Samsung Seeks Dismissal of Dua Lipa’s $15M Lawsuit

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Samsung has filed a motion to dismiss a $15 million lawsuit brought by Dua Lipa, arguing that the singer does not hold trademark rights over her own image. The filing sets up a legal dispute over how far publicity and likeness protections extend when no formal trademark is registered.

A hearing on the motion is scheduled for December 14 in the US District Court for the Central District of California. The case could have implications for how brands use artist likenesses in marketing without direct licensing agreements.

Read the full story at Music Business Worldwide.

UMG Taps AI Voice Firm ElevenLabs, Valued at $11B, for Fan Remix Platform

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Universal Music Group has signed a licensing deal with ElevenLabs, the AI audio company now valued at $11 billion, to build a platform allowing fans to create remixes, mashups and other reinterpretations of UMG tracks. The partnership marks one of the label’s most direct moves yet to bring generative AI tools into an official, licensed fan-facing product rather than treating such use as unauthorized.

ElevenLabs, known for its voice-cloning and synthetic audio technology, has been expanding beyond text-to-speech into broader music applications and has drawn significant investor interest amid the AI boom. The UMG deal signals growing willingness among major labels to strike commercial agreements with AI firms rather than pursue litigation alone, following a pattern of licensing talks across the industry as rights holders look to control how their catalogs are used in AI-generated content.

Read the full story at Music Business Worldwide.

Malcolm Todd Extends Do That Again Tour With Asia, Europe, UK and Australia Dates

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Malcolm Todd has announced additional 2026-2027 tour dates for his Do That Again Tour, expanding into Asia, Europe, the UK and Australia. The new leg begins November 23 in Taipei and moves through Tokyo, Manila, Singapore, Seoul, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta before the tour resumes in February 2027 across Stockholm, Copenhagen, Cologne, Brussels, Berlin, Amsterdam, Paris, Dublin, Glasgow, Birmingham, Manchester and London. The run concludes in May 2027 with Australian dates in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.

Support acts include Natanya for the European and UK shows and Maden Lane for the Australian dates. The expansion follows the September 2 launch of Todd’s North American tour, which according to the announcement is sold out and includes stops at Radio City Music Hall, Chicago’s The Salt Shed and a three-night stand at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles.

The tour supports Todd’s sophomore album Do That Again, released via Columbia Records, which the label says reached No. 5 on the Billboard 200 with all 13 tracks charting on the U.S. Spotify Chart. Todd’s single “Earrings” has been certified platinum by the RIAA. Artist presales for the newly announced dates begin September 15, with general onsales following later in the week.

Based on a press release provided to Music Industry Weekly by Genesis Salazar, LiveNation.com.

Chief Keef Pushes Back Chicago Homecoming Show to September 23

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Chief Keef has postponed what was set to be his first Chicago concert in more than ten years. The show has been rescheduled to September 23.

No reason for the delay was given. The concert marks a rare hometown appearance for the rapper, who rose to prominence out of Chicago’s drill scene more than a decade ago but has largely stayed away from performing there since.

Read the full story at Pitchfork.

‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Expands Merch Line With Blind Box Phone Huggers

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The ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ franchise is extending its blind box merchandise strategy with a new line of phone huggers, small clip-on figures designed to accessorize phones, tablets and computer screens. The collection includes nine minifigures from the property, sold in the randomized blind box format that has driven demand for the franchise’s collectibles.

The release adds to a growing slate of consumer products tied to ‘KPop Demon Hunters,’ reflecting how entertainment IP continues to lean on collectible merchandise as a revenue stream alongside music and streaming.

Read the full story at Billboard.

The Fray, Dashboard Confessional Team Up for 2027 Australia/New Zealand Tour

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The Fray will tour Australia and New Zealand in 2027 with Dashboard Confessional, marking a co-headline run across eight dates in the region.

The trek splits evenly between four indoor headline concerts and four outdoor performances booked as part of the Lookout Festival series, giving fans in the region two different concert formats to catch the pairing.

Read the full story at Billboard.

Icehouse to Mark ‘Man of Colours’ 40th Anniversary With 2027 Australian Tour

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Icehouse will tour Australia in mid-2027 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of “Man of Colours,” the band’s best-selling album, performing it in full.

The run marks the group’s first indoor headline tour in more than 20 years.

Read the full story at Billboard.

Charli XCX Defends Limited 2027 Tour Schedule Amid Fan Criticism

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Charli XCX has addressed criticism from fans over the scope of her newly announced 2027 tour, which covers just six shows across Dublin, Glasgow, Manchester, London, Amsterdam and Paris.

The singer said the workload of touring is demanding on her both emotionally and physically, pushing back against calls for a broader run of dates.

Read the full story at Billboard.

Travis Barker Fronts PSA for Humane World for Animals

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Travis Barker has partnered with Humane World for Animals on a 30-second public service announcement promoting shelter pet adoption and a meat-free lifestyle. The Blink-182 drummer, a longtime vegetarian, urges fans in the spot to consider cruelty-free products and faux fur alternatives.

The campaign, titled “Just Do Good,” marks Barker’s latest turn as an advocate for animal welfare causes outside his music career.

Read the full story at Billboard.

Charli XCX Opens ‘Music, Fashion, Film Tour’ in Philadelphia

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Charli XCX kicked off her Music, Fashion, Film Tour on September 11 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, according to Live Nation, which distributed approved photos from the opening night show.

The Philadelphia stop marks the start of the outing, though further tour dates and details were not included in the announcement.

Based on a press release provided to Music Industry Weekly by Avery Robinson, LiveNation.com.