A federal jury has ruled that live entertainment behemoth Live Nation Entertainment and its ticketing subsidiary, Ticketmaster, operate as an illegal monopoly, a landmark decision that could permanently reshape the multibillion-dollar live music industry. The sweeping April 15 verdict caps off a dramatic legal saga that fractured a unified government front and pushed a coalition of states to take the entertainment giant to trial on their own. The jury’s decision formally vali

At SXSW 2026, a conversation centered on independence in music took a more practical approach during The State of the DIY Artist panel. The session brought together Curtiss King, a Los Angeles rapper, producer and media creator, alongside BeatStars founder and CEO Abe Batshon. Rather than framing independence as a final destination, the discussion focused on what it actually takes to sustain a career without relying on traditional systems. Throughout the session, both speaker

At SXSW 2026, one of the more forward looking conversations around music and technology came through a panel titled The Future of Music Is Participatory. The session brought together 310Babii, BandLab Technologies head of communications and creator insights Dani Deahl, Billboard co chief content officer Jason Lipshutz and Hook Music founder and CEO Gaurav Sharma for a discussion about how fans, artists and platforms are reshaping the way music is created and consumed. Rather

At SXSW 2026, a standing room only crowd gathered for a panel that reflected one of the most urgent conversations shaping today’s music industry: how artificial intelligence is being built, used and monetized. The session, titled Ethical and Unethical AI in Music, brought together producer voices and tech leaders, including Kato On The Track, KXVI, BeatStars chief technology officer Michael "MJ" Jacob and Neutune chief industry and rights officer Virginie Berger. Across the

The music world is still buzzing after the massive news that Universal Music Group has officially cleared the final hurdle to acquire Downtown Music Holdings. This is not just some small boardroom shuffle because we are talking about a 775 million dollar deal that effectively brings several massive indie pillars under the same roof as the world’s largest record company. For anyone who has spent time in the indie trenches, you know the name Downtown because they are the muscle

Suno, the AI music powerhouse currently sweating under the legal heat of the RIAA, just made a move that looks a lot like an olive branch. The company officially announced the hiring of Sam Berger as their new Senior Director of Artist Partnerships. If you don't know the name, you definitely know the resume. Berger is a heavy hitter in the music tech space who cut his teeth on Spotify’s global artist and label partnerships team before founding the livestreaming platform Momen

At this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos, will.i.am used a CNBC interview to lay out how he thinks artificial intelligence, streaming and live shows are reshaping the business that made him a star. The Black Eyed Peas founder, who now teaches a course on personal AI at Arizona State University in collaboration with Eduify, said the current wave of AI generated tracks is only an early stage. “AI slop, this is the worst it is ever going to be right now,” he told CNBC, addi

For years, music producers and audio engineers have joked about the day artificial intelligence would be able to hear a record and tell them how to mix it better. In a recent episode of a new series called Learn With Firm, that idea moved closer to reality. The host, a hobbyist producer and audio enthusiast, tested Gemini’s ability to analyze full audio files and offer detailed mixing and mastering advice. What he discovered was not a replacement for human engineers, but some

AI music startup Udio has made significant changes to its Terms of Service, limiting user rights and granting the company expanded control over uploaded content. The update, finalized on October 29, 2025, affects users' ability to download their own songs and clarifies Udio's ability to use submitted content to train its AI models. According to entertainment attorney and YouTuber Miss Krystle, Udio's new terms explicitly state that "by using the platform, you’ve already agre

When Top Dawg Entertainment co-president Terrence “Punch” Henderson sat down with Elsie Not Elise , it felt like a full-circle moment. Nearly three decades after TDE quietly began inside a South Central garage, Punch spoke about those early days with the same clarity and humility that shaped the label’s run. He remembered the mid-90s origins vividly, when Top Dawg, still finding his way through the streets, built a small studio with dreams bigger than his block. “The studio l

Tidal has introduced a new initiative designed to put money directly into the pockets of artists using its platform. The Program began on July 9 and ends on December 31, 2025 at 11:59:59 PM ET. Tidal's “Spotlight” program will pay artists $100 for every day their song is featured in one of Tidal’s editorial playlists or in-app promotions. The program applies to artists who use Tidal Upload to share their music publicly and have their tracks selected by the platform’s Editori

Andrea Gleeson, the CEO of TuneCore, brought a clear voice to the Trapital Summit with a focus on independence and artist empowerment. In...

Oliver Schusser, the Vice President of Apple Music and International Content, brought both insight and perspective to the Trapital Summit...

In a packed industry workshop hosted by Green Tea Studios and held at Live Bash filled with rising creatives, seasoned pros and music...

LaRussell is raising the bar once again on what it means to be independent. The Vallejo rapper continues to refine his Proud 2 Pay model...

Music executive Ray Daniels, known for his work with iconic names such as Lizzo and NLE Choppa and a deep understanding of the industry,...

Independent Bay Area artist LaRussell is redefining live music with a backyard concert model that centers on accessibility, community...

Joey Bada$$ has confirmed that his upcoming album will not arrive on its originally planned release date, and he’s placing the blame on...

Music attorney and artist advocate Miss Krystle is leading a growing wave of independent creators taking legal action against AI music...