Music Biz
PRS for Music Links Up with Soundtrack to Tighten Payout Data
UK's biggest collecting society is hunting better intel on who's actually playing what.
Create Music Group Grabs Piece of DistroKid
Major indie music distributor just got a heavyweight investor backing behind it.
Deezer Picks Up 300K Direct Subs While B2B Game Stumbles
The French streamer is growing where it counts most — direct customers — but losing ground in the partnership lane.
Peermusic Expands Down Under With 120 Publishing Acquisition
Major publishing move signals the catalog consolidation game is alive and well.
How a Nashville Publishing Outfit Racked Up 100+ #1 Hits
Chris Farren built Combustion Music into a hit factory. Here's what he learned along the way.
Easol Just Raised $30M to Put AI to Work for Festival Promoters
Event tech company is betting AI agents can handle the chaos of running a festival.
EMPIRE Taps Two SVPs to Lock Down New York Operations
The indie powerhouse is doubling down on its East Coast infrastructure with two major executive moves.
Drake Bot Lawsuit Gets Tossed Out of Court
RBX's fraud case against Spotify over Drake's streams didn't make it past the judge.
Spotify's Legal Tab Could Hit $619M if MLC Wins Bundling Fight
The streaming giant is staring down a massive potential payout over how it bundles music subscriptions.
What India's Concert Heads Really Want: New Report Breaks It Down
BookMyShow surveyed 1,700+ Indian fans to understand what actually drives people to shows.
Too Lost Taps Heavy-Hitter James Rosenstock as New CFO
The indie label just brought in a vet who's run business at some of the biggest entertainment companies in the world.
Which Distro Platform Actually Gets Your Music Heard in 2026?
We broke down the real differences between the major music distribution services — and why choosing the wrong one might cost you.
Universal and Sony Get to Depose VC Exec Over That Suno Post
A deleted social media post just became evidence in the AI music wars.
Get Your Holiday Heat in on Time: 2026 Distribution Deadlines
Planning to drop something for the holidays? Mark your calendar now or miss the wave.
HYBE Americas Doubles Down on Latin Pop With New TRU Records Label
K-pop giant HYBE is banking on Latin America's sound—and they're bringing Alejandro Mejía to run the show.
Absolute Label Services Hiring: Digital Accounts Coordinator in London
Music industry job alert: Absolute Label Services is looking for someone to hold it down in their Wimbledon office.
ADE & VibeLab Launch Nighttime Culture Index Across Six Cities
Amsterdam Dance Event and VibeLab are now tracking what's actually happening in nightlife—data-style.
Reservoir Media Takes Suno and Anthropic to Court Over AI Copyright
Music rights company escalates the legal battle against AI companies with a two-front lawsuit.
Tyger Levels Up with Universal Music Deal for Gaming Audio
Adaptive music startup Tyger just locked in a major partnership that could change how games sound.
Mogul's Royalty Platform: Does It Actually Deliver for Independent Artists?
An industry expert breaks down whether Mogul's music accounting tool is worth your money.
Major Labels Playing 4D Chess With AI Fans and Burner Accounts
The record industry's next move: synthetic hype machines and algorithmic co-signs designed to make hits hit harder.
Spotify Counting Money While Suno Fights for Its Life
The streaming giant just proved the model works—but AI music makers still can't catch a break in court.
John Mayer Starting His Own Label Under Universal
The guitar virtuoso is stepping into the executive chair with Sob Rock Records.
LEGO's Building a Daft Punk Shrine—and It Started With a Fan
The iconic French robots are getting the brick treatment, courtesy of someone's dream project on LEGO Ideas.
Virgin Music Exec Liz Morentin Launches Independent Communications Shop
Former UMG strategist is building her own media and marketing agency.
Spotify's Latin America Play Is Officially Paying Off
Latin America just became a streaming powerhouse—and it's reshaping how Spotify counts its money.
Phoebe Bridgers' Producer Tony Berg Starts New Label With Warner
Tony Berg is betting on indie songwriters with a fresh imprint.
Spotify's Money Train Keeps Rolling: $3.3B Profit in Sight
The streaming giant just added 6 million subscribers in Q3 and is headed for a serious payday in 2026.
Jaasu on the Come Up: Why Delusional Confidence Beats Doubt Every Time
The producer behind Don Toliver's OCTANE keeps it real about the mindset that got him there.
Universal Music Group Betting Big on Thai Artist Jeff Satur
UMG is making a calculated move to break T-Pop into the global mainstream
Beth Sidwell Gets the Official Promotion at BPI
The British music industry's policy voice just got her permanent seat at the table.
Barbara Cane Steps Back From BMI After 50 Years
A half-century run comes to an end—but the legend isn't going anywhere.
ONErpm Shakes Up Marketing Leadership With Amazonas Stepping In as CMO
Independent distributor ONErpm is making moves in the executive suite as it restructures its marketing operation.
Ticketmaster Brings in Amazon Vet as CTO, Doubling Down on AI
Ticketmaster's got new leadership and they're making AI the whole thing.
Aaron Bay-Schuck on Why Patience & Real Copyright Matter More Than Ever
Warner's new leader says the AI chaos is actually proving why human-run labels matter.
Sasha Alex Sloan Is Writing Hits for the Biggest Pop Stars—And She Just Started
The music school dropout behind Cabello, Charli, and Rodrigo tracks is rewriting what it means to make it in pop.
Sony and Universal Want Lightspeed on the Stand About AI Training Data
Labels are pushing back hard against Suno's backer trying to dodge a court appearance.
How To Build An Independent Artist Career From The Ground Up
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Toni Nelson, artist manager, business manager, and co-fo
From Universal Music’s fresh round of layoffs to Spotify’s catalog surge… it’s MBW’s Weekly Round-up
The biggest headlines from the past few days... Source
Live Nation calls FTC’s BOTS Act lawsuit ‘misguided,’ says agency is trying to ‘flip the Act on its head’
If the FTC wins, ticketing companies that run their own resale marketplaces could be held liable for reselling tickets t
SeatGeek, Vivid Seats, others sue Washington, D.C., to block its 10% cap on ticket resale prices
The plaintiffs are seeking a preliminary injunction against the District's RESALE Act, which is set to apply from Januar
Warner Chappell Music signs My Chemical Romance to exclusive worldwide publishing deal
Warner Chappell will oversee the catalog's global rights administration, copyright protection, and sync licensing across
Jim Roppo named Vice Chairman of Warner Records Group
Roppo joins from Universal Music Group, where he most recently served as Chairman and CEO of Republic Records. Source
Ben Katovsky joins Matt Spetzler’s Pipeline as CEO
Pipeline is the $200 million-backed financing platform for the music and creative industries that launched in January th
Here’s exactly what Amazon, Spotify, Apple and other streaming services want to pay songwriters for 2028–2032
Spotify, Apple, Amazon, Pandora, and Google have filed their rate proposals in Phonorecords V Source
Summer Walker sues LVRN for fraud, asks court to void 2017 deal as Interscope pursues $50M+ claim against her (report)
The suit came to light days after Universal Music Group's Interscope Records sued Walker for more than USD $50 million.
Raye says ticket scalpers used AI bots to create ‘hundreds of thousands of fake registrations’ as 1.8M sign up for 5,000 Royal Albert Hall seats
Presale registration for the show ran through a sign-up page hosted by fan marketing platform co:brand. Source
Primary Wave partners with Brian Vander Ark, frontman of The Verve Pipe, covering his publishing and recorded music catalogs
The deal covers Vander Ark's publishing and recorded music catalogs, including the songs he wrote for The Verve Pipe. So
Rebecca Allen to exit UMG UK Chief Artist and Strategy Officer role after 27 years at Universal
Allen was promoted to the newly formed role of Chief Artist and Strategy Officer at UMG UK in December 2025 Source
Catalog Is Surging On Spotify – Making Frontline Hits An Even Harder Game
The latest Tim's Take from MBW founder, Tim Ingham Source
Songwriters drop ‘alright, alright, alright’ sample lawsuit against Travis Scott and Sony Music
The notice of voluntary dismissal does not say whether they reached a settlement with Travis Scott or Sony Music. Source
DistroKid confirms it has removed tracks in response to UMG claims
The Verge reported that independent artists had been posting on social media about their music being taken down without
Denmark’s new digital replica law should go into effect in early 2027, says Danish culture minister
Danish copyright law could provide new protections around voice and likeness in the context of AI-generated digital repl
New Suno live music division to help make it the “first creative entertainment platform”
Part of Suno’s licensing deal with Warner Music Group last November involved acquiring concert-discovery platform Songki
Jack White’s latest concert poster is also a $150 board game
When Jack White played a show at BleauLive Theater in Las Vegas on October 2, 2026, the show’s poster was also available
Spotify renews multi-year licensing deal with Joe Rogan. His last one was reportedly worth $250M.
The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter, reported that the deal's terms are similar to those of
Meta and TikTok engage in tit-for-tat ad bans on their platforms
If you’re a fan of SOCIAL MEDIA TITANS BEEF, prepare to record your direct-to-camera ragebait hot take: Meta, the parent
How to prepare for Spotify Wrapped 2026
Spotify Wrapped is almost here. The platform’s annual listening recap is one of the most anticipated moments of the year
From Sony Music’s 260,000 deepfake takedowns to Suno’s live music expansion… it’s MBW’s Weekly Round-Up
The biggest headlines from the past few days... Source
Meta bans TikTok parent ByteDance from advertising on its apps in the US and six other countries
The ban also covers campaigns from third-party advertisers that direct users in those markets to TikTok or to other Byte
How Deezer is Approaching AI Music And Payments
This week, Ari welcomes Patrick Laird, cellist and half of the acclaimed instrumental pair Brooklyn Duo.
Suno hires Ticketmaster’s Michael Chua to lead its live music team, including Songkick
In the role, Chua will lead the AI music company's live music operations, which include concert discovery platform Songk
Did The Music Industry Underprice Streaming In Emerging Markets? (AKA: How I’d Spend $10k Of Mike O’Neill’s Money)
The latest 'Tim's Take' from MBW founder, Tim Ingham Source
EMPIRE Publishing hires Rimas Publishing’s Emilio Morales as SVP, Business Development for Latin America
Morales joins from Rimas Publishing, the company behind the publishing catalog of Bad Bunny, where he served as Managing
Cover songs 101: How to release a cover song with CD Baby
Cover songs are a great way to attract new listeners and keep the momentum going between original releases of your own.
HYBE’s Weverse Con Festival to make its international debut in India in 2027
HYBE, home of BTS, calls Weverse Con Festival its “flagship global music festival”, featuring global, K-pop and Indian a
Tencent Music integrated DeepSeek into its streaming service. Now parent company Tencent is among the biggest backers of the AI company’s $12B+ funding round (report)
DeepSeek has been built into TME's AI songwriting tool, AI assistant, comment sections, and more Source
Yung Sammy, Arma, Sixth Ocean join The Hello Group India’s management roster
Rapper Yung Sammy, singer-songwriter Arma and electronic music producer Sixth Ocean are the newest set of acts to sign e
Google picks Base for Music for its Gemini Startup Forum – as $1.7M-backed French company says it uses AI to predict music marketing ROI
More than 100 startups taking part, from 17 countries, were selected from over 2,000 applications, according to Google S
Suno faces investigation in Italy over terms of service
The watchdog's concerns include price changes, account terminations, US-based arbitration, and a content license that it
UMG is now managing 130+ artists in Southeast Asia
Granite spoke during a fireside session at the Music Matters strand of the All That Matters conference in Singapore on O
Sony Music has now asked platforms to remove more than 260,000 AI deepfakes imitating artists like Harry Styles, Adele, and Michael Jackson
Sony told the Financial Times that the fight against AI tracks impersonating artists such as Harry Styles and Adele is "
Streaming fraud is fuelled by “perceived lack of a legal risk”, industry stakeholders tell judge in Michael Smith sentencing
The streaming fraudster who pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy in relation to an $8 million streaming scam will be
Grammy Awards to press on with controversial ‘Asian Pop’ category
The Recording Academy has been fighting a fire in recent weeks after BTS declined to submit their latest music to the Gr
Canadian report breaks down the climate risks for live music
The latest research into the climate emergency’s impact on live music comes from the Canadian Live Music Association wit
‘I would rather have 1% of a hit record than 100% of a record that wasn’t.’
Tyler Brown, founder of London-based Funfair, on hits, loyalty, and why songwriters should be taking a share of master i
Bill Withers’ publisher sues UMG, Sony, and Kobalt, claiming Olivia Dean’s ‘I’ve Seen It’ copies ‘Just the Two of Us’
The plaintiff says its representatives came to what they considered to be the "obvious and inescapable conclusion" that
Live Nation backs new firm Creator Nation’s plans for a roll-up
Live Nation’s latest corporate move isn’t about music: it’s about the creatorsphere. The company has announced a new fir
From Warner’s EMP sell-off to Universal Music’s Briegmann promotion… it’s MBW’s Weekly Round-Up
The biggest headlines from the past few days... Source
Frank Briegmann promoted to Chairman & CEO of Universal Music Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada & Deutsche Grammophon
The appointment expands the remit of Briegmann, who will continue to report to Sir Lucian Grainge, Chairman & CEO of Uni
ElevenLabs valuation doubles to $22B – four times that of AI music rival Suno
ElevenLabs completed a USD $300 million employee tender offer at a valuation of $22 billion. Source
Less than three months after exiting Kobalt, Willard Ahdritz officially launches Ahdritz Capital Partners
Ex-Lazard banker Stephen Langer and former SSE Ventures CEO Isabel Keulen join the Kobalt founder's new firm. Source
MGMH launches Good Vibrations mental wellbeing sessions for musicians
A series of recent surveys, from The Cost of A Dream to It’s Time to Talk, have highlighted the challenges faced by Indi
Sia sells 50% of music catalog to Pophouse in $180M deal
Pophouse says it's acquired Sia's "publishing and master music rights"; the pricetag suggests a $360M valuation for the
IMPF and IMPEL publish AI licensing principles, insisting songs and recordings must be valued equally
As the music industry enters into ever more deals with AI platforms, the indie publisher community has again insisted th
Ditto study identifies key pain points for independent artists
Distributor Ditto Music has been surveying more than 5,000 independent artists, with the findings zeroing in on some of
IFPI sees X as ‘a significant concern for the music industry’
Global recorded-music body the IFPI has made its latest submission to the EU Counterfeit and Piracy Watchlist consultati
Oasis archive recordings pulled from auction as band take legal action against former sound engineer
The claim was filed in the High Court in London on Tuesday (September 29) Source
How This Classical Piano/Cello Duo Built a Sustainable Career For Their Family
This week, Ari welcomes Patrick Laird, cellist and half of the acclaimed instrumental pair Brooklyn Duo.
Prosecutors want man who pocketed $8m using AI songs and bot streams imprisoned for at least 46 months, saying he stole from ‘hard-working’ songwriters
Prosecutors have put Smith's emails in front of Judge Koeltl, and say they show a man who knew from the start that his s
Trump’s DoJ was biased and wrong about ‘fair use’, say news orgs in OpenAI dispute
Many of the music industry’s AI legal battles swing on whether or not AI training is ‘fair use’ under US copyright law.
Sacem to launch a Deezer-powered music service for businesses
Deezer’s efforts to grow its B2B streaming business have an unexpected new partner: French collecting society Sacem. The
India's Festive Season Is Reshaping Spotify Charts and How People Listen
The last quarter of the year hits different in India — and streaming data proves it.
Red Light Management Is Going Nordic
Two industry veterans are building out Scandinavia's next major artist management operation.
Even Studio Lets Artists Run Their Own Direct-to-Fan Shop
The D2C platform Even just dropped a white-label tool so musicians can sell straight to fans without giving up control.
Live Nation's Legal Helm Changes Hands After Two Decades
Michael Rowles is stepping back from the top legal seat at Live Nation after 20 years — and the company's already got his replacement lined up.
ClassicalBot Is Mapping Every Classical Concert on the Planet
Someone built an AI tool to track classical shows worldwide — and it actually solves a real problem.
UMG Brings in Spotify's AI Architect to Lead Machine Learning Push
Universal Music Group just hired the brain behind Spotify's AI DJ to shape the future of how music gets discovered.
Spotify's Getting the VMA Footage Game Now
MTV's biggest 2026 moments—Madonna, Charli, Taylor's new video—heading to Spotify
Live Nation's New Nashville Spot Opens with Miranda Lambert Takeover
The Truth is coming to Music City, and it's already sold out.
Antares Finally Lets Your Vibrato Breathe With AutoTune Advanced
The legendary pitch-fixer just got a major upgrade—and it's designed to respect what makes you *you*.
Simon Robson Steps Away From Warner After Nearly 30 Years
A longtime exec is closing a chapter at one of music's biggest powers.
Latin Music Staying Hungry: 8.6% Growth in First Half of 2026
While the broader music industry catches its breath, Latin recordings are printing money in the US.
Josh Remsberg Steps Up as Commercial Head at EVEN
Direct-to-fan platform EVEN taps Remsberg to lead its business partnerships across the music industry.
Mother Nature Might Do What Kraft Couldn't: Kill This Ed Sheeran Show
A nor'easter is threatening to cancel Ed Sheeran's stadium run—and honestly, the weather might be doing everyone a favor.
Elton John Kicks Off Apple Music Hall in London
Apple's new London venue is opening its doors—and they're bringing out the heavy hitters.
Y Royalties Is Hiring: Royalty Accounting Role in London
If you know music rights and numbers, Y Royalties wants to talk to you.
Big Music Moves: Warner Shakes It Up, Suno Won't Back Down
Leadership changes at a major label and an AI startup that's not folding in court — here's what went down this week.
SymphonyOS Levels Up: Six AI Agents Now Running Your Music Campaign
The platform that automates artist marketing just got a major overhaul—and it's leaning all the way into AI.
LANDR's AI Fraud Detection Just Cut Fake Streams by 95%
The platform is getting serious about cleaning up artificial streaming — and the numbers back it up.
Record Labels Push Latin America to Block 300+ Piracy Sites
IFPI flexes its muscle across five countries in a coordinated crackdown on illegal streaming.
Quality Over Quantity: Why a Tight 50-Song Catalog Hits Different
Sometimes less really is more — and the music industry might finally be catching on.
How Music Marketers Are Playing 2026: New Platforms, New Moves
Music Ally drops a breakdown of what's actually working for labels and artists right now.
Sound Designers Unite Against AI Theft With New Professional Sound Alliance
The people who craft the sounds behind your favorite records aren't taking the AI scraping quietly.
YouTube's Dropping New Tools for Musicians — Here's What Actually Matters
YouTube just laid out its vision for creators and the music game shifted slightly.
Partisan Makes a Power Move in Publishing, Merges OTM with Left Music
The indie label is consolidating its publishing game and building something bigger.
Outkast Takes Ovrkast to Court After Name-Change Promise Falls Through
When a handshake deal on a stage name gets broken, the lawyers get involved.
TuneCore Steps Up: Matching Artist Donations to Conservation Through Sounds Right
The platform is doubling down on artists who want to give back to the planet.
Spotify Plants a Flag in Haryanvi Music
Spotify's betting big on Haryanvi—and the numbers back it up.
Ian Montone: We Traded Real Community for Follower Counts
A heavyweight manager breaks down why the music industry lost the plot.
Julia Jacklin Returns With 'The Gem,' A Warm Country-Indie Rumination
Australian songwriter Julia Jacklin is back with a new album recorded above a Melbourne pub, and it sounds like catharsis.
GoldState Backs Podium Entertainment as Major Players Jump Into Audiobook Game
Charles Goldstuck's moving pieces in the audio space with a strategic stake in Podium Entertainment.
Apple Just Dropped a 600-Seat Venue in London & Nobody Saw It Coming
Apple Music Hall is real, it's at Battersea Power Station, and it's built for the future.
UK Man Sentenced to 3.5 Years for $3.6M Fake Vinyl Operation
A west London counterfeiting ring was pressing bogus Taylor Swift and Kendrick Lamar records—and it was seriously profitable.
Ed Sheeran Addresses the Macklemore Situation as Tour Rolls On
Ed Sheeran broke his silence on the Macklemore drama—and he's rolling without openers for now.
Ed Sheeran's Tour Implodes: No Openers, No Band, Just Apologies
Ed Sheeran's rolling solo after his team dropped Macklemore—and now everybody else is walking too.
Stop Leaving Money on the Table — Here's How Real Artists Get Paid
The difference between surviving and thriving in music? Knowing where your actual checks come from.
BeatHub Moves On Chile's BeLive, Tightens Grip On Bogotá's Movistar Arena
The Latin American live events game just got another power move.
UMG and Sony Music Go Back at Suno Over New v6 AI Models
The major labels aren't done fighting the AI music startup.
The Ed Sheeran Situation Is Bigger Than One Tour
When one artist's tour dates become a referendum on everything, the real conversation gets murky fast.
Oasis Killed the General Sale. Here's What You Need to Know About Live '27 Tickets
The Gallagher brothers aren't doing this the traditional way.
Universal and Sony Go Back at Suno With Round Two
The major labels aren't done suing the AI music platform—and the numbers are getting wild.
Universal and Warner Dig In: AI Money Ain't Union Money (Yet)
The majors are fighting hard to keep their AI deals away from AFM musicians' hands.
The Label Lawsuits Keep Piling Up: UMG Takes Shots at DistroKid and AI
Major record labels are swinging hard at distribution platforms and AI companies over copyright.
Spotify's Fresh Finds is Going Bigger — 10K Artists a Year Now
Spotify's expanding its discovery playlists to reach way more emerging talent.
Gregg Alexander on Why He Left Fame Behind—And Why He's Coming Back
The guy who wrote 'You Get What You Give' spent 25 years in the shadows. Here's what changed.
Fever Just Locked Another $250M—Here's What That Means for Live Music
The live-events tech platform isn't slowing down after absorbing Dice.
AI Artists About to Take the Stage—Yes, Really
The future just got weird: AI-generated performers are hitting a live stage at the first-ever AI Music Awards.
Spotify Just Locked Taylor Swift's Entire Video Catalog Behind the Paywall
Spotify keeps pushing deeper into YouTube's territory with Swift's 58 music videos now exclusive to premium subscribers.
GTA VI Soundtrack Is Officially Here — And Yeah, Keith Richards Made the Cut
Atlantic Records just dropped the full tracklist for Grand Theft Auto VI: The Album, and it's as wild as you'd expect.
150K Tracks Drop Daily: The Streaming Overflow Nobody Asked For
The flood of new music hitting streaming is out of control — and it's reshaping everything.
Congress Pushes Ticketing Reform While Live Nation Fights for Its Life
A bipartisan committee just unanimered a bill that could reshape how concert tickets get sold—and it's the same law the feds are using to take down Live Nation.
Universal Takes Aim at DistroKid's $2B Valuation Over AI & Copyright Issues
The major label is saying DistroKid's massive valuation is built on a foundation of AI garbage and stolen music.
Argentina's Music Scene Is Quietly Rising Despite Economic Chaos
Numbers don't tell the whole story in Argentina — local artists are building something real.
Saregama Hunting for Producers to Flip Its Classic Catalog
The Indian label is opening its vault and looking for fresh talent to reimagine decades of back-catalog heat.
Believe and TuneCore Draw a Line: Artists Get Final Say on Suno
Two major distributors just made it clear—your music, your choice.
UMG Takes DistroKid to Court Over Deceptive Practices
The indie distribution game just got a whole lot messier.
MNRK Locks Down Black Label Society's Heavy Metal Catalog
Zakk Wylde's legendary outfit just saw their two decades of riffs get scooped up by a major label group.
Panic! at the Disco's Company Takes Counterfeit Merch Sellers to Court
When fake band gear floods the market, the legal team gets involved.
EU About to Drop the Hammer on Kids' Social Media — Here's What's Coming
Europe's new Kids Act could reshape how young people access social platforms, video, and AI.
The Independence Paradox: Why Artists Still Need the System
Richard Leach on why going solo in music isn't as simple as it sounds
BigHit Music Goes Global: The BTS Label Is Hunting Talent Worldwide
The machine that built BTS is officially casting its net beyond Korea.
Spotify Vet Bags $5.5M to Let Fans Remix and Rebuild Songs
Former innovation leader launches music app that gives listeners real control over the tracks they love.
UK Charts Company Launches Homegrown-Only Albums Ranking
The Official Charts Company just gave British and Irish artists their own lane.
The Real Talk on Hitting 3K Monthly Listeners
So you want to go from nobody to somebody on Spotify. Here's what actually matters.
ElevenLabs Drops Music v2.5, But Universal Ain't In It
Fresh AI music tool hits the street—and the label isn't involved in this one.
Live Nation's Global Problem: The World Wants Non-English Artists, But Where They Gonna Perform?
Nearly a third of Live Nation's biggest tours are non-English acts — yet most of the world still can't host them properly.
IFPI Takes Aim at Streaming Fraud With New Integrity Push
The major labels and distributors are banding together to crack down on fake streams and gaming the system.
T-Pain Suing Akon Over Missing Royalties
T-Pain says Konvict Entertainment diverted his money to Akon's brother's label and never cut him a check.
Yoto's New Generation of Kids' Speakers Drops This Week
The British startup behind those colorful audio players your kids won't stop asking for just leveled up again.
IFPI Tells EU: Y'all Sleeping on AI Rules
The music industry's pushing back hard on regulators to actually enforce the protections artists and labels need.
PIAS Brings Back Source Label With Fresh Roster
The indie powerhouse behind Air and Phoenix is back in business.
UK Indies Under Pressure: AIM Boss Warns Government—Independent Music is Dying
The gatekeepers of new talent just told the UK government it's time to pay attention.
The Week That Shook The Industry: ElevenLabs, UMG, and HYBE's Mess
AI voices are getting a major label stamp, but the music industry's security game is still broken.
UMG Keeps Feeding the AI Machine—Now ElevenLabs Gets a Deal
Universal Music Group signed with voice-tech company ElevenLabs, marking the major label's latest bet on AI-driven music experiences.
Spotify Co-Founder Says He's Out If Sweden Taxes the Rich
Martin Lorentzon isn't playing around about wealth taxes — he's ready to bounce.
ByteDance's Free Music Play Could Shake Up China's Streaming Game
Tencent's been running the Chinese music-streaming show for years. Not anymore.
Musicians' Union Takes a Stand Against Label AI Deals
The AFM isn't backing down from its fight over how Universal and Warner are letting AI companies use artist recordings.
Gorillaz Bringing 2D & Crew to Guwahati in 2027
District expands the virtual legends' Indian run with a Northeast stop.
AI Ain't Just Coming for the Beats—It's Coming for the Whole Machine
The real AI problem in music isn't creativity. It's logistics.
Nordic Countries Keep Receipts on How People Actually Listen to Music
A decade-long study drops fresh data on streaming, AI, and what's really happening in four of Europe's most wired music markets.
Annie Christensen Moves Into Catalogue VP Role at Warner Chappell UK
A&R veteran is the latest exec shuffled into the publishing game.
JYP Going Full Inspector Mode Over Stray Kids Bootleg Upload
A mysterious uploader just tried to flip a Stray Kids track as their own — and the label is not having it.
HarbourView Taps Patrick Morin to Lead Business Push
Music investment firm HarbourView Equity Partners is making a power move in the catalog game.
Spotify's Doubling Down on Live: RNB X Festival Lands in Dallas with Erykah and H.E.R.
Streaming giant turns its R&B playlist into an actual festival experience this November.
Warner Music France Head Alain Veille Takes SNEP Helm
New leadership at France's music industry body signals a shift in power
Warner Chappell Locks In French Electronic Label Kidding Aside
The publishing giant links up with one of France's biggest indie electronic operations.
How to Run a GRAMMY FYC Campaign: The Real Breakdown
Want your album in front of Recording Academy voters? Here's what you actually need to know about FYC season.
Suno Admits Using YouTube Audio for AI Training—But Says the Labels Don't Have a Case
The AI music startup is owning part of what UMG and Sony accused them of, but they're swinging back at the labels' legal footing.
Badshah & Kr$na Bringing Heat to India's First MLB Event
Baseball's biggest play yet: India's getting its first Major League Baseball event, and they're bringing the rap game to make it stick.
Vancouver Dance Label Reliant Music Links with Warner's ADA for Global Push
A Canadian indie is tapping Warner's infrastructure to take its dance catalog worldwide.
Spain and France Show Different Lanes in First-Half Music Growth
Two major European markets chart separate paths as recorded music numbers land for 2026.
HYBE's Weverse Hit With Data Breach—422K Accounts Compromised
The K-pop giant's fan platform got breached, but the damage could've been way worse.
British Musicians Still Stuck in Brexit Touring Limbo
Parliament says the government promised action on tour barriers—but nothing's actually changed.
Spotify vs. MLC: Court Throws Down Mixed Ruling in Royalty Fight
The streaming wars just got messier—and neither side is walking away clean.
Sonos Is Letting You Build Your Own AI DJ — Here's How It Works
Sonos just explained the custom agents feature that could change how you discover and control music at home.
Tencent Music Moving a Billion in Bonds—Here's What That Means
The Chinese streaming giant is raising serious cash, and it's not for expansion.
Trump's DOJ Sides With OpenAI on Copyright: Artists Better Worry
The feds just told a court that AI companies can train on your work without permission. Here's what that means.
Five Tracks That Actually Mattered This Week
Willie J Healey, DIIV, and KAYTRANADA among the standouts cutting through the static.
Brexit Tax Surprise: UK Artists Getting Hit on EU Merch Sales
British musicians and labels just caught another Brexit curveball—new EU taxes on small packages are eating into their bottom line.
AEG Says Live Nation Gotta Give Up Ticketmaster — Competition's On Life Support
The concert industry's biggest rival just told the feds: breaking up isn't enough, Live Nation needs to actually divest.
Suno Got Caught Running Mary J. Blige Ads Without Permission, Pulled Them Quick
AI music platform Suno launched a Mary J. Blige ad campaign that never got her sign-off — and had to yank it fast.
Spotify's 'Songs of Summer' Is Just the Usual Suspects
Streaming giant drops its annual summer playlist, and yeah, it's the biggest hits you already knew about.
BMG and Concord Are Now One—Plus the Week's Biggest Moves
The indie music world just got a whole lot more concentrated.
FL Studio CEO: AI Tools Could Actually Get More People Making Music
The makers of one of hip-hop's favorite DAWs are betting on AI as a gateway drug to real production.
Primary Wave Secures Wilson Pickett's Legacy
The soul legend's estate just handed over his catalog and likeness to one of music's biggest rights companies.
Ticketmaster's App Upgrade Is Trying to Act Like Dice Now
The ticket giant is finally learning what indie platforms figured out years ago.
HarbourView Scoops Up David Kershenbaum's Catalog—Including Tracy Chapman's 'Fast Car'
The catalog investment firm keeps swallowing legendary producer royalties as it pushes toward $4 billion in assets.
Canada's Socan Joins the Suno Lawsuit Parade
The AI music platform is getting hit from all sides—now the Canadian royalty cops are stepping in.
UMG Opening Hotel on London's Denmark Street
Universal Music's hospitality arm is bringing its hotel concept to the UK.
PopIndia Makes Moves: Scoops Vincey Productions Catalogue & Signs 30KEY
Reservoir's Indian operation is building out its catalog footprint with a new acquisition and artist deal.
Trump Administration Just Picked a Side in the AI Music Wars
The feds backed OpenAI in a fair use fight—and it could reshape how music labels go after Suno and Anthropic.
Suno Gets Hit With a Different Kind of Lawsuit—and It Might Be Harder to Defend
AI music startup Suno is facing a new legal angle: musicians say the company stole their identities, not just their songs.
California's Anti-Scalping Bill Gets Watered Down — Venue Owners Pissed
NIVA is calling foul on amendments to California's ticketing reform bill that let resellers slip through the cracks.
Independent Music Under Pressure: New Report Sounds the Alarm on AI and Infrastructure Collapse
A new study reveals how AI and digital consolidation are eroding the backbone of indie music.
Spotify Exec Mateusz Smółka Moves to Warner Music Eastern Europe
After nearly a decade at Spotify, the streaming platform's losing a key player to the major label side.
Haley Joelle Is Crafting Intimate Worlds, One Song at a Time
Oregon singer-songwriter proves that the best stories don't need a full orchestra—just honesty and atmosphere.
Musixmatch Rolls Out Pro for Labels — A New Way to Handle Lyrics at Scale
Lyrics licensing just got a serious upgrade for record labels of every size.
The Orchard Hiring YouTube Strategist in London
Major distribution label looking for someone who actually understands how artists win on YouTube.
Music Industry Moves Toward Transparent Track Labeling
Creators and platforms are finally getting on the same page about what fans should know.
Grammys Going Indie-Friendly in 2027—Here's What's Actually Changing
The Recording Academy is overhauling the awards to match how artists actually make and release music in 2027.
Streaming Money Still Growing, But the Pace Is Slowing Down
Premium subscriptions pushed $3.1B to artists and labels in the first half of 2026, but the growth rate tells a different story.
Sony and Warner Bros. Music Just Sued Anthropic Over Publishing Rights
Two major labels are taking legal action against the AI company—and the timing raises real questions.
The Indie Streaming Rebellion: Why These Platforms Think They've Got a Better Way
Tired of Spotify's algorithm? Alternative platforms are making their move with curation, fairer payouts, and artist-first thinking.
Jermaine Dupri Settles $18M Royalty Beef With Sony
JD and Sony squashed an $18 million lawsuit, but the door ain't closed forever.
Brexit Killed the EU Tour: UK Musicians Down 21% Shows, £208M in the Red
New report proves what every touring band already knew — Brexit broke the European circuit.
Universal and Sony Level Up Their Suno Lawsuit With Stream Ripping Claims
The majors just added some serious ammunition to their fight against AI music generation.
WMG and Blavatnik Foundation Drop $6M to 17 Social Justice Orgs
Warner Music is putting real money behind the talk—$6 million heading to organizations doing the work.
UK Touring Takes the L: New Report Spells Out Brexit's Real Damage
The numbers are in on what Brexit actually cost British artists trying to tour Europe.
The New Wave of Digital Radio Is Where Independent Artists Are Building Real Community
Forget streaming playlists—indie radio is where artists connect with fans who actually give a damn.
Sony and Warner Chappell Join Universal in AI Copyright Smackdown Against Anthropic
The big three publishing houses are now coming at Claude's maker with billion-dollar lawsuits over alleged mass music theft.
Major Labels Betting Big on AI While Suing Over Stream Ripping
The music industry wants AI on their terms — and they're putting serious money where their mouth is.
Spotify Reshuffles Leadership: New VP of Music Content, Editorial Gets Its Own Head
The streaming giant is reorganizing its music team—and promising to keep Editorial's independence intact.
GTA VI's Soundtrack Is Already All Over the Place—and We're Here For It
Rockstar just showed off a wild sonic palette for the next Grand Theft Auto, mixing trap legends with '80s rock icons and left-field indie weirdness.
Warner Music Austria Teams Up With Vienna's Tonherd on Distribution and Studio Deal
Major label muscle meets indie hustle in Austria's music scene.
Dolly Parton Has Passed
The music industry mourns the loss of a generational force.
TikTok Putting Alex Warren's Sydney Show on the Livestream
The platform's betting on concert streams to keep people scrolling.
SeatGeek Joins the AI Ticketing Rush — Everyone's Building a Chatbot Now
Your ticket search is about to get a whole lot more conversational.
ElevenLabs Levels Up AI Music Creation With Granular Editing
You can now tweak individual parts of AI-generated songs instead of starting from scratch.
Meta Settles $18B Child-Safety Case With YouTube and TikTok in the Mix
The social media giants just got dragged into one of the biggest settlements ever over how they handle kids online.
YouTube Premium Getting Expensive All Over the World
Google's raising prices again, and this time Europe and Singapore are feeling it the most.
South Korea Is Still the Money Move for Artists—Here's Why
The Korean market keeps printing money for the right strategy. Music Ally breaks down what's really happening.
SoundCloud Is Letting Artists Sell Tracks Direct—And Keeping Zero Cut
SoundCloud just handed independent artists a new revenue stream with no middleman tax.
How to Build Hype the Right Way: Waterfall Releases Explained
Strategic rollouts aren't new, but doing them right can separate the noise from the signal.
Luminate's New AI Detection Tool Is About to Change How We Identify Generated Music
The music industry's biggest data platform is rolling out AI-generated labels — and it's coming to CONNECT this year.
The Big Three Just Bet $76M on AI—Here's What That Means
Universal, Sony, and Warner are throwing serious money at Stability AI. Time to pay attention.
Tim Ingham Breaks Down Amazon's Streaming Problem
Music Business Worldwide's founder just laid out why Amazon Music is stuck in the middle of the streaming wars.
Soundscapes of India Opens Doors to Genre-Bending Artists Nationwide
India's showcase festival is casting a wide net—and fusion acts should be watching.
Full Time Hobby Label Hiring Project Manager in London
Independent label outfit expanding team to manage operations across records, publishing, and management.
Round Hill Music's $1B Lawsuit Gamble: What's Really At Stake With Suno and Anthropic
A music publisher is betting big that AI companies owe them serious money—and they're not backing down.
Believe India Launches BL/UR, A Pop Imprint Built For Blurred Lines
Believe India is doubling down on pop with a new label that wants to smash the walls between local and global.
Apple's AI Tag & Spotify's Stock Play: What Actually Matters This Week
Tech giants making moves while the music industry watches — here's what went down.
Universal Music Poland Locks Down Kayax Records Catalog
Big Polish indie label just got absorbed into the major machine.
SJM Concerts Hiring Event Ticketing Manager in Manchester
Major UK promoter SJM Concerts is building out their team for outdoor and special events.
Apple Music Adding 'Made With AI' Tags to Tracks
Apple's putting AI on blast—literally labeling which tracks are machine-made.
Vanessa Bosåen Steps Down From Virgin Music UK Leadership
The exec who helmed Virgin's UK operation is moving on after three years at UMG.
India About to Be a Streaming Giant — New Report Says Third Biggest by 2033
The subcontinent's music market is about to explode.
Apple Music Puts AI Label Responsibility on Record Labels—Not Itself
Apple's labeling AI-generated music, but guess who has to do the actual work?
Dice Is Building Out Its US Game With New Venue Deals
The ticketing platform is moving serious on expansion stateside.
Spotify Drops Another $1.5B on Stock Buybacks—Here's What It Really Means
The streaming giant is betting big on itself while the music industry watches.
Round Hill Music Ain't Having the AI Fair Use Excuse
Another major music publisher is taking Suno and Anthropic to court over AI training data.
OutStation Flips the Script on Indian Artist Merch
Tired of the same old tour tees and canvas bags? One label is doing something different.
Raye's Long Game: How a Six-Month Lead Single Paid Off
British artist Raye sat on 'Where Is My Husband!' for half a year before dropping her album—and it actually worked.
MC Lyte Gets SoundExchange Nod for Fighting the Radio Royalty Fight
The Queen of Rap is being recognized for real work behind the scenes.
UMG + Hook: Major Labels Finally Making Space for Fan Creators
Universal Music Group is letting fans remix and reuse its catalog — and the artists actually get paid.
KKR Betting Big on India's Live Music Boom via BookMyShow
Private equity giant KKR just grabbed a piece of the company running major tours across India — and that's a signal about where the real money's flowing.
Spotify's Playlist Editors Are Finally Getting Names and Faces
Spotify is putting real humans in the spotlight with Playlist Notes, letting curators explain their picks track-by-track.
Warner Music CEO Says Netflix Needs to Get Into the Music Game
One major label exec thinks the streaming giant is sleeping on a whole revenue lane.
Virgin Music Group Taps Into Bhojpuri Wave With Sur Music World Deal
Major distributor making moves on regional Indian music that's been sleeping on the mainstream radar.
Don't Get Played: How to Spot Fake Spotify Playlist Scams
Independent artists keep asking how to get on Spotify playlists. Here's what you need to know about the cons out there.
The Gap Between Clout and Charts: Gen Z's Real Hip-Hop Power Brokers
Streaming numbers don't tell the whole story anymore.
Francis Mercier's AI Octopus Rave Is Blowing Up in India
A Haitian DJ's viral collab with a Turkish producer just proved Punjabi samples hit different across continents.
Netflix's Kyncl: The Music Industry Needs to Stop Fighting AI, Start Adapting
The man behind Netflix's Suno deal just told the old guard what they don't want to hear.
UK Musicians Push Back on North Sea Oil Plans
Artists are making noise about a different kind of extraction—and it's not samples.
Jamen Capital and Merlin Lock Down Curve Royalty Systems
The indie music infrastructure just got a major power consolidation.
BTS Just Killed the Grammys' 'Asian Pop' Category Before It Even Started
The Recording Academy wanted to make Asian pop its own thing at the Grammys. BTS had other ideas.
Live Nation Settles Injury Case From Luke Bryan Concert
Major promoter reaches deal after concertgoer claimed brain injury at show.
Berlin Clubs Are Flipping the Script on How They Make Money
Drinks used to be the move. Now tickets are paying the bills.
Isley Brothers Trademark Battle Finally Over
The legal fight over The Isley Brothers name is done—here's what that means for the legacy.
California's Ticket Resale Price Cap Gets Killed in Committee
StubHub's $3.4M lobbying blitz pays off as California lawmakers shelve a bill that would've capped resale markup.
Music Podcasts Are Starving for Content While Listeners Are Hungry
The gap between who wants music pods and what's actually out there is massive.
Kalshi's Prediction Market Hustle Hits Washington Walls
The betting startup thought it had a play in DC. Turns out the regulators weren't checking for it.
Suno's Major Label Deal + Live Nation Takes on Fakes
AI music and counterfeit tickets both dominating the conversation this week.
The Music Industry Keeps Getting Bigger—Here's What It Might Look Like in 2033
Analysts are already counting the money the music business will make a decade from now, and the numbers are wild.
Suno Studio 2.0 is here—MIDI support, AI chat, unlimited downloads
The AI music-making platform is doubling down on creator tools and claiming real artists are already using it to make hits.
Saregama Flipping the Script: Old-Head Label Becomes a Modern IP Machine
The legendary Indian music house is making more money off new releases than its golden-age catalog—and that changes everything.
CD Baby Exec on Why Timing Matters More Than Gear
Sean Hallarman breaks down what artists actually need to know about tools and strategy in 2024.
Ticketmaster's New AI Play: Tickets Pop Up in Google's Gemini Search
Ticketmaster just integrated into Google's Gemini AI — meaning concert tickets could start showing up in your searches automatically.
IPNation Betting Big on Arabic Music Catalogs
The catalog gold rush is finally looking beyond the usual suspects.
Suno Locks in BMG Deal as AI Music Wars Heat Up
The AI music generator just landed another major label endorsement—and the industry's taking sides.
Spotify's Coming for Fake AI Artists—Here's What That Means
Spotify is about to start tagging AI personas, and artists better come clean or get caught slipping.
Québec Study Shows Streaming Growth Hitting a Wall
The stream count itself is slowing down—and that's a warning sign nobody was really talking about.
Tencent Music Grows Revenue While the Game Shifts
China's streaming giant posts 11% growth, but the story's bigger than subscriber counts now.
Arabic Music Getting Its Own IP Investment Play
Anghami co-founder Eddy Maroun is building a platform to unlock serious money in Arabic music catalogs.
UMG Puts 30% Into Excel Entertainment — India's Hit Factory
Universal Music Group just grabbed a stake in one of Bollywood's biggest production engines
JYP's Numbers Take a Hit as Stray Kids Tour Gap Bites
K-pop powerhouse JYP Entertainment is feeling the weight of timing and momentum shifts.
Trapital's 2026 Summit Pulling Big Execs From the Industry Machine
When the money men start showing up, you know the conversation matters.
Australia's Building a New Road for Grassroots Artists to Tour
The indie circuit just got a upgrade Down Under.
Spotify Rolling Out 'AI Persona' Badge to Flag Robot Musicians
The platform is finally getting serious about separating the real from the algorithmic.
Exceleration Music Locks In Distribution Deal With Reach Records
Christian hip-hop is getting a serious logistics upgrade.
Raye Played the Long Game—and It Worked
How a half-year wait between single and album became the blueprint for building real buzz.
Jon Glass Steps Into Top Legal Role at Merlin
Independent label collective Merlin taps Glass to run its legal and business affairs.
German Court Tells Suno: You Can't Just Train AI on Our Music
Europe's hitting back at AI companies copying songs without permission.
Zuckerberg Says AI Won't Kill Jobs (And Yeah, We Raised an Eyebrow Too)
Meta's boss is talking about 'personal superintelligence' — and promising it won't leave us all broke.
Timing Your Drop: Why Release Date Strategy Actually Matters
Dropping your music on a random Tuesday might be costing you real streams.
UnitedMasters Bulks Up Leadership Roster with Four Key Hires
The independent artist platform is making moves to sharpen its commercial game.
BrooklynVegan, Alt Press, and More Get Hit With Major Layoffs
The music publishing graveyard just got bigger.
DSW's Shot at Sony Gets Blocked in Court
The shoe retailer's preemptive legal move against Sony Music just got cut short.
Jay-Z's Year of Taking L's
Hov walked into 2024 and somehow managed to upset damn near everybody.
Bob Vylan Wins Fight Against Germany Travel Ban
The UK punk duo gets cleared to travel after German police tried to block them over a Glastonbury set.
The Catalog Gold Rush Is Getting Crowded—What's Next?
Investors are waking up to the fact that not every old record is a ticket to the bank.
Universal and Sony Take Musi to Court Over YouTube Loophole Hustle
The majors aren't letting this one slide anymore.
Musi Gets Sued Into Oblivion by IFPI, Sony & UMG
The streaming app that said 'licenses? nah' is finally facing the music industry's legal hammer.
The Grammys' AI Music Problem Ain't Going Away
Harvey Mason Jr. keeps pushing the same AI talking points—and the Recording Academy's got real questions to answer.
Suno Drops a Manifesto—But Will the Industry Buy It?
AI music company Suno just published a set of principles claiming to support artists. Here's what that actually means.
What's Really Behind a Viral Sync Win — Manager Breaks It Down
It's not just luck. Here's how The Beaches got their moment.
Kickstarter Puts $1M Behind Independent Music Creators
The crowdfunding platform is putting real money where its mouth is.
How One Nashville Artist Built a Million-Listener Empire Without Label Backing
Jared Benjamin proves you don't need a major deal to move the needle.
Five Moves Every Independent Artist Should Clock Right Now
Luminate just dropped their midyear report and it's telling us exactly where the industry's headed.
SM Entertainment Banking Serious Money on Live Shows and Merch
K-pop's biggest machine just proved the touring and merchandise hustle is the real money play.
Spotify's New AI Chatbot Wants to Be Your Music Concierge
Spotify is putting an AI chatbot in the mix—and it could change how fans discover and talk about music.
How Feel The Club Built Ecuador Into A Real Concert Destination
Juan Carlos Dominguez turned a regional promoter into Latin America's stadium tour engine.
Independent Heat: July's Best Artist Drops Worth Your Time
CD Baby's monthly rundown highlights the indie moves that actually matter.
Suno's Making Vinyl Moves While Spotify Plays Merlin Games
AI music and indie distribution just got a lot more interesting this week.
Faceless Content Ideas for Musicians Who Hate Camera
Camera-shy? You can still grow. Here are faceless content formats for musicians and producers, plus a plug-and-play posting system anybody can run.
One Song, 30 Clips: The Release-Week Content System
Turn one song into 30 short-form videos with a repeatable release-week system. The exact content angles, batch plan, and posting checklist inside.
Authentic Content for Musicians: Why Raw Still Wins
Human connection is the growth lever. Here's how to make raw, authentic content for musicians — and use AI tools to make more of it, faster.
How to Convert Views Into Fans (and Own Them)
Views don't pay. Learn the save-rate to email funnel that turns scrollers into an owned audience you actually control. Steal the CROCK system.
Batch Content Creation for Musicians: 2 Days a Month
Stop posting daily and burning out. Here's a batching system for musicians that fills a whole month of content in two filming days. Copy the framework.
TikTok LIVE Subscriptions: A Musician's Superfan Guide
TikTok's LIVE subscription tier explained for musicians. Real per-fan math, perks that convert, and a step-by-step system to turn viewers into paying superfans.
What TikTok LIVE Gifts Actually Pay: Coins to Cash
The real TikTok LIVE payout chain from coins to diamonds to cash, the platform cut, and a system to track what you actually keep. No hype.
Livestreaming Schedule for Musicians: 3 Streams a Week
A proven livestreaming schedule for musicians that actually grows a live audience. Get the 3-stream weekly blueprint plus a fill-in calendar template.
Best Livestreaming Platform for Musicians: The Payout Truth
Twitch vs TikTok vs YouTube vs Stageit for artists. A no-fluff decision matrix on which livestream platform actually pays independent musicians.
Cheap Livestream Setup for Musicians: Under $200
A pro-sounding, pro-looking livestream rig for under $200. The exact gear list, wiring order, and a checklist to test before you go live.
How Do Independent Musicians Make Money? The Revenue Stack
Full-time indie artists don't get rich off one income source. Here's the 6-pillar revenue stack that actually pays the bills — plus a template to build yours.
How Small Artists Actually Make Money Now
Streaming won't pay your rent under 1,000 monthly listeners. Here's where the money actually moved — and a revenue map you can build this week.
How to Get Sync Licensing as an Independent Artist
One TV or ad placement can out-earn a year of streaming. Here's the exact sync readiness checklist indie artists need to get placed and paid.
How to Claim Unclaimed Music Royalties (PRO vs MLC)
Your songs earn money you never collect. Here's how to claim unclaimed music royalties, why PRO and MLC are both required, and how black-box cash gets lost.
What AI Music Licensing Deals Mean for Artists
Big AI-music licensing deals are landing. Here's what they actually mean for independent artists, your rights, and how to get in on the money.
AI Tools for Music Content Creation: The 2026 Stack
The real AI content stack for musicians in 2026. Make a week of content in an afternoon with a plug-and-play system for artists at any level.
Can Pressure Actually Make You More Creative?
The clock's ticking — does that help or hurt your best ideas?
CD Baby's Molly Neuman on AI, Fraud, and Indie Music's Next Move
The indie distribution godfather is stepping up—here's what's really happening behind the scenes.
CD Baby Still Figuring Out What's Next
The indie distribution OG talks evolution at Indie Week.
Qobuz Steps Up With Real-Time Lyrics Across the Board
The streaming platform just made following along with your favorite tracks a whole lot easier.
What's Your Purpose as an Artist? Soundfly Breaks Down the Question
Van Gogh to Nina Simone—how the greats defined their mission
Southwest Airlines Got It Wrong: Musician's Guitar Is a Legal Carry-On
Southwest tried to block a musician from bringing her guitar on board. Turns out they violated federal law doing it.
June 2026: Independent Artists Keep It Moving With New Music
CD Baby's monthly roundup spotlights what indie creators dropped last month—and it's worth your time.
Indonesia Just Made It Free to Register Your Music — Here's Why That Matters
Indonesia's ditching copyright registration fees for songs and music to build out a real national database. Smart move.
When the Creative Well Runs Dry
A real talk moment on what happens when life hits different and the music stops flowing.
Inside Hopeless Records' TikTok Playbook: How They're Building Artists in 2024
Hopeless Records breaks down why chasing viral moments isn't the real move anymore.
How indie artists can actually get Spotify editorial playlist placement
Getting your song in front of millions on Spotify isn't luck — here's the actual playbook.
UK Music Exports Break $1B Mark, But Growth Stalls
British music finally cracks nine figures globally—but the momentum is running on fumes.
When the Well Runs Dry: How to Break Out of Creative Paralysis
Even the best producers hit a wall. Here's what to do when inspiration vanishes.
Lecrae Proves Direct-to-Fan Still Hits Different for Billboard Charts
Skip the middleman, hit the charts. Here's how Reach Records cracked the code.
You Put Your Music Out There — Now What? The Real Work Starts
Dropping your album on the DSPs isn't the end. It's the beginning.
The AI Sample Problem Is Here — And It's About to Get Messy
AI is learning to flip samples the same way producers do. But who gets paid when the machine does it?
Why Chopin's Refusal to Play the Game Made Him the Realest Composer of His Era
The 19th century was loud and bombastic—Chopin said nah and changed everything.
Inside the A&R Playbook: How Hits Get Made in 2024
A legendary label executive breaks down what it actually takes to develop artists and write songs that stick in 2024.
30 Days to Move Your Music: A Release Roadmap for Indies
Independent artists often wing it on drops. Here's how to actually plan one.
Patreon Cuts 20% of Staff as Creator Economy Hits Reality Check
Even platforms built on creator support aren't immune to the broader tech downturn.
The Paradox of the Cult Classic: Why Some of the Biggest Bands Get No Love
Success doesn't always come with popularity — and that's the whole point for some artists.
Inside the Hit Factory: What It Actually Takes to Write Songs People Care About
A top songwriter and producer breaks down the real blueprint for crafting modern hits.
The Royalty Game: What Independent Artists Actually Need to Know
Most indie artists only think about streaming money—but that's just the beginning.
GEMA Puts Its Money Where Its Mouth Is With Licensed AI Music Dataset
Germany's biggest rights org isn't just suing AI companies—it's building the alternative.