AGP Executive Report

Pop Release: Taylor Swift is expanding The Life of a Showgirl with The Encore, landing on Friday (25.09.26) across streaming. The deluxe adds four new songs—“Patient Zero,” “Cleveland!,” “Pink Clouding,” and “Babylon”—after “Patient Zero” was teased earlier this week. Live-Music Policy: New South Wales has passed a World First Music Bill aimed at protecting venues and festivals, including a tiered venue recognition scheme and updated rules so organizers aren’t automatically labeled “large scale music festivals” for booking multiple acts. Indie & Community: SaskMusic is bringing free singing and album art workshops to Swift Current, Yorkton, and Prince Albert during Culture Days (Sept. 25–28). Global Sounds: Quebec experimental rock duo Angine de Poitrine just won the 2026 Polaris Music Prize (and the SOCAN Polaris Song Prize) for Vol. II and “Fabienk.” Tech & Performance: UK startup Unit1 secured nearly £15M to build “hyper-realistic” avatar music shows, including plans to recreate performances from artists who’ve retired or passed.

New Signing (Christian/Gospel): Centricity Music signed chart-topping vocalist Rachael Lampa, with her faith-forward debut single “Permission” landing Sept. 25. Jazz Spotlight: A writer marks John Coltrane’s 100th birthday with a personal take on how his modal improvisation connects to Carnatic music. Live-Music Calendar (Montgomery): A Sept. 24-30 roundup lists local gigs and club sets. Legal Drama (Dolly Parton): Parton’s estate is seeking a restraining order against nephew Bryan Seaver, alleging threats and harassment tied to her legacy and business. Indie Pop (UK): Leigh band Lottery Winners announce Christmas “Burning House Party” shows for Dec. 17-18. Alt-Metal/Immigration: Miami outfit Achroite held an ICE Meltdown benefit after guitarist Raul Reinefeld was detained. Tech Meets Music (Apple): Apple Music opened Apple Music Hall at London’s Battersea Power Station, a 600-cap venue built for live shows, recording, and global livestreams. AI in Charts: A report says AI tracks are finding chart success—especially in Christian, gospel, and country. Major Benefit Concert: Silverlake Conservatory of Music’s 25th anniversary benefit (Oct. 17) is headlined by Red Hot Chili Peppers with Dave Grohl and Vince Staples.

Pop Star Watch: Taylor Swift has confirmed her new single “Patient Zero” is coming Sept. 25, with pre-orders live and fans already decoding fresh Easter eggs from her site and social posts. K-Pop Spotlight: (G)I-dle’s Yuqi will release her second EP, “27,” on Oct. 8, and will kick off fan-con stops in Guangzhou, Chengdu, Beijing and Shanghai. Music Biz/Legal: Dolly Parton’s manager is seeking a restraining order against her nephew Bryan Seaver, alleging extortion and threats tied to his former security role. Live Music Scene: Seattle venue owner Mason Reed is launching the Together in Music Society to subsidize grassroots shows and push fair pay for musicians. AI & Copyright: A new report says major labels are moving from suing AI music tools to licensing catalogs—while artists worry about what they’ll actually get paid. Local Culture: Lawrence, Kansas is hosting “Punk, Queer, Activist Art” for Final Friday, celebrating decades of counterculture work.

UK Charts: Ezra Collective’s Here Because of Hope debuts at No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart, making them the first UK male jazz group to top the chart and sweeping multiple sales and genre lists. MTV VMAs: Taylor Swift will receive the inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honors on Sept. 27, with CBS/MTV/Paramount+ coverage and a focus on her behind-the-camera impact. New Album Drop: Fontaines D.C. preview “Tongue” in Brooklyn and confirm Dopamine Chamber (Oct. 16), featuring “Marianne,” “Six Shot Morning,” “Happy For You,” and a Rosalía collaboration. Heavy Metal Moment: William Shatner, 95, makes his heavy metal debut with The *uckers at Riot Fest, covering Metallica, Ozzy and Motörhead ahead of a winter album. Tech Meets Music: Apple Music Hall opens at Battersea Power Station with a 600-seat room built for Spatial Audio, multitrack recording, and global livestream plans. Local Scene: Newark loosens downtown live-entertainment rules, aiming to bring more late-night music back to Main Street.

Country Spotlight: Drew heads to Jolene Bar after a Foo Fighters-style cancellation derailed his first NZ performance plans, then vows to return once his new album Farm Faith Family drops. Local Music & Community: St. Mary’s Oktoberfest in Alton (Oct. 9–11) spotlights German food, live music, family activities, and fundraising for the parish and school. Up-and-Coming Australia: Clay Western talks lo-fi indie roots, a growing singles run, and the Mentos Fresh Sounds Class of ’26 spotlight. Rock Live: Foo Fighters’ Vancouver BC Place set turns into a three-hour hit parade, with the band leaning into tour-tight chemistry. Pop Culture/Business: Apple’s “Shot on iPhone” refresh puts ROSÉ’s “new trick” at the center, while the Official Charts Company launches Official Charts PRO for deeper UK sales/streaming access. New Releases: Lizzy McAlpine’s Angel review praises standout moments; Beabadoobee’s Pylon leans grunge/emo with major rock features. Industry Drama: TMZ reports Dolly Parton’s nephew Bryan Seaver was removed from estate security after her death. Charts: Olivia Rodrigo matches Guts with a 12-week No. 1 run on Billboard’s Top Alternative Albums. Classical/Arts: Passing the Baton chronicles Chicago Symphony music directors ahead of its Sept. 24 release.

Music Rights & Licensing: Sri Lanka’s ACPOSL has rolled out new rules requiring event licences for public use of covered music at weddings, parties, hotels, corporate functions and more, with fees scaling by event type and headcount. Legal Fight: The fiancee and last manager of Mark E Smith says The Fall’s “final album” Post Script is “ethically wrong” and a “cash grab,” arguing the vocals weren’t made after the lineup Smith chose as final. Live & Touring: Foo Fighters wrapped a Vancouver stop on their Take Cover Tour with a decade-spanning set, while Street Vibrations 2026 in Reno spotlights Lynyrd Skynyrd as headliner. Big Apologies/Politics: Ed Sheeran addressed the Macklemore fallout at his Philadelphia show, apologizing for “mistakes” and calling Gaza “catastrophic and unjustifiable.” Industry Tech: The Official Charts Company launched Official Charts PRO, expanding access to UK chart sales/streaming data for music and home entertainment decisions. New Releases & Culture: Saint Levant’s AFANDI reworks Arab pop’s golden era through modern rap; Los Mirlos made NPR’s Tiny Desk history for Peruvian cumbia. Loss: New Found Glory guitarist Chad Gilbert died at 45 after cancer battles. Local Music Infrastructure: EMU Archives received $30k for a Michigan oral-history music preservation project.

Rock & Pop Loss: New Found Glory guitarist Chad Gilbert has died at 45 after a years-long cancer battle, with bandmates and his wife Lisa Cimorelli sharing that he passed peacefully in his sleep. Live Music & Politics: Ed Sheeran returned to the stage in Philadelphia after the Macklemore controversy, apologizing for “mistakes,” calling the Gaza situation “unjustifiable,” and even removing a B-stage due to fears about crowd safety. New Releases: Bonobo released Distance in Static, a career-spanning electronic album featuring Arooj Aftab, Joy Crookes, Nilüfer Yanya, Ichiko Aoba and more. AI Music Business: Warner Music is betting on its AI “truce” with Suno, launching models that let users create music inspired by licensed recordings from participating artists. Local Music Scenes: North Dakota inducted six into its Music Hall of Fame; Santa Rosa’s Railroad Square Music Festival returned with 35+ acts across five stages; and Rotorua’s Rau Huia won two national awards for original work in te reo Māori. Classical/Stage: Kathleen Edwards hit her Massey Hall headlining debut, while High Society lands at London’s Lowry with Helen George and Freddie Fox.

Ed Sheeran Fallout: At his Philadelphia show, Sheeran apologized in tears for “mistakes” after Macklemore was dropped over pro-Palestine remarks, calling Gaza “catastrophic and unjustifiable” while insisting he never wanted to be an activist musician. Live Music & Community: Walla Walla’s first nonprofit Kindie Music Festival lands Sept. 26 in Pioneer Park with kid-focused performances and music education partners. Immersive Pop Culture: Oprah Winfrey is bringing a music-poetry storytelling show to the Las Vegas Sphere in April 2027 with Jacob Collier and Ocean Vuong. Music Tech/Legacy: Rockstar officially announced GTA VI: The Album, a 34-track soundtrack with artists like Travis Scott, PinkPantheress, Fred again.. and Keith Richards, releasing Nov. 19. New Talent Spotlight: Ayra Starr frames her latest era as “taking my power back,” while Stella Lefty debuts at iHeartRadio with her viral “Boston.” Music Industry Pressure: Bulgarian National Radio musicians warn low pay is threatening recruitment and retention.

Ed Sheeran Gaza remarks: The singer opened his Philadelphia show with a direct message on Israel-Gaza, calling the situation “catastrophic and unjustifiable” and apologizing for the tour turmoil that followed Macklemore’s pro-Palestinian onstage comments. Tour fallout: Sheeran said he’s “making mistakes” and framed the controversy as a fight over freedom of speech, while protesters gathered outside the venue. K-pop at iHeartRadio: BTS closed out Day 1 of the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Festival with a high-energy set featuring “Swim,” “Mic Drop,” and “FYA.” Rock legacy honor: KISS co-founder Gene Simmons is set to receive the IEBA Lifetime Achievement Award in Nashville on Oct. 6. Local music & community: Grand Point North kept the Burlington Waterfront packed with live acts, while Chilliwack’s Bozzini’s Upstairs Lounge announced a fall run of concerts. AI in music debate: PeppDigital defended AI-assisted creation, arguing human direction and editing are what make the work artistic.

Festival Heat (iHeartRadio): BTS kicked off Day 1 of the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Festival at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas with “Swim,” “Mic Drop,” and “FYA,” joining a stacked lineup that also included Cardi B, Zara Larsson, and Goo Goo Dolls. New Music Friday: Miley Cyrus leads the release wave with Bass Persuades, Carly Rae Jepsen drops double album Day and Night, and Beck returns with Ride Lonesome after seven years. Indie Music Under Pressure: Private equity is reportedly moving deeper into indie catalogs, with label owners warning it could squeeze the indie ecosystem. Album Spotlight (Country): Ian Munsick leans into his American West identity on The Mountain Goat, while Luke Bryan releases SIGNS and Valley announce Do You Need To Be Entertained? for Jan. 15, 2027. Anime Rock Collab: BAND-MAID’s “SPIN” lands as the new ending theme for Beyblade X, releasing Oct. 28. Loss in Music: Duncan Sheik, Tony-winning composer of Spring Awakening, has died at 56.

Broadway Loss: Duncan Sheik, the Tony- and Grammy-winning composer behind “Spring Awakening,” has died at 56, remembered for “Barely Breathing” and a Broadway run of 860+ performances. Anime Rock Collab: BAND-MAID’s new single “SPIN” lands Oct. 28 as the ending theme for “Beyblade X,” with two more tracks on the release. Festival Reality Check: Perth’s Laneway and other major festivals are skipping WA again, so local band Free Aviary is launching Lift Off to keep momentum for homegrown acts. Local Scene Spotlight: Dayton band Paid Leave is settling into the community after winning the 2026 Dayton Battle of the Bands, with a local show set for Sept. 18. Music + Community: Iowa City’s Latino Fest returns Saturday with food, dancers, and family activities marking 15 years. Controversy in Schools: Aldine ISD pulled Nimitz band shirts after offensive-image complaints tied to a “The Crucible” theme. New Album Watch: The Warning’s “Everything’s Falling” explores failure and resilience on their fifth studio album. Big Tour Update: Garth Brooks adds a third Salt Lake City show after high demand and bot-activity issues disrupted ticket sales.

Album Drops: Miley Cyrus releases her 10th studio album Bass Persuades, leaning into dance-pop momentum and personal reflection, while Carly Rae Jepsen follows with her dreamy double album Day and Night split between “organic” Day and more experimental, synthy Night. Pop Culture & Music: Fontaines D.C. tap ROSALÍA for their forthcoming Dopamine Chamber (out Oct. 16), and BTS ARIRANG gets big-screen cinema broadcasts in India for fans who can’t catch the tour live. Radio Backlash: Irish station Classic Hits Radio pulls Ed Sheeran from playlists indefinitely after the Macklemore/Gaza controversy, while RTÉ says there’s “no decision” to ban Sheeran across its network. Live & Local Scene: Madness headline a York Music Showcase in 2027, and Stockton’s Gathering Sounds Festival returns with 50-plus acts across seven stages. Industry Moves: ROAM appoints Maxie Gedge as head of artist delivery, and DawBell expands its roster with major UK music awards work.

Quebec Music Push: Quebec’s “journée de l’album québécois” is back with provincewide events and a Montreal star-studded concert, but a Luminate Data study says few people actually stream Quebec artists on Spotify—sparking a debate about listening habits. Hispanic Heritage Live: Fresno’s Fiestas Patrias returns with food, dance, and live music across downtown Fulton Street. Local Fundraisers & Scenes: Stratford’s Summer Music fundraiser spotlights The Bookends with Shane Cook and local folk acts; in Carson City, the Mecca Fall Stage Series keeps rolling with Rebekah Chase Band; and Hull’s C Note club is set to close after 18 years, marking the end of a long-running live-music hub. Gospel Business Fight: Erica Campbell’s label My Block Inc. sues distributor SRG/ILS over missing royalty statements tied to her 2023 gospel album I Love You. Big Pop Culture Moment: Orville Peck opens up about addiction and his new album Mule, while Dolly Parton posthumously accepts an Americana Lifetime Achievement Award via a pre-recorded message.

Auction Buzz: Propstore says an ultra-rare Kraftwerk-designed Canyon bicycle (21 made) could fetch up to $26,400 at its Oct. 1-2 Music Live Auction. Tour Uncertainty: Harry Styles’ Wembley tour email has fans reading into what comes next after “Together, Together.” Global Pop Spotlight: Burna Boy will headline the 2026 NFL Paris Game halftime show at Stade de France on Oct. 25. Live-Music Policy Fight: South Korea’s culture ministry vows to end outdated rules that ban dancing at some live venues, after a Busan crackdown sparked backlash. New Music From the UK: Bloc Party’s Kele Okereke opens up on the heartbreak behind Anatomy of a Brief Romance. Big Crossover Release: GTA VI: The Album lands Nov. 19 with 34 new tracks, with six songs streaming now. Streaming Tweaks: Spotify adds a setting to keep kids’ music from steering your recommendations. Venue Leadership: KOKO appoints Alexandria Carr as head of music. Local Scene: A Notting Hill pub’s licence is under review after complaints about standing-drink crowds blocking the pavement. Health Update: Duncan Sheik is in critical but stable condition after being rushed to hospital.

AI & Artist Rights: Jason Isbell and fellow musicians filed a class action against Cambridge-based AI music platform Suno, arguing it commercializes their identities by generating songs and images from prompts. Tour Fallout: The Ed Sheeran “Loop” tour keeps unraveling after Macklemore’s Palestine remarks—support acts and Sheeran’s backing band reportedly quit in solidarity, while Sheeran’s team says the Philadelphia show is still on. Pop Culture Spotlight: Madonna will open the VMAs for the first time in 23 years, with the show airing Sept. 27. Local Music & Community: Houston’s Memo’s Record Shop celebrates decades of Latin music history; Hickory’s free “SIDE/SHOW” and “Sails Original Music Series” bring live sets to downtown; and Fort Payne’s Boom Days returns with Sarah Evans headlining. Live Music Releases: Eric Clapton and JJ Cale’s “The Road to Escondido” gets a Nov. 20 enhanced 20th anniversary edition. Theater & Music: “Jawbreaker The Musical” extends its L.A. workshop run, adding performances Sept. 25–27.

Irish Folk Chart Heat: Dove Ellis, Madra Salach and Joshua Burnside keep climbing in the UK’s Official Folk Albums Chart, with Ellis’s “Blizzard” up to No.3 and Salach holding strong at No.5. Palestinian Cultural Days: Tamer Nafar announces a Dublin headline show at The Sugar Club (Sept. 27) with Róisin El Cherif. Big-Name Releases: Tom Petty’s estate is set to drop “Origins 1971-1978” on Nov. 6, plus newly remixed/remastered early Heartbreakers material. Immersive Live Music: Kantos Chamber Choir brings “Drop, drop” to Bolton Priory ruins on Sept. 26, using the site’s acoustics for an immersive choral experience. Pop Star News: AJ McLean releases “Into Your Heart” and confirms his solo album “Sex, Love and Music” (Nov. 27) with a North American tour. Streaming/Tech: Presto Music (classical + jazz) is now integrated into the WiiM Home app, with a “Fair Play” payout model. Industry Flashpoint: Ed Sheeran’s tour support acts and backing band reportedly quit in solidarity with Macklemore after the “Free Palestine” controversy.