your daily drop May 9th

🎶 Music Industry & Artist News

Universal Music Revives Jazzland Records
UMG is relaunching Jazzland, the legendary Norwegian jazz label originally founded in 1997. The relaunch kicks off with a focus on hybrid jazz-electronic artists and will reintroduce catalog classics with global distribution.

Metallica Finally Plays Lane Stadium
After 25 years of “Enter Sandman” blaring through Virginia Tech’s stadium speakers, Metallica finally performed live at Lane Stadium this week. Fans described it as “a full circle moment” for both the band and the Hokies.

Live Nation Reports Record Q1 Revenue
Live Nation posted its highest-ever first quarter, with $3.8 billion in revenue—up 21% from last year. The company credited strong early ticket sales and growing international demand for live shows.

🧪 Music Tech & Innovation

Google Launches AI Music Generator “Lyricon”
Google quietly unveiled Lyricon, a new AI-powered tool that helps artists generate melodies, lyrics, and harmonies using voice prompts. The beta is invite-only for now, with indie and bedroom producers getting first access.

Spotify Pilots “Venue Mode” in Select Cities
Spotify is testing a new feature called Venue Mode, offering exclusive setlists, real-time merch drops, and enhanced audio during concerts in select partner venues. Early pilots launched in Berlin, Chicago, and São Paulo.

📺 Streaming & Entertainment (Music-Focused)

NetEase Cloud Music Partners with Soundcharts
China’s NetEase Cloud Music is teaming up with analytics platform Soundcharts to expand global data visibility for Chinese artists. The integration aims to give international music companies better insights into emerging Chinese music trends.

New Music Docs to Stream This Weekend
Must-watch: "We Don't Dial 911" (Amazon Prime), an inside look at country music’s outlaw era, and "808 Forever" (Apple TV+), a nostalgic deep dive into the Roland drum machine that shaped hip-hop.

🏛️ U.S. Politics & Culture

Broadway Actors Protest Contract Terms
Members of Actors’ Equity rallied in Times Square demanding higher pay and better touring conditions. Talks with the Broadway League are ongoing, with potential strike threats if a resolution isn’t reached by June.

Smithsonian Pushes Back on NEA Cuts
The Smithsonian Institution issued a formal statement condemning federal arts cuts, citing concerns over program cancellations and staff reductions at cultural centers nationwide.