Dylan Smith

Huawei is Taking on Spotify: Big Three Labels + 160 Million Users on Board

April 1, 2020

The main Huawei offices in Shenzhen, China (photo: Brücke-Osteuropa) Chinese tech and cellular company Huawei is taking on Spotify in Europe with Huawei Music, a competing music streaming service that’s now b... Read More...

As Part of $20-$25 Million Spending Spree, Live Nation Acquires LA's Spaceland Presents

Live Nation Shifts Into Streaming with ‘Live at Home,’ Donates $10MM for ‘Crew Aid’

Dylan Smith

April 1, 2020

With the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis preventing virtually all crowd-based live events from proceeding as planned, concert-promotion giant Live Nation has unveiled a “Live at Home” streaming initiative. Addi... Read More...

Spotify Faces Backlash Over Axing Beloved Features on Mobile

Spotify and Warner Music Announce a ‘Renewed Global Licensing Partnership’

Dylan Smith

April 1, 2020

Spotify and mega-label Warner Music Group have settled their professional differences (including artist-royalty disagreements and a much-publicized rift in India) and signed an “expanded” international deal. ... Read More...

Federal Court Grants RIAA Subpoena to Obtain Cloudflare's Clients' Personal Information

RIAA Strikes Back After Spinrilla Accusations of False DMCA Takedown Notices

Dylan Smith

March 31, 2020

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The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is firing back against claims that it falsely issued DMCA copyright-infringement notices. About one week ago, Digital Music News reported that Spinrilla ... Read More...

CMA Fest 2020, Slated for June, Is Now Cancelled

Dylan Smith

March 31, 2020

Better days: Country duo Sugarland performs at CMA Fest 2008 (photo: Xcalibr) CMA Fest organizers have officially canceled their 2020 event due to coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns. The four-day festival had p... Read More...

Judge Allows Universal Music Class-Action Lawsuit to Proceed; Suit Also Filed Against Sony Music

Dylan Smith

March 31, 2020

(photo: Bill Oxford) Earlier today, a U.S. District Court judge allowed a class-action lawsuit filed against Universal Music Group (UMG) to proceed. In February, five musicians submitted two class-action co... Read More...

StubHub: “It Is Currently Impossible for Us to Offer Immediate Cash Refunds”

Dylan Smith

March 31, 2020

(photo: Benjamin Sharpe) StubHub has officially responded to the recent controversy surrounding its refund policy amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. As first reported on Digital Music News, some StubH... Read More...

Music Streaming Is Taking a Backseat to Netflix — But Audio’s Decline is Leveling Off

Dylan Smith

March 31, 2020

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(photo: YTCount) Expectedly, the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis and its corresponding social distancing initiatives are affecting the way fans consume music and other entertainment. The viewership uptick enjoy... Read More...

Tencent Officially Closes Its $3.3 Billion, 10% Buyout of Universal Music Group

Dylan Smith

March 31, 2020

Photo Credit: Chris Yunker / CC by 2.0 Chinese conglomerate Tencent has officially acquired a 10 percent stake in Universal Music Group (UMG). Tencent and Vivendi, a French conglomerate and UMG’s parent comp... Read More...

Kobalt Confirms New Funding Round That May Exceed Well Over $100 Million

Kobalt Music Publishing’s Annual Revenue Surges ― But Losses Are Another Story

Dylan Smith

March 31, 2020

Kobalt Music Publishing experienced a major revenue uptick during the 2019 fiscal year, but the earnings boost was accompanied by substantial losses. Update: The following report specifically pertains to UK-... Read More...

Plácido Domingo, 79, Rides Out His Coronavirus Infection: “I Feel Fine”

Dylan Smith

March 31, 2020

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Plácido Domingo performs in Buenos Aires in 2011 (photo: Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires CC by 2.0) Famed opera singer Plácido Domingo has delivered a relatively positive bit of coronavirus news. Approx... Read More...

‘The Shining’ Composer Krzysztof Penderecki Dies at 86 After ‘Long and Serious Illness’

Dylan Smith

March 30, 2020

Krzysztof Penderecki in 2008 (photo: Adam Kumiszcza) Legendary Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki, whose work appeared in The Shining, The Exorcist, and other prominent films, has passed away at the age of ... Read More...

Author Dylan Smith