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That was 2016. It’s now 2026, and the DMCA still hasn’t been reformed. The same law written in 1998, before YouTube even existed, is still the one governing how artists get paid online. The petition had 180 signatures. Congress held hearings. The Copyright Office conducted a full study of the safe harbor provisions that allow platforms like YouTube to host music without being held liable for infringement. None of it moved the needle. What did change: YouTube expanded Content ID, its system for identifying copyrighted material, and quietly renegotiated deals with the major labels. Problem solved, at least for the labels. Independent artists and songwriters without the leverage of a major behind them still operate under the same broken system. The argument from artists was never really about piracy, it was about a structural imbalance a law that was designed for a different internet and has since allowed platforms to build billion-dollar businesses on the back of music while the people who made that music fight over fractions of a cent per stream. A decade later, that imbalance hasn’t gone anywhere. If anything, the rise of AI and unlicensed training data has made it worse.

On this day in 2016, Taylor Swift, Paul McCartney, Pearl Jam, U2, and over 180 artists signed an open letter demanding reform of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), the law that governs how music is used online. Their argument: the DMCA benefits the platforms profiting off music far more than the people who actually make it.

On Juneteenth 2021, Lady Gaga shared a message celebrating Black abundance and reflecting on allyship, writing that she was committed to “a lifetime of unlearning the poison of white supremacy.” Days later, she joined Bernice King and The King Center for a conversation titled The Power of Unlearning, discussing racism, education, and building the “Beloved Community.”

Demi Lovato using Ariana Grande’s “hate that i made you love me” in recent TikTok.

7 years ago today, Stray Kids released ‘Clé 2: Yellow Wood’, including “Side Effects” as the title track.

Happy birthday to Paula Abdul, who turns 64 today. She earned six No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including “Straight Up,” “Forever Your Girl,” “Cold Hearted,” and “Opposites Attract.”

Taylor Swift debuted 20 years ago today with “Tim McGraw.”

Today marks 5 years since Beyoncé released “BLACK PARADE.” The song debuted at No. 37 on the Billboard Hot 100 and later won Best R&B Performance at the Grammys, marking her 28th career Grammy victory, making her the most-awarded female artist and the most-awarded singer in Grammy history at the time.

Lady Gaga flawlessly covering 4 Non Blonde’s classic “What’s Up” 11 years ago today

Slayyyter officially hits 7 million monthly listeners on Spotify for the first time in her career.

Today in 1948, Columbia Records introduced the 33⅓ RPM vinyl LP, and the album as an art form was born, changing the music industry forever. Before that, music lived on 78 RPM shellac records that fit one song per side. The LP changed everything: suddenly artists had space, and space meant sequencing, storytelling, and intention, creating “eras” as we know them today. Do you own any vinyls?

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He couldn’t resist and I love that 🥹😮‍💨

Katy Perry performs the original version of “The One That Got Away” at O Son do Camiño in Spain for the first time since the song’s release in 2011.

Lady Gaga rises one spot to No. 23 (+1) on the Spotify’s Top Artists chart.

Grammy-nominated music producer Tay Keith has been found dead in Nashville apartment, police confirms.

Migo’s Takeoff would have turned 32 years old. The rapper passed away in 2022 at the age of 28.

Apple Music’s most-streamed artists ever: #20 Eminem #19 Justin Bieber #18 Ed Sheeran #17 Rod Wave #16 Gunna #15 Lil Durk #14 Kendrick Lamar #13 Chris Brown #12 Ariana Grande #11 Travis Scott #10 Post Malone #9 Kanye West #8 Morgan Wallen #7 The Weeknd #6 Lil Baby #5 Bad Bunny #4 Youngboy Never Broke Again #3 Future #2 Taylor Swift #1 Drake