AGP Executive Report

Music & Community: Rwanda’s Inyambo royal cows are being celebrated with poetry, music and cultural rituals, keeping palace heritage alive. Festival Spotlight: Dizzee Rascal and Faithless team up for Watford’s Great Fete (Aug 8-9), while Glasgow’s Recovery Connects (July 5) goes alcohol-free with Pete Doherty headlining. Tragedy & Justice: Two Nottinghamshire bouncers were jailed for killing a “friendly” musician, Jamie Kelly, after a bar altercation. Local Music Education: Minnesota’s WHA students hit major wins at the state ensemble contest, including a rare perfect score in vocals. Accessibility in Performance: Wrexham’s Dynamic Signing Sensation choir (sign-language, disabilities) headlines a July 8 gala concert. Country Music: Alan Jackson ends his touring career with a final Nashville stadium show, but says he’ll keep making music. Arts & Culture: Treefort Music Fest returns with a second wave of 2025 artists and big pass updates. Music & Tech Debate: Jamendo sues Nvidia over alleged misuse of music in AI training, as AI-generated music sparks fresh questions. Live Music Licensing: Bournemouth plans face a licensing review for a venue seeking alcohol plus live music. World Cup Soundtrack: FIFA’s in-stadium music picks are mapped by match moments, with viral fan singalongs driving engagement.

Live Music & Theater: Northwest Stories debuted “Eternities — The Story Concert,” blending live music with actors for a grief-and-reunion narrative at Boise’s Egyptian Theatre. Civic Music & Protest: The Bruce Springsteen Center opened “Chimes of Freedom: Protest, Patriotism, and the Power of Song,” tracing how American music shapes civic life. Festival Ticketing: Treefort Music Fest’s “Locals Only” sale at Record Exchange is set for Sept. 13, with in-person purchase rules and tiered pricing. Community Concerts: Waverly’s Kohlmann Park hosts a free Stars & Stripes jazz-and-big-band show; Lafayette’s Moncus Park celebrates National Food Truck Day with live music. Music Education: Island Music launched a string instrument education project via a UT Butler residency partnership; Interlochen Public Radio’s Sound Garden Project partners with Concert Artists Guild to mentor emerging classical “citizen artists.” Industry & Tech: Filipino artists react to AI training on songs, while Jose Mari Chan clarified royalties relate only to physical formats. New Releases: BR33Z WORLD released “CALL ME RIGHT BACK” with a cinematic phone-booth concept video. Policy & Sound: Calgary’s Cowboys Music Festival reached a noise compromise, with shows ending at midnight.

Royalties Clarified: Jose Mari Chan says he wasn’t getting checks only from declining physical sales (CDs/cassettes/vinyl), after his comments about “nobody buys records” sparked backlash. Local Stages, Big Stories: Theatre By The Sea’s “Grease: The Musical” leans on scenic design to sell the 1950s world, while Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre puts a modern spin on Gilbert & Sullivan’s “Trial by Jury.” New Music Drops: Ice Nine Kills teams up with “Dead by Daylight” for “Play Dead,” and Limp Bizkit guitarist Wes Borland confirms the band is writing new songs for later this year. Touring & Tickets: Joywave brings “Here to Perform” to Boise; Treefort offers a “Locals Only” pass sale in Nampa; Khruangbin lands at Boise’s Outlaw Field. Community Music Calendar: Early Music Festival wraps in Port Townsend; free summer concert series continue in Sequim and Port Angeles; Tahoe Arts Project’s “Music on the Beach” is set for Aug. 20. Festival Buzz: Rossendale launches Gather@ across venues June 26-28 with a female-led lineup.

Global Festival Buzz: Sarawak’s Rainforest World Music Festival is drawing huge crowds at its 2026 opening, with officials already looking ahead to a bigger 30th edition next year. Awards & Breakthroughs: The 17th PMPC Star Awards for Music crowned James Reid, Moira Dela Torre, Ben&Ben and others, while UK streaming star Myles Smith landed a massive No.2 debut with My Mess, My Heart, My Life. UK Industry Leadership: UK Music appointed Arit Eminue to chair its Diversity Taskforce, continuing work tied to the Black Music Means Business report. New Releases: Steve Lacy and SZA team up on “is it cool?” and Quavo’s “HAVVIN” hits streaming, alongside fresh tracks from Remy Ma, Russ, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Ravyn Lenae and Lucky Daye. Music Education & Community: PSJA ISD earned a 12th straight NAMM Foundation BCME award; Cannon Music Camp welcomed 180 high school musicians with free public concerts. Theater & Stage: Broadway’s 2027 The Warriors musical is set with Lin-Manuel Miranda and Eisa Davis. Human Stories: Eddie Vedder gifted a young fan a guitar at the Obama Presidential Center opening, and Noah Kahan urged fans to stop stealing a street sign referenced in his song.

Music Industry Awards: The 17th PMPC Star Awards for Music crowned James Reid (Album of the Year for “jgh”), Maki (Song of the Year for “Dilaw”), Moira Dela Torre and TJ Monterde as top recording artists, with Ben&Ben winning Group/Duo Artist of the Year. Grassroots Live Music: The Independent revives its Main Stage initiative with the Music Venue Trust, spotlighting emerging artists and eight grassroots venues across the UK this summer. Streaming & Sustainability: Music Climate Pact and Deezer released “Sound Choices,” a guide with 10 tips to cut streaming’s environmental impact. AI & Gender Debate: Sienna Spiro blasted unequal treatment behind the scenes and called AI music “shit,” while multiple stories also spotlight industry tensions around AI. Local Culture & Community: Cotati’s free music festival drew big crowds, and South Wairarapa narrowly approved $11,000 for Wellington’s National Music Centre. New Releases/Visuals: Katy Perry unveiled “Watch It Burn,” a horror-tinged video built around pain and release. Health Through Music: A stroke recovery story highlights how singing and rhythm can help rewire the brain.

AI & Music Rights: Australian songwriter Paul Dempsey says AI dataset scraping is stripping artists of fair negotiation power after a tool revealed his catalog and Something For Kate’s work were used without consent. Streaming Economics: A law firm’s royalty calculator claims Spotify takes a bigger gross cut than long assumed, while Amazon Music is said to pay itself nothing “off the top,” reshaping how people think about payouts. Music in the Public Eye: The Rolling Stones drop two new tracks featuring The Cure’s Robert Smith, with “Jealous Lover” backed by a video starring Anya Taylor-Joy. Festivals & Live Events: Germany’s Fusion Festival was briefly halted by fires near the grounds before resuming; in the UK, Cardiff music fans allege Palestine T-shirt targeting by event security. Classical Spotlight: San Diego Symphony announces “Shostakovich Symphony No. 7” on Delos with Apple Music Classical exclusivity. Community & Access: Selma’s free Levitt AMP series kicks off July 25, and West Seattle families get pay-what-you-can summer music camps via Mode. Industry & Culture: Latin Music Month returns to Los Angeles for an expanded two-day conference Sept. 30–Oct. 1.

Festival Moves: High Sierra Music Festival shifts to Nevada County Fairgrounds for July 2-5, with Steel Pulse and more headlining and discounted day tickets for locals. Awards Spotlight: Zee Nxumalo leads the 2026 Basadi in Music Awards with seven nominations after massive streaming momentum. Industry & Distribution: Proper Music Distribution signs Crunchyroll to handle UK/Ireland home entertainment fulfilment for DVDs, Blu-rays and 4K UHD. Community Music: Uptown Music Collective opens 2026-27 scholarship applications, while DuBois’ Music in the Park hosts The Vagabonds and Oakham’s Bands in the Park kicks off with The Houndogs. Live & Local Events: RibFest returns to Warren with food and music; Cromford Mills Beer Festival runs June 26-28 with a big live lineup. Controversy & Culture: A US report alleges platforms profited from India’s “Hindutva pop” hate music, while Olivia Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain Fields sparks backlash after an indie drummer’s dismissive comment. New Releases: ATEEZ drops teasers for “BAD” ahead of its June 26 release. Global Music Day: Sonu Nigam launches “I Believe Your Music” to mentor and support emerging artists worldwide.

AI & Consent: YouTube’s AI training fight is heating up as Google argues YouTube terms grant a broad license to use uploaded music for AI models, alarming indie artists who say consent isn’t informed. Industry Loss: Music mogul Clive Davis has died at 94, with tributes highlighting his role in shaping modern pop and Black music careers. Global Festival Spotlight: Olivia Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain Fields lands with a stacked all-women lineup (Bikini Kill, Chappell Roan, Mitski, Garbage, The Breeders, and more) and proceeds for women-and-girls charities. Local DIY Metal: Mosh Fest is set for August in Eden, NC, backing regional DIY metal bands and community partners. Extremism Backlash: A heavy metal festival tied to white-supremacist ideology was canceled in Garfield after public outcry. Live Music & Community: The Partnership in Music Orchestra announces two free summer concerts in Eureka and Trinidad, plus more fall performances. Theater & Summer: “Working” (Lin-Manuel Miranda–song musical) and “The Sound of Music” are among the latest stage picks.

Music Education Spotlight: A new book on Orlando’s tuba program highlights how access to music lessons can change kids’ lives, from belonging to better focus in school. Artist-Owned Streaming Push: SPOZZ expands its direct-to-fan, artist-owned music ecosystem to the web, adding streaming, sales, CRM, messaging, newsletters, and commerce tools. New Releases (Global): The Joy drops “Precious” with Zulu/English verses and a fresh video; Vocaloid producer SatapanP releases “Pyatchy ga kitto” with an animated clip; Lee Seung Yoon teams with animator Jung Da Hee for “What to Steal.” Pop & Personal Stories: Madonna says new music helped heal her relationship with daughter Lourdes; her biopic was also canceled after Universal balked at the budget. Industry & Policy: Remi Burgz warns labels are rushing artists to “fully formed” pop stars under streaming pressure. Tech & AI Music: Eros Music Worlds launches an AI-powered music ecosystem with character-led artists and a Mohammed Rafi partnership, while Darren Herft releases new AI commentary on rights and artist protection. Live & Community: Outernet Live rebrands in central London with Ticketmaster taking over ticketing; Olivia Rodrigo announces Daisy Chain Fields, an all-women lineup festival with proceeds to charity. Health & Safety: France’s Fête de la Musique reports 243 arrests and allegations of syringe injections and sexual violence.

Music Business & Legal: Simone Solomon joins Technotainment as Executive Director for Music Business Affairs and legal counsel, aiming to shape rights and deal structures for its creator-owned streaming model. Industry Dealmaking: Influence Media Partners is reported to have won the auction for Anthem Entertainment’s music assets, with bids topping $600M and a deal reportedly above $650M. AI & Copyright: Labels urge the U.S. Supreme Court to revisit a ruling that could let artists reclaim overseas rights via copyright termination, warning of “chaos” for the business. Streaming/Fees Crackdown: StubHub UK must refund 50,000 customers and pay a £900,000 fine over hidden delivery and service fees for music and sports tickets. Broadway & Stage: Lin-Manuel Miranda and Eisa Davis adapt their “Warriors” concept album into a Broadway musical opening next April. Live Music & Community: Porchside Festival returns July 1–30 with porch concerts; Porchside kicks off Canada Day with a pay-what-you-can set. Festivals & Policy: Calgary council rejects a bid to loosen Stampede-era noise rules for downtown music tents. New Releases: Carly Rae Jepsen announces double album “Day and Night” for Sept. 18. Local Spotlight: Minnesota’s McKnight Fellowship for Musicians names 2026 recipients, including violinist Helen Chang Haertzen and jazz fusion group Room 3.

Music Industry Loss: Clive Davis, the Grammy-winning executive who helped launch careers from Whitney Houston to Carlos Santana, has died at 94 in Manhattan, sparking tributes and fresh debate over his legacy. Label Moves: Dance To The Radio renews its 10-year distribution deal with The Orchard and signs Twin Atlantic for a 2026 album release; Frontiers Label Group announces UK and global promotions; Classical Expansion: [PIAS] acquires Signum Records to grow its classical footprint while Signum keeps its brand and leadership. New Releases & Teases: Ava Max starts a “new era” with “Out of Your Mind” and “KiLL iT QUEEN,” while Royal Blood posts a new-music tease. Festivals & Live: Olivia Rodrigo announces Daisy Chain Fields, an all-women festival in Irvine on Aug. 29 with proceeds for women and girls; AthFest returns June 26–28 in Athens; Gibraltar Music Festival returns as GMF Summer Sessions in September. Culture & Education: Qatar Music Academy earns MusiQuE accreditation; Global Music Safety: France’s Fête de la Musique hit by stabbings, alleged sexual assaults and syringe attacks, with 240+ arrests. Film: Emraan Hashmi returns to horror with musical thriller Rooh, set for 2027.

Music Rights & AI Accountability: Musicians including SZA are pushing back after reports and new tools showed how songs may be used to train AI, with artists urging platforms to respect rights and let creators check usage. Pop Culture & Philanthropy: Olivia Rodrigo announced Daisy Chain Fields, an all-women festival at Irvine’s Great Park on Aug. 29, with proceeds going to charities for women and girls and a lineup featuring Chappell Roan, Bikini Kill, Doechii, KATSEYE, Mitski, Garbage, The Breeders and more. Industry Loss: Legendary executive Clive Davis died at 94, remembered for shaping careers from Whitney Houston and Bruce Springsteen to Aretha Franklin and Alicia Keys. Listening Culture: Belfast’s “first-ever” dedicated listening bar, Music Room, is set to open next month with a vinyl-first, hi-fi sound focus. Rave History Preservation: The Rave Preservation Project launched a new directory tool for its archive of rave flyers, posters and memorabilia, aiming to make the collection easier to browse and support. Black British Music Spotlight: V&A East opened “The Music is Black,” tracing eight genres of Black British music through diasporic roots and landmark artifacts.

AI Music Rights Clash: A global coalition of artists, songwriters and managers warned labels and publishers to stop misusing their rights in AI licensing deals, saying consent is often only for voice while creators’ moral/image/personality rights get surrendered. AI + Live Innovation: Reply’s Reply AI Music Contest (with Kappa FuturFestival) named five international finalists exploring AI-assisted live performance, with 1,400+ applications from 45 countries. World Music Day Momentum: Celebrations ranged from Abuja’s push for better live-music support to Senapati’s peace-focused youth showcase, plus Duluth’s Juneteenth street dance with live music. Philippines Music Spotlight: The PMPC revealed a partial lineup for the 17th Star Awards for Music, with BINI, Juan Karlos Labajo and Vice Ganda among early winners ahead of June 25. New Music Releases: Straight edge hardcore band No Cure premiered “Slowly Turning Blue,” while Dark Funeral shared live footage from upcoming live album “A Beast To Praise.” Local Live Scene: Make Music Day lit up Superior, Wisconsin, with free outdoor sets from local musicians.

World Music Day Tributes: AR Rahman unveiled a teaser for a special song honoring late Asha Bhosle, recorded before her April 2026 passing, with vocals from both Rahman and Bhosle and contributions linked to Trinity Laban. Local Heritage Spotlight: Nagaland marked World Music Day as CM Neiphiu Rio called music “integral to life,” while TaFMA highlighted the state’s “global-facing” artists and a Rengma Khwi-Lyü competition in Tseminyu promoted original Rengma songs. Community Celebrations: Juneteenth parades and festivals kept rolling—Decatur’s downtown parade brought live music and food, while Philadelphia’s 20th annual Germantown event paired celebration with Underground Railroad history. AI Music Backlash: SZA hit out at AI music generators, saying models were trained on 238 of her songs and calling the practice “disgusting,” reigniting consent and ownership debates. Festival Safety in France: France’s Fête de la Musique saw police detain suspects after reports of 145 people being pricked with syringes, with some taken for toxicology tests. New Releases & Live Dates: I Prevail’s Eric Vanlerberghe teased upcoming track “Paradise,” and Broadway’s Chicago is set to return to York in 2027.

Health & Performance: Rod Stewart, 81, nearly fainted mid-set in Utah and had to pause for an oxygen tank before joking his way through the rest of the show. K-pop Awards Buzz: ATEEZ won the Grand Prize (Daesang) at the 35th Seoul Music Awards, while BOYNEXTDOOR and Lee Chan-won swept multiple trophies and new fan-voted categories debuted. Solo Comeback Watch: MONSTA X’s Kihyun headlined the rain-soaked Seoul Park Music Festival and teased a third solo album on the way. New Music Day-to-Day: A Brighton grassroots platform partnership launches with a Bigger Than We showcase featuring emerging MCs and grime talent. World Music Day Focus: Experts and artists spotlight music’s healing role for mental health and recovery, while another piece asks whether viral “15-second” hooks are changing how we discover and remember songs. Culture & Community: Norway’s? (No—) In Argentina, a Jewish community plans a memorial forest in Mendoza for Nova festival victims, set to open in October 2026. Live Local Listings: Lake of the Ozarks venues (Camden on the Lake, Shady Gators, Dog Days, Lazy Gators and more) roll out weekend lineups across multiple stages.

K-pop Spotlight: ATEEZ won the Daesang at the 35th Seoul Music Awards in Incheon, while BOYNEXTDOOR swept multiple categories, as Hearts2Hearts and a packed roster of stars hit the red carpet. Global Music & Climate: Malaysia’s Sarawak will host the Rainforest Youth Summit and Rainforest World Music Festival, pairing youth leaders and musicians with climate-focused workshops. Community Music for Juneteenth: A free Central Park musical marked Seneca Village’s history, and Pasadena’s City Hall will turn into a roller-skate-and-music Juneteenth celebration with NAACP’s Roller Jam. Make Music Day (Worldwide): Santa Monica joins the global solstice tradition with five free events, including performances, workshops, and a Metro hub activation. Health & Safety Policy: France bans alcohol at Fête de la Musique events in red heatwave areas, as extreme temperatures hit major cities including Paris. Music, Justice & Education: NYC faces an $18M verdict after a jury found the city acted recklessly in a decades-old case involving a music teacher’s abuse of a student. New Music Business Model: made by ikigai launched “Origami,” a human-composed music catalogue aimed at speeding up film scoring without using AI-generated tracks. Album Release: Morgan Freeman announced “Morgan Freeman’s Symphonic Blues Experience,” a 12-track blues journey arriving Aug. 7. Live Music Picks: York’s Karl Mullen returns with a sell-out-style piano cabaret show mixing comedy and songs from Chopin to Oasis.