The biggest music industry news | July 2026 roundup
Apple Music price rises, Spotify’s latest video tools and AI updates from Deezer, Suno and TikTok. Plus, reviews from Outbreak and 2000trees festivals.
RouteNote heads to Outbreak Festival
Outbreak Festival 2026 proved that bigger doesn’t have to mean losing what made it special, combining a stacked lineup with the welcoming, community-driven atmosphere it’s known for. Standout sets from Alexisonfire, La Dispute, Trapped Under Ice and surprise guests Static Dress made for a memorable weekend, while we also take a look at the festival’s stage design, production, food and overall experience. Read our review to find out why Outbreak remains one of the UK’s must-visit festivals for fans of hardcore and alternative music.
RouteNote attends 2000trees festival
2000trees Festival 2026 delivered another standout weekend, combining a carefully curated lineup with the friendly, community atmosphere that keeps fans coming back year after year. Highlights included sets from Coach Party, PUP, High Vis and Night Swimming, alongside late-night silent discos, great food and plenty to enjoy away from the main stages. Read our review to find out why 2000trees remains one of the UK’s best independent music festivals.
Suno hack exposes AI training data from YouTube, Deezer and Genius
A reported hack of AI music platform Suno has revealed source code suggesting its models were trained using music and metadata scraped from platforms including YouTube Music, Deezer and Genius. The leak comes as Suno continues to defend itself against copyright lawsuits from major record labels, raising fresh questions about how AI music models are trained and whether copyrighted works were used without permission.
Apple Music increases subscription prices
Apple Music has increased the price of its Individual, Family and Student subscriptions in the US, UK and Europe, with the Family plan seeing the largest jump from $16.99 to $19.99 per month. Apple says the changes are due to rising licensing costs, marking its first Apple Music price increase since 2022.
TikTok tests AI deepfake detection
TikTok is testing a new AI deepfake detection tool that helps creators identify and report unauthorised AI-generated versions of themselves. The feature, currently being trialled with a small group of US creators, uses identity verification and facial matching to detect potential impersonations across the platform.
Deezer reports 90,000 AI-generated uploads every day
Deezer says it is now receiving around 90,000 fully AI-generated tracks every day, with AI music making up more than half of all new uploads on peak days in June. In response, the streaming service will remove AI-generated tracks used for streaming fraud, as well as AI tracks that haven’t been streamed for at least six months, while continuing to expand its AI detection technology. Despite the surge in uploads, Deezer says fully AI-generated music still accounts for just 1–3% of total streams, suggesting listeners continue to favour human-created music.
Spotify expands its music video tools
Spotify has expanded its music video features with a new Video Pitching Tool, a dedicated global music video chart, and wider in-app discovery opportunities for eligible artists’ videos. The update follows the rollout of direct music video uploads in Spotify for Artists, with videos now able to appear across areas including Home, artist profiles, release pages and editorial playlists.
Instagram now lets you change the music on old posts
Instagram now lets users replace the music on published feed posts and carousels without deleting and re-uploading them, preserving all existing likes, comments and shares. The new feature makes it easier for artists and creators to update older posts with trending tracks, correct audio mistakes or swap in newly available music without losing engagement. It’s a simple but practical update that gives creators more flexibility when promoting music on the platform.
YouTube lets creators customise their Shorts thumbnails
YouTube has introduced custom thumbnails for Shorts, allowing creators in the YouTube Partner Program to upload dedicated thumbnail images instead of relying on a frame from the video. The update gives artists and creators more control over their branding while helping Shorts stand out across YouTube. Alongside the new feature, YouTube has also announced additional thumbnail improvements, including AI-powered thumbnail ideas and enhanced editing tools.