Music news

• Jay-Z Is Too Big for Rap Beef. That May Be the Problem

  03-06-2026 20:59 via rollingstone.com
  His Roots Picnic freestyle had the force of a legend clearing the air, but it also raised a harder question: What does rap beef do for an icon who already won?
  
  Read more

• Peabo Bryson, Best Known for Disney Duets in ‘Aladdin’ and ‘Beauty and the Beast,’ Passes Away Aged 75

  04-06-2026 00:28 via digitalmusicnews.com
  Photo Credit: Peabo Bryson for Sister Circle TV (YouTube) / CC by 3.0
  Two-time Grammy Award-winning singer Peabo Bryson, known for his Disney duets in “Aladdin” and “Beauty and the Beast” in the ‘90s, has passed away.
  Peabo Bryson, the R&B singer best known as the voice behind the Oscar-winning Disney film duets from “Beauty and the Beast” (with Celine Dion) and “Aladdin” (with Regina Belle), has passed away at 75. His family shared a sta
  
  Read more

• Latest Music Industry Hires: BMI, CISAC, Merlin, Sound Royalties, All Classical Radio, Adams & Reese, Snap, TickPick, More

  04-06-2026 00:11 via digitalmusicnews.com
  Newly promoted BMI execs John Ellwood (top left), Deidre Chadwick (top right), Jeff Gilligan (bottom left), and Jodie Thomas (bottom right). 
  Here’s a recap of recent music industry hires and in-house promotions as of June 3rd, 2026.
  If you have a job shuffle to share, we’re all ears. Send us a note to [email protected]. If you’d like to post a job on our Job Board, just send us a request to [email protected]. And, keep track of all the latest mu
  
  Read more

• Wigmore Hall & Apple Music Classical Announce a New Partnership

  03-06-2026 23:59 via digitalmusicnews.com
  Photo Credit: Wigmore Hall Auditorium by Kaupo Kikkas
  A new partnership with Apple Music Classical will see all new Wigmore Hall Live releases premiere exclusively on the platform for three months.
  West London’s Wigmore Hall has announced a new partnership with Apple Music Classical, which will see all new Wigmore Hall Live releases premiere exclusively on the platform for three months. Wigmore Hall Live will release four digital-only recordings per year, developed in close collaboration w
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Dutch Judge Clears Kanye West Performances in the Netherlands After Emergency Lawsuit

  03-06-2026 23:43 via digitalmusicnews.com
  Photo Credit: Javier M.
  An Amsterdam judge has allowed two upcoming shows by Kanye West to move forward despite a lawsuit from the Central Jewish Council.
  The Central Jewish Counsil filed an emergency lawsuit in a bid to prevent Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, from performing two upcoming shows in the Netherlands. The Jewish organization cited Ye’s history of antisemitic remarks and the sale of swastika merch. But an Amsterdam judge has rejected their argument, ruling that the
  
  Read more

• Seeker Music Acquires a Piece of the Cocteau Twins’ Catalog

  03-06-2026 23:25 via digitalmusicnews.com
  Photo Credit: Steven Melrose (Seeker Music CCO), Simon Raymonde (Cocteau Twins)
  Seeker Music announces the acquisition of Cocteau Twins’ Simon Raymonde’s publishing catalog, including his full body of work with the band.
  Songwriter Evan Bogart’s Seeker Music has acquired the music publishing catalog of acclaimed songwriter, producer, bassist, and keyboardist Simon Raymonde. The deal includes his full body of work as a member of the legendary Scottish rock band Cocteau Twins, wh
  
  Read more

• Armed With a Meaty $267 Million ABS Tranche, Seeker Music Acquires a Piece of the Cocteau Twins’ Catalog

  03-06-2026 23:25 via digitalmusicnews.com
  Photo Credit: Steven Melrose (Seeker Music CCO), Simon Raymonde (Cocteau Twins)
  After securing a $267 million ABS tranche, Seeker Music has acquired Cocteau Twins’ Simon Raymonde’s publishing catalog, including his full body of work with the band.
  Songwriter Evan Bogart’s Seeker Music has acquired the music publishing catalog of acclaimed songwriter, producer, bassist, and keyboardist Simon Raymonde. The deal includes his full body of work as a member of the legendary Scottish
  
  Read more

• Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square Reportedly Set to Divest Remaining Universal Music Shares Following Failed Takeover Attempt

  03-06-2026 23:07 via digitalmusicnews.com
  Photo Credit: Bill Ackman by Adam Jeffery for CNBC
  On the heels of its failed Universal Music Group (UMG) takeover attempt, Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square is reportedly preparing to sell off its remaining interest in the major label.That’s according to an early release from Bank of America, which pointed to Pershing’s imminent divestment of approximately 80.6 million shares. Via various Pershing funds, Ackman possesses roughly 4.74% of Universal Music’s stock at present &n
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• All of Nothing at All: Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square Moves to Dump Universal Music Shares Following Failed Takeover Bid

  03-06-2026 23:07 via digitalmusicnews.com
  Photo Credit: Bill Ackman by Adam Jeffery for CNBC
  On the heels of its failed Universal Music Group (UMG) takeover attempt, Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square is reportedly preparing to sell off its remaining interest in the major label.That’s according to an early release from Bank of America, which pointed to Pershing’s imminent divestment of approximately 80.6 million shares. Via various Pershing funds, Ackman possesses roughly 4.74% of Universal Music’s stock at present &n
  
  Read more

• AXS Strikes a Bevy of Independent Venue Deals, Including the Troubadour, First Avenue, and the Marathon Live Portfolio

  03-06-2026 22:35 via digitalmusicnews.com
  Photo Credit: AXS
  AXS strengthens its position in the independent venue space with new and renewed partnerships spanning some of the most iconic clubs in the nation.
  Today, AXS bolstered its place in the independent venue market with a fresh round of partnerships spanning iconic clubs across the United States. The ticketing and live event company announced new and renewed agreements with West Hollywood institution Troubadour, the entire Marathon Live venue portfolio, and Minneapolis independent
  
  Read more

• R.E.M, QOTSA, Screaming Trees supergroup Drink The Sea announce new album and 2026 UK and European tour

  03-06-2026 22:34 via nme.com
  The supergroup Drink The Sea have announced details of a new album and a US, UK and European tour for later this year.
  The band is made up of former R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck, Barrett Martin of Screaming Trees and Alain Johannes of Eleven and Queens Of The Stone Age, as well as Duke Garwood and Lisette Garcia.
  They will release their third studio album ‘Drink The Sea III’ on October 2 via Martin’s
  
  Read more

• Lauv Drops Out of Tour With Khalid Citing Mental Health Struggles: ‘Trying to Be Strong’

  03-06-2026 22:31 via rollingstone.com
  "I have to be honest with myself and with you: I'm deeply struggling right now," the singer wrote on Tuesday
  
  Read more

• So Who’s Gonna Make It Big in 2026? YouTube Music Unveils Its Top Picks

  03-06-2026 21:48 via digitalmusicnews.com
  Photo Credit: YouTube Music
  YouTube Music unveils its 2026 picks for its Foundry program, which has worked with over 250 artists since 2015 to help them build sustainable careers.
  What platform has the greatest ability to break new artists? TikTok, Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and more have all been instrumental in helping budding artists make a big splash into mainstream success. But with some exceptions, it can be difficult to ascertain which platform actually did the trick, rather than the
  
  Read more

• Ben Folds pens open letter to rally support for National Symphony Orchestra as Trump’s name removed from Kennedy Center

  03-06-2026 21:35 via nme.com
  Ben Folds has written an open letter to rally support for the National Symphony Orchestra after Trump’s name was removed from the Kennedy Center.
  The orchestra is based at the arts venue in Washington DC, which became the centre of a political storm at the end of last year when its board voted to rename it the Trump-Kennedy Center.
  The controversial move was reversed last week when a US judge ruled that the venue cannot be renamed without congressional ap
  
  Read more

• Is Garth Brooks Next? $2B Catalog Sale is on the Table, WSJ Reports

  03-06-2026 21:14 via digitalmusicnews.com
  Photo Credit: Garth Brooks by Glenn Francis / CC by 4.0
  Garth Brooks is reportedly exploring his options for the sale of his extensive music catalog in a deal that could be worth a whopping $2 billion.
  On Tuesday, The Wall Street Journal reported that country music star Garth Brooks is looking into selling his vast music catalog, with valuations ranging from $1 billion to over $2 billion. While potential investors haven’t been publicly identified, Sony Music has been a major player in the
  
  Read more

• Jay-Z Is Too Big for This. That May Be the Problem

  03-06-2026 20:59 via rollingstone.com
  His Roots Picnic freestyle had the force of a legend clearing the air, but it also raised a harder question: What does rap beef do for an icon who already won?
  
  Read more

• Kip Moore Is a Superstar Overseas. What Gives, America?

  03-06-2026 20:49 via rollingstone.com
  With the terrific new album Reason to Believe out now, the Georgia country singer takes stock of his fans on both sides of the pond
  
  Read more

• Watch Michael Stipe play ‘I Played the Fool’ live on Kimmel with Andrew Watt, Chad Smith and Josh Klinghoffer

  03-06-2026 19:32 via nme.com
  Michael Stipe was joined by Andrew Watt, Chad Smith and Josh Klinghoffer for ‘I Played The Fool’ on Jimmy Kimmel Live – watch below.READ MORE: NME meets R.E.M.: “We needed swagger – to be loud and raw”The former R.E.M. frontman released the song in March as the theme song to the new HBO Original series Rooster, from Scrubs creator Bill Lawrence and starring Steve Carell.
  It was Stipe’s
  
  Read more

• Weezer Preview Self-Titled Album With ‘We Might As Well Be Strangers’ Featuring Wednesday

  03-06-2026 19:17 via rollingstone.com
  Weezer arrives on Aug. 21 and feautres the previously released single "Shine Again"
  
  Read more

• Flo Rida Hasn’t Said a Word About Donald Trump’s Freedom 250 Concert. So We Asked His ‘FloGPT’

  03-06-2026 18:33 via rollingstone.com
  The rapper's own AI chatbot gave a shocking answer when queried about the "Low" rapper's participation in the Great American State Fair concert series
  
  Read more

• Kim Petras Gets Back on Track With ‘Detour’

  03-06-2026 18:04 via rollingstone.com
  On Detour, Petras finds a path forward with new producers and a clear vision for the future of her career
  
  Read more

• Jessica Simpson addresses alcohol issues as she debuts song

  03-06-2026 18:00 via music-news.com
  
  The singer-and-actress celebrated eights years of sobriety in November last year.
  
  Read more

• Wilco announce first gigs in Marrakech with “three unique sets”

  03-06-2026 17:41 via nme.com
  Wilco have announced “three unique” live shows in Marrakech, which will mark their first ever performances in Africa.READ MORE: Soundtrack Of My Life: Wilco’s Jeff TweedyThe live shows are set to take place in partnership with Pilgrimage of Sound, and will be held in the Moroccan city between March 25 and 27 next year.
  The structure of the live gigs is similar to what they did in Iceland back in 2023, where Jeff Tweedy and co. announced their first shows in the country, and pla
  
  Read more

• Suno Unveils $400 Million Series D, Tees Up the Release of Its ‘First Music Model Developed in Partnership With the Music Industry’

  03-06-2026 17:32 via digitalmusicnews.com
  Photo Credit: Suno
  Suno has officially wrapped a $400 million funding round at a $5.4 billion post-cash valuation – thereby upping its six-month raise total to a staggering $650 million.Though Suno’s Series D was all but confirmed last month, the AI music platform formally disclosed the round today. Bond Capital (which counts early Spotify investor Mary Meeker as a partner) led the newer raise alongside Institutional Venture Partners, Forerunner, Union Square Ventures, Alkeon Capital
  
  Read more

• Suno Officially Announces $400 Million Series D, Tees Up the Release of Its ‘First Music Model Developed in Partnership With the Music Industry’

  03-06-2026 17:32 via digitalmusicnews.com
  Photo Credit: Suno
  Suno has officially wrapped a $400 million funding round at a $5.4 billion post-cash valuation – thereby upping its six-month raise total to a staggering $650 million.Though Suno’s Series D was all but confirmed last month, the AI music platform formally disclosed the round today. Bond Capital (which counts early Spotify investor Mary Meeker as a partner) led the newer raise alongside Institutional Venture Partners, Forerunner, Union Square Ventures, Alkeon Capital
  
  Read more

• Sara Bareilles Previews ‘Good Grief’ Album With ‘Home’

  03-06-2026 17:02 via rollingstone.com
  A film documenting the making of the musician's first LP in seven years premieres at Tribeca Film Festival on Thursday
  
  Read more

• Céline Dion Remembers ‘Kind Spirit’ of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ Collaborator Peabo Bryson

  03-06-2026 16:19 via rollingstone.com
  "He will remain for me always as a real symbol of the joy that music has brought to my life," Dion shared about the veteran singer, who died this week at the age of 75
  
  Read more

• Ellie Goulding announces new album ‘I Know Too Much’

  03-06-2026 15:56 via nme.com
  Ellie Goulding has announced her sixth studio album ‘I Know Too Much’. Find all the details below.READ MORE: Ellie Goulding talks tackling heartbreak with empowering single ‘Destiny’: “I don’t have any urge to be mysterious at the moment” The singer is set to release the 10-song record on September 4, following on from 2023’s UK Number One ‘Higher Than Heaven’. You can pre-order/pre-save it here.
  “Making this album allow
  
  Read more

• Deer Tick Used to Be a Chaotic Party Band. Now They Run Their Business on Slack

  03-06-2026 15:39 via rollingstone.com
  After weathering a rehab stint by leader John McCauley and pandemic fallout, the Rhode Island folk-rock band grow up on their new album Coin-O-Matic
  
  Read more

• The Red Clay Strays Are a Rock Band Both God-Fearing and Ass-Kicking

  03-06-2026 15:21 via rollingstone.com
  The Alabama country-rock group level up — and power up — on their excellent new album Grateful
  
  Read more

Follow @Music_News_US on Twitter!