AGP Executive Report

New Music Friday (Latin): Karol G’s new era is here with NO ME ARREPIENTO DE SENTIR TANTO, plus Feid & Ryan Castro’s “Mentira,” and more fresh Latin drops. Pop Collab Watch: Karol G and Bruno Mars link up on the emotional “Still,” her first fully English-language recording. Industry Loss: Producer William Orbit, behind Madonna and Blur among others, has died at 69. Reunion Buzz: Wyclef Jean and Lauryn Hill say “Absolutely” to new Fugees music after their healing process. Streaming/Tech: DIIV announce ZIRP! (Oct. 30) and pitch a playful “New Alternative” concept tied to the album’s ZIRP! theme. Local Live Music: West Kelowna cancels Music in the Park due to wildfire smoke; Cuyahoga Falls fireworks and live music plans shift with rain odds. Live/Community: Breckenridge launches Off the Record for intimate, surprise-venue shows capped around 50 guests. Charts/UK: Olivia Dean & Sam Fender’s “Rein Me In” keeps ruling the UK Singles Chart.

Album/Release News: The Avalanches are back with their long-awaited fourth album, No Bad Memories, arriving Oct. 16, with the single “Can’t Get Over Losing You” featuring Portraits of Tracy. New Music Spotlight: DIIV preview their A.G. Cook-produced fifth album ZIRP! with “The Fountain,” pairing shoegaze guitars with bigger, anthemic energy ahead of the Oct. 30 release. Touring/Live: Babyshambles announce Live At KOKO, documenting their Dec. 15, 2025 Camden show, out Oct. 9. Artist Moves: Elaine debuts a new blonde cut, signaling a fresh era for the R&B star. Local Scene/Community: Cowan Memorial Flute Band marks 130 years in Sion Mills, preserving a rare part-music flute tradition. Big-Name Pop Culture: Wyclef Jean and Lauryn Hill hint “absolutely” at new Fugees music after their Diaspora Calling! reunion. Gigs & TV Crossover: Josh Groban talks his movie-song collection CINEMATIC on NPR’s World Cafe. Music + Culture Events: Hard Rock Rising launches at Hard Rock Cafe London and Piccadilly Circus, with submissions open until Aug. 18.

Rihanna/ A$AP Rocky Watch: A$AP Rocky says Rihanna is “in the studio” and “she cooking,” but also shuts down hopes for a joint album, calling it “trash” for his niche indie-rap lane. Album News: The Avalanches announce No Bad Memories for Oct. 16 and drop “Can’t Get Over Losing You” with Portraits of Tracy, framing it as a pop-minded dig at jingles, tech, and nostalgia. AI in Rap: Tyga admits using Suno for parts of his ’80s-inspired $tarface project, arguing it’s just another tool like Auto-Tune. Fan-Driven Opportunity: Kid Cudi launches a contest to build a new pop-leaning hip-hop group from fan-submitted vocals over a beat he’ll post on SoundCloud. Industry Loss: Veteran manager Peter Katsis, who guided Backstreet Boys, Korn, Smashing Pumpkins and more, dies at 69. Local Live Music: Fort Collins’ Charlie Stevens Band plays New Belgium’s free “Music at the Mothership” Aug. 7; Oxbow’s Bow Valley Jamboree returns Aug. 8 with local acts and a Stones tribute closing set. Touring/Live Updates: ZZ Top cancels a Hollywood Bowl show hours before start, citing “unforeseen personnel matters.”

Rihanna / A$AP Rocky: A$AP Rocky says Rihanna is “in the studio right now” and “cooking,” reigniting hope for her first full album since 2016’s ANTI. Album News: Karol G drops the tracklist for No Me Arrepiento de Sentir Tanto, with Drake and Bruno Mars among the guests. Awards: The 2026 Mercury Prize Albums of the Year show lands in Newcastle on Oct. 22 at the Utilita Arena. Live & Touring: Tom Jones and Nile Rodgers & CHIC team up for a Chester Racecourse outdoor show; alt-country up-and-comers Ole 60 play Vina Robles; Stray Kids returns with genre-fluid EP THIS & THAT. TV/Music: FX’s The Shards leans on early-’80s classics for its soundtrack. Local Scene: PBS launches eco-themed music-adjacent doc series on YouTube; Cuyuna Regional Medical Center sponsors “Music in the Park” at Crosby Memorial Park. Obituaries: Rockabilly bassist Graham Price is laid to rest with his collie riding in the hearse; Italy mourns singer-songwriter legend Francesco Guccini, 86.

Festival & Community Music: Gibraltar Nursing Home turned its car park into a Country and Western day with barbecue, live music, face painting and a pony visit—raising £450 for future events. Live Shows & Touring: Hardly Strictly Bluegrass added more acts to its Oct. 2–4 Golden Gate Park lineup, including Alison Krauss & Union Station, Sierra Hull and Jesse Welles. Music Meets Politics: Hyperpop artist Jane Remover threatened to pull out of M3F Fest unless Israeli act Temper City is removed from the lineup. Industry Shake-Up: Parent company Veeps carried out mass layoffs across BrooklynVegan, Alternative Press, Revolver, Metal Edge and Goldmine, gutting editorial teams. Iconic Sound, Big Stage: Manchester Camerata will perform Brian Eno’s Ambient 1: Music for Airports at Manchester Airport next month. New Music Releases: Way Dynamic expanded his album Massive Shoe with new single “Officially,” a “shamefully joyous” love song.

Album Drop: Northlane will release their seventh studio album Anemoia on Oct. 30, produced by Jordan Fish, and they’ve shared the heavy new single “CUT_it.” Documentary/Live Release: Linkin Park announce cinema release for UNSHATTER (Sept. 30) plus a companion live soundtrack, UNSHATTER (Live in São Paulo) (Sept. 25). New Music & Tour: Greta Van Fleet return with “Saw You Stand” and set Palace for the People for Oct. 9. Industry Debate: BTS withdraws from the 2027 Grammys over a new Best Asian Pop category, while commentary swirls around a rumored $340M impact. Local Scene/Community: Boise’s punk community honors Tony Sly with a tribute show and a new acoustic punk compilation, raising money for the Tony Sly Music Foundation for Kids. Live Music Culture: ShuBrew in Zelienople adds live jazz to Sunday brunch, and NaadhaGama UK draws 2,500+ for a major Sri Lankan music night in the UK. Guitar/Prog News: King Crimson offshoot BEAT announces a Fall 2026 US tour with Terry Bozio replacing Danny Carey.

Pop Culture Buzz: Future appears to be lining up more music after “The Real Me” hit No. 1, with the rapper’s Instagram thanks to fans hinting at a follow-up. Chart Watch: Charli xcx’s “Music, Fashion, Film” debuts at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, tying her “Brat” peak and keeping her summer momentum rolling. Industry & Tech: Spotify says it’s leaning harder into AI—both for product features and for AI-generated remixes/covers—while reporting strong subscriber growth. Fandom Pulse: A new study ranks Stray Kids’ STAY fandom as the happiest in music, based on emotion analysis across fan comments. Local Live Music: Madison County returns to Ripon’s Summer Concert Series (Aug. 7), while Marion’s Uptown Getdown brings free Thursday shows to City Square Park through August. Community & Safety: Shambhala Music Festival enforcement reports 57 vehicles towed and 51 drug-impaired driving suspensions as fans leave the grounds. Theater & Music: “Purple Rain” on Broadway adds Lin-Manuel Miranda and his father as producers, expanding the Prince biopic stage push. Loss: Trashcan Sinatras guitarist John Douglas dies at 63.

International Jazz: Djabe and Marina Gospodinova headline the fifth night of Hungary’s Bansko Jazz Festival, with Djabe’s decades-long fusion legacy (and a long-running link to Steve Hackett) front and center. Independent Music Push (India): Farhan Akhtar’s Excel Music and Yash Raj Films’ new Raah Records both move into indie—Raah’s first drop is Aman’s “Jaadugari” on Aug. 5. Classical Access (Ireland): Limerick musicians can apply for loan access to high-end instruments via the Music Network Music Capital Scheme. Tour News (UK/Europe): Megadeth adds a Cardiff date on its spring 2027 farewell run; Van Morrison announces extra autumn UK shows; Boyzlife schedules a UK spring 2027 tour. Pop Spotlight (Ariana Grande): Grande says her “step back from visibility” was planned, and she’s pulled out of London’s Sunday in the Park with George. Music + Culture: Massive Attack says Singapore barred members after a Palestinian flag incident. New Releases: Koe Wetzel expands The Night Champion with five new tracks; Cairokee drops rock-leaning album Supernova; Amyl and The Sniffers announce Truth Or Consequence (country versions) film + live album. Community & Causes: Medfield fundraiser backs Rock Bottom: A Musical.

Pop Culture & Politics: Tate McRae pushed back on MAGA speculation after her Morgan Wallen collab, pointing to her actions and causes rather than headlines. Local Music Scenes: Fort Wayne’s Century Music Hall shut down, with owners citing rising costs, obligations, and violence—leaving musicians scrambling to rebuild. Community Live Music: West Shore Rhythm & Dunes wrapped with Ludington High School Band and Jedi Mind Trip, while Topeka’s library hosted a free Sunday jazz big-band set. DIY Festival Energy: Chicago’s Nitro-a-Go-Go split the fest from the music business with a four-day run of outdoor shows. K-pop & Global Pop: Red Velvet returned with mini album Velvet Summer, and HYBE’s new girl group TUIDE set an Aug. 24 debut with TUNE & PLAY. Big Headlines: Ariana Grande withdrew from London’s Sunday in the Park With George and plans to step back from public life amid intense scrutiny. Rock/Metal Drama: TMZ reports Slipknot DJ Sid Wilson was fired for bad behavior, though neither side has commented. Music & Memory: Gregg Allman documentary The Music of My Soul lands in music-venue screenings nationwide starting Sept. 1.

Awards & Culture: BTS says it won’t submit music for next year’s Grammys, sparking fresh debate over whether awards should judge art beyond region and language. Pop Star Watch: Ariana Grande is stepping back from public-facing work after her “Eternal Sunshine” run, and she’s also pulled out of the 2027 Barbican revival of Sunday in the Park with George amid renewed health-and-body-scrutiny chatter around her “Petal” era. Touring & Tickets: Megadeth announces 2027 UK/Europe dates for its “Breakout: Hibernation Of The Nations” farewell run with Black Label Society and Testament. Live Music Local: The State Theatre lays out its Aug. 3–9 film and stage lineup, including Mad Dogs and Englishmen and Maytag Virgin. Community & Festivals: Belfast’s Fleadh Cheoil kicks off with massive crowds, while Lollapalooza’s Day Two brings Lorde and Charli XCX to packed Grant Park. Music Business: Universal Music tests a 72-hour new-music paywall in India, raising questions about whether similar models could spread. Legal/Feud: Jude Okoye denies Peter Okoye’s claims of $1.2M+ royalty diversion and says the matter is already in court. Tech & Ethics: Hariharan calls AI voice cloning “sick,” arguing AI should assist, not replace, artists. Global Scene: Massive Attack is barred from returning to Singapore after a Palestinian flag display at a show.

West End Spotlight: Ariana Grande is stepping back from public appearances and has withdrawn from the 2027 London revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park with George, with producers confirming the show will continue and her role will be recast. Health & Media Backlash: Her Petal era has sparked fresh concern online, with Jameela Jamil and others criticizing her team’s “duty of care” after the video’s appearance fueled speculation. Chart Watch: Morgan Wallen’s I’m the Problem returns to No. 1 on the Billboard 200, while Charli xcx debuts at No. 3 with Music, Fashion, Film. New Music Releases: Elton John lyricist Bernie Taupin announces his solo album The Sea Has No Mercy (Oct. 23). Tom Waits drops spoken-word track “The Fly,” and Massive Attack faces a Singapore ban after a pro-Palestine flag and chants. Community Music: Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra launches its 77th season with new music director Benjamin Klemme, and a Long Beach Warped Tour death has the victim’s family demanding answers. Industry Moves: 2 The Bridge Talent LLC relaunches with a select booking roster, and Slipknot guitarist Jim Root urges fans to “don’t believe everything you read” amid Sid Wilson firing rumors.

Welsh Music Spotlight: Super Furry Animals made history at the 2026 National Eisteddfod with their first full all-Welsh set in 30 years, performing Mwng in full and debuting new live Welsh tracks. Irish Festival Buzz: Snow Patrol’s Gary Lightbody is hyping Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Belfast, where 800,000 people are expected and the city’s music scene is on full display. Royalties Fight: Sonu Nigam says major labels sidelined him after he pushed for singers’ copyright and royalties, but claims they’ve since returned to pay royalties. AI + Backlash: Boy George split from his label manager after the manager refused to release his pro-Israel AI track, adding more fuel to the controversy. Live + Big Stage: David Guetta brings his Monolith Tour to Lisbon for a 40,000-capacity show. New Releases: Indy Newland readies second album POSER!, while THUNDER BAE drops the “Gay Alice In Wonderland” video. Tech Meets Music: A guitar-playing robot uses MusicXML to pluck a real instrument, aiming for a full robotic band.

Slipknot Update: Jim Root posted “Don’t believe everything you read” after TMZ reported Sid Wilson was “permanently kicked out,” keeping the heavy-metal drama in the spotlight. Personal Stories in Songwriting: KT Tunstall and Cora Bissett team up on Fringe production The Singer, with Tunstall writing the music for a story about a deaf artist and the busker who sees his chance. New Album Drops: Ghanaian artist Kwabena Moe releases Freedom, a personal 11-track project about migration and survival; Red Dirt’s Wyatt Flores returns to Oklahoma for album release events. Live Music & Community: Raj Smoove brings back Smoove Fest for his 50th birthday; Salida’s “Jazz Musicians Wanted” keeps monthly jam sessions growing. Big-Stage Moments: Phish busts out “Melt the Guns” at Fenway; Fuerza Regida sells out Globe Life Field on its stadium tour. Country Spotlight: Shania Twain opens up about an abusive childhood as her career story continues to dominate headlines.

Slipknot Shake-Up: Sid Wilson has reportedly been kicked out of Slipknot after nearly 30 years, with no clear reason given as the band’s remaining original members carry on. Pop Album Drop: Ariana Grande releases her eighth studio album petal, with the lead single “hate that i made you love me” hitting No. 1 on the Hot 100 and a full tracklist plus video rollout. Rock/Metal Updates: Soundgarden’s final album is in mixing with eight Cornell-vocal tracks; Sigh shares “Unputenpu” featuring Mikael Åkerfeldt ahead of Goh-ka; Silvertomb readies The Interpretation Of Nightmares and debuts “No Way To Live.” Live-Music Scene: Baltimore’s long-delayed Paramount venue is nearing completion; Greenville’s Misery Twin celebrates an Aug. 15 album release show; Wyoming’s chamber festival returns to Laramie and adds Cheyenne. Tour News: Slash says his Myles Kennedy project album lands Feb. 2027, while Five Finger Death Punch pushes “Nails In The Coffin” from Legacy.

Local Scene Spotlight: Arts Connect launched a Topeka music census to map challenges and connect musicians, venues, promoters, producers, engineers, and DJs—plus a “share it” push for audience members who want their local ecosystem counted. Festival Watch: Rain hit day two of Lollapalooza in Chicago, but fans still showed up in ponchos as organizers prepared shelter sites if conditions worsened. Live Music (Big Return): Skrillex is back in Seattle for a Gas Works Park show Aug. 29—his first Seattle performance in 14 years—featuring Dylan Brady, Porter Robinson, Nick León, and underscores. Community & Culture: Music on the Farm returns Aug. 23 at Indian Rock Nature Preserve with 70s/80s sounds, farm animals, and proceeds supporting environmental education and conservation. International Music/Politics: Two Massive Attack members were barred from re-entering Singapore after displaying a Palestinian flag at a concert, with authorities investigating possible license breaches. New Releases: Betty Moon’s 2003 album Doll Machine finally lands on streaming for the first time. Pop Collaboration: Selena Gomez and Becky G team up with Benny Blanco on “Te Olvido (La La),” previewing Blanco’s upcoming Hermoso. K-pop: Stray Kids announce mini album THIS & THAT for Aug. 7.

Global Pop Buzz: Ariana Grande’s “Petal” lands with “unfiltered rage” energy, while reviewers call it an “old fashioned triumph,” and Charli XCX’s “Music, Fashion, Film” hits No. 1 on Australia’s ARIA Albums Chart. Streaming + Live Tech: nugs announces subscriber-only Zac Brown Band livestreams (Fenway Aug. 2; Red Rocks Oct. 19-20). Industry Numbers: Sony Music’s fiscal Q1 shows strong growth, with Michael Jackson driving a big catalogue spike and Ella Langley’s “Dandelion” topping charts. Album + Legacy News: Soundgarden’s final album with Chris Cornell vocals is “being mixed” and nearing the finish line. Tour + Ticket Drama: North West’s debut headline tour is canceled days before kickoff. Local Music Scene: The Crowbar in Ybor City closes after a sold-out final show, while Sudbury’s Her Northern Voice Festival books Lee Aaron, Susan Aglukark, Chantal Kreviazuk and Glass Tiger. New Releases Roundup: New Music Friday spotlights Davido, BNXN, Seyi Vibez, Seun Kuti and more. International Breakthrough: Iloilo’s Sentient Void represents the Philippines at Wacken Metal Battle 2026 in Germany.