AGP Executive Report

Pop Star Drop: Taylor Swift confirms new single “Patient Zero” for Sept. 25, with fans decoding fresh clues from her socials. Industry Tension: A Los Angeles Times report says major labels are now licensing catalogs to AI music makers like Suno and Udio—while artists worry about pay and consent. Music Business & Education: Australia’s OneMusic webinar will cover music licensing for dance schools and online video use on Oct. 13. Local Scene Spotlight: Seattle venue owner Mason Reed launches the Together in Music Society to subsidize grassroots artists and keep small venues alive. Health & Touring: Lionel Richie pauses his Sing a Song All Night Long tour after a heart procedure, canceling several dates. Community Through Music: Beecher schools roll out “Rhymes with Reason,” using popular songs to teach academic vocabulary. Live Music News: San Diego’s Winstons plans a rebrand and expansion after a partial ownership shift, aiming to refocus on local acts. Festival & Culture: NOLA MusiCon returns Oct. 28–30 with panels and mentorship for artists and music pros.

MTV VMAs: Taylor Swift will receive the inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honors at the 2026 VMAs, hosted by Snoop Dogg and airing Sept. 27 on CBS/MTV and streaming on Paramount+. Tech x Music: Apple opened Apple Music Hall in London’s Battersea Power Station—an intimate 600-seat venue built for live shows plus Spatial Audio recording, broadcast mixing, and multicamera production. Music & Health: Children’s Music Fund added Joy Allen, PhD, MT-BC, to its board as it marks milestones toward its 25th anniversary. Global Stage: A Sri Lankan-origin actress will play Sita in the Wembley arena musical “Diwali Story: The Journey of Ram – A Musical,” with new material and original music. Community & Education: Luzianne Tea’s “Gallons for Good” campaign donated 75 musical instruments to underfunded U.S. schools. Local Scene: Radio Kerry named finalists Dylan Shortt, Joe Lovett, Abbie Courtney and Lillie Foley for “A New Local Hero.” Culture Spot: Salzburg opened “The Sound of Music” museum at Hellbrunn Palace. Legal/Drama: Miley Cyrus faces plagiarism accusations over “Redlights,” with Amanda Lear alleging resemblance to “The Sphinx.”

Museum Opening: “Sound of Music Salzburg” opened in Hellbrunn Palace, separating the real von Trapp story from the 1959 musical and Hollywood film, with Elisabeth von Trapp on hand for tours. New Single/Charts: Black Sherif’s “Jolie” debuts at No. 20 on the UK Official Afrobeats Chart for Sept. 13–19, 2026. Big Rock Live: Foo Fighters closed out a Vancouver run at BC Place with a three-hour, hit-heavy set spanning their 31-year local history. Music + Tech/Ad Campaign: Apple’s “Shot on iPhone” spot spotlights ROSÉ’s “new trick,” filmed on iPhone 18 Pro and directed by Dave Meyers. Community & Culture: Memphis Public Libraries dedicated the Tay Keith Music Lab (Cloud 901) to boost teen beat-making and production. Classical/Local Scenes: Brightmusic kicks off its 2026-27 season in Oklahoma City with Schubert-to-Gershwin programming, while Anchorage Festival of Music teases a “moxie”-driven season. Global Industry Talk: Going Global Music Summit 2026 wrapped in Auckland with panels on touring, tech, and sustainable careers.

Ed Sheeran Backlash Fallout: Sheeran apologized in Philadelphia after Macklemore was removed from his tour over pro-Palestine remarks, saying he wants “unity, not division” while calling Gaza “catastrophic” and condemning “systemic injustice.” Music Rights Regulation: Sri Lanka’s ACPOSL licensing rules now require permits for public music at weddings, hotels, banks, events and DJ/live shows, with fees tied to event type and attendance. New Single Spotlight: Inigo Pascual drops “Pagdating ng Panahon,” featuring BINI’s Mikha Lim in a video co-directed by Piolo Pascual. Arab Pop Meets Rap: Saint Levant’s “AFANDI” reimagines the golden era of Arab pop through modern rap and Palestinian dabke/Lebanese influences. Gospel Across Borders: Australia’s Minstrel Taffie shares stage with Zimbabwe, UK and local gospel artists at Grateful Experience. Tech + Live Music: Unit1 Studio secures $20m more for mixed-reality avatar concerts, aiming to make productions easier to move between venues. Local Scene Hit: Sioux Falls’ Lallycooler Music Festival ends after two years. Industry Data Move: The Official Charts Company launches “Official Charts PRO” for deeper UK/Irish chart intelligence.

AI Music & Licensing: Warner Music Group and Suno have shifted from court fights to a licensing deal, letting Suno train new AI models on WMG’s catalog and route revenue back to artists and songwriters. Policy & Rights: Singapore’s SportSG says music permits for instructors at ActiveSG facilities aren’t new, and points to COMPASS/MRSS licensing rules (with an exclusive permit rate for LTP sessions). Music Law & Culture Clash: A North Carolina law firm is demanding opt-outs and extra protections for parents seeking removal from a required music class taught by a transgender teacher. Local Music Events: Deadwood Jam returns with a genre-spanning lineup and big crowds; Santa Rosa’s Railroad Square Music Festival hits its 10th year with 35+ acts; New Orleans’ L.O.C.A.L.S’ Fest expands to three stages. Honors & Tributes: California establishes Dolly Parton Day; North Dakota inducts six into its Music Hall of Fame; Grenada’s V’ghn wins Jab Artist of the Year at the Caribbean Music Awards. Music & Community: Griffith University’s Creative Transitions uses songwriting and music-making to support women rebuilding lives after homelessness and domestic violence. Industry Loss: New Found Glory guitarist Chad Gilbert dies at 45.

iHeartRadio Music Festival Buzz: Stella Lefty broke through on the main stage with her viral “Boston,” while Snoop Dogg closed night two with a surprise Wiz Khalifa duet on “Young, Wild & Free.” K-pop Spotlight: BTS returned to iHeartRadio after six years and Le Sserafim made history as the first K-pop girl group to perform there; BTS also swept multiple wins at the Fact Music Awards in Busan. Pop Culture Flashback: USA Today rounded up the most controversial MTV Video Music Awards moments, from Madonna and Michael Jackson to Britney Spears and Lil’ Kim. Legal Fallout in Music: A court revoked supervised release for producer “Mally Mall” after witness tampering allegations, sending him to prison. Community & Live Music: Walla Walla’s first Kindie Music Festival lands Sept. 26; Wigan’s St Joseph’s church hosts a Baroque “Four Seasons” concert Oct. 24; and Philly’s Coltrane 100 week spotlights major jazz events through Sept. 27. Music Industry Pressure: Bulgarian National Radio musicians say low pay is threatening recruitment and retention. Local Rules Under Strain: Hyderabad residents question whether Ganesh loudspeaker limits after 10 pm are actually enforced.

K-pop Power Move: BTS closed Day 1 of the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas with a high-voltage set featuring “Swim,” “2.0,” “Mic Drop,” and “FYA,” as the festival heads into Day 2. Rock Legacy: Gene Simmons will receive the IEBA Lifetime Achievement Award on Oct. 6 in Nashville, adding to KISS’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame status and global sales milestone. Festival Disruption: Shaky Knees Music Festival in Atlanta was delayed and Piedmont Park evacuated due to severe weather, while Lost Lands in Ohio also faced an evacuation before reopening as conditions improved. Local Live Music: Burlington’s Grand Point North keeps the waterfront weekend rolling with Grace Potter’s curated lineup, and Edmonds marks Dolly Day Sept. 25 with a drag show, karaoke, and a downtown book drive. New Album Spotlight: Yemi Alade expands her sound on “It’s Yemi Alade,” mixing Kompa, disco, techno, and a return to rap. Health Update: John Farnham’s family says his condition has worsened, so he won’t attend his Melbourne tribute concert. Music + Community: Russian River Pride in Guerneville brought parade, live music, and drag performances to celebrate LGBTQ+ community.

iHeartRadio Festival Buzz: BTS kicked off Day 1 at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena with “Swim,” “2.0,” “Mic Drop” and “FYA,” with Cardi B and Goo Goo Dolls also lighting up the first night. AI Music Legal Storm: Universal Music Group and Sony Music filed a fresh copyright suit against Suno over its new v6 model, arguing the company’s training still infringes despite licensing claims. Syria Music Return: Anti-Assad singer Assala Nasri returned to Damascus for a sold-out concert after 15 years in exile, with half the proceeds going to charity. New Releases & Pop Calendar Reset: New Music Friday spotlighted Miley Cyrus’ “Bass Persuades,” Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Day and Night,” and Beck’s “Ride Lonesome,” signaling a packed week across genres. Industry Deals: Position Music signed Lithuanian alt/electronic artist Hellhills to a global label and publishing deal, while Ninja Tune’s Just Isn’t Music added producer Mason. Classical/Community & Culture: Polaris Music Prize changed its voting protocol for this year’s Sept. 22 Toronto gala, and Easton, Pa. launched a free light-and-music festival using video mapping across public spaces. Major Loss: Tony- and Grammy-winning composer Duncan Sheik, known for “Spring Awakening,” died at 56.

Festival Updates: Sea.Hear.Now is in full setup mode for its Sept. 19–20 two-day run in Asbury Park, with stages and infrastructure being readied along the waterfront. Local Scene Spotlight: Perth’s Free Aviary is launching Lift Off to replace the gap left by major touring festivals skipping Western Australia dates, arguing WA needs homegrown events. Festival Cancellation: Lallycooler Music Festival won’t return in 2027 after two years bringing national acts to Sioux Falls, with organizers citing the end of the run. Music & Culture: San Francisco Heritage is partnering with KEXP and Blue Bear School of Music to turn the historic Haight-Ashbury Doolan-Larson Building into a music and culture hub with a rooftop venue, radio facilities, and education. Industry & Tech: Sony Music and Universal Music Group filed a new lawsuit against Suno over alleged copyrighted-song use in AI training data. Community & Access: Memphis Public Libraries will dedicate the Tay Keith Music Lab at Cloud901, expanding beat-making education for young people. Deaths: Soca “Godfather” Granville Straker and UK rapper Sway both died this week, aged 86 and 44 respectively.

Ed Sheeran Backlash: An Irish radio station, Classic Hits Radio, has pulled all Ed Sheeran tracks from playlists indefinitely after the Macklemore controversy tied to Gaza comments, while RTÉ says there’s “no decision to ban” him across its stations. New Music Friday: A big release day includes Miley Cyrus’ Bass Persuades, Carly Rae Jepsen’s Day and Night, Orville Peck’s Mule, plus singles from Rosé (“New Trick”) and Troye Sivan (“Party”). International Spotlight: Syrian singer Assala Nasri returns to Damascus for a sold-out show after 15 years in exile, with half the proceeds going to charity. Azerbaijan National Music Day: Sept. 18 celebrations honor Uzeyir Hajibayli, with events also staged in Rome. Collabs & Tours: Fontaines D.C. team up with ROSALÍA on “Where Is Gone” for Dopamine Chamber, and Madness headline a Yorkshire Music Showcase with tickets from £15. Music Education: The Benedetti Foundation returns to the Highlands for a no-cost residency and workshops for young musicians and teachers. Live & Local: Sea.Hear.Now Festival brings major acts to Asbury Park, while Stockton’s Gathering Sounds Festival stacks 50-plus acts across seven stages.

Quebec Spotlight: Montreal’s “Journée de l’album québécois” kicks off Friday with a star-studded concert, but a new Luminate Data study says few people are actually streaming Quebec music on Spotify—sparking fresh debate about cultural visibility. Local Festivals & Heritage: Fresno’s Fiestas Patrias returns for Hispanic Heritage Month with food, dance and live music, while Fort Pierre’s Lilly Fest brings back original local songs plus poetry and art vendors. Science Meets Sound: Drexel University researchers review how music-based interventions can measurably reduce pain, focusing on what might explain the effect beyond “adjunct” status. Gospel & Royalties: Erica Campbell’s label My Block sues distributor SRG/ILS over missing royalty statements tied to her 2023 gospel album. Big-Stage Live: Louder Than Life roars into its first day in Louisville with nearly 200 bands across seven stages and major attendance expectations. Streaming Support: Spotify launches “Fresh Finds Forward” to back about 10,000 independent artists with resources, studio time and mental health support. Venue Pressure: Cardiff’s Tramshed says it’s devastated after missing out on Welsh business rates relief by just £4,000.

Ed Sheeran Backlash: An Irish radio station pulled Sheeran’s music after Macklemore was dropped from the singer’s tour, triggering solidarity walkouts from other support acts and more political fallout. Live-Music Rules: South Korea’s culture ministry vowed to end outdated rules that ban dancing at some live venues after a shutdown sparked outrage. Touring Pop: Charli XCX added a second London O2 date for her Music, Fashion, Film tour, with Dublin, Glasgow, Manchester, Amsterdam and Paris stops next. Streaming for Parents: Spotify rolled out a kids-music toggle that prevents children’s tracks from shaping recommendations and Wrapped mixes. Venue Leadership: KOKO appointed Alexandria Carr as head of music, aiming to expand programming and artist experiences. Global Catalog Deal: BMG expanded its Jean-Michel Jarre partnership with licensing of his recorded catalogue and future works. Animal Charity Concert: Rick Wakeman will perform piano for rescued bears at a Vietnam sanctuary event raising awareness of trapped bile-farm bears. Local Spotlight: Battle of the Bands returns at Rock God’s Block Party, while Heritage Alive in Gqeberha brings jazz, R&B, soul and Afro-jazz to Heritage Month.

AI & Identity Lawsuits: Grammy winner Jason Isbell and other artists have filed a class action against Suno, alleging the platform exploits their identities when users prompt song and image outputs. Music Tech & Policy: The dispute adds to a growing wave of legal fights over AI-generated music and consent. Live Music Calendar: Ventura Music Festival will bring Pacific Jazz Orchestra’s tribute to Quincy Jones to Camarillo on Oct. 18, while Lich Gate Concerts hosts a chamber-music program Sept. 19 marking America’s 250th. Community & Culture: Eden Brent headlines an Oct. 3 “Evening of Blues & Roots” in Boulder, and the Guadalupe Dance Company stages a music-and-dance celebration at San Antonio’s Carver Center. Local Scene Spotlight: Houston’s Memo’s Record Shop keeps Latin music history alive after decades in the East End. Health & Education Through Music: Augusta Players’ “Painless: The Opioid Musical” uses original songs and true stories for opioid addiction prevention. Classical Exchange: A China NCPA Orchestra and Sao Paulo Symphony collaboration in Brazil turned cultural exchange into a shared concert conversation.

Dolly Parton Tribute: The Country Music Association is airing a two-hour live Dolly Parton tribute, “I Will Always Love You,” on Oct. 21 on ABC/Disney+ and then on Hulu, packing performances, archival footage and personal stories. Country Festival Buzz: Florida Georgia Line are set to headline the 2027 Carolina Country Music Fest in Myrtle Beach, while Atoka’s Another 48 Hrs. Music Festival returns Oct. 3 with Wade Bowen, The Great Divide and Belle Frantz. Local Music & Community: Stirling’s Big Noise Raploch gets a visit from MSP Alyn Smith as it gears up to reach about 800 young people; Madison’s Hispanic Heritage Month Night Market draws 20,000–25,000 with food, art and performances. Global & New Sounds: Nicosia’s “In Between” brings the Elana Sasson Quartet to Axiothea Mansion, and Azerbaijan’s Gaya State Ensemble reworks Uzeyir Hajibayli’s “The Cloth Peddler” in a pop-jazz polyphonic style. Industry & Culture: Spotify now lets parents block kids’ music from recommendations and Wrapped, and Presto Music’s classical/jazz service is integrated into the WiiM Home app. Protest in Pop: Support acts for Ed Sheeran’s tour quit in solidarity with Macklemore over Palestine remarks.

Music Industry Legal Battles: Universal Music Group sued DistroKid in Delaware, alleging “deceptive trade practices” and an “AI slop pipeline” that floods platforms with AI-generated junk and infringing tracks. AI & Streaming Policy: Spotify rolled out a parent toggle to exclude kids’ music from Wrapped and personalized recommendations, removing those streams from taste profiles. Festival & Community Spotlight: Canadian Country Music Week kicked off in Saskatoon ahead of the 50th CCMA Awards, while Vilar’s “Love For The Locals” launched a fall pass for five emerging-focused shows. Global Music Culture: Amsterdam Dance Event severed ties with promoters over an “insensitive” Shlømo booking, and Armin van Buuren appeared in full drag on Dutch TV to promote safe self-expression. Touring & Releases: Def Leppard announced a new box set volume featuring a previously unreleased Beatles cover of “Revolution,” and metal acts Konvent and Baest pushed new album-era videos ahead of European dates. Local Live Music: The Sound of Music returns to Clark County, and Ridgecrest Chamber Music Society starts its 2026-27 season Sept. 20.

Big Comeback: SexBomb Girls return with “Mama Mama,” their first new song in nearly two decades, teaming up in the video with younger P-pop acts like 1621, AJAA, VVINK and YGIG. Dancehall Spotlight: ZZAMBO’s “Diamond Gal” (with Vybz Kartel) is getting fresh attention more than a year after release, with the artist crediting Kartel’s verse for the song’s message about women’s worth. Live Music & Community: Charlestown’s Ninigret Park Arts and Crafts Show returns Saturday with about 50 hand-made vendor stalls and live music from noon–2 p.m. Local Music Education: North Middle School in Rapid City gets $21,000 in instruments from Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation to expand band access. Major TV/Music Crossover: Reba McEntire delivers an emotional Dolly Parton tribute at the Emmys, performing “Appalachian Memories.” Theatre News: London’s “Sunday in the Park With George” revival is cancelled after Jonathan Bailey and Ariana Grande pull out. New Classical Season: Music in West Kilbride announces its 2026/27 concert programme, kicking off Oct. 9 with the Chloé Piano Trio.