Fontaines D.C. have released a new single and confirmed details of their next studio album, Dopamine Chamber, marking their return after a period away from new music.
The record will be the Irish band’s fifth full-length release, though a specific release date has not been disclosed beyond the announcement window.
Read the full story at Billboard.
Spotify is debuting a new artist series called “Hometown,” with Beabadoobee, Jorja Smith and Nemzzz set as the first headliners. The initiative ties each artist to their local roots as part of the platform’s content push.
Beyond the content component, Spotify said it will partner with each artist to support community initiatives in their respective hometowns, linking the series to on-the-ground charitable or civic efforts rather than just streaming promotion.
Read the full story at Billboard.
OzzFest is set to return in 2027, with organizers confirming a venue in Birmingham, England, the hometown of the late Ozzy Osbourne. The festival launched in 1996 as a touring showcase for hard rock and metal acts and last took place in 2018.
The revival marks the first edition of the event since Osbourne’s death, positioning the festival as both a business relaunch and a tribute to its founder. Further details on lineup and ticketing have not yet been announced.
Read the full story at Billboard.
Jamen Capital and Merlin have finalized their purchase of Curve Royalty Systems from Virgin Music Group, the companies confirmed Tuesday. The transaction closed after receiving final approval from the European Commission.
The deal marks the completion of a sale process that had been pending regulatory clearance, transferring ownership of the royalty distribution platform to its new owners.
Read the full story at Music Business Worldwide.
The long-running dispute between Cardi B and BIA flared up again on Thursday (Aug. 13), marking the latest chapter in a rivalry that has played out publicly for years.
The renewed friction comes after previous rounds of public sparring between the two artists, keeping the feud a recurring talking point in hip-hop circles.
Read the full story at Billboard.
The Recording Academy is exploring the creation of a new Grammy category for Asian pop music, following criticism over the exclusion of BTS and other Asian acts from major nominations in recent years. Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. said leadership has held discussions with representatives across K-pop, J-pop, C-pop and Indian music scenes as part of the review.
The talks signal an acknowledgment from the Academy that its existing categories have struggled to accommodate the commercial and cultural reach of Asian pop genres. No timeline or formal proposal has been announced, but the discussions suggest a potential expansion of the Grammy awards structure in coming cycles.
Read the full story at Music Business Worldwide.
Jamendo has dropped its copyright infringement lawsuit against AI music generator Suno, just six weeks after bringing the case. The music library and licensing company has not detailed the reasoning behind the withdrawal.
The move comes as Suno overhauls its platform policies, including plans to introduce audio watermarking and fingerprinting technology in the coming weeks. Those tools are designed to help identify AI-generated tracks and address rights holders’ concerns about unlicensed use of copyrighted material in model training.
Suno remains under legal pressure elsewhere, with major label lawsuits still pending, but the Jamendo case’s quick reversal suggests at least one dispute may be heading toward a settlement or licensing arrangement rather than continued litigation.
Read the full story at Music Business Worldwide.
Suno has struck a licensing agreement with BMG that pairs rights access with new usage controls, including limits on downloads and watermarking of AI-generated tracks. The arrangement gives the music generation platform legal access to BMG’s catalog while building in guardrails meant to address rights holders’ concerns about unauthorized use and traceability.
Alongside the licensing terms, the deal introduces two new outputs for users: a professional tier and a physical product option, expanding how Suno-generated material can be distributed or monetized beyond streaming platforms.
The agreement reflects a broader industry pattern of major rights holders negotiating direct licensing terms with AI music generators rather than pursuing litigation, following similar moves by other labels and publishers over the past year.
Read the full story at Music Business Worldwide.
Live Nation has reached a settlement in a lawsuit filed by a concertgoer who claimed he suffered a traumatic brain injury at a Luke Bryan performance at a US amphitheater operated by the company. The suit was filed in 2024.
Terms of the settlement were not disclosed. The case adds to a string of legal matters facing Live Nation as the promoter contends with ongoing scrutiny of its venue operations and safety practices.
Read the full story at Music Business Worldwide.
Warner Music Group CEO Robert Kyncl defended his company’s licensing agreement with AI music generator Suno, saying artificial intelligence should be embraced rather than fought through litigation. He made the comments on Semafor’s Mixed Signals podcast, released Friday (August 14).
Warner struck a deal with Suno earlier this year, breaking ranks with Universal Music Group and Sony Music, which are both pursuing copyright infringement lawsuits against the AI startup. Kyncl’s remarks signal a continued split among major labels over how to handle AI music tools trained on copyrighted recordings.
Kyncl also touched on his broader views on streaming and technology in the industry, including reflections on his prior career at Netflix and YouTube.
Read the full story at Music Business Worldwide.