AGP Executive Report

Local Live Music: The Sault’s community rock band returned for its second annual Downtown Plaza show, with 15 musicians from different backgrounds teaming up for a Great Big Sea cover. New Releases & Reviews: Downes Braide Association released Trauma, a mature, melody-forward record that moves from “Hello Hello” into the title track’s slower, more expansive turns. Rock & Touring: Phish kicked off its fall tour in Atlantic City, leaning into improvisation with “Fuego” and “Wave of Hope” highlights. Pop Culture Music: The Beatles’ Rubber Soul 60th anniversary special editions land with a new Giles Martin stereo remix and a Dolby Atmos Blu-ray mix. K-Pop: T.O.P and Nana confirmed they’re dating after meeting on a music video set. Big Stage Moments: Bruno Mars’ sold-out SoFi run leaned hard into Latin roots, from bolero opener “Risk It All” to “Something Serious.” Music + Politics: Zach Bryan wore “Free Palestine” at Gillette Stadium, following the Macklemore/Ed Sheeran tour controversy. Live Theater: The Addams Family: A New Musical Comedy heads to Guam, while Canmore’s Ain’t We Got Fun? runs through Nov. 1.

Pro-Palestinian Backlash at a Major Stadium Show: Zach Bryan wore a “Free Palestine” shirt at Gillette Stadium, with band members also sporting Palestine-themed clothing, as the tour’s first of two Massachusetts dates played out amid fresh debate over artists’ political messaging. Local Live-Music Revival: Leicester’s grassroots venue The Donkey reopens after a £418k refurbishment, including a reworked stage and renewed facilities, as the city continues to feel the impact of other venue closures. New Music Tech on TV: A Chinese performer shared the “America’s Got Talent” finale stage with Unitree humanoid robots, blending robotics, ink-wash aesthetics, and choreography to music. Classical Leadership: Phoenix Symphony names Paolo Bortolameolli as its new Virginia G. Piper Music Director Designate, with his first performances set for Oct. 9–11. Drum & Bass Anniversary Tour: Roni Size Reprazent announce a 30th-anniversary UK tour for New Forms, including a Leeds date in 2027. Roxy Music Deep Cut: Roxy Music release a long-unheard early demo of “Pyjamarama” ahead of an expanded For Your Pleasure reissue. Country Spotlight: Nathan Carter becomes the youngest inductee into The Late Late Show Country Music Hall of Fame. AI Music Court Fight: Sony Music joins legal and policy battles against AI music platforms, including new lawsuits targeting Udio and Suno.

Live Music & Festivals: Denver’s first Porch Fest lands this Saturday with 193 artists across 85 stops in the Baker neighborhood, billed as Colorado’s biggest single-day lineup by size. Live Music & Festivals: Ohana Festival’s 10th anniversary weekend at Doheny State Beach kicked off with Eddie Vedder turning his “Eddie Vedder & Friends” set into a surprise Pearl Jam mini-show. Country Spotlight: Miranda Lambert’s new album Crisco leans country roots into disco-era countrypolitan, and she says Dolly Parton’s influence is “all over” the record—plus the album gets a Nashville streaming event at The Truth via Amazon Music. P-Pop & Global Scenes: KAIA is set to represent P-Pop at Singapore’s Music Matters Live, with PIX!E and Lola Amour also on the bill. Album Reviews: Beck’s Ride Lonesome review argues the moody folk-rock ideas feel recycled from his own past. Theater & Music: Tony Gilroy’s classical-music drama Behemoth! hits the New York Film Festival, with multiple reviews calling it a love letter to film scoring and musicians. Industry Watch: Universal Music Canada reportedly laid off staff across multiple departments, cutting roughly 6–7% of its workforce.

P-pop Spotlight: KAIA will lead the “Made in the Philippines” showcase at Music Matters Live in Singapore on Oct. 3, with PIX!E and Lola Amour also on the bill. Creative Struggle, Real Talk: Miranda Lambert opened up about hitting a songwriting wall while making her new album “Crisco,” describing writing sessions that left her in tears. Auction Fever: Noel Gallagher’s Oasis-era Takamine guitar set a world record at Propstore’s Music Live Auction, while Freddie Mercury session notes topped the day’s sales. Touring & Live Updates: Jah Prayzah pulled out of Jacaranda Music Festival after a helicopter crash tragedy; meanwhile, Cleveland Orchestra musicians ended a strike after ratifying a new three-year contract. New Releases: beabadoobee’s “Pylon” leans into homesickness from life on the road; Slash announced “Flying Blind” for Feb. 26, 2027; To The Grave dropped “LIBERATION FRONT” with “LIMB FROM LAMB.” Big Pop-Rap Moves: Pitbull’s star-stacked “PITCOIN” lands Oct. 9, and Quavo released the Pharrell-led “QRÖMELIFE.”

Country Spotlight: Wynonna Judd is set to release The Hard Truth, a deeply personal album co-written with husband Cactus Moser, with past singles including “Am I Missing Out” and “Hear Me Now.” Venue Watch: Miranda Lambert will headline Nashville’s new 4,400-capacity The Truth on Oct. 7, bringing her Crisco era to the stage with a 12-piece string section. Pop/Alt Releases: Johnny Marr says his first album in four years, The Age of Everything, tackles “impending danger” in politics. Tour News: N-Dubz announce an eight-date 2027 UK arena run, including Newcastle (Feb. 27). Live Music & Culture: Capital Music Week returns to Ottawa Oct. 2–10 with 100+ artists across 25 venues, headlined by Bif Naked and Tyler Shaw. AI & Work: A report from Pakistan warns AI is cutting into musicians’ recording income as more clients switch to AI-made tracks. Music Business: The Game’s company sues over an alleged unspent $500k marketing budget for Drillmatic that it says hurt sales.

Billboard Latin Music Awards: Rosalía will accept the 2026 Billboard Hall of Fame Award at the Oct. 22 ceremony, with the show airing live on Telemundo and Peacock. Big Pop Album News: Take That announce their new studio album Dreamers (Nov. 20) and drop the title track, with a massive Dreamers Tour next summer. Latin Music Livestream: Shakira’s Madrid concert from Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran streams live worldwide via Amazon Music/Prime Video/Twitch on Oct. 3, no subscription needed. Local Music + Community: SweetWater Music Festival’s $29,000 OTF grant funds SweetStrings, a new community strings ensemble for adult amateur players. Irish Music Industry: Ireland Music Week launches the Trevor Dietz Management Bursary; first recipient is Erin Barker, manager of Madra Salach. Live Music on the Move: ButtTootKing’s Columbus Halloween show shifts from KEMBA Live! to A&R Music Bar, with existing tickets honored. New Releases: Divergent premieres album Rev It Up; Milwaukee Music Premiere debuts Glitzy’s “Effort.” Touring Demand: Ghostly Kisses adds a second Baghdad date after the first sold out in hours.

MTV VMAs Recap: Madonna kicked off the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards with a medley from Confessions II, bringing out Sabrina Carpenter and Charli xcx, while RAYE delivered a powerhouse set—making the night one of the most talked-about in years. Live Music & Community: San José State’s Black Leadership and Opportunity Center hosted its BLOC Party with DJs, games, and campus resources, while the Long Family Memorial Music Fund launched with $25,000 to support Rensselaer Central High School’s band. New Releases & Charts: London band Keo is eyeing No. 1 with debut album Put A Smile On For Me, and Miley Cyrus’ Bass Persuades hits No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Big Touring News: U2 is teaming with Jack White’s Third Man Records for a special independent retailer vinyl pressing of Carnaval de Luz. What to See: Buena Vista Social Club lands in Miami, and It Takes Two brings a legendary-duo revue to Broadway Theater in Rock Springs. Local Venue Watch: Newcastle’s The Cluny will undergo “transformational” accessibility and sustainability upgrades after receiving DCMS funding.

TV Ratings Watch: A new scorecard revisits major awards show viewership, showing the Oscars, Grammys, and Tonys have struggled to hold audiences year over year, with the latest MTV Video Music Awards ratings sparking fresh debate. Local Music & Community: The Danville Community Band received a $1,723 grant to maintain its van for gigs, while a Worcester Foodbank fundraiser pairs a church concert with local musicians Alpha Trio. Cross-Disciplinary Live: Ilkley Manor House hosted a live “paint to music” event where an evolving ambient soundscape (piano, violin, field recordings) guided a new painting in real time. Pop/Production News: JADE is reuniting with “Angel of My Dreams” producer Mike Sabath for her second album, aiming for a more unified, cohesive follow-up. Publishing Deal: Reservoir signed songwriter-producer Jake Sinclair and launched a joint venture to develop emerging talent for future publishing deals. Big Metal Moment: Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi says the band’s new film is “difficult to watch” after Ozzy Osbourne’s death. Touring Upgrade: Tyla moved her Gauteng APOP tour stop to SunBet Arena and added a second date after strong fan demand. New Music Releases: Priyank Shah unveiled concept album *KSHATRA, and Rajinikanth’s Jailer 2 dropped the “Bindaas” single featuring Nora Fatehi and Anirudh Ravichander. Live Music Policy: NSW passed a world-first law aimed at protecting live music, while a Colchester venue applied to serve alcohol and host live music and films.

Live Music Law: NSW has passed the Contemporary Music Act 2026, creating new venue tiers and protections aimed at making it easier to book live acts and reducing red tape for smaller shows. Touring Pause: Canadian punk band PUP says its October run—playing The Dream Is Over in full—will likely be its last for a long time. Album Drops: Ivorian gospel artist KS Bloom will release a new project on Oct. 9, with a presentation set for Oct. 10 in Abidjan. Creative Process: Bruno Mars explains his long gaps between albums as a constant search for the right song “feeling,” plus Latin rhythms and congas shaping The Romantic. Awards Buzz: The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards crowned Madonna and Taylor Swift as top winners, with Swift taking Video of the Year for “The Fate of Ophelia.” Community Music: Phish fans in Vermont are funding a music scholarship in perpetuity via the Mockingbird Foundation. Local Spotlight: Watertown, Wisconsin students protested after the district scrapped its spring Flashdance musical.

Memoir Spotlight: Freestyle icon Judy Torres turns her Bronx-to-freestyle rise into a new memoir, No Reason to Cry, sharing the heartbreak and healing behind hits like “No Reason to Cry.” Legacy Tour: Roger Waters and son Harry Waters launch LEGACY – A Pink Floyd Show, a 2027 North America/Europe run built around the band’s 1971–1979 era. TV Push: CMAT heads to The Daily Show to promote her album EURO-COUNTRY. Big-Stage News: Nessa Barrett announces a March 2, 2027 Dublin National Stadium date for Tough Love. Music + Culture: Cooking Vinyl Publishing signs Killing Joke founder Jaz Coleman to a worldwide publishing deal with Believe. Fan-Funded Future: Phish fans back The Mockingbird Foundation Music Scholarship in Vermont, funded in perpetuity for music students. Local Live: JerryFest returns to Five Points Oct. 4 with free jam-band style sets and family activities. Streaming/AI Talk: Johnny McDaid weighs in on hitmaking and the algorithm in the streaming era. Rock Talk: Slipknot’s Jim Root warns the next record will “hurt some feelings” as the band experiments.

MTV VMAs: Taylor Swift became the most-awarded artist in Video Music Awards history, winning the inaugural Artist Director Honors and dedicating the top prize to Dolly Parton, while Nirvana took the Video Vanguard Award. Pop Culture Buzz: Madonna opened the show and later posted a bizarre late-night bed party with Charli XCX and Julia Garner, sparking nonstop online chatter. Tour News: Slipknot announced its first-ever stadium run, the (Sic)est Stadium Tour, launching at Wembley in July 2027 with Bring Me The Horizon on North American dates. New Music Radar: Mixmag highlighted fresh releases including DJ Python’s upcoming XL Recordings EP and Vanco’s Thriller-inspired single “WOLF.” Local Scene: Tehachapi’s free Music on the Mountain concert series wrapped for 2026, with the city crediting strong community turnout and nonprofit impact. Live & Stage: The Fray set a 2027 Auckland headline date with Dashboard Confessional as support, and “Jagged Little Pill” continues rolling out as a jukebox musical. Arrest/Activism: Massive Attack’s Robert Del Naja was arrested again over support for Palestine Action.

Stadium Tour News: Slipknot just locked in its 2027 (sic)est Stadium Tour, kicking off July 3 at Wembley and rolling through North America and South America with a rotating lineup that includes Marilyn Manson, Bring Me The Horizon, Lorna Shore, Hatebreed and more. Pop Culture & Awards: The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards were dominated by Taylor Swift (record 33 wins, plus the inaugural Artist Director honor) and Madonna (major comeback haul), while BTS swept key categories including song of the year for “Swim.” New Video Buzz: Swift also dropped “Patient Zero” at the VMAs, starring Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell, and the thriller-style rollout is already sparking fan theories. Music Business/Tech: Apple Music Hall in London is getting a closer look, with Apple’s first dedicated live venue built for immersive sound. Local Live Scene: Karina Rykman celebrated her album Late Checkout with a Webster Hall headliner featuring Robert Randolph and Dogs in a Pile. Legal/Politics: Turkish comedian Deniz Göktaş went on trial over a stand-up set targeting Erdogan, arguing satire should be protected. Milestone Track: Enrique Iglesias marked “Hero” hitting 25 years with a new video post.

MTV VMAs: Taylor Swift made history at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, winning the inaugural Artist Director Honors and immediately debuting her new “Patient Zero” video—starring Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell—after a short speech about loving the craft of music videos. Pop & K-pop wins: Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter took Best Collaboration for “Bring Your Love,” while Lisa (BLACKPINK) won Best Pop Video for “Dream,” also performing “SaWaDiKa” live ahead of her upcoming EP. Rock legacy: Nirvana accepted the Video Vanguard Award, with Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl praising the band’s authenticity and lasting influence. Show moments: Madonna opened the ceremony in a high-energy medley with Carpenter and Charli xcx, while the broadcast started late due to the Cowboys vs. Ravens game, sparking viewer frustration. New music to watch: Queens of the Stone Age shared the single/video “Where The Goth Girls At?” from upcoming album Perfecth, and Bullet For My Valentine announced Social Apocalypse for March 19, 2027.

MTV VMAs Tonight: Madonna leads with 11 nominations as Taylor Swift gets the first-ever Artist Director Honors; Snoop Dogg hosts from LA’s Peacock Theater, with the show starting 7:30 p.m. ET and streaming options including Paramount+. U2 Album News: U2 will release “Carnaval De Luz” on Nov. 13, featuring Dolly Parton on the final track “Torn,” described as her last recorded vocal performance. The 1975 Update: Matty Healy says the band’s next album is “nearly done,” after teasing studio work and gaming in recent months. Live Music & Local Scenes: Bluffton’s free pet-friendly Bluffton Music Series returns with Folderol on Oct. 2, while Spokane’s South Perry Street Fair keeps the community stages rolling. TV Crossover Buzz: Cheryl is confirmed for The Voice, appearing as a guest mentor with Will.i.am during the battle rounds. Metal Spotlight: Anthrax played an intimate Roxy set in West Hollywood between Iron Maiden dates, and promoted its “Cursum Perficio” era.

Awards & Breakthroughs: Siti Nurhaliza swept AIM25 in Kuching, taking Best Song for “Pesanan Buat Diri” plus Best Traditional Song, Best Female Vocal Performance, and a top collaboration prize; Aisha Retno won Best Album for debut “Re.Hab,” while Mimi Fly racked up five trophies and Mawat became the inaugural Best Borneo Song winner for “Dayang Bintang.” Local Music & Community: Emporia State’s Music Gala Benefit drew a big crowd for student showcases, and Oswego’s “Jazz by the Lake” kicks off Oct. 2 with the Joseph Brothers Quintet’s “Clarinet Summit.” New Releases & Tours: Imperial Teen’s Roddy Bottum and Will Schwartz preview “All Over You” ahead of a multi-city run (Oct. 15 at Bottom of the Hill), while Jude Brothers shares her “Dogwood Maiden Voyage” album concept. Pop Culture & TV: SNL UK satirized Oasis by inviting PM Andy Burnham into a Russian phishing scam sketch, and Taylor Swift dropped “The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore” with “Patient Zero” set to premiere at the VMAs. Live & Events: Celtic Classic returns for a weather-proof second day in Bethlehem, and a Pop 2000 Tour singalong hits Cherokee Casino Oct. 16.

Pop Star Power: Taylor Swift’s “The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore” is out, adding “Patient Zero,” “Cleveland!,” “Pink Clouding” and “Babylon,” and she’s already set new Spotify records ahead of the MTV VMAs, where “Patient Zero” video premieres with Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell. VMAs Preview: Sunday’s MTV Video Music Awards at the Peacock Theater spotlights Madonna, Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars, Sabrina Carpenter and Swift, plus the new inaugural “Artist Director Honors.” Hiatus Explained: Kizz Daniel says his music break wasn’t album-related—it followed his mother’s death, with “Radio Gidi” still on track for Oct. 16. Local Live Music: Wheatus headlines Evil Genius’ free Fishtown block party Oct. 3, while Philadelphia’s Miniplex hosts Eraser with support from Control Voltage. Community & Legacy: A father-son duo turned 50-year-old poems into a WhatsApp-made album; and Wakefield mourns “Audiozone” founder Neil “Clink” Clarkson, a rehearsal-studio lifeline for local bands. Tragedy: Geordan White, co-founder of Liver Cancer, died after drowning while trying to save his dog.