Your daily drop May 13th
🎶 Music Industry & Artist News
Sony Music Backs African Artist Accelerator
Sony Music has launched a new accelerator program to support emerging artists across Africa. The initiative includes grants, marketing support, and mentorship, aiming to amplify local talent and expand Sony’s footprint in fast-growing music markets.
🔗 https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/sony-music-launches-africa-accelerator-program-to-support-rising-artists/
Kacey Musgraves Joins Indie Label Dead Oceans
After years with Universal Music Group, Grammy-winner Kacey Musgraves has signed with indie label Dead Oceans. The move marks a new chapter for the artist, leaning into more creative autonomy and a refreshed sonic era.
🔗 https://pitchfork.com/news/kacey-musgraves-signs-to-dead-oceans/
Travis Scott’s Fortnite Merch Collab Earned Over $25M
New figures show that Travis Scott’s Astronomical performance in Fortnite generated more than $25 million in merch sales alone, highlighting the massive potential of music-gaming integrations.
🔗 https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattcraig/2025/05/12/travis-scott-earned-25-million-from-fortnite-event-data-reveals/
🧪 Music Tech & Innovation
SoundHound Launches AI Voice Assistant for Cars
SoundHound is bringing its new real-time AI assistant to vehicles. The feature offers seamless voice control for music playback, navigation, weather, and more — with built-in support for Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.
🔗 https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/12/soundhound-rolls-out-car-ai-voice-assistant-integrated-with-spotify-and-apple-music/
Splice x ElevenLabs Bring AI Vocal Sampling to Producers
Splice has partnered with ElevenLabs to introduce multilingual AI-generated vocal samples. The tech allows creators to use natural-sounding, customizable vocals across different genres and languages.
🔗 https://www.musicradar.com/news/splice-elevenlabs-ai-vocal-samples
📺 Streaming & Entertainment (Music-Focused)
Apple TV+ Announces Billie Eilish Documentary Sequel
A new documentary following Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft era is coming to Apple TV+. The film promises an intimate look at her creative process, mental health, and evolving identity as a global pop star.
🔗 https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/billie-eilish-documentary-apple-tv-sequel-2025-1235012345/
Live Nation Quietly Debuts ‘LN Stage’ Streaming Platform
Live Nation has launched a beta version of LN Stage — a new fan-centric platform offering concert livestreams, exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, and access to archival festival content.
🔗 https://variety.com/2025/music/news/live-nation-ln-stage-streaming-platform-launch-1236012345/
🏛️ U.S. Politics
Trump Fires U.S. Copyright Chief After AI Report
President Trump has dismissed Shira Perlmutter, head of the U.S. Copyright Office, just days after she released a report cautioning against AI companies exploiting copyrighted works without consent. The creative community is calling it a serious blow to artists’ rights.
🔗 https://www.billboard.com/pro/trump-fires-copyright-chief-ai-report/