Music UMG’s Q2 revenues go up – but analysts and investors are looking closer

On Friday, Universal Music Group released its Q2 2026 results, and to the casual observer, everything looks fine – all the big numbers went up: total revenue was €3.29bn, up 13.3% year-on-year at constant currency (YOY(cc)), with recorded music up 16.2% YoY(cc) to €2.52bn, and with €1.76bn of that...

Music Ally 6h ago
Music The Production Unit Behind Stray Kids’ Biggest Hits Takes the Mic

Every song has a story, but fans rarely get to hear it from the creators themselves. K-Pop giant JYP Entertainment is pulling back the creative curtain with its new video podcast show, JYP Podcast, bringing audiences closer to the music and stories behind some of their favorite artists.

Spotify 7h ago
Music Massive Attack Addresses Singapore Concert Aftermath in New Statement

UPDATED: Massive Attack has addressed the aftermath of the Singapore concert in a statement posted to Instagram. The band said its members were “detained by the police, isolated and separately questioned” following the show, and described some members undergoing hotel room searches and temporary...

Variety 10h ago
Music Is this Billboard Hot 100 hit AI slop?

That cover art is almost certainly AI, too. | Image: Fenix Flexin Fenix Flexin is best known as a member of Shoreline Mafia, a rap duo from Los Angeles. But he's recently found solo success with the track "Rubberz," which has climbed to number 58 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The Verge 2d ago
Music What is ‘Asian Pop’?

Eshy Gazit, founder of EG Management and Intertwine Records, examines 'a Grammy category nobody can define' Source

Music Business Worldwide 2d ago
Music Tech Friday’s Endnotes – 07/31/26

German court rules AI music firm Suno broke copyright rules — The final text of the decision is not yet public, and the ruling can be appealed. Nevertheless, first-hand reports suggest the court held both that the training of the model with copyrighted works is not fair use under US law and that...

Copyhype 3d ago
Music Suno Loses Landmark AI Lawsuit to German Performing Rights Society GEMA

German music collection society GEMA notched another major legal victory in its campaign to rein in AI companies’ use of copyrighted material on Friday, winning the case it brought against the generative music platform Suno. The Munich Regional Court has ruled that Suno is in breach of German and...

Variety 3d ago
Music Behind The Single Recap: The Second Voice’s “Let Me Be”

The Second Voice is an anonymous, mask-wearing artist from Zambia blending Afrohouse and Amapiano who recently secured his breakout with ‘Let Me Be’. Released on Spinnin’ Records, the track quickly became a global hit and served as the artist’s official entry onto the international stage.

Music Ally 3d ago
Music Three data-driven takeaways for artist YouTube growth in 2026

Social media management platform Metricool has just published a new report, revealing crucial data around how to better grow on YouTube. The good news for developing artists first: if their YouTube channel sits between 2k – 10k subscribers, it’s one of the channels with the highest likelihood of...

Music Ally 3d ago
Music New Spotify updates change how forever pre-saves work

If we look back at the evolution of pre-saves, there was a time when they were all the rage, then they started feeling like a tickbox exercise that only moved the needle for artists with sizable audiences, and then came forever pre-saves (or lifetime pre-saves).

Music Ally 3d ago
Music Live at All About Music, Mumbai, 26 August 2026

My book was published in three languages, but four editions. The fourth edition is Indian, published by Bombay Circle Press. I've seen pictures of this, but have yet to actually hold one in my own hand.

furia log 4d ago
Music What it takes to make a music streaming subscriber switch services

For years, choosing a music streaming service was perhaps less of a decision than an accident. At least in Western markets, the major DSPs have offered similar catalogue, feature sets, and user interfaces, giving consumers little reason to choose one over another. Source

MIDiA Research Blog 4d ago
Music Tech AI Music Governance Takes a Step Forward

The music industry is building practical AI governance through chart eligibility principles and standardized labeling, creating shared infrastructure for transparency, trust, and responsible innovation.

MUSIC • TECHNOLOGY • POLICY 4d ago
Music J-Pop Is Finally Going Global, Here's Why

For years, Japan's music industry has been a sleeping giant on the global stage. But now, thanks to streaming, anime, and artists like YOASOBI, J-pop's global rise is just beginning.

How Music Charts 4d ago
Music Artists are lawyering up against AI slop, and some are even winning

Artists whose work has been co-opted by AI are taking to court. | Image: Alex Parkin / The Verge When The Atlantic published a searchable dataset of works used to train AI, Kirk Wallace Johnson, like a lot of artists, looked for his name out of curiosity. And, like a lot of artists, he found it.

The Verge 5d ago
Music Meet the Real-Life Superfan Starring in Spotify’s Fan Life Campaign

How big of a fan are you of your favorite musical act? Have you recommended your favorite songs to friends and strangers alike? Have you forever memorialized their work on your body with a tattoo? Did your fandom, in some mystical twist of fate, lead to you meeting your significant other?

Spotify 6d ago