AGP Executive Report

Oasis Buzz: A massive archive of Oasis recordings is headed to auction for up to £1.6m, even as the band objects—highlighting how fan- and industry-grade memorabilia keeps colliding with artists’ wishes. Documentary Spotlight: Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger is getting major review attention for its intimate, rehearsal-heavy look at the band’s 2025 reunion run. New Music Releases: Ellie Goulding drops I Know Too Much, Carly Rae Jepsen expands into a double album with Day and Night, and Chaka Khan returns with Chakzilla. Pop/Charts: Taylor Swift’s “I Knew It, I Knew You” lands a big country-radio moment, fueling talk about where TS13 might go next. Live & Local: DJ Jazzy Jeff brings a fountain-synced set to Longwood Gardens; plus a wave of community gigs and festivals—from Psych Fest in Edinburgh to Bunkfest’s volunteer awards. Music Industry/Tech: A guide to saving Facebook live music as MP3 in 2026 points to how fans keep building personal libraries. K-pop: Jeon Soyeon readies her solo album What a Wonderful Life, while NiziU and KickFlip map out major comebacks. Tragedy: Andy “The Butcher” Williams, a wrestler and Every Time I Die guitarist, dies at 48 after collapsing mid-match.

Death in Music & Wrestling: Andy “The Butcher” Williams, longtime rhythm guitarist for Every Time I Die, died at 48 after collapsing during an independent match in Millvale, Pennsylvania; CPR was administered and the bout was called off. Awards Buzz: Bad Bunny’s Apple Music Super Bowl LX halftime show swept all seven Emmy categories it was nominated for, setting a record as the most-awarded Super Bowl halftime show in Emmy history. New Music Radar: Saoirse drops tech-house single “Boombox,” while Holly Lester releases EP Open Your Mind, plus more fresh picks for September. Live & Local: The Sauble Beach Party wrapped a weekend run with Flo Rida, Simple Plan, and Chris Young; in Canada, 73 Challenger return to Crofton for a free classic rock show. Industry Move: TBWA\Media Arts Lab hires Google music supervisor Anh Do as its first global head of music. Tour News: Angus & Julia Stone announce 2027 Australia dates for Karaoke Bar, including a Sydney Opera House Forecourt stop.

Bad Bunny Emmy sweep: The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show starring Bad Bunny won seven Creative Arts Emmys, and Bad Bunny earned his first Emmy for Outstanding Variety Special (Live). Live-music community spotlight: South Bend’s YART DIY arts and music festival returns with 36+ acts across four stages, pushing safe, creative self-expression. Band-to-band crossover: Marcus King reflects on his friendship with late Mastodon guitarist Brent Hinds, including how they “nerd out” over solos. Sacred music export: The Priests keep spreading sacred music worldwide, rooted in their 1970s Northern Ireland beginnings and a Sony recording deal. Local festival energy: Goosfest lays out its arts-and-music lineup with sold-out “Two Pianos” and more ticketed events. Streaming milestone: System of a Down’s “Johnny” finally lands on streaming for the first time as Toxicity’s 25th anniversary rollout continues. Tour disruption: AC/DC’s Toronto Rogers Stadium date is in doubt after storm damage and a city order to remedy unsafe building conditions. Album review: Kasabian’s “ACT III” leans dance-forward but leaves rock-identity questions hanging. Tribute & legacy: Dolores O’Riordan is remembered via Hot Press reflections ahead of what would’ve been her 55th birthday.

Music Tech & AI Labels: YouTube Music is still lagging behind rivals on clearly labeling AI-made tracks, while Tidal leans on transparent tagging and user reporting to keep AI songs from slipping into recommendations. Streaming & Standards: The debate over sound quality, sharing, and algorithm control keeps pushing listeners to compare Apple Music, Tidal, Spotify, and YouTube Music on what “human-made” actually means. Local Live Music: Bogus Basin’s free “Music on the Mountain” wraps its summer run on Labor Day with Jeff Crosby and local favorites. Community Festivals: Louisville’s WorldFest returns with global food, dance, and a Parade of Cultures drawing huge crowds. New Releases & Charts: Dancehall newcomer Malie Donn’s debut album The Golden Child lands at No. 2 on the U.S. Apple Music Reggae Albums chart. Tour & Stage Buzz: Phish kicks off its Labor Day run at Dick’s with a record-setting “Down with Disease.” Big Pop Culture Crossover: Sara Bareilles calls herself a “vessel” for songs, framing her writing as a channel for big feelings. Country Spotlight: Dustin Lynch announces Clean Slate for Oct. 30.

Miley Cyrus Rebrand: Billy Ray Cyrus says he’s “cool” with Miley dropping her family name for her 10th album, Bass Persuades, now credited as “MILEY” across her rollout. Beyoncé Birthday Moment: Jay-Z paused his London return show at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to lead a stadium “Happy Birthday” singalong for Beyoncé, with surprise cameos including the Fugees, Idris Elba, DJ Khaled and Giggs. AI Music Backlash: Suno reportedly axed a Mary J. Blige ad after backlash, saying it ended the campaign once it learned the deal wasn’t authorized and Blige was uncomfortable. 9/11 Through Music: Local productions of Come From Away are set for Sept. 10-12, while a separate 25th-anniversary reunion brings Marine veterans back together for a Mike Corrado Band performance. Live Music Tech: LSU’s season opener will feature a massive laser show after halftime, built by DRC Creations for a five-minute, stadium-scale spectacle. Touring & Releases: The Darkness announce a surprise intimate London Moth Club “Crock Of Hits” date (Sept. 17), and Jisoo debuts solo era with “Click,” a futuristic pop video.

AI & Copyright: Google pushed its Lyria 3.5 music model into Gemini, letting users generate full songs (with a SynthID watermark) as courts continue to pressure AI music makers after a Munich ruling against Suno. Live Music Safety/Operations: Toronto ordered Live Nation to fix storm-damaged Rogers Stadium before AC/DC can play, citing collapsed seating and health risks. Community Concerts: Kendall Yards’ Music in the Park ends Sept. 11 with a free first-responders show plus meals in Spokane. Fundraising With Stars: The Band Perry’s Kimberly Perry and Johnny Costello raised $35,000 for Le Bonheur Kids after a hospital visit. Local Scene Spotlights: Philly’s Snacktime released a new single and video, while Youthclusive opens “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” as a youth-led, inclusive theatre company. Tragedy: Indie rock keyboardist Jonathan Meléndez and family were found shot dead in Mexico; two suspects were arrested. Album/Release Buzz: Rebecca Black announced her queer-forward sophomore album “Age of the Exhibitionist.” Touring/Legacy: Jay-Z’s JAY-Z30 London show featured Beyoncé’s birthday moment and surprise guests including the Fugees and Idris Elba.

Miley Cyrus: The pop star (now billed as MILEY) drops “Bass Persuades,” shares the title track video, and sets her 10th studio album for Sept. 18 via Atlantic, with two Hollywood Bowl dates on Oct. 16 and 18. Beyoncé: Marks her 45th birthday with a 20th anniversary deluxe B’Day reissue—31 tracks, Spanish-language recordings, new remixes, and a posthumous Selena collaboration. Pet Shop Boys: Announce A man from the future, an Oct. 9 eight-track Alan Turing musical memorial blending songs, spoken word, electronics, and orchestral arrangements. Taylor Swift: Swifties are buzzing after three back-to-back radio interviews this Saturday, with one station teasing “new music” in its promo. Squeeze: Cancel a Virginia show at Wolf Trap after a worker was fatally crushed under a tour bus; the band says they’ll discuss rescheduling. Live music & culture: Katseye powers through London’s O2 show despite two members missing for health; and VenHub’s automated kiosk at LA Union Station sells physical copies of Nipsey Hussle’s posthumous PROLIFIC.

Album News: Simple Minds confirm their next studio album, Sacrosanct, arriving Jan. 29, 2027, with Jim Kerr framing it as music that feels “closer to faith” than a career. Pop Spotlight: Beyoncé drops a B’Day 20th anniversary deluxe reissue with 27 tracks and the long-missing fan favorite “Can I Watch You.” Rap & Release Watch: Chino Pacas unveils Que Sigan Llegando Las Pacas V2, a genre-hopping follow-up built around corridos, cumbia, and hyperpop detours, plus a John Wick-style mini-movie for “Envidia.” Tour/Live Buzz: Chance the Rapper brings his Coloring Book 10th Anniversary Tour to New Orleans’ The Fillmore with La Reezy. Local Music & Community: St. Ignatius’ End of Summer Bash spotlights wellness and suicide prevention with DJ Foreshadow and a Rap Fest lineup. Theater/Music Crossover: “Jim Henson’s Harmonious Hoopla” lands for two nights only at the Museum of Moving Image, celebrating Henson’s 90th birthday. Local Picks: Sudbury’s Music and Collectibles Show returns Sept. 12 for $5 entry (early bird $10).

Arena-to-outdoor momentum: Fontaines DC just sold out their full 2026 UK arena run and are adding huge 2027 outdoor headline dates across Cardiff, Newcastle, Manchester, Glasgow and London, with Little Simz and Viagra Boys in support. Legal drama: Alanis Morissette has sued her former tour manager over an alleged “calculated blackmail campaign” tied to extortion and fraud claims. New releases: Simple Minds confirmed their 2027 album Sacrosanct and shared the Jim Kerr/Charlie Burchill-led vibe behind “Beginner Boys,” while Moses Boyd announced Songs For Sinners for Oct. 30. Pop culture crossover: George Michael’s The Faith Tour live album and concert film land Nov. 6. Local music with a purpose: A Tucson DJ is using the 5th annual Tucson Hip Hop Award Show to fund community outreach, and Maribou State closed a festival with an indefinite hiatus. Tragedy: Mexican indie rock keyboardist Jonathan Meléndez, his pregnant wife, child and nanny were killed in a home massacre.

AI & Copyright: SOCAN has sued Suno in Canada, asking the court to force compliance with copyright law and stop allegedly infringing AI outputs, including a side-by-side showcase of 150 disputed tracks. Jazz Loss: Cassandra Wilson, the Grammy-winning jazz vocalist known for genre-bending work with Steve Coleman and The Roots, has died at 70. Metal Spotlight: Saxon announced Gods Of Thunder (Jan. 22) and shared the title track, with UK/Ireland tour dates lined up for February. Pop Culture & TV: Jennifer Hudson teased new guests and the return of her “Spirit Tunnel” ahead of the Sept. 14 premiere of The Jennifer Hudson Show season. Live Music Ticket Watch: AC/DC returns to South Bend for the first time in 43 years at Notre Dame Stadium, with hundreds of tickets still available. Local Scene: Hickory’s Sails Original Music Series brings New Translations to Union Square Sept. 4, while communities across the region are also rallying for school and band support.

Pop Star Break: Ariana Grande teared up as she closed her 41-show “Eternal Sunshine Tour” in London, saying she’s stepping back from public life after health and scrutiny debates. Album Drop: Miley Cyrus is rebranding as just “Miley” and announcing her 10th studio album, Bass Persuades, out Sept. 18, with Hollywood Bowl dates. Punk Supergroup: Fake Names (members of Bad Religion/Refused) set Punk Ruins for Oct. 23 and shared “Until It’s Normal,” plus early-2027 European tour plans. Metal News: To The Grave released “Life Among The Septics,” from Liberation Front (Oct. 2), kicking off an Australian run. Electronic Business: Kaskade signed with Pacific Music Group to expand his presence across Asia. Local Live Music: Oak Ridge Community Band’s Labor Day concert Sunday includes a Dolly Parton tribute. Health Update: Lionel Richie is reportedly back in hospital after a St. Louis show, with reports citing dehydration or cardiac concerns. Tour/Roots: Jake Bugg announced Alamo (Nov. 13) and a Dublin 3Olympia date (Feb. 9, 2027). Community & Culture: NESt Fest returns Sept. 4-5 in Delhi, spotlighting Northeast youth music and culture.

Pop Tour News: Bruno Mars added a second Auckland date at Eden Park (March 14, 2027) after “incredible demand,” with presales starting Sept. 2 and general onsales Sept. 4; he’ll be joined by Tyla and Silk Sonic’s Anderson .Paak (as DJ Pee .Wee). New Releases: London band Little Grandad announced debut album Speak Softly, Son (Jan. 22, 2027) and shared the harmony-forward single “Tiny Feet.” K-Pop Comeback: Rookie boy band TUNEXX (IST Entertainment) will release EP BLUE MODE on Sept. 2, leaning into its “tune in to our frequency” theme. Live & Local: Gotobeat is expanding into festivals, hiring Mike Lightford to lead a new festival division and setting its first multi-genre programme for Beckenham Place Park in July 2027. Music Culture/Health: A new guide spotlights earplugs for noise reduction as more artists speak out about hearing loss and tinnitus. Community Benefit: Sock Out Cancer returns Oct. 17 at the Forum Theatre in Binghamton, with proceeds supporting local patients’ non-medical needs. Music Business: Internet Archive warns that music journalism and other media are vanishing from public access as sites get shut down.

Pop & Rock News: Dua Lipa is back in the studio, teasing a possible new album with a photo dump that includes Troye Sivan and plenty of recording-room moments. K-pop Spotlight: BLACKPINK’s Jisoo announces her first solo album era with a cyberpunk-styled “CLICK” poster and a pre-release single dropping Sept. 4. Live & Touring: Fontaines D.C. confirm a 2027 homecoming at Slane Castle (June 26) with Hayley Williams plus Damien Dempsey and Madra Salach. Health Update: Lionel Richie is hospitalized in St. Louis after his Muny performance, with doctors reportedly checking him for possible dehydration; he’s said to be stable. Local Music & Community: Albion Arts Council unveils its Fall Festival Concerts lineup for Sept. 12. Festivals: Manila’s “9RACE” lands Oct. 4 at the Big Dome with Secondhand Serenade, Apl.de.ap, IYAZ, and OPM acts. Charity: Ireland’s Dooagh Folk Festival launches its 2026 charity raffle aiming to add €15,000 to its already-raised €55,000.

Dolly Parton’s Legacy: Shinedown frontman Brent Smith says Parton’s music shaped his country-rock roots and that her impact will last “for centuries,” as her estate confirms DollyFest—two weekend celebrations in Nashville and London in 2027. Health & Touring: Lionel Richie is reportedly in ICU in St. Louis after falling ill post-show, with dehydration suspected, while Kelly Clarkson taped her final episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show in an emotional “Kelly By Request” finale with her kids. New Releases: Mike D drops debut solo album Thank You and announces a North America/Europe tour; Everlast returns with Embers to Ashes (produced by Yelawolf). Live Music & Community: A Stockton fundraiser pairs paella, music, and a fireside chat to support the Delta Sculling Center; Pascagoula’s library opens an Audio-Visual Lab for recording. Big Screen/Stage: Lab Theater opens Waiting for Godot through Sept. 6, and Just Ask! begins a run at Omaha’s Rose Theater starting Sept. 11.

Dolly Parton Legacy: After her death at 80, Parton’s catalog surged in the UK, with Diamonds & Rhinestones – Greatest Hits re-entering at No. 4 and her albums hitting the streaming Top 10 for the first time. TV Music Moments: The Kelly Clarkson Show ends Monday (Aug. 31), with the finale taping framed around her “Kellyoke” impact and family support. Soca Spotlight: Machel Montano’s career is celebrated in Brooklyn via “Journey of a Soca King,” running through Sept. 12 at the Brooklyn Public Library. Local Industry Boost: Ghana’s Central Music Awards gets GH¢5,000 sponsorship for its New Artiste of the Year category ahead of its 15th anniversary. Live Music Calendar: Leeds Festival closes with Raye headlining after a stormy break; elsewhere, Moray’s Tweed lands a rare home gig in Elgin next week. AI Backlash: A new round of criticism targets AI music generators and artists accused of using tools to mimic others’ work.

Billboard 200: Enhypen’s “The Sin: Bliss” debuts at No. 1 on the U.S. chart, the group’s first top spot since 2020. Festival Spotlight: Olivia Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain Fields landed in Irvine with an all-women lineup and reportedly $20M raised for nonprofits. Country Moment: Dolly Parton’s Grand Ole Opry tribute drew major performers, while Luminate says her streams surged worldwide the day after her death. New Music/Release: Darius Rucker announces “I Believe” for Sept. 9, a hope-forward single previewed on tour. Touring/Live: Fatboy Slim headlines Lytham Festival on July 2, with Becky Hill as support. Local Music & Community: Séan McCann brings “Sink or Swim” to Penetanguishene’s All Saints Anglican Church on Sept. 5. Live Culture: Weird Al Yankovic returns to the road with his “Bigger and Weirder 2026” tour stop in Grand Forks. Backlash/Drama: Skusta Clee faces backlash after canceling a Parañaque show due to heavy rain and safety concerns. Watch Guide: The 41st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards air on BET tonight (Aug. 30) with free streaming options via services carrying BET.