The Business of Music, Publishing, and Broadcast Media History

Spotify Launches Beta Ai Disclosure Tool in Song Credits Sparking Publisher Transparency Fears

News DeskApril 21, 2026May 9, 2026

by News DeskApril 21, 2026May 9, 2026084

Publishers and songwriters face immediate risks as Spotify’s new beta feature spotlights voluntary AI credits in Song Credits, potentially devaluing human-created lyrics and production if

Music Business News

Music Radio Podcast Ads Stagnate at 1.3% Growth Despite Podcast Surge in 2025

News DeskApril 21, 2026May 9, 2026

by News DeskApril 21, 2026May 9, 2026070

Publishers and songwriters staring down another year of flat ad revenues in music, radio and podcasts face a stark reality: their digital income streams are

Music Business News

Live Nation Antitrust Loss Reshapes Live Sector as Warner Eyes Latin and Veterans Launch 26.2

News DeskApril 21, 2026May 9, 2026

by News DeskApril 21, 2026May 9, 2026069

Publishers and songwriters stand to gain leverage in a live music ecosystem cracked open by Live Nation and Ticketmaster’s antitrust defeat, where jury findings of

Music Business News

Why Sam Cooke’s Death Will Never Be Solved (Guest Editorial)

Digital and Radio FactsApril 18, 2026May 9, 2026

by Digital and Radio FactsApril 18, 2026May 9, 2026137

A guest editorial examines the controversial circumstances surrounding Sam Cooke's 1964 death, arguing the official account is false and presenting evidence suggesting the R&B legend

Music Business News

Pershing Square’s $10b IPO Could Reshape Music Industry Power Dynamics

News DeskApril 17, 2026May 9, 2026

by News DeskApril 17, 2026May 9, 2026043

Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square is raising up to $10 billion through a dual IPO while simultaneously pursuing a $64 billion unsolicited takeover of Universal Music

Music Business News

Vol for Life Ron Slay Remains �In the Building� as Afternoon Drive Host on Nashville�s 104.5 The Zone With Multi-Year Renewal

Radio Facts StaffApril 16, 2026May 9, 2026

by Radio Facts StaffApril 16, 2026May 9, 2026039

Cumulus Media�s 104.5 The Zone, Middle Tennessee�s leading destination for live and local sports talk, announced today that Ron Slay – Vol For Life and

BMI

BMI�s Russell Dickerson Hosts Sixth No. One Party for Platinum Single �Happen to Me�

Radio Facts StaffApril 16, 2026May 26, 2026

by Radio Facts StaffApril 16, 2026May 26, 2026038

BMI entertainer Russell Dickerson brought the music industry together inside BMI�s Nashville lobby on April 15 to celebrate his sixth career and multi-week chart topper,

Sony Music Publishing

Sony Music Publishing and Ace High Music�Sign Jake�Saghi�to Global Deal�

Radio Facts StaffApril 16, 2026May 27, 2026

by Radio Facts StaffApril 16, 2026May 27, 2026042

Sony Music Publishing�Nashville, in partnership with�Ace High Music,�announced the signing of�Jake�Saghi�to a global publishing agreement.��Colorado native Jake�Saghi�is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter�and producer�who is quickly becoming a�sought-after�collaborator�in�Nashville�s

Music Business News

Zelus: Phoenix Ai Station Hires Human Manager to Evolve Brand Equity for Music Discovery

News DeskApril 15, 2026May 9, 2026

by News DeskApril 15, 2026May 9, 2026049

As publishers and songwriters watch AI voices flood airwaves without a dime in performance royalties for recordings, Zelus Media Group’s hire of a human station

Hip Hop

Concord Partners With Victor Victor to Manage Pop Smoke and Ski Mask Catalogs in Hip-hop Push

News DeskApril 15, 2026May 26, 2026

by News DeskApril 15, 2026May 26, 2026048

Publishers and rights holders in hip-hop now have a powerhouse alliance to watch as Concord, a major independent music company, dives deeper into rap catalog

Music Business News

Ye Postpones Marseille Concert Amid French Government Ban Threat on Comeback Tour

News DeskApril 15, 2026May 9, 2026

by News DeskApril 15, 2026May 9, 2026040

Ye’s indefinite postponement of his Marseille show slams the brakes on a key revenue stream for publishers and rights holders banking on his comeback catalog

Music Business News

Prosecutors Label Big30 Flight Risk Over Pending Seven-figure Label Deal

News DeskApril 15, 2026May 9, 2026

by News DeskApril 15, 2026May 9, 2026057

Publishers and rights holders must now factor in how pending major label contracts can torpedo artist bond releases, turning lucrative advances into federal arguments for

R&B

Publishers Eye Massive Royalties From Chris Brown Usher R&b Tour Dream Setlist

News DeskApril 15, 2026May 26, 2026

by News DeskApril 15, 2026May 26, 2026042

Publishers and songwriters stand to cash in big from The R&B (Raymond & Brown) Tour, as this 33-date Live Nation-produced juggernaut spotlights a treasure trove

Music Business News

Spotify and Majors Win $322m Default Judgment Against Anna�s Archive Shadow Library

News DeskApril 15, 2026May 9, 2026

by News DeskApril 15, 2026May 9, 2026039

Publishers and songwriters face nonstop digital piracy threats that bleed royalties dry, and this $322 million default judgment against Anna�s Archive delivers a blueprint for

Music Business News

Live Nation-ticketmaster Breakup Suddenly Viable After States Crush Them in Court

News DeskApril 15, 2026May 9, 2026

by News DeskApril 15, 2026May 9, 2026015

Publishers and songwriters locked into Live Nation’s concert ecosystem face a seismic shift if a court forces Ticketmaster’s divestiture, potentially unlocking fairer ticketing that boosts

Music Business News

Luther Vandross, Phil Collins, Wu?Tang Clan Earn Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Honors

Radio Facts StaffApril 15, 2026May 9, 2026

by Radio Facts StaffApril 15, 2026May 9, 2026027

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has revealed the Class of 2026, honoring a slate of artists and industry figures whose work reshaped music

Music Business News

Justin Bieber’s Coachella Headline Ignites Massive Streaming Surge for Publishers and Songwriters

News DeskApril 15, 2026May 9, 2026

by News DeskApril 15, 2026May 9, 2026024

Publishers and songwriters holding stakes in Justin Bieber’s deep catalog are cashing in big right now, as his Coachella headline detonated a streaming explosion that

Music Business News Reviewed

Berklee College Of Music Faces Student Backlash Over AI Music Course

News DeskApril 10, 2026May 9, 2026

by News DeskApril 10, 2026May 9, 2026017

Berklee College of Music is currently facing a wave of student opposition regarding its recently introduced course on artificial intelligence in music. The course, which

Music Business News

Socan Reports Record $587 Million In Collections For 2025

News DeskApril 10, 2026May 9, 2026

by News DeskApril 10, 2026May 9, 2026011

The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) has announced that its collections reached an unprecedented $587 million in 2025. This milestone

Music Business News

Latin Music Revenue In The US Surpasses $1 Billion

News DeskApril 10, 2026May 9, 2026

by News DeskApril 10, 2026May 9, 2026017

Latin music in the United States has reached a significant milestone, with revenue hitting $1 billion at wholesale value for 2025, according to the Recording

Reviewed

How Coachella Came to Be

Radio Facts StaffApril 9, 2026May 9, 2026

by Radio Facts StaffApril 9, 2026May 9, 2026032

In May of each year, the valley of Indio, Palm Springs, Palm Desert and surrounding cities will reach staggering 120 degrees but right before that

Music Business News

Streamguys and APM Launch Inform Ad Network for Public Radio

News DeskApril 9, 2026May 9, 2026

by News DeskApril 9, 2026May 9, 2026014

StreamGuys, a prominent provider of streaming media services, and American Public Media (APM), one of the largest producers of public radio programming, have announced the

Radio

BIA Raises 2026 Local Radio Ad Revenue Forecast on Political Surge

News DeskApril 9, 2026May 9, 2026

by News DeskApril 9, 2026May 9, 2026013

BIA Advisory Services has updated its forecast for local radio advertising revenue in 2026, projecting an increase driven primarily by anticipated political advertising strength. This

Music Business News

Townsquare Media Boosts Local Engagement With Executive Visits

News DeskApril 9, 2026May 9, 2026

by News DeskApril 9, 2026May 9, 2026019

Townsquare Media, a prominent player in the local media landscape, has launched a new initiative aimed at strengthening its community ties through a series of

Music Business News

UMG Settles Copyright Dispute With Believe and TuneCore

News DeskApril 9, 2026May 9, 2026

by News DeskApril 9, 2026May 9, 2026011

Universal Music Group (UMG) has reached a settlement in its copyright infringement lawsuit against music distribution companies Believe and TuneCore. The lawsuit, filed in the