Cashing the $2 billion check is the easy part. But can Garth Brooks, a notoriously controlling IP owner, handle the realities of what really happens after a catalog transfer?

Universal Music Group and Spotify popped the champagne this week on ‘landmark licensing agreements,’ with both sides potentially scoring big wins if things work out.

After a searing first quarter, the question in 2026 is no longer whether the industry is growing, but rather how much higher the ceiling can go. With core music industry funding nearing $5 billion in Q1 alone, and April setting a breakneck pace for Q2, the industry has entered a heavyweight, top-heavy era driven by intellectual property (IP) and artificial intelligence (AI).

In this DMN Pro report, we take a closer look at the surprising data and research surrounding sullied superstar musicians like Michael Jackson, Kanye West, and R. Kelly. It’s far more complicated than it appears – and extremely lucrative for those who understand the complex dynamics involved. Our deep-dive begins with Michael the movie before careening towards other 'problematic' or otherwise canceled artists like Diddy, Kanye West, and R. Kelly. In every case, the data on how fans and listeners react ... Read More...

Breaking Rust, Xania Monet, The Velvet Sunset, Cain Walker, HAVEN... Until a few months ago, these AI ‘artists’ dominated headlines inside and outside the music industry. But then something strange happened.

According to the latest funding data from DMN Pro, the first quarter of 2026 has already signaled the start of a potentially record-setting year. During the three-month period, core music funding approached a staggering $5 billion, a level that was almost unthinkable a few years ago. In this DMN Pro report, we take a look at what’s driving the latest surge and compare current trends and risks with earlier years. Report Table of Contents I. Q1 2026: The $5 Billion Opening Salvo II. 2025 Core Music Fu... Read More...

After decades – yes, decades – of aggressive litigation and negotiation spanning multiple ISPs and a billion-dollar ruling, the US Supreme Court handed the music industry a stunning defeat in Cox Communications v. Sony Music Entertainment this week. It’s a resounding defeat from the highest court in the land – but is ISP piracy yesterday’s battle?

The recent deal between Live Nation, Ticketmaster, and the U.S. Department of Justice offered some hope of instituting overarching, federal-level rules and regulations governing live events and ticketing. The reality, however, is far less comforting.

In case you thought the streaming music price hikes were over, Warner Music Group chief Robert Kyncl is here to disabuse that notion. But despite the drumbeat for major price hikes ahead, are mega-platforms like Apple Music and YouTube Music listening? Or, are they smartly leveraging their newfound pricing and packaging advantages instead? In this report, we take a closer look at the industry’s relentless call for streaming music price increases, while analyzing whether it makes sense​ for the biggest ... Read More...

When it comes to streaming music market share, Spotify and Apple Music are the big gorillas – particularly in critical markets like North America and Europe. But despite a comparatively modest market share and relatively late entrance to the paid streaming music race, YouTube Music is now making some eyebrow-raising gains.

Streaming music subscribers in high-ARPU markets like the United States and Western Europe have largely been spoken for — or have they? In this report, we examine the latest tranche of US-based subscriber data shared with DMN Pro and extrapolate what this might mean for 2026.

Monetary commitments on music companies and catalogs crossed into double-digit billions in 2025 — edging past $11.007 billion — a figure that more than doubled already-impressive 2024 figures.