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Music Industry News 2026
by Alex Cosper



Why Indie Musicians are Frustrated with Spotify

Spotify has created its own background music generated by AI and features these non-human acts on playlists they prominently promote, according to indie musician Drew Gooden. He gives an entertaining rant about the state of today's independent music industry, such as how unsigned musicians are bombarded with various choices for music promotional tools, many of which are just expensive drains on the budget. Drew gives compelling commentary on the traditonal music industry as well, examining the big 3 labels. If you are frustrated of making music that isn't going anywhere, this video offers comic relief.

AI Copyright Issues are Growing Concern

In 2026 professional and independent musicians must take a closer look at using AI software to generate music. Suno recently lost a major copyright lawsuit with Germany's music industry. Until licensing between AI developers and the music industry is clear, artists can technically get sued by creators for selling AI-generated music trained on a huge libary of copyrighted music. Although Suno has claimed "fair use," the music industry points out the AI developer sells software for commercial use. The original suit was filed in 2024 by the RIAA, representing the recording industry, along with some big labels. Plaintiffs are seeking payment for damages totaling in the billions.

Country Icon Dolly Parton Dies at 80

Dolly Parton passed away on August 25, 2026 at the age of 80. She was unable to fight off quickly developing cancer. She will be remembered for both a large treasure of recordings from the 1960s through the 2020s as well as her charity work via her Dollywood Foundation, created in 1988. She was the neice of Buck Owens and the godmother of Miley Cyrus. Some of her most classic country hits included "I Will Always Love You," "Jolene" and "Coat of Many Colors." Her biggest crossover pop hits both reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the eighties: "9 to 5" in 1981 and "Islands in the Stream," a duet with Kenny Rogers in 1983.

President Trump said he was "one of the greatest country singers." Other presidents who publicly commented on Dolly were Joe Biden, Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton. She was also a film star in several major motion pictures. A month after the singer's death, by unanimous vote 6-0 among airport commissioners, Nashville International Airport was renamed after Dolly Parton.



Rich Kids Control Music Scene, Says Rick Beato

Well known YouTube music expert Rick Beato released a video on May 5, 2026 exposing the music industry as mostly favoring rich kids these days. He explains how at one time local musicians could make a living at playing music, but now it's become too expensive for many players to aim for such a career. He cites Taylor Swift as an artist who came from a wealthy banking family. One of the drastic consequences of this era has been rich parents have been able to get their kids record deals by investing enormous money in the labels.

iHeartMedia in Talks with Sirius About Possible Merger

Leading radio broadcaster iHeartMedia has initiated talks with Sirius XM about a possible merger, as reported by Reuters on April 27, 2026. Immediately, the stock price spiked on the news. The potential deal involves the nation's largest satellite radio service joining the largest radio group. The radio group has struggled to be profitable over the years, but surviving bankruptcy in 2006, when it reorganized from Clear Channel to iHeart. But iHeart filed for bankruptcy again in 2018 before going public again the following year.

Recording Artists Who Died in 2026

• Rockabilly star Johnny Legend died January 2, 2026 at 77
• Country songwriter Jim McBride died January 6, 2026 at 78
• Grateful Dead singer/songwriter, guitarist Bob Weir died of cancer January 10, 2026 at 78
• Rapper/producer John Forte died January 12, 2026 at 50
• Midnight Oil drummer, backing vocalist Rob Hirst died January 20, 2026 at 70
• Producer Gabe Lopez died January 25, 2026 at 49
• Three Dog Night singer Chuck Negron died of heart failure February 2, 2026 at 83
• 5th Dimension founding member Lamonte McLemore died February 3, 2026 at 90
• 3 Doors Down singer Brad Arnold died February 7, 2026 at 47
• Cake guitarist/songwriter Greg Brown died February 7, 2026 at 56
• Disco Tex & The Sex-O-Letters vocalist Monti Rock III died February 23, 2026 at 86
• Pop singer/songwriter Neil Sedaka died February 27, 2026 at 86
• Blues singer/guitarist John P. Hammond died February 28, 2026 at 83
• Standells singer Gary Walker died March 1, 2026 at 83
• Vietnam War era protest singer Country Joe McDonald died March 7, 2026 at 84
• Sir Douglas Quartet co-founder Augie Meyers died March 7, 2026 at 85
• Boston singer Tommy DeCarlo died March 9, 2026 at 60
• Motorhead guitarist Phil Campbell died March 13, 2026 at 64
• "Wild Thing" songwriter Chip Taylor died March 23, 2026 at 86
• Dash Crofts of Seals & Crofts died March 25, 2026 at 87
• Ambrosia keyboardist Christopher North died March 30, 2026 at 75 from a car accident
• Rapper Africa Bambaataa died from cancer complications April 9, 2026 at 68
• Rare Earth guitarist Ray Monette died April 9, 2026 at 79
• Singer/songwriter Dave Mason, member of Traffic, died April 19, 2026 at 79
• Osmond Brothers singer Alan Osmond died April 20, 2026 at 76
• Hot Chocolate singer/songwriter Tony Wilson died April 24, 2026 at 89
• Country singer David Allan Coe died April 29, 2026 at 86
• Jack Douglas (producer for John Lennon, Aerosmith, others) died May 11, 2026 at 80
• R&B singer Clarence Carter died May 13, 2026 at 90
• Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show singer Dennis Locorriere died May 16, 2026 at 76
• Rapper Rob Base died May 22, 2026 at 59 of cancer
• Jazz tenor sax legend Sonny Rollins died May 25, 2026 at 95
• R&B singer Foster Sylvers of the family R&B band The Sylvers died May 30, 2026 at 64
• Hitmaker/R&B singer Peabo Bryson died June 2, 2026 at 75 of a stroke
• Rapper/producer Oliver Tree died June 14, 2026 at 32 in a helicopter crash
• Arista Records founder Clive Davis died June 22, 2026 at 94
• Blood, Sweat & Tears singer David Clayton-Thomas died June 24, 2026 at 84
• Rapper SparkyD died July 4, 2026 at 61
• Pop singer Bonnie Tyler ("Total Eclipse of the Heart") died July 18, 2026 at 75 after surgery
• 60s hit singer Freddie Cannon died July 17, 2026 at 89 of cancer
• Producer/musician William Orbit died July 23, 2026 at 69
• David Z (David Bruce Rivkin, producer of Lipps Inc) died August 2, 2026 at 78
• Rock critic Dave Marsh (Creem, Rolling Stone) died August 14, 2026 at 76
• Drummer Frank Beard (ZZ Top) died August 17, 2026 at 77
• Early 60s pop singer Shelley Fabares died August 22, 2026 at 82 of pneumonia
• R&B singer Latimore died August 22, 2026 at 86
• Actor/singer Tim Curry (Rocky Horror Picture Show) died August 25, 2026 at 80
• Legendary country singer Dolly Parton died August 25, 2026 at 80 of cancer
• Hip hop producer Tone Capone died September 12, 2026 at 59
• Naked Eyes singer Pete Byrne died September 14, 2026 at 74
• Country singer Ronnie Dove died September 15, 2026 at 91
• Alternative pop artist Duncan Shiek died September 17, 2026 at 66
• Producer Chad Gilbert (New Found Glory) died Septembe 20, 2026 at 45

2026 Grammys Show

The 68th Annual GRAMMY Awards Show was held February 1, 2026 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles and broadcast on CBS. Comedian Trevor Noah hosted the event for the sixth time in a row. It was a huge night for Hip hop/rapper Kendrick Lamar, who was nominated 9 times and took home 5 awards. The awards were based on voting among music industry professionals who are members of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS).

Key performers of the night were Sabrina Carpenter, Bruno Mars, Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga. The televised program drew 14.4 million viewers, according to Nielsen ratings. That marked a 6% decline from the previous year, which attracted 15.4 million viewers. That's a tremendous decline since the show's peak year of 2012, with an audience of 39.9 million viewers. The musical awards show, hosted by CBS for 53 straight years starting in 1973, will be aired by Disney in 2027, kicking off a ten-year deal. Below are major awards handed out at the event.

RECORD OF THE YEAR: Kendrick Lamar with SZA - "Luther"
ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Bad Bunny - DeBI TiRAR Mas FOToS
SONG OF THE YEAR: Songwriters Billie Eilish O'Connell, Finneas O'Connell - "Wildflower"
BEST NEW ARTIST: Olivia Dean
BEST POP SOLO PERFORMANCE: Lola Young - "Messy"
BEST POP VOCAL ALBUM: Lady Gaga - Mayhem
BEST ROCK ALBUM: Turnstile - Never Enough
BEST ROCK SONG: Songwriters Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross - "As Alive As You Need Me To Be"
BEST ALTERNATIVE ALBUM: The Cure - Songs of a Lost World
BEST R&B ALBUM: Leon Thomas - MUTT
BEST R&B SONG: Songwriters Darius Dixon, Andre Harris, Kehlani Parrish, others - "Folded"
BEST RAP ALBUM: Kendrick Lamar - GNX
BEST RAP SONG: Songwriters Jack Antonoff, Larry Jayy, Kendrick Lamar, others - "tv off"
BEST COUNTRY ALBUM: Jelly Roll - Beautifully Broken
BEST COUNTRY SONG: Songwriter Tyler Childers - "Bitin' List"
BEST JAZZ VOCAL ALBUM: Samara Joy - Portrait
BEST JAZZ INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM: Sullivan Fortner - Southern Nights


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