Sony, Bandlab to Empower Creators With New Tech; Kanye West Releases Lost Album 'Donda 2' to Streaming Services
2139 | Your Daily Dose of Music Streaming News
Sony, Bandlab to Empower Creators With New Tech and Opportunities That Make Music Creation More Accessible
By bringing together Sony’s legacy of audio excellence with BandLab, the world’s fast-growing social music creation platform, this collaboration reflects a shared mission to empower creators with cutting-edge technology and opportunities that fuel their growth, spark innovation, and build their careers — starting from the earliest stages of their musical journeys.
Audius Forms Global Partnership with Downtown Music
The deal, which encompasses both the recording and publishing side of Downtown’s business, paves the way for millions of licensed recordings from Downtown’s extensive catalog to be added to Audius and unlocks a new way for Downtown’s artists and labels to directly connect with their fans and control how their music is monetized beyond the typical streaming model.
Kanye West Releases Lost Album 'Donda 2' to Streaming Services
The roots for “Donda 2” date back to early 2022, when the rapper posted on Instagram that the sequel to his 2021 album would arrive that February and be executive produced by Future. The album was only released on Stem Player, forgoing traditional streaming services, and some songs from the project were reconfigured for artists including Fivio Foreign and the Game.
BeatStars teams up with Sureel to block AI companies from training on creator content
Sureel will register BeatStars’ entire marketplace catalog, allowing AI companies to see which content they’re prohibited from using in training AI
CreateBase, Musical AI Partner on Consent-Driven AI Training Practices
This collaboration proves that ethical attribution and fair compensation aren’t just ideals; they’re practical business solutions that benefit everyone. Together, they have built what major tech companies have claimed impossible: a sustainable model where creators maintain control, AI companies gain legal certainty, and creativity flourishes.
Epidemic Sound acquires UGC music recognition technology company Song Sleuth
Song Sleuth specialises in identifying and monetising music used in user-generated content (UGC).
Tune In, Drop Out
The independent musicians and labels who are saying no to streaming.
Labels may be slowing Spotify Superfan launch, hints CEO Ek
Last year, UMG CEO Lucian Grainge promised to “grow the pie for all artists, by strengthening the artist-fan relationship through superfan experiences and products.” On Tuesday’s call, Ek agreed, calling superfans a “huge opportunity” for the labels.
Everyone wants to monetise fandom – but we must fix fan data first
Fandom monetisation is booming, with MIDiA data showing how expanded rights is growing, driving labels to prioritise direct control over fan data instead of relying on third-party platforms.
Hoopr Smash wants to help more companies license Indian music
Indian music-licensing firm Hoopr has launched a new self-serve marketplace called Hoopr Smash, to help brands and creators.
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