News UK collection org PPL paid out $108M to performers and recording rightsholders in Q2 2026 Almost 4,500 of those performers and recording rightsholders are receiving a payment from PPL for the first time.
News Viberate opens music data to ChatGPT, Claude and other AI bots via official MCP server launch – amid ‘AI-first pivot’ for analytics company The Model Context Protocol (MCP) lets AI agents connect to outside data sources and act on them
News TikTok turns Madonna’s Confessions II launch into a global LIVE event, two physical pop-ups, and an in-app fan hub The centerpiece is the "iHeartRadio and TikTok LIVE Premiere with Madonna," streaming on July 2 from the album's release party in London.
News South Korea’s FTC opens probe into HYBE and ADOR over NewJeans’ Danielle Danielle's attorney, Jung Jong-chae, who filed the complaint, said the FTC began investigating on June 4.
News Primary Wave pumps $100M+ into Atticus Works, a new literary and theatrical catalog acquisition company Allen & Company LLC acted as financial advisor to Primary Wave Music in connection with the transaction
News US senators revive bill that would force AI-generated audio, video and images to carry labels Songwriters and SAG-AFTRA line up behind revived US bill to label AI-generated audio, video and images
News Virgin Music Group unveils new global leadership team across six regions, integrating Downtown executives It follows VMG's $775 million acquisition of Downtown, which completed in February.
News Spotify bundles three months of Premium with Vodafone Idea’s postpaid plans in its first Indian telco partnership Vi postpaid customers on eligible plans receive three months of Spotify Premium at no extra cost.
News Firebird launches $750M catalog buying fund backed by Ares and Raine Group Ares has also taken a minority stake in Firebird
Analysis Responsible AI must protect the human creativity that gives culture meaning The following MBW op/ed comes from Rasha Khalifa Al Mubarak, founder and chairwoman of UAE-based MusicNation
News Suno sued by Winamp subsidiary Jamendo over AI training, as firm files new copyright suit just a week after suing Nvidia Jamendo accuses Suno of the unauthorized use of musical content and associated data in the development and operation of its AI technologies.
News Beyoncé’s Parkwood wins dismissal of ‘Alien Superstar’ sample suit as plaintiff didn’t yet exist when it sued US District Judge Mark C. Scarsi granted Parkwood's motion to dismiss and threw out the entire action "for want of standing."
News Sony Music Indonesia and Sun Eater Group launch joint venture label LUNAR The new label debuts with three Indonesian artists: Kecoud, Alee, and Nandoshi.
News Google says AI training is fair use and copyright should be policed on outputs, not inputs The tech giant has published a new policy paper outlining the company's preferred approach to AI regulation
News Blur drummer Dave Rowntree loses UK court appeal to revive ‘black box’ royalties claim against PRS for Music Rowntree's appeal in his proposed class action against PRS for Music has been dismissed
News TIDAL to automatically tag AI-generated music… and block it from earning royalties TIDAL is introducing an AI policy that will automatically tag wholly AI-generated music in its app
News Live Nation moves to push ex-exec’s $35m lawsuit out of court and into private arbitration Former EVP Nicholas Rumanes alleged he was fired in May 2025 in retaliation for flagging what his complaint called "serious corporate misconduct."
News HYBE’s BIGHIT MUSIC cracks down on ‘egregious and unlawful conduct’ targeting CORTIS, as fans attach GPS trackers to artists’ vehicles The complaints covered malicious online posts, the illegal sale of the members' airport ticketing information, and breaches of the artists' privacy and safety.