Festival Postponements: Saudi Arabia’s MDLBEAST Soundstorm has been postponed for 2026, following other recent Gulf cancellations amid regional tensions. Live Music & Streaming: Shakira’s Madrid concert will be streamed live and free via Amazon Music/Prime Video/Twitch on Oct. 3, with replay access for 24 hours. AI Meets Music Learning: PianoConvert turns piano audio or YouTube clips into editable sheet music (PDF/MIDI/MusicXML), aiming to make “from audio to notation” easier. Community Strings: SweetWater Music Festival’s $29,000 OTF grant is funding SweetStrings, a new community strings ensemble for adult amateur players across rural areas. Music, Safety & Crime: A Florida woman was indicted for attempted murder after firing at Rihanna’s Beverly Crest home; separately, Billy Strings’ half-brother Patrick Apostol was sentenced to 48 years for a fatal shooting. Copyright Showdown: Fender says it has served cease-and-desist orders to 60 firms in its Stratocaster copyright campaign, including retailers and Amazon. New Classical Experience: A traveling series is placing a grand piano in outdoor landscapes, letting audiences listen via wireless headphones while nature becomes part of the performance. Awards & Culture: David Byrne is among the first winners at the GUITARGUITAR Scottish Music Awards, with the ceremony set for Nov. 7. Music Tech/Industry: Modulate’s AI music detection tool raised $25M, as the company pushes further into music identification.