News

What moved in the music business.

A running record of the stories independent artists and labels should know about. Newest first, grouped by the day we published them.

Latest stories Showing 20 of 51

Patreon Cut a Fifth of Its Staff. The Direct-to-Fan Model Has Grown Up.

Patreon has cut 20% of its staff as superfan subscriptions decline. The direct-to-fan model isn't dead, but the easy growth phase is over.

Is a Concert Ticket Now a Consent Form for Facial Recognition?

New York legislators are pushing to ban facial recognition at venues after the MSG scandal. What the independent live sector should take from the precedent being set.

Genre Is Fragmenting. Producers Are Leading the Shift.

Chartmetric and Splice data shows major genre listening share fell from 46% to 35% since 2021. What the independent sector should do with that finding.

UK Regulator Eyes Live Nation as 'Climate of Fear' Emerges

The CMA is reportedly arranging industry meetings ahead of a possible Live Nation investigation, after a parliamentary committee found witnesses too scared to speak.

Streaming Revenue Growth Is Slowing in the World's Biggest Music Markets, and Independent Artists Will Feel It First

Streaming growth is slowing in Germany, the U.S., and globally, pushing independents to diversify income, markets, and platforms.

An AI Clone Stole an Indie Artist’s Viral Moment in Real Time

An AI-generated clone of Stick Figure’s “Angels Above Me” went viral on TikTok without attribution, exposing a major new risk for indie artists.

AIMPRO: The First Performance Rights Organization for Generative AI Music Creators

AIMPRO launches as the first performance rights organisation built for generative AI music creators, introducing new licensing, registration, and royalty models that could reshape

Believe and TuneCore Draw the First Hard Line on AI Music Licensing

Believe and TuneCore block Suno and license ElevenLabs and Udio, turning indie distribution into an AI rights gatekeeper.

Believe Launches Premium US Indie Services Arm Led by Thomas Maxwell

Believe launches US Label & Artist Solutions led by former IDOL executive Thomas Maxwell, creating a premium indie-services alternative to AWAL, ADA, and Virgin.

BMG Is in Talks to Acquire Concord for Up to $7 Billion — and the Deal Would Remove One of the Largest Independent Music Companies From the Map

BMG Is in Talks to Acquire Concord for Up to $7 Billion, and the Deal Would Create a Fourth Major That Absorbs One of the Largest Independent Catalogs in the World.

CD Baby Unveils Stages Selects to Expand Artist Services Beyond Distribution

CD Baby launches Stages Selects, a new selected artist-support program offering marketing, distribution, and funding for 10 indie acts in 2026.

Charlie Puth Joins AI Platform Moises as Chief Music Officer, Signaling a Shift Toward Artist-Controlled AI Tools

Grammy-nominated Charlie Puth joins AI music platform Moises as CMO. With 70M users and $50M raised, the platform's musician-first AI tools offer indie artists professional tools.

CISAC Marks 100 Years in Paris, Launches “Paris Commitment” on AI and Fair Creator Pay

CISAC marked its 100th anniversary in Paris, launching the Paris Commitment: a four-principle framework on AI, collective management, and fair creator remuneration in the AI era.

Concord Acquired Ninja Tune, and the Deal Reveals Exactly How Independent Label Consolidation Works in 2026

Concord has acquired Ninja Tune Records and its publishing arm Just Isn't Music, bringing one of the most iconic independent electronic labels into the fold.

Death Cab for Cutie Left Atlantic After Twenty Years and Signed With ANTI- — and Their Move Tells You Everything About Why Established Artists Keep Choosing Independence

Death Cab for Cutie Left Atlantic After Two Decades and Signed With ANTI-, Joining a Growing List of Established Acts Who Are Choosing Independence Over the Major Label System.

Federal Appeals Court Rules Songwriters Can Reclaim Copyrights Worldwide, Opening a New Era for Independent Music Rights

Vetter v. Resnik affirms global U.S. termination rights, enabling independent songwriters to reclaim worldwide ownership of legacy works.

Five Indie Label Groups Unite Behind Recycled Vinyl

Five leading indie label groups launch a World Environment Day campaign pressing catalog titles on 100% reclaimed vinyl, aiming to make recycled repressing the norm.

War Child's HELP(2) Gathered 22 Acts Into Abbey Road for a Single Recording Session

War Child's HELP(2) gathered Arctic Monkeys, Fontaines D.C., Wet Leg, Big Thief, and 18 more acts into Abbey Road for one recording session. The result is a 23-track charity album

IMPALA Demands End to Streaming Royalty Thresholds and New Track Labelling System

IMPALA wants Spotify, Amazon, and Deezer to scrap royalty thresholds and label track origins so real indie music stands out from AI content.

The Fix the Tix Coalition Is Pushing Congress to Rewrite the Rules of Ticket Sales, and Independent Venues Have the Most to Win or Lose

The Fix the Tix Coalition, led by NIVA and 30+ music industry organizations, is pushing Congress to strengthen the TICKET Act with resale price caps and speculative ticket bans.