The probe into the Universal Music-Downtown deal was paused by the European Commission because relevant documents had not been submitted.| Billboard
UMG’s Downtown deal sparked forceful memos and open letters from Virgin Records co-CEOs and, now, hundreds ofindie music executives.| Billboard
Downtown CEO Pieter van Rijn has blasted controversy around the company's Virgin acquisition in a new open letter.| Billboard
Indie music leaders have launched an opposition campaign against the proposed UMG-Downtown deal, arguing it "poses a serious threat to competition."| Billboard
Kacey Musgraves renews her Warner Chappell deal, Dynamite Songs acquires the catalog of songwriter Keith Harris and more music publishing news.| Billboard
Named to Billboard’s 2025 Power Players list, Kaefer led Spotify’s music licensing for seven years.| Pro Posts – Billboard
Grizzly Touring claims the singer is refusing to repay “a single penny” of his advance after failing to complete an arena tour.| Pro Posts – Billboard
In this week's Legal Beat newsletter, experts preview Diddy's sentencing, Taylor wins a copyright case, a Wu-Tang case continues, Nirvana beats a lawsuit & more.| Pro Posts – Billboard
The lawsuit claims Ray J has waged a decades-long defamation war on the Kardashians aimed at "reviving his own fading notoriety."| Pro Posts – Billboard
The Venezuelan singer-songwriter, who has written for artists including Thalia and Christian Alicea, also renewed his go-forward publishing deal with the company.| Pro Posts – Billboard
A judge says the image — one of the most iconic album covers in rock history — isn't the kind of "sexually provocative" photo that would break federal law.| Pro Posts – Billboard
With a chart-topping album and high-concept residency, Bad Bunny topped himself this year — and he did it by prioritizing his island home at every turn.| Pro Posts – Billboard
Diddy will be sentenced on Friday. How much prison time will he get? Here’s what legal experts say you need to know.| Pro Posts – Billboard
SXSW 2026 unveiled a featured sessions list, plus a new badge system and "Clubhouse" format for the annual conference in Austin, Texas.| Billboard
HYBE shares fell and SM Entertainment stock slipped after its failed mediation session with members of its K-pop boy group EXO.| Billboard
As it seemingly gets harder to break a song on TikTok, clever music marketers are posting singles on thousands of accounts to juice the algorithm.| Billboard
Donald Trump has signed an executive order allowing TikTok to continue operating in the U.S.| Billboard
After "Battle of the Platforms" lost $10 million, investors including NBA superstar James Harden are jockeying for their money back. Plus, $uicideboy$ inked a big $$$ deal.| Billboard
Digital distributor DistroKid is launching a new service called Upstream that will allow independent artists to share data with labels in hopes of getting signed| Billboard
Spotify's new Loud & Clear website focused on creator payout transparency shows last year 7,800 artists earned royalties over $100,000 and 870 artists topped $1 million.| Billboard
Regulating Discovery Mode by effectively putting a "paid promotion" sticker on tracks could potentially close off one of the only low-cost access points available to indie artists on the service.| Billboard
U2 and Sphere top the Billboard Boxscore midyear concert touring recap. The top 10 tours also include P!nk, Madonna, Luis Miguel, RBD & Travis Scott.| Billboard
As more listeners find music on apps like TikTok, editorial playlists from Spotify, Apple Music and other streamers don't break hit songs as much.| Billboard
With Hollywood on pause due to the writer and actor strikes, music synch revenue could come to a standstill — and supervisors are bracing for impact.| Billboard
Viral hits on TikTok are blurring the lines between catalog and frontline music for consumers.| Billboard
Sped-up versions of popular songs have been thriving on TikTok, giving boosts to streams and chart performance too.| Billboard
The use of "featuring" credits on top ten Hot 100 hits hasn't been this unpopular since 1995 — Spotify monthly listener counts may be why.| Billboard
Position Music names Mark Chipello as president, highlighting his role in expanding the company’s publishing and label operations.| Billboard
Megan Thee Stallion says Tory Lanez leaked evidence to DJ Akademiks regarding her shooting and wants to force Akademiks to reveal his source.| Billboard
The market share of music’s top ten streaming hits has shrunk significantly over the last decade, according to Luminate. Is the mainstream shrinking?| Billboard
Spirit Music has signed HARDY to a go-forward songwriting agreement, while acquiring select compositions from his music publishing catalog.| Billboard
The Beaches have been named Billboard Canada's Women of the Year 2025 and more Canada music news involving Drake, Joni Mitchell and more.| Billboard
The Weeknd has broken Beyonce and Bruno Mars' R&B touring records.| Billboard
T-Pain and GloRilla receive honors at BMI’s R&B/Hip-Hop Awards, while "Not Like Us" takes top song and Sony Music Publishing is publisher of the year.| Billboard
Record Store Day 2025's top sellers in the U.S. included releases from Post Malone, Taylor Swift and Gracie Abrams, according to Luminate.| Billboard
On Record Store Day 2025, releases by Taylor Swift and Gracie Abrams led to long lines and excitement, but bad weather dampened the day.| Billboard
Music industry events calendar: All the festivals, awards, conferences and more across the business.| Billboard
With AI, fan page marketing, unlimited uploads and an endless stream of new music, how can anyone figure out what to listen to — or what's even real?| Billboard
The Music Business Association announced the agenda for Music Biz 2025, set for May. This marks the first time the conference will be held in Atlanta,| Billboard
The Grammy telecast will move from CBS to Disney under a 10-year global deal. The show will be simulcast on ABC, Hulu and Disney+ starting in 2027.| Billboard
Grammy voters need to act fast to take advantage of “standard pricing” during the online entry period for the 2026 Grammy Awards.| Billboard
Mike Tyson has been sued over a Jay-Z, DMX and Ja Rule song he used in an Instagram promo for his boxing match with Jake Paul.| Billboard
Major labels are asking streaming services to take down AI soundalikes based on artists’ rights of publicity.| Billboard
Alfonso Perez Soto is exiting Warner Music (WMG) after 20 years -- plus iHeartMedia hired Lisa Coffey and more music industry job news.| Billboard
Tiny Vinyl launched this month and is releasing 4" records from Chappell Roan, Britney Spears, Frank Sinatra, Rolling Stones and many more.| Billboard
The Round Hill Music store in Greenwich sells guitars, vinyl and more. Owner Josh Gruss talks why he opened it and creating a "welcoming" atmosphere.| Billboard
At Record Store Day Summer Camp, Luminate released new figures on the state of vinyl, CDs, R&B/hip-hop and Taylor Swift's dominance in physical music.| Billboard
Rising vinyl prices, a Todd Rundgren Q&A and more were highlights of the recent Record Store Day Summer Camp 2025, held in New Orleans.| Billboard
ElevenLabs' new AI music model has licenses with Merlin and Kobalt that will allow their songwriters and artists to opt in, and we have the details.| Billboard
Firing of Register of Copyrights Shira Perlmutter sparks concerns that the White House will side with tech companies in debate about AI and copyright.| Billboard
President Trump has signaled a willingness to change copyright law to help AI companies train their algorithms. What impact can that have on music?| Billboard
2025 Q2 earnings for music companies are recapped. See what Spotify, UMG, SiriusXM and other major companies reported for the second quarter.| Billboard
HYBE's earnings in Q2 2025 showed that tours by BTS' j-hope and Jin helped revenue rise 10% year-over-year, while merchandise sales surged.| Billboard
As BET celebrates 45 years of history, CEO Scott Mills talks about its importance, future and the state of its flagship awards shows.| Billboard
Regional Mexican star Gerardo Ortiz testified against Del Records' CEO Ángel del Villar in a federal courtroom on Wednesday. Get the details here.| Billboard
Ángel del Villar, Del Records' CEO, was found guilty by a jury in the trial over his ties to a concert promoter linked to Mexican drug cartels.| Billboard
Angel Del Villar should get a 6-year prison sentence after convictions for working with a concert promoter linked to Mexican cartels, prosecutors say.| Billboard
Drake's "Scorpion" debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 marking the biggest week of 2018 for an album, the biggest streaming week ever for an album and the eighth No. 1 in a row for the superstar.| Billboard
Drake’s 'Certified Lover Boy' album makes a spectacular debut atop the Billboard 200 chart with the biggest week for any album in over a year.| Billboard
Spotify unveiled a TikTok-like verticle swiped homepage for its mobile app at its Stream On event Wednesday.| Billboard
Spotify launched a "DJ" feature for premium users that is powered by an AI voice with commentary.| Billboard
Members of Congress worry about the long-term impacts of Spotify's new program. Artist teams see it as a tool to rise above the competition| Billboard
Even after Spotify defended its Discovery Mode program, House members worry the streamer's "vague language" keeps consumers in the dark.| Billboard
TuneCore is taking a page from airlines, hotels and credit cards and rolling out a customer loyalty program of its own.| Billboard
Tidal today (April 27) has said it will be unveiling a new free membership tier, where users can sign up with an email address and get ad-free access to Tidal’s various video content without having to pay.| Billboard
Financial services giant Square is acquiring a majority stake in Tidal, the music streaming service led by Jay-Z, the companies announced Thursday (March 4).| Billboard
SESAC is the latest performance rights organization to garner interest from financial investors, as owner Blackstone fields private equity offers.| Billboard
Global Music Rights' majority ownership officially changed hands after a deal valuing it at $3.3 billion closed just before Christmas, sources say.| Billboard
Announced Wednesday (April 30), the agreement adds Fortnite Jam Tracks to Luminate’s growing “Interactive On-Demand” category.| Billboard
SESAC Music Group raised $889 million in a bond sale through senior, five-year notes.| Billboard
The Copyright Royalty Board announced a long-awaited determination in the Phonorecords III remand proceeding, favoring songwriters' rates.| Billboard
Music publishers and streaming services including Spotify, Apple and Amazon have made agreement on new songwriter royalties for 2023-2027.| Billboard
Spotify reports its first quarterly profit in a year and 6 million new paid subscribers -- following price hikes and cost cuts in the third quarter.| Billboard
The Music Modernization Act received a Congressional five-year review featuring industry leaders celebrating and criticizing the landmark legislation.| Billboard
In territories like India, Brazil, Africa and beyond, new opportunities for Western songwriters are leading to big hits, locally and internationally.| Billboard
Ben Katovsky will lead daily operations of the business and overseeing Hipgnosis' Song Management teams, reporting to CEO Merck Mercuriadis.| Billboard
The TikTok Canada shutdown is imminent. Now the company's CEO is requesting an "urgent" meeting with the country's minister of industry.| Billboard
Jane's Addiction members filed an assault lawsuit againt the band's frontman Perry Farrell over his onstage attack of guitarist Dave Navarro.| Billboard
The growth in Latin music and World Music is more than just a Bad Bunny bump — it's part of a continuing multi-year trend in U.S. consumption.| Billboard
AI companies must respect music creators' rights, writes RIAA chairman/CEO Mitch Glazier in a new guest column.| Billboard
Indie music venue 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. is profiled for a new series. Owner Seth Hurwitz talks how the club became a national touring spot.| Billboard
Day two of the copyright infringement trial over Katy Perry's 2013 single "Dark Horse" included testimony from musicologist Todd Decker as well as Marcus Gray, the songwriter and performer who claims Perry and her collaborators used the underlying beat from his 2008 Christian rap song "Joyful Noise" without permission.| Billboard
Flo Milli is facing a copyright lawsuit over her song “Never Lose Me.” The case also targets Babyface Ray and 42 Dugg for their song “Ron Artest.”| Billboard
Ed Sheeran beat a lawsuit claiming his “Thinking Out Loud” infringed Marvin Gaye‘s “Let’s Get It On" after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the case.| Billboard
Karol G and Tiësto beat a copyright lawsuit over the song "Don't Be Shy." A judge threw it out, saying the plaintiff’s expert witness was unqualified.| Billboard
Spotify's Discovery Mode is causing issues among industry insiders, while its independent status is an open question. DistroKid is now worth over $1 billion.| Billboard
The streaming service is going on the offensive amid a Congressional probe of its new Discovery Mode feature, and it has help from some indie distribution CEOs.| Billboard
R. Kelly's convictions and 30-year prison sentence were upheld by a federal appeals court on Wednesday (Feb. 12).| Billboard
Music Biz 2025 hosted a panel on indie music retail. Here's a recap, which includes talk of data, an increasingly young customer base and more.| Billboard
As Music Biz 2025 hits Atlanta, president Portia Sabin outlines a conference agenda packed with AI innovation, inclusivity and global collaboration.| Billboard
Spotify, Universal Music Group, HYBE and more have reported earnings for Q1 2025. Here's every music company's report for the period in one place.| Billboard
Sony Music executive Dennis Kooker says platforms are using legal loopholes to avoid deepfake takedown requests.| Billboard
Spotify announced it will be adding an on-platform pre-save feature at its Stream On event Wednesday.| Billboard
Artists can now opt in to Discovery Mode through the Spotify for Artists tool, the platform announced during its Stream On event| Billboard
The new interim head of Tidal will be Jesse Dorogusker, a longtime Square executive and the former director of engineering at Apple.| Billboard
Music executives say that a deluge of new music — and the difficulty of influencing TikTok's algorithm — has made artist development and building an audience harder than ever for new acts.| Billboard
Spotify finished 2021 with 180 million subscribers and a gain in advertising revenue, the company revealed in its fourth quarter earnings.| Billboard
Songwriter and publisher streaming royalty rates are going up with a new CRB deal — an explainer on how the new calculations work.| Billboard
Why Spotify's latest price increase for premium will mean lower royalty rates for U.S. songwriters.| Billboard
Coachella and other festival payment plans are popular with concertgoers as ticket prices and other costs -- like food, lodging, merch -- remain high.| Billboard