AGP Executive Report

Independence Day Music & Fireworks: Omaha’s America-250 RiverFront concert and fireworks get KETV broadcast coverage, while Johnson City’s Freedom Hall show pairs live sets with a choreographed “Declaration In The Sky” finale. Local Live-Music Disruption: Escanaba’s LogJam Music Festival keeps its downtown focus by relocating during construction, aiming to pull people back to Ludington Street shops and restaurants. Music Tech & Legacy: Gibson’s Maestro RM-1A ring modulator and the later PS-1 Phase Shifter get a deep-dive look at how phase effects shaped popular guitar and keyboard sounds. Pop Culture Crossover: LEGO’s Olivia Rodrigo partnership expands the brand’s “editions” push into music-adjacent collectibles. Chart Watch: Joe Bonamassa’s Rory Gallagher tribute, The Spirit of Rory: Live From Cork, debuts at No. 1 on the Blues Albums chart. Industry Moves: Warner Music Finland acquires Mökkitie Records’ catalogue and publishing rights, bringing artists and staff into the major’s network. New Releases & Tours: Omoinotake drops “FLASHBULB” for an anime tie-in and tees a September album; FKJ returns to Singapore in November with Tyber. Community & Access: H.O.M.E. opens a new Liverpool hub for independent labels, publishers, managers and tech companies. Band & Stage News: Weezer’s Patrick Wilson promises the new LP as a “happy medium” between Blue and Pinkerton.

Label/Distribution: Warner Records has teamed up with Randall “Sickamore” Medford’s Three Times Louder via a strategic partnership, with alternative R&B breakout Laila! as the flagship artist. New Music Release: Pretty Lights is back with his first album in 13 years, the 45-song “A Trip Thru Time Fantastic,” split into nine “constellations,” with the first 15 tracks free on his site. Album/Pop Spotlight: Lizzo announces her new album “B**,” leaning into a bold, rage-bait era. **Live Music/Community: Houston’s Miller Outdoor Theatre reopens in Hermann Park with July programming, while Stevens Point’s Riverfront Rendezvous adds a new stage, enhanced fireworks, and Central Wisconsin’s first drone light show. Local Scene & Discovery: Rowena Wise’s “Home In This World” lands as a Discovery Playlist pick ahead of her August album. Independence Day Music: Multiple towns are reshaping July 4 plans—Batesville’s Celebrate America fireworks shift to Sunday with live music starting at 6 p.m., and Heber City’s marching band fundraiser faces reduced fireworks sales due to restrictions. Metal/Hardcore: Living Weapon announces debut album “Death In The Family” with “The Leaving Process.”

Big Pop & Reviews: Madonna’s Confessions II is getting major buzz, with critics calling it her best in two decades and spotlighting tracks like “Fragile,” where she sings about still seeing her late brother Chris. Touring & Live: Metallica hits London Stadium July 3 and 5 with a “no repeat weekend” setup—different setlists and support acts. K-Pop Health Watch: tripleS member Gong YuBin collapsed during a performance at MyK FESTA, prompting a temporary activity suspension amid fresh concern over grueling schedules. Music Biz/Distribution: ADA Central Europe inks an exclusive distribution deal with Berlin indie AIM Music, launching July 3 with a dual-single rollout. Tech-Forward Spectacle: Elton John is reportedly landing a Las Vegas hologram residency at Hard Rock Hotel with “more advanced” tech than ABBA Voyage. Local Community Music: Waverly’s New Horizons Band closes Heritage Days July 19 with a free America-250 themed concert. Global Live-Music Pressure: South Africa’s June 30 border friction is chilling touring plans for West African artists and promoters. Katy Perry Live: Katy Perry brought a full hit set to Woodstock’s Blenheim Palace, with royalty and Jedward in the crowd. Indie/Local Picks: Ipswich’s Halo Festival launches July 4 with Two Door Cinema Club, The Vaccines and Natasha Bedingfield.

BET Awards Moment: Lizzo broke down in tears after meeting Lauryn Hill, calling her “my hero” and sharing Hill’s message to “never stop speaking the truth.” Country Spotlight: Alan Jackson’s farewell “Last Call” at Nissan Stadium drove a surge in streaming, with his catalog racking up millions of on-demand plays in the days after the show. Touring Shake-Up: Bob Dylan’s July 6 Twin Cities gig will feature yet another band change, with Joel Paterson stepping in after recent guitarist departures. Blues Chart News: Joe Bonamassa extended his Blues Albums dominance with “The Spirit of Rory: Live From Cork,” his 31st No. 1. Health & Live Dates: Clint Black canceled his July 3 show after being hospitalized with an infected tonsil; he says he’s expected to recover soon. Indie Venue Culture: Songbyrd Music House’s owners discuss why small rooms keep scenes alive, as part of Jai Alai IPA’s Raise The Stage series. Community Music: The Colorado Symphony rolled out Sensaphonics 3DME in-ear monitoring for hearing protection across the orchestra. New Releases: Kelissa returned with “The Good Side of Things,” and Young M.A. pushed for more attention on “Kween.”

K-Pop TV shake-up: Mnet’s “M Countdown” is moving beyond pure chart-and-comeback promotion, adding musical-theater performers, fictional TV bands, and viral creators as broadcast ratings slide and audiences shift to streaming and YouTube clips. Remaster news: Roger Hodgson’s first two solo albums, “In The Eye Of The Storm” and “Hai, Hai,” get half-speed Abbey Road remasters for an Aug. 21 Universal reissue. Streaming wars: YouTube Premium’s one-month free trial is being used as a pricing-pressure tactic as the service raises rates and competes with Spotify/Apple/Amazon. Music rights fight: Ricardo Montaner sues UMG over ownership of early masters, claiming royalty nonpayment and challenging the validity of his termination notice. Live music business: Physical sales are up in early 2026, with vinyl closing in on CD volume. Tour updates: Daughtry announces a stripped-down “20 Years Unplugged” acoustic run this fall. Local scenes: Helena’s State Capital Band keeps performing into its 124th year, while a Lincoln Municipal Band competition crowns a new young trombonist.

Music Rights Lawsuit: Latin star Ricardo Montaner sued Universal Music Group over ownership of his early album masters, alleging UMG refused to revert rights and paid “no royalties” since taking control in 2001. Tour Moment: My Chemical Romance kicked off the UK/Europe leg of The Black Parade tour at Anfield, with Gerard Way wearing a Liverpool FC shirt that sparked a big crowd reaction. New Releases: Afrobeats superstar Davido announced his sixth album, ORIADÉ, for July 31; Ella Mai dropped the “Might Just” video; Adult DVD shared “Cowboy On Aisle Three” ahead of its Sept. debut. Local Live Music: Milford’s free Music in the Park continues July 5; Shane Lalani Center’s Thursday summer concerts run through July 30; Tulsa’s Once In A While Band readies its July 12 album release benefiting kidney cancer research. Industry Moves: Virgin Music Group unveiled a new global/regional leadership team after its Downtown acquisition. Community Spotlight: Philadelphia Music Fest marks its 10th year with a mission-first, venue-supported format and major donations to music education.

Album Announcements: Davido set a July 31 release date for his sixth studio album Oriadé, while London indie-pop quartet The Big Moon follow up Here Is Everything with Forever on Oct. 30 and shared lead single “Gravity.” New Releases: corto.alto (Liam Shortall) drops Some Small Fortune Sept. 4 via Ninja Tune, with new single “GO” featuring Vector; Everything Is Recorded and Peter Gabriel team up on “Beyond The Brilliant Haze” with .idk. Tour & Live: Blink-182 launches a three-day immersive Complex LA pop-up celebrating Take Off Your Pants and Jacket’s 25th anniversary (July 1-3); Bring Me the Horizon targets stadium dates across multiple territories next album cycle. K-pop & Global Pop: BTS, Shakira and Madonna are set for the FIFA World Cup final halftime show. Classical Crossover: Alexis Ffrench announces a London Palladium headline concert for April 27, 2027. Local Music Scene: Harlow Chorus gears up for its July 11 Saffron Hall gala (with an earlier prom event postponed to mid-September).

AI & Royalties: Tidal says it won’t pay royalties for “wholly AI-generated” music, arguing royalties should go to works written and performed by people. New Releases: Japanese singer-songwriter Centimillimental drops “CO-WRITE,” a June 28 single with Korean hitmaker EL CAPITXN, plus an official video. Touring & Big Moments: Cardi B opens up about overcoming anxiety to release Am I the Drama?, celebrating a BET win for Best Female Hip-Hop Artist. Album Spotlight: Beth Orton returns with The Ground Above, framing it as a more grounded follow-up to Weather Alive. Local Live Music: Abingdon adds new dates to its Thursday Night Jams series, while Wiscasset’s “Alive On the Common” keeps rolling with a July schedule. K-pop Spotlight: TWICE’s 10-year run gets a full recap as the group continues to rack up milestones and global reach. Festival News: St. Kitts Music Festival wraps with performances including Boyz II Men, Fantasia, and Beres Hammond.

New Music Releases: Graham Coxon’s long-shelved power-pop record Castle Park finally gets a release, with the guitarist leaning hard into ’60s/’70s guitar-pop DNA. Big-Culture Pop: Drake teased a new Bad Bunny collaboration for his forthcoming album, continuing their recent run of stadium-level hype. Tour News: The Coral announced their first headline UK & Ireland tour in three years, supporting surprise album 388 with dates kicking off Oct. 2 in Sheffield. Rock Spotlight: The Rolling Stones dropped “Jealous Lover,” a third preview of Foreign Tongues (out July 10), with a video starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Charles Melton. Live & Community: Lauryn Hill was honored at the BET Awards and performed “Ex-Factor,” while local scenes keep rolling with events like AthFest’s closing-day sets and Armed Forces Day live music in Northampton. Industry/Business: MMF and YouTube Music launched MMF Hyperdrive, a new program to train and grow music managers.

Live Band Shake-Up: Bob Dylan’s Long Hot Summer tour is seeing major guitarist changes, with acoustic player Bob Britt posting “Sayonara Bobby” and “I quit,” while electric guitarist Doug Lancio has also reportedly stepped away; Grammy-nominated Julian Lage has been filling in. Album Sales Fallout: Lizzo says her new album “Bitch” is “soul-crushing” to watch underperform, citing first-week sales around 2,649 copies and missing the Billboard 200, after “Special” debuted strongly. Pop Culture Spat: Aaron Lewis is reacting after shredded packaging paper from his unreleased country album cover appeared inside a Taylor Swift merch box, turning the mix-up into a political and PR flashpoint. Country Legacy Moment: Alan Jackson’s final touring stop at Nissan Stadium drew a star-studded lineup and a big celebration of his influence on modern country. Community Music Calendar: Le Mars Municipal Band marks America’s 250th with a free July 4 patriotic concert, while local series like Brattleboro’s Music Under the Stars keep rolling with free jazz performances. Caribbean Festival Recap: St. Kitts Music Festival wraps after three days, spotlighting genres from soca and calypso to Bouyon. Indie/Local Shows: Frog Holler headlines Kutztown’s July 11 free concert, and UK bluegrass act The Often Herd lands in Wooster for a Levitt AMP date.

Pop Releases: Justin Bieber drops SWAG LIVE FROM COACHELLA (WEEKEND I), a full live recording of his April 11, 2026 Coachella headline set with guests The Kid LAROI, Tems, Wizkid, Dijon and Mk.gee. Metal/Alt New Music: Swedish sludge/doom heavyweights Kongh return after a long hiatus with “Staining the Ether,” the first single from Dissolved in Time (Sept. 25, 2026). Country Spotlight: Alan Jackson plays his final touring show at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, with an NBC concert special planned later this year. Live & Local: Dallas Brass teams up with area middle and high school bands for an “American Musical Journey” ahead of the U.S. 250th; Bellefonte Community Band readies a free America 250 concert July 5. Community/Recovery: Glasgow’s Recovery Connects goes alcohol-free July 5 with Pete Doherty headlining. Music & Society: Aaron Lewis says Taylor Swift merch accidentally used shredded pages from his unreleased album. Theater: Australia’s Waitress cancels Sydney dates after softer ticket sales.

Tax Trouble: Chicago rapper Twista pleaded guilty to failing to pay more than $440K in income taxes (2019–2023), agreeing to repay $441,059.91 and facing up to five years. Music Tech & Rights: Filipino artists react to AI training on their songs, with a new AI Watchdog tool highlighting how creators can check whether their work appears in public AI datasets. Live Innovation: Boise’s Northwest Stories debuted “Eternities — The Story Concert,” blending live music and acting to turn a concept album into a grief-and-reunion stage experience. Local Scene & Pride: Cauayan City hosted a Pride Month parade, drag performances, and a fashion show centered on music, self-expression, and equality. Country Spotlight: Ella Langley’s “Dandelion” era keeps climbing, with major chart and certification milestones. Industry Loss: Guns N’ Roses manager Doug Goldstein has died at 65, prompting tributes from the band world. Pop Culture: Weezer announced “The Gold Album” as a 20th studio LP due Aug. 21, plus talk of viral momentum from “Go Away.”

Album Announcements: Becky G will release “Baraja Bendita” on Aug. 14, previewing the perreo-leaning “Patrona.” New Music Friday Buzz: Phoebe Bridgers says her third album, “Lost Weekend,” lands Aug. 14. Chart Watch: Olivia Rodrigo’s “You Seem Pretty Sad” continues to top U.S. album charts. Tour & Live Releases: Asake brings “M$NEY” to Paris Fashion Week and follows up with “M$NEY: The Live Album” on Spotify. Hip-Hop Crossover: Tom Hardy, under rap alias Frankie Pulitzer, is teaming with CZARFACE for a full collaborative album. Afrobeats Return: Wande Coal drops “King Coal,” a 15-track project featuring Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, BNXN, Ruger and more. Music Industry Reality Check: Jose Mari Chan clarifies his royalty comments, saying they were about declining physical-format sales. Community Music: Radio Bristol’s “Farm and Fun Time” returns July 16 with Belle Frantz and Andrew Sa.

Local Live Music & Community: The StoryTown Radio Show marks Memorial Day with “Salute to Veterans,” while the Carter Family Fold hosts bluegrass night with Surefire and multiple summer band concerts keep rolling across the region. Patriotic Programming: Pocatello Municipal Band kicks off its 92nd season with America 250 celebrations, and Charleston Concert Band premieres “Liberty!” tied to Revolutionary-era history. New Releases (Pop/R&B): Charli XCX drops “Wink, Wink,” Madonna releases “Read My Lips” for FIFA 2026, and Steve Lacy teams with SZA for “is it cool?” New Releases (Latin/Global): Eslabón Armado returns with Nocturno, featuring guests like Peso Pluma, as PMPC Star Awards for Music spotlight James Reid, Moira Dela Torre, Ben&Ben and Maki. Charts/Breakouts: Olivia Rodrigo retains the album No.1 spot, while Myles Smith lands a huge debut with My Mess, My Heart, My Life. Touring/Live Events: Punch Brothers return to Boone with Brittany Haas, and Wale’s “Live in the District” set cements DMV homecoming energy. Music & Tech/Health: An artist with Parkinson’s uses AI tools to finish a track, sparking the ongoing debate over creativity and access.

K-pop Comeback: ATEEZ released their 14th mini album GOLDEN HOUR : Part.5, led by “BAD,” a Brazilian-funk-based dance track with a video featuring Hollywood actor Chase Infinity. New Video Storytelling: Cosmosy unveiled “Paradise ~ I need you ~,” continuing their prism-ring fantasy universe with a handmade prop that creates real light refractions. Album Drop (Rock/Alt): Lee Seung Yoon shared ALBUM 0, a 29-track re-recording/re-composition project with two title tracks and new music videos. Indie Pop Single: Phoebe Bridgers premiered “Lost Boys,” featuring boygenius vocals and Jack Antonoff on drums, ahead of Lost Weekend (Aug. 14). Industry Talk: Matt Bellamy says Gen Z is craving “real” music as AI saturates daily life. Radio/Health: BBC Radio 2 DJ Trevor Nelson is stepping away from his show to focus on recovery. Live/Community: Pride Month kicked off in Rohnert Park with a flag-raising and local queer community celebration. Music Business: Music Climate Pact and Deezer published “Sound Choices,” a guide with 10 tips to cut streaming’s environmental impact.

Festival Moves: High Sierra Music Festival is relocating for 2026, landing at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley (July 2–5) with Steel Pulse, Trombone Shorty Foundation Band, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe and more. Video/Patriotism: Marilyn Maye and composer Kenneth D. Laub release “New York’s Most Iconic Lady Shines Bright,” a Statue of Liberty tribute timed to July 4 and America 250. Country Spotlight: Miranda Lambert announces her Oct. 2 album Crisco and teases the June 26 single “Till the Going’s Gone.” Classical Crossover: San Diego Symphony’s Shostakovich Symphony No. 7 heads to Delos and becomes an Apple Music Classical global exclusive (Sept. 11 release). Industry Deal: BMG acquires Chris Cheney’s publishing catalog from The Living End. Local Live: Coyote Pine opens for Scotty McCreery in El Dorado tonight. Tech/AI Backlash: Australian songwriter Paul Dempsey says AI scraping tools are stripping artists of fair negotiation power. Pop Release: Sam Smith’s Hazel Eyes drops in August with “My Guy.” Community/Access: Mode Music Studios expands West Seattle summer camps with pay-what-you-can options and scholarships.