Music news for Tuesday, July 21, 2026

You think it’s smoky this summer? Imagine what it must have been like to live in the year 536. It REALLY sucked. Music news for July 21, 2026, is much more clear.

1. Calgary police used Disney music to help them find a missing child.
2. North Korea has a K-pop problem. Good.
3. South Korea has a K-pop boom.
4. Here’s how Suno hacked YouTube Music, Deezer, and Genius to train its AI music product.
5. TikTok is testing an “AI likeness detection tool” for creators. We’re seeing more of this tech. Good.
6. Does anyone else remember Tara the Singing Android? No?
7. Are you into Tiny Vinyl yet? A surprising number of people are.
8. Andy Burnham is the new Prime Minister of the UK. Apparently, he’s a terrible DJ.
9. Kanye vs. the paparazzi, round…whatever. He’s getting sued again.
10. Provocative: “The Lost Joy of Music Piracy.” Discuss.
11. Matt Healy of The 1975 got married over the weekend at Madonna’s old place.
12. U2 is everywhere these days. They’re gearing up again. (Via Bobby)
13. Xitter and music publishers seemed to have settled their beef over copyright infringement.
14. Wifi 8? It’s coming. Someday.
15. You know what a USB port is. What’s the new MCP standard? AI? Oh.

More music news? Go here.

BONUS: Now THAT is a billing error!