Dylan Smith

After Slamming Venue Lockdowns as ‘Pseudo-Science,’ Van Morrison Releases Protest Songs and Donates the Money to Struggling Musicians Who Can’t Tour

September 23, 2020

Van Morrison performing in Canada in 2010. Photo Credit: sahlgoode Last week, Van Morrison announced that he would release three songs protesting lockdown measures and large-gathering bans. Now, the 75-year-o... Read More...

Cardi B Faces $20 Million Defamation Lawsuit Following Ugly Dispute With Trump Supporters

Dylan Smith

September 23, 2020

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Cardi B is facing a $20 million defamation lawsuit after uploading footage of a heated confrontation between her sister and three Trump supporters to social media. The newly-single rapper posted footage of t... Read More...

One-Third of British Musicians Are Thinking About Quitting Their Careers

Dylan Smith

September 23, 2020

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Photo Credit: John Matychuk More than one-third of British musicians are considering quitting their music careers as a result of economic difficulties stemming from the novel coronavirus pandemic. The Musici... Read More...

AEG Fires Back Against Allegations In Coachella ‘Radius Clause’ Lawsuit

Dylan Smith

September 22, 2020

In May, Digital Music News was first to report that the Coachella anti-competitive "radius clause" lawsuit was back on. Now, Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) has refuted the far-reaching allegations in an u... Read More...

French Recorded Music Industry Stays Flat In 2020; Streaming Continues to Grow

Dylan Smith

September 22, 2020

Music streaming services' shares of total revenue in the French recorded music industry between 2017 and 2019. Photo Credit: National Syndicate of Phonographic Publishing Owing to COVID-19’s far-reaching impa... Read More...

Is High-Definition the Next Big Thing? Qobuz Raises a Cool $11.7 Million

Dylan Smith

September 22, 2020

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High-definition music streaming service Qobuz has raised over $11.7 million (€10 million) in a new funding round. Qobuz confirmed the multimillion-dollar backing this morning via a formal release. Per this a... Read More...

The Legal Battle Over YouTube Stream-Rippers Could Go to the Supreme Court

Dylan Smith

September 21, 2020

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Photo Credit: Christian Wiediger The copyright infringement lawsuit between the RIAA and Tofig Kurbanov, owner of YouTube stream-ripping platforms 2conv.com and flvto.biz, may be heading to the Supreme Court.... Read More...

ThePirateBay.com Sells for $35,150 at Auction

Dylan Smith

September 21, 2020

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16 years after its registration, ThePirateBay.com domain name has fetched $35,150 at auction. DropCatch recently acquired (and auctioned) this and other expired domains formerly owned and operated by the inf... Read More...

Pelosi Says Trump “Just Wants His Name” on a Second Stimulus Check

Dylan Smith

September 21, 2020

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Photo Credit: U.S. Department of Labor Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi recently claimed that the president “just wants his name” on a second stimulus check, casting additional doubt upon the prospect of a n... Read More...

Librarian of Congress Officially Names Shira Perlmutter Register of Copyrights

Dylan Smith

September 21, 2020

Shira Perlmutter is officially set to become the U.S. Copyright Office’s 14th Register of Copyrights. Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden announced the appointment of Shira Perlmutter this morning. Maria Stro... Read More...

Musicians Step Up Their Legal Battle Against New York’s Ticketed Event Ban — “It Is the Definition of Nonsensical”

Dylan Smith

September 21, 2020

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Manhattan, New York. Photo Credit: Oliver Niblett Late last month, Digital Music News was first to report that musicians had fired back against New York’s controversial ticketed event ban with a lawsuit. Now,... Read More...

Kanye West’s Label Contracts Include Master Ownership, Profit-Sharing Deals, and Multi-Million Dollar Advances

Dylan Smith

September 20, 2020

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As part of his ongoing tirade against the music industry, the Recording Academy, and Universal Music Group, rapper Kanye West recently posted some 100 pages worth of his past recording contracts to Twitter. B... Read More...

The Revolution Will Be Recorded: How Can Artists Shape Movements and Change Lives?

This Is the Real Difference Between Rap and Hip Hop

“My Whole Source of Income Just Disappeared” — How Two Musicians Are Dealing With Cancelled Concerts

What Does It Take to Succeed In Songwriting? Surprising Lessons from Two Successful Sync Writers

How a Movie Score Is Really Made — According to a Top Hollywood Director

Want to Get Your Music Heard? It Starts With the Winning Pitch

Want Your Music In a Major Gaming Series? Meet the Guys Who Create Their Soundtracks

Spotify Probably Owes You More Money — Here's How to Get It (Our Latest Podcast)

Meet Lady A, the Black Blues Singer Whose Name Got Taken by Lady Antebellum — Our Latest Podcast

Meet the Artist Who Is Literally Saving His Fans’ Lives — Our Latest Podcast

How to Game the Billboard Charts (And Why You Shouldn’t) — Our Latest Podcast

Meet the Single Mom Cellist Who Makes a Living Off Her Music — Our Podcast Interview

How to Protect Yourself From the Copyright Trolls — Our Latest Podcast

Stop Chasing Playlists and Start Building a Music Career — Our Latest Podcast

Cardi B Faces $20 Million Defamation Lawsuit Following Ugly Dispute With Trump Supporters

One-Third of British Musicians Are Thinking About Quitting Their Careers

AEG Fires Back Against Allegations In Coachella ‘Radius Clause’ Lawsuit

French Recorded Music Industry Stays Flat In 2020; Streaming Continues to Grow

Is High-Definition the Next Big Thing? Qobuz Raises a Cool $11.7 Million

The Legal Battle Over YouTube Stream-Rippers Could Go to the Supreme Court

ThePirateBay.com Sells for $35,150 at Auction

Pelosi Says Trump “Just Wants His Name” on a Second Stimulus Check

Librarian of Congress Officially Names Shira Perlmutter Register of Copyrights

Musicians Step Up Their Legal Battle Against New York’s Ticketed Event Ban — “It Is the Definition of Nonsensical”

Kanye West’s Label Contracts Include Master Ownership, Profit-Sharing Deals, and Multi-Million Dollar Advances

Author Dylan Smith