Global music creation platform Splice and MIDiA Research, the global authority in music, creator economy and cross entertainment insights, have released their Sounds of 2026, the two companies’ annual report tracking the genres, sounds, and trends shaping the sound of music in real time.

Discover ChopCasa - the free in-browser sample chopper from NxtNow Music. Browse curated songs, chop any section in 10 seconds, and download clean WAV/MP3. No DAW or signup required.

The core issue Openstage is solving is that artists don't actually know who their fans are. Fan data is fragmented across 20+ platforms. Openstage unifies this data and puts artists back in the driver's seat.

FreshTunes, the freemium artist services platform, is taking music beyond traditional DSPs with a major expansion into platforms at the heart of today’s creator economy. Now, FreshTunes is announcing new integrations with a handful of platforms at the heart of creation and social.

Global streaming service Audiomack has just announced the upcoming launch of Audiomack Pro, a new premium program designed to help the more than one million artists on the platform find new fans and better understand their audiences.

Virgin Music Group, the world’s leading partner to independent artists, labels and entrepreneurs, has announced a global distribution partnership with MiPROMO, one of Ghana’s longest-standing digital distribution and creative media platforms.

As of 2025, the landscape of DAWs has evolved with AI-assisted tools, enhanced sampling engines, and seamless integration for hardware like MIDI controllers. Between Ableton Live, FL Studio and Logic Pro, which DAW reigns supreme for music producers who use chopped samples in their beats?

Beatport is proud to announce a new partnership with Youth Music, building on the success of Beatport's Diversity + Parity Fund and Youth Music's ‘Rescue the Roots’ campaign. Together, the two organisations are collaborating to support grassroots electronic music projects across the United Kingdom (UK).

DistroKid, the world’s largest distributor of music, has announced the launch of Direct — a new direct-to-fan platform that expands the company’s offerings beyond audio and video distribution.

This update equips select music curators around the world, known as Tastemakers, with professional-grade analytics to track and optimize their playlist performance, reinforcing Audiomack’s commitment to highlighting new and emerging acts, no matter where they are.

In this comprehensive guide, NxtNow Music will explore proven strategies tailored for emerging artists aiming to thrive in 2026. From personal branding and content distribution to marketing tactics and monetization, these tips are drawn from current trends like the rise of short-form content, AI integration, and blockchain for ownership.

Splice, the platform that powers music creation for millions of producers worldwide, has announced the release of the John Legend: Ordinary People Piano, bringing the piano sound at the heart of Legend’s celebrated ballad “Ordinary People” to Splice INSTRUMENT.

Vocana has joined forces with MassiveMusic (formerly 7digital, part of the Songtradr brand portfolio) to build a truly innovative music service devoted to indie music, user-centric payment, and more interaction and discovery.

Launched by Mongolmusic (part of Mongol Content LLC) and powered by Tuned Global’s white-label streaming technology, Sonsy brings top quality streaming features, such as CD-quality sound, offline mode, subscription tiers, and AI-driven recommendations, while channeling real value back to Mongolian musicians.

Native Instruments is proud to present LCO Producer Strings. The new Kontakt instrument puts the sound of one of the world’s most adventurous ensembles into the hands of producers everywhere, from bedroom creators to film composers.

LabelWorx, the leading global digital distribution and label services company for the independent electronic music community, has unveiled Pick N’ Mix Promo, an exclusive new in-house marketing solution designed to help labels create fully tailored promotional campaigns for their releases.

As a preferred partner with YouTube, StrmMusic will now be able to offer artists even stronger relationships with this crucial service, reinforcing its commitment to providing real growth tools, personalized support, and data intelligence for independent artists around the world.

MusicTeam, the all-in-one platform for music makers now lets artists working with labels deliver their tracks directly to their point of contact at major companies like UMG, thanks to a partnership with A&R service Connex.

Avex Music Group, the global music company of Japanese entertainment giant Avex led by CEO Brandon Silverstein, has announced that it has signed Elyas, the producer behind a number of Drake songs including his current hit single “What Did I Miss?”…

StrmMusic, the music career accelerator, is now the official distribution partner of Breaking Sound, the live showcase organization dedicated to highlighting emerging artists in premium venues.