In this lawyer reacts episode of the Top Music Attorney Podcast, Entertainment Attorney, Miss Krystle dives deep into the controversial acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings by Virgin Music Group under Universal Music Group for $775 million. This deal, set to close next year, raises significant concerns about the monopolization of the music industry. Miss Krystle analyzes how this acquisition impacts independent artists, especially as Universal gains a stronger foothold in the independent distribution space. With Downtown’s portfolio—including CD Baby, Songtrust, and more—now under Universal’s control, Miss Krystle explores the potential risks for artists relying on these platforms for distribution, rights management, and royalty collection. As a passionate advocate for independent musicians, Miss Krystle doesn’t hold back in calling out the exploitation happening at every level of the industry. From predatory distributor practices to alarming terms in contracts like those recently rolled out by TuneCore for its AI program, Miss Krystle highlights how these developments could reshape the landscape for creators.