It’s the Weekly Headline Roundup!
This week we’re looking at the new Apple Creator Studio, Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees, this year’s music industry predictions, and more.
Music streaming platforms now host quarter of a BILLION tracks. Where does it end?
Last year, Spotify removed over 75 million ‘spammy tracks’ from its platform, while rival Deezer reported receiving 50,000 fully AI-generated tracks per day by November – accounting for 34% of all daily uploads.
– Murray Stassen, Music Business Worldwide
Yet despite this aggressive purging of content the total amount of music in the global audio-streaming ecosystem continued to soar in 2025.
Drake appeals dismissal of ‘Not Like Us’ case against UMG, says court created a ‘dangerous’ rule for rap diss tracks
Three months ago, a federal judge dismissed Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us.
– Murray Stassen, Music Business Worldwide
Now, the superstar rapper is appealing the decision.
Drake filed a 117-page appellate brief on January 21 in the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, seeking to overturn Judge Jeannette Vargas’s October ruling that dismissed all of his claims.
Apple Launches Apple Creator Studio: New Creative Powerhouse for Musicians and Producers
Apple has announced the launch of Apple Creator Studio, a new subscription bundle designed to unify its most powerful creative tools under one roof. For musicians, songwriters and producers, this marks a significant shift in how Apple’s professional ecosystem can be accessed and utilized.
– Bruce Houghton, Hypebot
Starting January 28, the suite will offer a “studio-grade” experience across Mac and iPad, integrating legendary apps like Logic Pro and Final Cut Pro into a single $12.99/month subscription.
Horizon Future Leaders: Four issues shaping the industry
We asked 2025’s Horizon Future Leaders a simple question: what’s the most pressing issue in your corner of the industry? The answers varied, but clustered around a handful of themes, including: the financial strain running through the industry, the growing power of algorithms, the infrastructure that’s crumbling and the question of who gets access in the first place.
– Complete Music Update
Top Music Industry Predictions for 2026: AI on the Hot 100, UMG–Downtown Deal and More
In the latest edition of Billboard’s new music business podcast, On the Record w/ Kristin Robinson, members of Billboard’s music business editorial team gather to discuss their top predictions for the music industry in 2026.
– Kristin Robinson, Billboard
I
n conversation, Dan Rys (executive editor, business), Bill Donahue (senior legal correspondent) Elizabeth Dilts Marshall (senior finance correspondent) and Kristin Robinson (senior correspondent, host) debate hot topics like whether an AI song will crack the Billboard Hot 100 chart, how the Department of Justice’s lawsuit against Ticketmaster will shake out this year, what top catalogs will hit the market in 2026 and whether or not Universal Music Group’s proposed acquisition of Downtown will go through.
Taylor Swift Inducted Into Songwriters Hall of Fame
Taylor Swift, Alanis Morissette, Kenny Loggins, Christopher “Tricky” Stewart, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons of Kiss, Terry Britten & Graham Lyle and Walter Afanasieff are members of the Songwriters Hall of Fame’s 2026 class, the organization announced on CBS Mornings Wednesday.
– Jem Aswad, Variety
Swift enters the hall as its second-youngest inductee ever, and the youngest woman, at 36. Only Stevie Wonder was inducted at an earlier age; he was 32 when he got the honor in 1983.