AGP Executive Report

Music Loss: South Africa mourns Khayelitsha rapper Brie Lee, 27, who died after battling osteosarcoma; her family confirmed she passed following an arm amputation, while her honest updates helped spark major community support. Festival & Classical: The Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival returns to Harrisonburg with themed “Creative Inventions,” including ticketed concerts at Eastern Mennonite University and free noon performances. Indian Voices: Veteran singer Suman Kalyanpur dies at 89; she addressed lifelong comparisons to Lata Mangeshkar, insisting she never imitated anyone. Pop & Video Buzz: Ariana Grande’s “Hate That I Made You Love Me” video (with Justin Long) fuels fan debate over her appearance as her album Petal nears July 31. Streaming & Business: Amazon Music launches in India with three tiers, including Unlimited for Prime and non-Prime users, as the market shakes out. Industry Policy: The Artist Rights Alliance pushes for the Protect Working Musicians Act, holding town halls to mobilize independent artists. Live Music Tech/Community: Mastercard and TikTok team up on the Mastercard Artist Accelerator SEA, mentoring musicians in Indonesia and Thailand toward a July showdown. Arts & Culture: Chinese musical “The Harmony of Zhaxi” debuts in Beijing, blending Red Army history with Yunnan folk music.

Streaming & Tech: Apple Music is reportedly testing a Spotify-like free tier on Android, with limits such as “can’t skip any more tracks” and “premium access required,” hinting at a cheaper or ad-supported option. Pop & Albums: Charli xcx unveiled the cover for her upcoming “Music, Fashion, Film,” featuring John Cale, Marc Jacobs and Martin Scorsese instead of herself, and the album is set for a July release. Global Live Music: Dubrovnik’s Stradun Classic returns Aug. 28–Sept. 6 at Rector’s Palace, with Mischa Maisky and Stefan Milenković among the lineup. Anime Meets Gear: Vader Guitars launched the first officially licensed Naruto Shippuden electric guitar at AnimeCon UK (June 12–14). Local Scenes & Pride: Queer musical “Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal” returns for Pride month and opens auditions June 7–9 in Quezon City. Business of Music: Davido says he plans to buy back his music masters from Sony before retirement, aiming to secure long-term royalties for his family.

Pride & Stage: The queer musical “Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal” returns for its 20th anniversary, with open auditions June 7–9 in Quezon City (no walk-ins). Loss in Music: Indian playback legend Suman Kalyanpur dies at 89, remembered for classics like “Aaj Kal Tere Mere Pyaar Ke Charche.” AI & Songwriting: Samuel Smith says Parkinson’s pushed him to use AI music tools to build demos for “Horizon” on “The Art of Letting Go.” Festival Spotlight: Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival launches a BBC ALBA-backed talent search for northern Scotland acts ahead of the July 30 Hot House Stage slot. Tech Meets TV: V brings the Spotify app to VIDAA-powered smart TVs, expanding music and podcasts on the big screen. Local Community Music: Warren’s Got Talent “Drop the Mic” grows with a new venue and September dates. Sound for Healing: Cook Children’s sound lab shows how music therapy and even heartbeat recordings support families. Pop Video Buzz: Ariana Grande teases the “Hate That I Made You Love Me” video ahead of her July 31 album “petal.” Classical Review: Adelaide Symphony Orchestra’s “The Ring” becomes a singing-free orchestral adventure, with mixed results.

Global Music Awards: Music Awards Japan expands its International Special Award to spotlight Asia-wide acts, with Lola Amour’s 2025 win cited as a springboard. Music Biz Power Moves: Afrobeats star Davido says he’ll buy back his masters from Sony to secure long-term control and royalties for his kids. US Politics Meets Pop: Trump will personally kick off the Great American State Fair after major music headliners quit over political concerns, with organizers shifting the schedule. Local Scene & Education: Santa Monica College’s Vocal Jazz ensembles bring students and community together at Broad Stage, while Nigeria’s NAF director urges more music investment in schools. Censorship & Crackdowns: Taliban officials in Ghazni confiscate tambourines, MP3 players, and game boards from youth. Health & Awareness Through Rap: A Sacramento Christian rapper shoots a fentanyl awareness video after local overdose deaths. Live Music & Venues: Britain’s grassroots venues push for a hybrid business rates model to protect rooms from going silent. Pop Culture Buzz: aespa’s “LEMONADE” outfits spark debate over Giselle’s styling. Tribute & Loss: Foster Sylvers of The Sylvers dies at 64.

Trump vs. musicians: Trump floated an “AMERICA IS BACK” rally to replace the Great American State Fair after many acts pulled out over the Freedom 250 event’s political ties. AI in real life: London singer Samuel Smith used AI music tools to finish an album after Parkinson’s took away his guitar skills. New releases: Violet Grohl premiered the “Bug in the Cake” video as she gears up for her first solo tour. Local music education: Eugene’s Hult Center launched an instrument drive to support music learning, with a community event planned to hand out vouchers. Community & culture: Arkansas Folklife Festival revealed its full lineup for June 26–28, spotlighting roots, gospel, and Grammy-winning talent. Tech & streaming: Apple Music may be testing different subscription tiers, hinted by new Android beta strings. Live music calendar: Yakima Valley’s summer lineup highlights free downtown concerts and outdoor shows. Music & identity: Silent Sanctuary released “Una,” an OFW tribute video starring Xyriel Manabat.

Breakthrough for UK rock: Passionflower won Kerrang Radio’s The Deal, landing a spot at Download Festival plus a Marshall Records deal and management from Future History. Lost Venues Remembered: London’s V&A will open “Lost Music Venues,” a weekend exhibition of 100+ items from shuttered UK clubs, including Haçienda pager and Oasis lyrics. New Live Space: East London’s Village Underground is unveiling a 300-capacity rooftop terrace (opening July 3) with a bar, pizza, and access to its Jubilee Line train carriages. Venue Under Pressure: Manchester’s Stage & Radio faces a threat from a nearby plan for 126 flats; Cambridge’s Six Six Bar announced closure after “relentless pressure” from costs and licensing. Extremism on music platforms: A report says Hamas-linked songs are spreading on streaming services, with hundreds of thousands of plays. Music for public health: Sacramento rapper Exoduzmusic is filming a fentanyl-awareness video after local overdose deaths. AI in music creation: A London singer with Parkinson’s used AI music tools to help finish an album track. Tech for fans: freebeat.ai claims a real-time music video generator that creates visuals as the song plays. Industry health update: Clive Davis was hospitalized in New York for an upper respiratory issue.

Music Biz & Rights: Universal Music Group rejected Bill Ackman’s $64B Pershing Square takeover bid, saying it undervalues the company and won’t create superior value. Live Music Politics: Trump-linked Freedom 250’s Great American State Fair keeps losing major acts as musicians cite concerns about partisanship and being misled. Legal/Local Venues: Portland Music Holdings is preparing legal action after the city approved a 750-foot buffer zone that stalled a proposed new concert venue. Hip-Hop Culture: The Grammy Museum’s third annual Hip-Hop Block Party returns June 16 with live sets, panels, and community activities. New Releases: Aespa drops “Lemonade” with a retro-styled music video; Maisie Peters scores a second straight No.1 album with “Florescence.” Community & Education: Wenatchee Valley Youth Symphony rebuilds youth music after the pandemic and caps its season with a May 30 concert. Local Finds & Tributes: Archaeologists at Colonial Michilimackinac uncover a jaw harp; Long Island photographer Barry Fisch’s decades of concert photos go on display.

Music Rights Clash: Boards of Canada say their track “Deep Time” was used without consent in a Trump White House promo video, prompting fans to call for action as Warp Records and the duo reiterate they don’t back political messaging. Berlin Nightlife Portraits: A new photo project, Berlin Night After Glow, captures clubbers right after the music stops, spotlighting the emotional afterglow of raves and nightlife culture. New Releases & Pop Buzz: Billboard’s Friday guide spotlights Ariana Grande’s “hate that i made you love me,” aespa’s LEMONADE, and Labrinth’s new project for New Music Friday. Live Music & Community: Salisbury’s “A Night of Music 4” returns in September for charity, while San Francisco’s SF Porchfest keeps the Mission’s porches packed with free performances. Festivals Abroad: Korea’s Fête de la Musique runs June 1–30 with French artists plus workshops and industry talks. Local Music Education: Murray’s Rotary Summer Concert Series kicks off with a children’s themed show, and infant “Music and Movement” classes return in Silver Creek. Industry News: Warner Music executive/producer David May dies at 68, known for Grammy-winning concert film work and major artist collaborations.

Local Music & Community: The Music Box Theatre in Chicago is adding a third screen, expanding its classic/indie/cult film programming with a new 115-seat auditorium funded partly by a $1.2M city grant. Music + Real Life: Waukesha’s United Airlines pilot Peter Buffington is also releasing new aviation-themed music—his band Speed Brake Armed’s “737 Island Hopper” has topped 500,000 streams in two weeks. Pop Culture & Global Scenes: BTS returned with “ARIRANG,” framing K-pop’s shift toward authenticity and emotional storytelling as a cultural “reclamation.” Live Music Calendar: Georgia’s Rock the Country lands May 29-30 at Ottawa Farms with Kid Rock, Miranda Lambert, Jelly Roll and more. Theater & Stage: Chicago’s Studebaker Theater books “Mexodus,” a live-looping hip hop musical running Nov. 6, while New Orleans’ “Once” opens June 5 at Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré. Streaming & Tech: Spotify rolls out mobile playlist folders plus Premium-only upgrades like background downloads on iPhone. Awards: BTS swept the 2026 American Music Awards, winning Artist of the Year and more.

American Music Awards: KATSEYE and SOMBR led the 52nd AMAs with three wins each, while Sabrina Carpenter grabbed her first-ever AMA haul (three awards) and BTS added three more, including Artist of the Year. Philippines Spotlight: Apl.de.ap and Katseye scored big at the AMAs, with “Rock That Body” winning Best Throwback Song. Music & Community: London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park will host the free Music Is Black Festival across four weekends (June–September). New Venue Watch: East London’s Ironworks warehouse venue (7,000 capacity) is set to open this October with electronic-focused programming. Local Scenes: Tucson’s student DJ culture is turning from hobby to career pipeline, with off-campus events drawing hundreds. Theatre & Song: Spokane Civic Theatre swaps in Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill after backlash over a prior production. Aotearoa: Dame Lynda Topp makes her first public appearance since sister Jools’ death at the Aotearoa Music Awards. Indie/Global Pop: Orla Monelle teases her pop-soul-R&B blend with new single “In The Sunlight.”

Global Pop Spotlight: The 2026 American Music Awards put Filipino pride front and center, with Apl.de.ap and Katseye (featuring Filipina member Sophia Laforteza) among the night’s biggest winners, including a major nod for “Rock That Body.” New Releases: Spokane’s Blake Braley finally issues his debut studio LP, Feels Alright, while Shinedown drops EI8HT as a genre-bending, 18-track shake-up. Big Comeback Tease: Queen Latifah says she’s ready to release new music after a 16-year album hiatus, ahead of her Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction. Music + Wellness: A new report highlights how streaming is increasingly tied to self-care routines, from focus and relaxation to sleep support. Tech + Streaming Business: Spotify’s Sulinna Ong exits after seven years to join U2’s management team, as the platform continues to defend its AI music approach. Community & Local Live Music: Saxonburg’s Boots and Grace Butler County Music Festival announces September dates, and Rockford’s Music on the Rock returns this summer with a full performance schedule. Remembering: Jazz pianist John Eaton, a longtime advocate for American music, dies at 91.

Festival Spotlight: Kishi Bashi is set to join the inaugural SilverVox Film + Music Festival, with the genre-bending violinist/filmmaker landing June 18–21 in Frederick. Kids & Community Music: Addie’s Arts and Music Festival for Children returns Aug. 11 with workshops, youth performances, and live entertainment. New Releases on Video: Kendra Erika drops “Catch Me,” while Brandon Sandefur premieres “Lying Down,” both leaning into big, cinematic storytelling. Live Music Buzz: Take That manager Chris Dempsey talks the “truly iconic” return of Circus Live for Summer 2026, and Luke Combs makes a surprise Nashville stage appearance with Alex Warren. Industry & Policy: UK politicians are pushing for a fresh competition probe into Live Nation’s dominance, citing a “climate of fear” in submissions. Streaming Moves: Spotify expands beyond music with narrated magazine articles, while also facing backlash over a paid Premium AI remix tool. Loss: Jazz legend Sonny Rollins has died at 95.

American Music Awards: BTS made a statement at the 52nd AMAs in Las Vegas—Artist of the Year, Song of the Summer for “SWIM,” and Best Male K-Pop Artist—while KATSEYE piled up wins and Queen Latifah hosted a big ’90s-leaning night. North America Industry Moves: Blackstar named Ed Watson artist strategy director to deepen US/Canada campaign work, while Spotify keeps pushing “artist-first” AI with Julian Parker joining its team. AI & Streaming Expansion: Spotify also rolled out $1.99 narrated magazine articles for non-Premium users and Premium subscribers, adding major outlets like Rolling Stone and Pitchfork to the app. Live Music on the Ground: A waterfront hangar at Canada’s Bushplane Heritage Centre becomes a one-night concert venue for Cory Marks on June 11; Park City logged multiple “disturbing the peace” noise complaints; and local calendars keep filling in with new shows and festivals. Community & Loss: Port Arthur ISD mourned music teacher Marlon Sanders, and Phoenix punk drummer Cassie Jalilie died at 36.

American Music Awards: BTS roared back to the top at the 52nd AMAs in Las Vegas, winning Artist of the Year for a second time, plus Song of the Summer for “Swim” and Best Male K-Pop Artist—while Taylor Swift left empty-handed despite leading nominations. K-pop & pop crossovers: K-pop’s momentum kept building, with fictional Netflix girl group Huntrix taking Song of the Year for “Golden,” and KATSEYE grabbing New Artist of the Year. Afrobeats spotlight: Tyla added two wins—Social Song of the Year for “CHANEL” and Favourite Afrobeats Artist. Music industry moves: Laylo expanded across the UK and Europe, appointing Taz Sharp to drive artists and events. Local scenes: San Diego’s Women in Music SD launches a monthly series to widen access for women in music. Loss: Jazz legend Sonny Rollins (“Saxophone Colossus”) died at 95 in Woodstock, NY.

American Music Awards Tonight: Queen Latifah returns to host the 52nd AMAs live from Las Vegas (8 p.m. ET on CBS/Paramount+), with Taylor Swift leading nominations (8) and BTS set to appear—plus performances from Billy Idol, Keith Urban, Karol G, The Pussycat Dolls with Busta Rhymes, Teddy Swims, Twenty One Pilots and more. Artist Hiatus: Country singer Jake Worthington (The Voice alum) announces he’s stepping away from the spotlight to focus on his wife and daughter and “work on myself.” Music Under Pressure: RAYE says she pushed herself to her “limit” during the making of This Music May Contain Hope, hoping her release brings more balance. AI in the Studio: Jax Jones backs AI as a useful tool for making music faster, even as the debate rages. Community & Classics: Santa Monica College Jazz Ensemble marks Miles Davis and John Coltrane centennials with a June 1 concert, while Levitt VIBE’s free Buffalo series runs Mondays in July-August. Indie Spotlight: Offshore Music celebrates its 10th year with a five-episode docuseries premiering May 31.

Broadway Spotlight: Arizona Broadway Theatre is staging “The Cher Show” through May 31, with Lynzee Foreman stepping into the “Lady” role and a rotating Cher cast covering Babe, Lady and Star eras. Local Redevelopment: Norwich’s former Blueberry Music House is up for sale after approval to demolish it and replace it with 15 flats. Community Music: A Navy jazz band brought New Orleans-style brass to Harrisburg’s Artsfest, while Harrogate pupils explored Punjabi music via Punjabi Roots Academy workshops. Star Talk: Barry Manilow says he doesn’t see himself as a singer—more a musician—and Anoushka Shankar opens up about trauma after a fan lifted her without consent. Tech & Platforms: YouTube adds a new “unique reach” metric, and TikTok extends its Universal Music Group deal with added AI protections. Safety Watch: Police investigated a reported shooting near a music event in SE Portland.