Live Nation Begins Doling Out Multimillion-Dollar Payments to States Following the DOJ Settlement — Initial Recipients Include Nebraska, Oklahoma, and...
Live Nation has begun disbursing multimillion‑dollar payments to six states after the Department of Justice antitrust settlement, marking the first tranche of a $280.4 million fund. The payouts total $18.56 million, roughly 7 % of the settlement pool, and mirror the term sheet used in the federal agreement. States accepted the same terms and dropped their individual claims, while the broader antitrust trial against Live Nation resumes. The settlement fund’s obligations are not conditioned on its cash balance, leaving room for further distributions.
American Law Institute’s ‘Copyright Restatement’ Project Faces Growing Opposition—500+ Sign Petition Staunchly Opposing New Rules
The American Law Institute’s (ALI) Copyright Restatement is drawing sharp criticism as the Copyright Restatement Transparency Project (CRTP) has gathered more than 500 signatures on a petition flagging serious inaccuracies. Former advisors resigned, saying their concerns about bias and mischaracterizations...
Kid Rock Snaps at Trump Over Live Nation Capitulation, Calls DOJ Settlement ‘A Joke’
Kid Rock blasted the Trump administration’s Department of Justice for settling the antitrust case against Live Nation and Ticketmaster for $280.4 million, calling the deal a joke. The settlement has drawn sharp criticism from New York Attorney General Letitia James, who...
Rumblings of an iPod Resurgence—Young Music Listeners Look to Distance Themselves From Streaming
A noticeable resurgence of Apple’s discontinued iPod line is underway, driven largely by Gen Z listeners seeking a break from algorithm‑driven streaming and smartphone overload. Google Trends and eBay data show searches for classic iPods and iPod Nano up 25%...
Zebralution Changes Hands Again as Germany’s Bookwire Snags the Distributor
Bookwire, the Frankfurt‑based e‑book platform, announced it has acquired 100% of Berlin‑based digital distributor Zebralution from German rights society GEMA. The transaction follows GEMA’s 2026 sale of the company, which it had fully owned after a 2019 stake purchase. Bookwire,...
David 1, Goliath 0: Katy Perry Loses Legal Showdown Against ‘Katie Perry’ In Australia
Australia’s High Court ruled in favor of Sydney‑based fashion designer Katie Perry, allowing her to market clothing under her own name. The decision overturns a prior ruling that had limited the pop star Katy Perry’s trademark to music and entertainment,...
Kelly Clarkson Says She Never Received Her $1 Million In ‘American Idol’ Prize Money
Kelly Clarkson revealed on her talk show that the $1 million she was promised for winning American Idol in 2002 was not a cash prize but an investment in her career, and she never received the promised vehicle either. She contrasted...
‘Michael’ Moves Forward Despite New Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Against the Jackson Estate — Early Screening Set for April 22nd
Lionsgate and IMAX confirmed an early screening of the Michael Jackson biopic *Michael* on April 22, ahead of its U.S. premiere on April 24, while a Berlin fan celebration kicks off the international rollout on April 10. The film, directed...
First Study of Investor Sentiment on Music Aims to Bring More Transparency to the Inner Workings of Music Investment
Fourth Pillar released its inaugural Music Investment Barometer, surveying 125 senior decision‑makers who oversee over $3.24 trillion in assets. The study finds music IP now recognized as a formal asset class, with 86% planning to increase allocations and average deal sizes...
Indie Artist Coalition Files Major Lawsuit Against Google Over AI Copyright Theft—’Broadest, Most Comprehensive Attack’ Against AI Music Models
A coalition of independent musicians has filed a federal lawsuit against Google, alleging that its AI music tools—Lyria 3 and ProducerAI—train on millions of copyrighted songs without permission. The complaint claims Google strips copyright metadata, misattributes ownership, and distributes the...
Latest Music Industry Hires: BeatBread, Moises, Sony Music Publishing, iHeartMedia, Academy of Country Music, More
The music industry saw a wave of senior appointments in early March 2026, with beatBread adding a CFO, a head of financial operations, and an AI board advisor. Moises recruited pop star Charlie Puth as chief music officer, while Sony...
Analysts Weigh In As Reservoir Media Takeover Battle Heats Up — B. Riley Downgrades, Roth Capital Says Current Offers ‘Materially’...
Reservoir Media (NASDAQ:RSVR) is at the center of a heated takeover battle, with activist investor Irenic Capital proposing a $10‑$11 per‑share offer and a joint proposal from Wesbild and Richmond Hill valuing the stock at $10.50 while controlling roughly 64%...
U.S. On-Demand and Non-Interactive Music Subscribers Hit 130 Million in 2025, Report Estimates — Up From 29 Million in 2016
The MusicWatch Annual Music Study estimates that U.S. on‑demand and non‑interactive music subscribers reached a record 130 million in 2025, up from roughly 29 million in 2016. The figure is derived from a comprehensive consumer survey and aligns closely with hard‑data sources...
Music Industry Coalition Urges Senate Committee to Strengthen Ticketing Reform Bill
The Fix the Tix Coalition, led by the National Independent Venue Association, sent a letter to the Senate Commerce Committee urging stronger provisions in the House TICKET Act (S.281). The coalition seeks full price transparency, a total ban on speculative...
Create Music Group Scores $450 Million Raise at $2.2 Billion Valuation
Create Music Group announced a $450 million financing round that lifts its valuation to $2.2 billion. The capital structure blends debt and equity, while the founding team retains majority ownership. Minority investors include Ares Management, Flexpoint Ford and 2 Mile Capital. The raise follows...
