopElend Winthrop - I'll Be FineSultan + Shepard & Rinzen - Before the StormBand of Horses & Gryffin - The Funeral (2025 Edit)Low Mileage - With MeSam Day - amazing (SVDKO Remix)Visages & Eric Nakanishi - KintsugiDrinks On Me & Why So Low - On FireINZO & LSDREAM - Artifacts Of A Higher DimensionDr. Ushūu & Emily Stiles - GasolineTENNA - Calentura

Photo Credit: Tingey Law Jay-Z’s battle with Jane Doe lawyer Tony Buzbee heats up as Buzbee files to dismiss the rapper’s lawsuit against him — and makes fresh allegations, too. Tony Buzbee, who represents over a hundred alleged Sean “Diddy” Combs victims, has filed a motion to dismiss Jay-Z’s defamation lawsuit against him. Among those Buzbee represents is a Jane Doe who accused Diddy and Jay-Z of raping her when she was a minor in 2000. Jay-Z has staunchly denied those allegations, which culminated in the Jane Doe dropping her case against him. But Buzbee claims he had an agreement with Jay-Z, stating, “The relentless pressure that [Jay-Z] and his associates placed upon Doe became too much for her. On February 4, 2025, an agreement to resolve the litigation was reached between [the two parties], through their attorneys, which included the voluntary dismissal of the [Southern District of New York] action.” Alex Spiro, an attorney representing Jay-Z, calls Buzbee’s claims “a total lie.” He added that Buzbee “brought a false case, lost badly, and was forced to dismiss quickly. End of story.” Now, an attorney for Buzbee, Marc E. Kasowitz, has released a statement that calls Spiro’s statement a “total fabrication.” “There was an exchange of emails between me and Spiro, which set forth the agreement very quickly.” He added, “As part of that agreement, Spiro agreed to withdraw the […] motions for sanctions that he had brought against Mr. Buzbee’s law firm.” Further, Kasowitz said Buzbee’s legal team “agreed to withdraw the lawsuit that Jane Doe had brought for rape against Jay-Z and [Combs] even though Jane Doe continued to maintain that the allegations in that lawsuit were true, and Jay-Z and Spiro agreed not to send any more people to harass and intimidate Jane Doe and her family.” “One week later,” he added, “Jay-Z and his lawyer breached that agreement flagrantly by sending supposed investigators to harass and intimidate Jane Doe and her family.” Spiro confirmed in court documents that Kasowitz did, in fact, contact him regarding dismissing the Jane Doe lawsuit against Jay-Z. He asserted that he told Kasowitz that his client “would never settle the lawsuit or pay any money to resolve it, given it was a heinous false accusation.” He acknowledged that Kasowitz asked them to stop investigating Buzbee’s law firm, but denied there was any “explicit agreement” in place to drop the Jane Doe suit, calling that claim untrue. Jane Doe, meanwhile, has claimed that a supposed audio recording of her recanting her allegations was manipulated by private investigators. “I never stated […] that [Jay-Z] did not assault me.” She also said investigators came to her Alabama home without warning and “twisted her words” during an impromptu interview. Buzbee also denounced the recording as doctored. “The tape is a fraud,” he told TMZ. “They tormented and harassed and tricked that poor woman and took what she said out of context and secretly recorded her.” He added, “She stands by her claim that Jay-Z assaulted her. She has never wavered on that point once.” View the full article

Photo Credit: Spotify Spotify invests over a million dollars to help authors and publishers produce more audiobooks in other languages, starting with French and Dutch. Spotify has announced a plan to invest €1 million ($1.1 million) to boost audiobook production in languages other than English, starting with French and Dutch. Adoption of Spotify’s audiobook offerings has been relatively slow in the Netherlands and France, which is why Spotify wants to start with these languages. According to Spotify, less than 3% of French-language books are currently available in audio format, with only about 20,000 audiobooks in French compared to around 750,000 physical books. Meanwhile, in the Netherlands, around 15,000 Dutch audiobooks are available out of a physical library of around 209,000 titles. Spotify launched its audiobook service in France and the Benelux region (Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg) back in October. The company believes the slow adoption can be attributed to the high production costs of creating audiobooks, which may deter publishers from converting written works into audio formats. The company has emphasized its commitment to working with human narrators, but Spotify recently partnered with ElevenLabs to encourage authors to publish cost-effective AI-narrated content. However, that partnership has raised concerns among the publishing community. Spotify has also left the music industry thoroughly displeased, as the company’s audiobook offering being bundled into its music plans reduces music royalties. Even worse, Spotify recently secured a win against the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC), as a federal judge dismissed the latter’s copyright lawsuit levied against the former. “The Court finds that […] the only plausible application of the law supports Spotify’s position,” wrote Judge Analisa Torres. “Under the facts alleged, audiobook streaming is a product or service that is distinct from music streaming and has more than token value. Premium is, therefore, properly categorized as a Bundle, and the allegations of the complaint do not plausibly suggest otherwise.” The MLC alleged that Spotify had initially added audiobook access to its Premium offering in November 2023, which was before the shift in “bundling” was made official in pricing and royalty statements. But the judge found the timing to be of little consequence. That decision may have an impact on future negotiations and other streaming services’ bundling classifications. It’ll be worth keeping an eye on to see how things evolve. View the full article

Photo Credit: Creators Corp. Coachella has teamed up with UGC game studio Creators Corp. for a new Fortnite Creative game called Coachella Pillars. The multiplayer showdown launched today and transports players to the Coachella Canvas in a music-fueled competition. Suspended above the festival grounds, 2-12 players will stand atop Pillars of Sounds, attempting to knock each other off within spaces inspired by the festival’s environment—all set to a backdrop of the festival’s music. The map features over 30 customized tools inspired by musical instruments, allowing players to harness the power of sound and rhythm to win. Players will compete in a rotating selection of three unique arenas inspired by the festival stages, surrounding environment, and art, before the last player standing ascends to the Coachella Main Stage for an exclusive celebration. The music-infused twist combines the core mechanics of Fortnite’s Pillars mode with Coachella’s vibrant sound and festival visuals—bringing the concert experience to more than 220 million monthly active users. With Coachella Pillars, the festival continues to expand creative boundaries into gaming, transforming how fans around the world can immerse themselves in the festival. By blending competitive gameplay with Coachella’s artistry, the experience become about more than just watching the festival—but becoming part of it. Players can access Coachella Pillars in Fortnite Creative starting today. Use the island code 9331-9321-5753 to check it out. Goldenvoice has a long history of partnering with Fortnite to promote the festival. The initial collaboration in 2022 introduced Coachella-themed content as micro-transactions. In 2023, Coachella Island launched featuring a dedicated area with mini-games and art installations like the Coachella Ferris Wheel. 2024 saw integration with Fortnite Festival, bringing Coachella to the Jam Stage and Festival Main Stage. Tracks from artists including Blur, Bleachers, and Doja cat were featured last year. New Jam Tracks and emotes this year include music from The Marias, Jennie, Yeat, Amyl, the Sniffers, Djo, and more. View the full article

BTS, whose Army diehards are coordinating to report AI deepfakes depicting Hybe artists. Photo Credit: HopeSmiling BTS agency Hybe’s deepfake crackdown is in full swing, and South Korean police have made multiple arrests in connection with alleged AI-powered crimes. We touched on that deepfake-takedown push yesterday, when Ador vowed to pursue legal action against those making “malicious” online comments about NewJeans. The overarching Hybe, we noted, has for years been spearheading anti-harassment and -defamation efforts. (This undertaking centers in large part on a form through which fans can report infringement and “problematic” remarks. Here, Hybe requires one to provide, among other things, the post URL and author; there’s an option to identify the culprit’s IP address as well.) However, Ador also disclosed that it’d started “taking firm action against deepfake crimes, which have become a major social issue.” And one suspect accused of making and distributing “false videos exploiting artists” had already been “indicted and referred to the prosecution while in custody,” Ador indicated. Now, police have “apprehended” eight more individuals accused of putting out “sexually explicit” AI deepfakes of Hybe acts, according to the Korea Herald. As described by the report, the sting involved a total of 23 persons, 13 of whom were taken into custody. And of the eight facing charges concerning Hybe-related deepfakes, six were taken into custody, per the coverage. Regarding the charges-custody discrepancy, the Herald elaborated that “90 percent of the suspects are reported to be in their teens or 20s, with no stable employment.” Unsurprisingly, Hybe reportedly “provided critical information to aid in identifying the suspects,” thereby enabling the “prompt” arrests. Following the point to its logical conclusion, the Herald further reiterated that the K-pop giant had “received reports from fans.” In a statement, Hybe CEO Lee Jae-sang underscored his company’s plans to keep on targeting the parties behind explicit deepfakes. Meanwhile, evidence strongly suggests that diehard supporters intend to continue reporting the relevant AI outputs. “ARMY,” one superfan encouraged on X this morning, “keep reporting real issues on the Hybe Portal… they’re taking good care of our guys & we’re helping! These deepfake crimes especially, need to be stopped!” Closing with a quick update on the NewJeans-Ador contract battle, the group, now barred from engaging in solo career activities without the agency, just recently provided a detail-light update on its unofficial Instagram page. (That page was originally tied to NJZ, as which NewJeans members rebranded for a short time, but has since been renamed “mhdhh_friends.”) As translated by the Korea JoongAng Daily, the NewJeans members thanked fans for their ongoing support and vowed that “our time together will come.” The next court hearing in the NewJeans-Ador dispute is scheduled for early June. View the full article

Photo Credit: Nelly by Adam Bielawski / CC by 3.0 The last St. Lunatics member who was still suing Nelly for copyright infringement has dropped his lawsuit. But this battle may not be over yet. St. Lunatics member Ali Jones has dropped the lawsuit the group filed against former member Nelly last year. The filing claimed the group never received proper credit or royalties for Nelly’s 2000 album, Country Grammar. The rest of the group — Murphy Lee, Kyjuan, and City Spud — all dropped out of the suit shortly after it was filed last year, claiming they never authorized legal action to be taken on their behalf. Strangely, Jones and his legal team have not provided an explanation for their decision to dismiss the case. But they might not be walking away without consequence; Nelly’s legal team has urged the presiding judge to consider delaying the dismissal to hold the St. Lunatics members accountable for the rapper’s legal fees. “Plaintiff’s counsel succeeded in its frivolous campaign aimed at forcing [Nelly] to spend money defending Plaintiff’s ridiculous time-barred claims,” wrote attorneys for Nelly. “The Court is respectfully requested to retain jurisdiction and set a briefing and hearing schedule [for potential sanctions].” St. Lunatics, a group of high school friends from St. Louis, are credited with both performing and songwriting across Nelly’s debut album. But their lawsuit claimed the final credits undersold their contributions to the record, depriving them of royalties. “Despite repeatedly promising plaintiffs that they would receive full recognition and credit […] it eventually became clear that defendant Haynes had no intention of providing the plaintiffs with any such credit or recognition,” their filing read. The case was framed as a copyright infringement lawsuit, rather than a legal battle over ownership. This is due to the three-year statute of limitations that was far exceeded, given that Country Grammar was released nearly 25 years ago. View the full article

Photo Credit: Global Gaming League The Global Gaming League has raised $10 million in funding from celebrity investors including T-Pain and Flavor Flav. The league is not focused on eSports, but rather a league that brings together every kind of player. GGL was founded by Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum music producer and entrepreneur Clinton Sparks, in partnership with T-Pain and tech entrepreneur Jeff Hoffman (Priceline, UBid, Booking.com). The GGL is a multi-title gaming league with celebrity-owned teams made up of four players each. Members of the teams are influencers, actors, athletes, artists, casual, and professional gamers. They compete in live events playing everything from first person shooters, sports titles, and fighting games to the latest releases and retro favorites. Speaking in an interview with GamesBeat, Founder Clinton Sparks said he wanted to create a model similar to owning a sports franchise without the headache. “The celebrities don’t have to worry about managing, staffing, recruiting, sales, merchandising, any of that stuff,” Sparks says. GGL owns each team with each celebrity at a 50/50 split. “We’re their partners and we’re their entire back office, the GGL,” Sparks continues. Solyco Capital led the SAFE round, while the rest are strategic individal investors. The first team owners to be revealed include T-Pain, Bryce Hall (TikTok star), and Flavor Flav. GGL will be announcing more team owners in the coming weeks, pulling from music, film, sports, fashion, social media, and gaming. Gaming revenue is projected to surpass $300 billion by 2026—eclipsing TV, film, and music combined. Unlike other media where viewers and listeners can be distracted or multi-tasking, gaming usually requires full focus. For brands, leagues like this are a new way to reach a tuned in consumer. With 74% of Gen Z expressing interest in careers in gaming or digital medial, GGL is creating the infrastructure to meet the demand. “The GGL is positioned to make gaming a household name in the same manner that WWE did with wrestling and the UFC did with mixed martial arts,” Sparks adds. “By systemizing and democratizing an industry that already exists with billions of users and hundreds of billions already being generated.” Clinton Sparks started out as a DJ and record producer in Boston. He created bootleg remixes and mixtapes and hosted the radio show SmashTimeRadio. In 2012, he was nominated for a Grammy for his production work on Lady Gaga’s Born This Way album. He’s also written and produced songs for Akon, Ludacris, 2 Chains, Big Sean, and more. View the full article

The Korean National Police Agency in Seoul. Photo Credit: Gohsuke Takama A step towards reconciliation? Despite its contractual dispute with NewJeans, Hybe’s Ador is bringing out the legal guns to protect the girl group from online harassment. Ador disclosed as much in a lengthy social media post, claiming at the outset that “malicious” comments targeting K-pop artists have seen a “significant escalation” as of late. Said comments include but aren’t limited to appearance-related criticism, “fake news,” and “invasions of privacy,” the Hybe subsidiary spelled out. As some know, Hybe has for years been firing back against the individuals behind allegedly harassing messages. Apparently, though, Ador has taken things a step further by bringing on “additional personnel dedicated exclusively to this matter.” Extra team members or not, it’s impossible to manually find and investigate every relevant online remark. On this front, Ador once again encouraged fans to anonymously report (via a dedicated form) instances of alleged artist harassment. The entity applauded prior submissions as “very helpful in taking legal action against such activities.” “Cases deemed particularly malicious and severe, to the extent that they may constitute criminal acts, are currently the subject of criminal complaints,” the company reiterated. “ADOR has recently filed a complaint with the Seoul Yongsan Police Station and, through continued monitoring and evidence collection, plans to submit additional complaints.” Meanwhile, Ador is also taking aim at NewJeans deepfakes. One “suspect who created and distributed false videos exploiting artists was recently indicted and referred to the prosecution while in custody,” according to the text. In the bigger picture, can Ador’s public support for NewJeans repair their badly strained professional relationship – or at least set the reconciliation wheels in motion? (Besides cracking down on NewJeans critics, Ador today wished Danielle a happy birthday on the act’s Instagram page. At 20 years old, the Australia native is the third-youngest NewJeans member; Haerin is 18, and Hyein is just 16.) Admittedly, given the involved (to put it mildly) nature of the dispute, an immediate resolution seems unlikely. However, the anti-harassment campaign could enable Ador to make inroads with NewJeans diehards, reiterate its status as the group’s agency, and get the compromise ball rolling. As things stand, NewJeans is on hiatus following a temporary injunction ruling in Ador’s favor. This ruling is barring NewJeans’ members from spearheading solo career activities independent of Hybe/Ador; NJZ, which NewJeans members rebranded as for a short time, looks to have deleted its social accounts. A separate hearing about the NewJeans-Ador contract itself ended last week “without progress,” per the Korea Herald. A different hearing yet (pertaining to an appeal of the injunction) spanned only 15 or so minutes yesterday, according to YTN, which reported in more words that both sides had doubled down on their existing stances. In short, NewJeans is adamant that the Ador deal is no longer valid due to multiple violations; Ador insists that the contract remains active. And there’s considerable friction concerning the status (at present and in terms of NewJeans’ future activities) of former Ador head Min Hee-jin. View the full article

Photo Credit: Kate Nash by Man Alive! / CC by 2.0 Kate Nash calls out Spotify for paltry payments, but Spotify responds by saying they sent her check to Universal — so it’s out of their hands. In an all-too familiar situation, another artist has called out Spotify for piddly payments on a significant number of streams. This time, it’s Kate Nash, whose 2007 hit “Foundations” has over 100 million plays on Spotify. But Nash told BBC’s Woman’s Hour podcast that she’s hardly seen a dime. “‘Foundations’ has over 100 million plays on Spotify — and I’m shocked I’m not a millionaire when I hear that! I’m shocked at the state of the music industry and how the industry has allowed this to happen,” said Nash. “We’re paid very, very, very poorly and unethically for our recorded music: it’s like 0.003 of a penny per stream. I think we should not only be paid fairly, but we should be paid very well. People love music and it’s a growing economy and there are plenty of millionaires in the industry because of that, and our music.” She added: “And what they’re saying to artists from non-rich privileged backgrounds, which is you’re not welcome here, you can’t do this, we don’t want to hear from you. Because it’s not possible to even imagine having a career if you don’t have a privileged background or a privileged situation right now.” Spotify has since responded to Nash’s statement, claiming that they’ve sent a significant amount of money to Universal for Nash’s Spotify streams. Therefore, if she hasn’t received ample compensation, that’s between her and her rights holders. “We’re huge fans of Kate Nash. For streams of her track ‘Foundations’ alone — which was released before Spotify existed — Spotify has paid out around half a million pounds in revenue to Kate Nash’s rights holders,” reads Spotify’s statement. “Her most streamed songs were released via Universal Music Group. Spotify has no visibility over the deals that Kate signed with her rights holders. Therefore, we have no knowledge of the payment terms that were agreed upon between her and her partners.” “We do know that British artists generated revenues of over £750 million on Spotify alone in 2023 — a number that is on the rise year on year — so it’s disappointing to hear that Spotify’s payments are not making it through to Kate herself,” the company concluded. Kate Nash also released a statement on her Instagram after she mentioned that she started an OnlyFans account to supplement her income for her tours. She says touring can easily become a money sink; the fact people seem more up in arms about her having an OnlyFans account should shine a light on how hard it is for musicians to make money in the industry. “Don’t be ‘sad’ that I started an OnlyFans to fund my tours. I’s very empowering and selling pics of my arse is fun and funny; sex is fun and funny,” she wrote. “Women being in control of their bodies is vital and something we should all be standing by and fighting for.” “Are you sad music has little to no value? Would you be interviewing me or writing about me or talking about me if I had simply posted ‘going on tour, the business is shit, help me protect my employees and integrity of my show.’” “Would my tour be on the front page of Reddit two days in a row?” she continued. “Fuck no it wouldn’t. My arse is shining a light on the problem. Honestly, I’m such a legend for this.” View the full article

Photo Credit: Weezer by Hunter Kahn / CC by 4.0 Weezer is still playing Coachella this weekend despite bassist Scott Shriner’s wife Jillian pointing a gun at and getting shot by police this week. Police shot Weezer bassist Scott Shriner’s wife Jillian on Tuesday while in pursuit of three suspects who fled on foot during a hit and run. The suspects made their way to Shriner’s neighborhood, where 51-year-old Jillian Shriner confronted police outside her neighbor’s house, armed with a handgun. Authorities say they asked her multiple times to put down the gun, but she allegedly refused and pointed the gun at officers, who then opened fire, hitting her in the shoulder. She was taken into custody a short time later and was taken to the hospital, where she was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. She was also booked absentee for attempted murder, and posted $1 million bond. No one else was injured during the incident, according to authorities. One of the hit-and-run suspects has also been arrested by Highway Patrol officers. The wild story comes just days ahead of Weezer’s planned performance at Coachella this weekend, which Scott Shriner and other sources have confirmed is still happening. Despite his wife’s seemingly random gun battle with police and her subsequent hospital stay, Shriner used the opportunity to promote his band’s upcoming Coachella show. “She’s alright, thank you for asking,” said Shriner in a statement to the New York Post, while out walking his dogs on Thursday. “See you at Coachella!” he added. Weezer was added to the Coachella lineup over the weekend as a surprise replacement, alongside Ed Sheeran, for acts including FKA twigs and Anitta. Naturally, the incident with Jillian left fans wondering whether the band’s set was still a go. They will be playing the Mojave tent on Saturday afternoon. This year’s Coachella features headliners Lady Gaga, Green Day, and Post Malone, with a special set from Travis Scott. View the full article

The Internet Archive and the major labels are discussing a possible settlement in their Great 78 Project copyright infringement battle. Photo Credit: Mick Haupt Multiple years and twists later, the major labels’ copyright infringement lawsuit against the Internet Archive looks to be trending towards a resolution. That’s according to the litigants themselves, which just recently requested a 30-day stay in the case. The presiding judge promptly approved the sought pause, and as a result, we should know sooner rather than later whether the parties will finally put the matter to bed. But as described by Universal Music, Sony Music, and the Internet Archive, which are clashing specifically over the latter’s “Great 78 Project” music-preservation effort, things are trending in the right direction on this front. Both sides “have engaged in and made significant progress in settlement discussions and believe a thirty (30) day stay of proceedings will facilitate resolution of this matter,” they jointly told the court when seeking the stay. Furthermore, the parties “are optimistic that settlement discussions may be successful and that this case can be dismissed,” per the document. At present, we don’t know exactly what those settlement discussions entail, nor do we know for certain why a compromise is now being discussed in earnest. The back-and-forth legal battle initiated in 2023, and the Internet Archive last year came up short with its dismissal motions. However, that the same defendant suffered a largescale hack in October 2024 is worth keeping in mind. More pressingly, so is the considerable artist pushback against the relevant infringement lawsuit. We broke down the straightforward criticism – expressed as part of a campaign organized by Fight for the Future – in December. At the time, approximately 630 artists had signed a letter opposing the “major record labels’ unjust lawsuit targeting the Internet Archive.” Since then (and with the letter no longer accepting new signatures), roughly 850 total musicians have added their names to the message, the appropriate webpage shows. As to where the dispute proceeds from here, the newly issued stay will run through early May. Of course, if a settlement does come to fruition, the parties will jointly seek dismissal. And if a resolution doesn’t materialize during the period, they’ll have 10 days post-stay to submit a new proposed schedule to the court. In other infringement-suit resolutions, Dua Lipa recently beat a “Levitating” copyright complaint, Mariah Carey last month emerged victorious in an “All I Want for Christmas Is You” action, and hip-hop producer Turbo topped a different suit yet. View the full article

Photo Credit: Lady Gaga by Justin Higuchi / CC by 2.0 Coachella 2025 is right around the corner, and there’s still time to plan a trip. Here’s how to score last-minute tickets, parking, lodging, and more. Coachella’s Weekend 1 kicks off on Friday, and this year’s edition of the much-beloved festival features headliners Lady Gaga, Travis Scott, and Post Malone. Other performers include The Misfits, Missy Elliott, Charli XCX, Megan Thee Stallion, Japanese Breakfast, and many more set to play in the California desert. While passes for the first weekend are sold out on the official site, there are still ways to get your hands on Coachella passes before this weekend. In some cases, fans are securing tickets at below face value. Where and When is Coachella? Coachella 2025 takes place across two weekends. Weekend 1 runs Friday, April 11, to Sunday, April 13. Weekend 2 runs from Friday, April 18, to Sunday, April 20. Both take place at the Empire Polo Fields in Indio, California. How Do I Get Tickets to Coachella? The best way to secure tickets for Coachella’s first weekend is through the secondary market. StubHub still has three-day passes available, as well as single-day passes for those who have a tighter schedule to work around. This week, Vivid Seats and StubHub have had three-day general admission passes going for around $700. Single-day passes for Weekend 1 are going for between $700 and $900, while one-day passes can go for even more. For this reason, it can actually be more cost effective to grab a three-day pass — even if you’re planning on leaving early. For those looking to save more cash, Weekend 2 passes on StubHub are going for less than face value, in some cases. Three-day passes for Weekend 2 are going for around $550, with single-day passes at around $700. VIP passes are still available for both weekends, starting at around $1,100. While Weekend 1 is often packed with more special guests than the second weekend, there aren’t too many differences between the two. But every day of Coachella is unpredictable, no matter the weekend. What About Lodging or Camping? StubHub also has plenty of camping passes available, for those who can’t (or don’t want to) snag a hotel close to the festival grounds. For those who do have a hotel booked, there are lots of shuttle passes available to make getting in and out of the festival grounds a breeze. What About Parking at Coachella? General parking at Coachella is free, and parking lots open at 11 AM daily, with gates opening around 1 PM. Those departing Indio on Monday after the festival would be wise to leave in the morning — or after 5 PM — to avoid the crazy post-Coachella traffic. Where’s the Coachella Livestream? — Enjoy Couchella If you’re not headed to Indio and want to enjoy the Coachella experience from the comfort of your own home (Couchella, anyone?), YouTube is the official livestream partner for the festival. Both weekends will be streamed on YouTube, and there’s typically a feed for each stage so you can switch between them. Which artists will be streamed at each stage across both weekends will be announced before the festival kicks off this weekend. View the full article

Kevin Liles, who’s taken a step towards officially seeking the dismissal of a sexual assault lawsuit filed against him by a Jane Doe plaintiff. Photo Credit: Maryland GovPics Universal Music Group (UMG) and 300 Entertainment co-founder Kevin Liles are taking steps to seek the dismissal of a Jane Doe accuser’s sexual assault lawsuit. The major label and the former Warner Music higher-up (who was an exec with UMG’s Def Jam as well as the overarching Island Def Jam in the 90s and early 2000s) made those requests in separate letters to the presiding judge. Focusing first on the actual allegations, the accuser originally levied the claims in a state-level suit this past February. According to the Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala-repped plaintiff, she started working at Island Def Jam in or around 1999. “Soon” thereafter, “Liles began sexually harassing her, including making derogatory and degrading comments based on her gender regarding her body and appearance,” per the initial suit. The alleged misconduct “escalated” by turning physical between 2000 and 2002, when the plaintiff was allegedly “sexually abused, assaulted and raped by” Liles. As for where UMG fits into the action, the major is facing allegations of “permitting, aiding, abetting, conspiring, ratifying and enabling…the sexual harassment, assault and rape.” Bearing in mind the latter point, Pryor Cashman-repped Universal Music in its letter to the judge pinned any liability for the alleged sexual assault on Liles himself. “Furthermore, UMGR [UMG Recordings] cannot be held liable for the alleged actions of Mr. Liles,” the company’s counsel wrote. “Assuming he had engaged in the conduct alleged, UMGR is a music company and the alleged conduct was indisputably not in furtherance of any business of UMGR.” The major also expressed the belief (in many more words) that the complaint is time-barred. Without diving too far into the legal nitty-gritty here, the alleged victim is suing under New York City’s Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act. With that statute, the New York City Council is said to have moved to open a two-year “lookback window” for sexual assault claims. Longer than (and, as described by the defendants, preempted by) the lookback window established under the state-level Adult Survivors Act, this period is said to have run through February 2025. Shifting to Williams & Connolly-repped Liles’ letter, after touting the exec’s career (“one of the most respected members of the music industry”), his counsel took aim at the “patently false and untimely lawsuit.” The accuser “offers zero factual bases for her salacious allegations,” per the text, and, among other things, fails “to explain when these purported acts occurred, where in UMG’s offices they occurred, identify a single person she reported this information to, or who was present.” As to exactly where things go from here, both Liles and Universal Music are seeking a pre-motion conference concerning their plans to formally file for dismissal. View the full article

Photo Credit: Alejandro Luengo The Trump administration’s efforts for a TikTok deal may have gone down in flames thanks to the president’s tariffs. But Trump insists a deal is still on the table. President Trump still says a potential deal to spin off TikTok’s US assets is “still on the table,” just days after it was put on hold and the deadline extended yet again. But China’s displeasure with the recently imposed trade tariffs may have killed any chance for a deal. Trump remains undeterred on the subject. “We have a deal with some very good people, some very rich companies that would do a great job with it, but we’re going to have to wait and see what’s going to happen with China,” said Trump. “It’s on the table, very much.” Last week, the president extended the deadline for China-based ByteDance to divest its US TikTok assets to an American company or face a ban. The latest deadline is now June 19, as Trump has twice granted an extension to avoid enforcement of the ban, originally set to kick in back in January. But lawmakers have been critical of the continued extensions. Democratic Senators Mark Warner and Ed Markey said Trump had no legal authority to extend the deadline yet again. Further, Warner asserts the reported deal on the table would likely not meet legal requirements in the first place. Meanwhile, Senate Intelligence Committee chair Tom Cotton said that while many American investors want to buy TikTok, they would need to cut all ties with China. However, the deal reportedly most up for consideration would allow ByteDance to retain a minority stake in the spun-off US-based company. “These potential buyers may ask Congress to somehow indemnify them for violating the law or immunize them for TikTok’s past crimes against and injuries to the American people,” said Cotton. “To any American who wants to invest in some half-assed TikTok deal, Congress will never protect you from going into business with Communist China.” But it’s the Chinese government who must approve any deal to secure TikTok. Sources close to the matter say work on the potential deal continues ahead of the latest deadline — but the White House and Beijing will need to resolve the tariff dispute first. The law passed last year requires TikTok to stop operating (initially by January 19) unless ByteDance had divested the app’s US assets. Trump began his second term as president the following day and extended the deadline rather than enforcing the ban. View the full article

Photo Credit: Soulja Boy | X/Twitter Rapper Soulja Boy (real name DeAndre Cortez Way) was slapped with a $4 million verdict in a civil sexual assault trial brought by his former assistant. The ‘Jane Doe’ alleges years of physical and sexual abuse during her employment from 2018 to 2020. The lawsuit was originally filed in 2021 with allegations of sexual battery, assault, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Jane Doe says the rapper hired her as a personal assistant for $500 weekly, but never paid her. Later after a romantic relationship developed between the two of them, she alleges rape, physical violence, and death threats were levied her way. After attempting to leave in 2020, she says the rapper violently attacked her. Now a Los Angeles jury has found Soulja Boy liable and awarded the plaintiff $4 million in compensatory damages. That includes $1 million for future harm from sexual battery, $500,000 from past abuse, and $2,650 in unpaid wages. Now the court will consider punitive damages, which could increase the final total. Jane Doe testified that Soulja Boy raped her repeatedly, locked her in a room without food, and threatened her with a gun. Text messages and witness accounts corroborated some of the claims, including the rapper’s pattern of violent behavior towards Jane Doe—including kicking, punching, and verbal threats. Soulja Boy has denied all allegations, which his lawyer has called an extortion attempt. The jury cleared him of false imprisonment and hostile work environment claims. The plaintiff’s lawyer Ron Zambrano says the verdict is a step towards justice for victims in the music industry. The rapper is facing a still pending lawsuit from a different Jane Doe who also alleges physical violence, sexual assault, and emotional distress. That case involved an incident where she allegedly suffered a miscarriage after the rapper violently beat her. Both lawsuits are a civil claim seeking monetary damages rather than criminal penalties. The trial for the second lawsuit has not yet begun and is expected to begin after the punitive damages phase in the first case. View the full article

Photo Credit: !K7 Create Music Group has announced the acquisition of indie electronic label !K7. The deal was already in motion before the death of !K7 Founder Horst Weidenmueller in February 2025 at age 60. A representative shared the following statement from Weidenmueller. “This transition is a deeply personal one for me, but I know that with Create Music Group, !K7 is in the right hands. Create Music Group shares our commitment to artists, labels, and creativity, and I am confident that this partnership will strengthen !K7’s legacy while opening new doors for the future. I want to thank our incredible team, partners, and artists for being part of this journey—what we have built together will continue to thrive and evolve for years to come.” Create Music Group (CMG) acquired the independent label for an undisclosed sum, marking its second major acquisition this year. The first was a $55 million Deadmau5/Mau5trap catalog deal that CMG struck in March. The !K7 acquisition strengthen’s CMG’s electronic music portfolio, leveraging 40 years of brand equity and !K7’s physical distribution network. “Though Horst Weidenmueller, the founder of !K7 is no longer with us, his words and vision continue to resonate,” shares Tom Nieuweboer about the acquisition. “Over the past 40 years, !K7 has grown into a global force while staying true to its independent spirit. This partnership marks an exciting new chapter for !K7, allowing us to scale our vision while staying true to our core values of independent artistry, innovation, and quality.” “We are thrilled to welcome !K7 and its iconic DJ-Kicks series to the Create Music Group family,” adds CMG’s Senior VP of Global Corporate Development and M&A Eric Nguyen. “This acquisition not only deepens our footprint in electronic music but also reinforces our commitment to forward-thinking music across a wide spectrum of specialist genres represented by its globally respected imprint Strut Records. We’re proud to support the innovative spirit that defines the !K7 catalog. We look forward to powering the next chapter for !K7, it’s exceptional roster of artists, and its visionary label partners around the world.” View the full article

Photo Credit: Google Google has announced it is adding its text-to-music model Lyria to Vertex AI. Vertex AI is now the only generative AI platform with models across all modalities—video, image, speech, and music. Vertex AI can now build a complete, production ready asset starting from just a text prompt, to an image, to a complete video featuring both music and speech. The model was also updated with Veo 2, an advanced video generation model to allow video to be refined and repurposed with precision. It also includes updates to Chirp 3, a groundbreaking audio generation and understanding model. Chirp 3 can create custom voices with just ten seconds of audio input. It allows Vertex to weave AI-powered narration into existing recordings and adds a speech transcription capability that can distinguish between multiple speakers. Finally, Imagen 3 now has improved image generation and inpainting capabilities for reconstructing missing or damaged portions of an image. Google says in alignment with its AI Principles, the development and deployment of Lyria, Veo 2, Chirp 3, and Imagen 3 on Vertex AI prioritizes safety and responsibility with built-in precautions like digital watermarking via SynthID, safety filters, and data governance. Lyria produces high-fidelity audio from just a text prompt. The model can be used to create soundtracks for marketing campaigns, product launches, or immersive in-store experiences—all tailored to brand identity. Lyria enables companies to create sonic branding that resonates with a target audience to foster brand recall. For video production, podcasting, and digital content creation, finding the perfect royalty-free music can be a time-consuming process. Lyria eliminates those hurdles by allowing content creators to generate custom music and tracks in just minutes—with control over the mood, pacing, and narrative of the final piece. Google says this can help improve production workflow and reduce licensing costs for projects that need lots of background music. View the full article

Photo Credit: KTLA 5 News A three-car crash led Los Angeles police to chase down a suspect in his underwear before shooting a woman married to Weezer’s bassist in a wild twist. Jillian Shriner, 51, wife of Weezer bassist Scott Shriner, was shot by police in a strange story that now sees her facing charges of attempted murder. The bizarre story was released by the LAPD and began on April 8 in the Eagle Rock neighborhood, in the eastbound lanes of the 134 Freeway. California Highway Patrol responded to reports of a three-car crash, in which three men fled the freeway on foot. The highway patrol officers called L.A. police for backup. One of the suspects took off into the residential area, stripping down to his boxers and jumping into a resident’s pool. He then watered their garden in an attempt to look as though he belonged there. While searching yards in the area for the suspect, Jillian Shriner is said to have emerged from her home next door, armed with a gun. According to police, Shriner refused multiple orders to drop the firearm, and then aimed the weapon at officers, prompting them to open fire. Shriner was struck in the shoulder, and ran back into her house. During this time, police located and arrested the suspect nearby who had fled the scene on the freeway. Shriner and another woman, reportedly her child’s babysitter, came back out of the house a short time later with their hands up. Police took both women into custody. Police told KTLA 5 News that both women were questioned and later released. However, in their news release on Wednesday, officials said the Weezer’s bassist’s wife Jill Shriner was booked absentee for attempted murder. A 9mm handgun was also recovered from her home. Shriner was reportedly taken by medical personnel with the L.A. Fire Department in an ambulance to the hospital, where she was treated for a non-threatening gunshot wound. No officers or other community members were injured during the incident, police said. The other two men who fled the initial crash scene are still at large. Scott Shriner has been Weezer’s bassist since 2001 and has recorded 12 albums with them. Weezer is scheduled to perform at Coachella this weekend and next, a last-minute addition after several artists were forced to back out. View the full article

Photo Credit: Nicholas Green Superfan apps like Weverse (HYBE) and the freshly-launched Berriz (Kakao Entertainment) have become critical tools for K-pop labels — helping transform fan engagement into scalable revenue streams while addressing core industry challenges along the way. Now, it looks like Warner Music’s superfan app is getting off its starting blocks. Traditional streaming economics often fail to capture the full financial potential of highly engaged ‘superfans’—those who drive music discovery and interact with their favorite acts on a daily basis. Superfan apps and platforms, by contrast, leverage direct-to-consumer models, offering tiered subscriptions, exclusive merchandise, and virtual concerts for the most dedicated fans. While these apps have exploded in popularity among music fans in Asia, US labels are looking to emulate that success. HYBE’s ‘Fan Club’ segment—which includes Weverse—generated $69.7 million in 2023, up 35.9% year-over-year. That’s because superfans spend 80% more monthly on music than the average listener, with 61% stating they purchase both digital content and physical albums. These superfan apps help centralize fan activity, providing labels with granular behavioral data around time spent interacting with an artists’ content, purchase patterns, and more. That data can be useful in informing everything from tour planning to merchandise drops—reducing reliance on third-party platforms like social media. It’s no small surprise that major labels in the United States want a piece of this action. Last year, Robert Kyncl announced that Warner Music would focus on building out its own superfan app, allowing fans to connect with their favorite artists. Kyncl hired a new tech team to build the app, with an initial buy-in from Atlantic star Ed Sheeran. A new profile in The Wall Street Journal of Elliot Grainge makes brief mention of the app, which appears to be going through internal testing. “A beta version rolled out to some employees for testing in the spring,” the WSJ reports. “The app looks like an Instagram feed of only Ed Sheeran posts that users could like and comment on, barebones in both tech and content.” Sheeran shared his feedback with the tech team, with Elliot Grainge is closely working with to get the app ready. “The project suffered from a lack of alignment between the team building it and Atlantic,” the report continues. “Kyncl says Grainge is already working closely with the tech team. ‘They can only build as well to what they’re guided to,’ Kyncl says. ‘They need insights from the people who are on the ground. Elliot’s really good at helping filter this.’” Now a more sophisticated version of the app—that Sheeran actively uses—rolled out to a small group of test users in recent weeks. View the full article