AGP Executive Report

Artist Rights & Legal Fight: DJ Sara Landry sued her former managers, The Night Department, alleging they kept using her trademarks and music rights after she fired them. Global Music Diplomacy: Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman says EU officials “carefully noted” complaints about alleged Greek Cypriot moves to cancel Turkish Cypriot events, including a Barcelona camp and a Kyrenia music festival. New Music Releases: Matisyahu and Yuval Raphael dropped “Carry On,” a hope-and-healing anthem built around resilience after loss. Classical/Experimental Spotlight: Los Angeles duo Elif Dinçer and Zac Burgenbauch bring harp and lap steel to a house concert, blending free jazz, contemporary classical, and improvisation. Live & Touring: Angélique Kidjo discussed her album Hope!! and her global musical mission; meanwhile, NCT WISH revealed B-sides for I SPY ahead of its Oct. 12 release. Community & Culture: Stratford’s new “Strike Up the Band” mural celebrates the town’s music legacy, while Finland’s “Festival of Nature Listening” turns a national park into a quiet, habitat-based listening event. Industry & Business: JW Marriott opened its first all-inclusive resort, Costa Elena in Costa Rica, adding a new Griffin Club tier. Loss in R&B: Freddie Jackson, the smooth 1980s soul balladeer behind “You Are My Lady,” died at 70.

Pop Star Spotlight: ADÉLA’s post–Dream Academy rise is framed as a breakaway from the “girl who didn’t make it” label, with her hyper-pop momentum and new track energy. Global Music & Culture: M+ is staging a major exhibition on 200 years of Asian fantasy and pre-modern mythology, treating folklore as more than escapism. Live Music Calendar: Athens is set for a busy October with major international and Greek acts, including Buzzcocks’ 50th anniversary show and other rock and blues dates. Music Business (MENA): Warner Music MENA appoints Ahmed Nureni as MD and brings in Ahmad Alghawanmeh from Sony as GM, aiming to expand the region’s catalog and growth. Rights & Royalties (Laos): LASCAP highlights how Laos is building fair royalty management, backing young artists and pushing for workable legislation. Controversy in Gospel: Indonesia bans Israel Houghton’s Jakarta concert over alleged political messaging tied to Israel. Regional Anthem: SB19 lends its voices to the Philippines’ ASEAN 2026 theme song “Together in Motion.” Music in Film: Tony Gilroy’s “Behemoth!” premieres at the New York Film Festival, using a nine-composer “Behemoth Collective” approach.

Global Music Diplomacy: Alliance Indus Foundation hosted a New York luncheon for a visiting Indian parliamentary delegation, mixing networking with cultural celebration. Women’s Cantorial Revival: Ann Arbor’s Oct. 13 concert “The Immortal Khazntes” spotlights early-20th-century Jewish women who shaped cantorial singing. Rock Star Casting: The Rolling Stones’ “Mr. Charm” video stars Alexander Skarsgård as a Jagger-like swagger. Music Meets Meaning: Boston’s sold-out “The Perception Box™ Adventure” blends neuroscience, storytelling, and live music to explore how people build reality. Radio Deal Watch: K-LOVE completed a $2M purchase of a San Francisco-area FM facility, rebranding call letters to KJNV-FM. Film + Music Industry: Billboard acquired Laura Karpman’s “Cosmic Symphony,” honoring instruments lost in the 2025 LA wildfires, premiering Oct. 27. Chart Power: Taylor Swift’s “Patient Zero” debuts at No. 1 on Billboard Global charts. Community Programming: Memphis in May named John Doyle VP of Programming as it gears up for its 50th year.

Asian Games Closing Ceremony: Japan wrapped up the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games with a 90-minute closing show after logistical woes, with China topping the medals table for a 12th straight edition. Bollywood Disco Legacy: Bappi Lahiri’s grandson Rego B talks new single “Chand” and how “Ramba Ho” and “Koi Yahan Nache Nache” keep resurfacing in films like Dhurandhar and The Raja Saab. Film Music Spotlight: Pedro Pascal learned cello for Behemoth! as its orchestral film-score becomes a memory bridge in Tony Gilroy’s new drama. Cultural Exchange on Stage: “ShanghaiEye Night” brought Chinese and American artists to the National Mall and the US Capitol area, blending opera, Western classics, and even game music. Industry & Rights: Sony Music UK appoints Jack Fryer to lead catalogue, sync and digital media—an “unified offer” push. AI & African Music Debate: A new critique argues generative tools often deliver “Afro” surface vibes while missing the cultural and linguistic meaning behind specific traditions. Live Music & Community: Deniliquin’s Deni Ute Muster returns with live music and fundraising, even as rain and mud test the crowd.

Smooth Jazz Spotlight: Kenny G brings his saxophone magic to Morristown’s MPAC, mixing hits like “Loving You” and “Silhouette” with a community moment for local student woodwind players. Global Streaming Expansion: Apple Music finally launches in Pakistan, 11 years after its debut, offering individual and family plans plus a free trial—another sign of the region’s growing digital music demand. Festival Ticket Rush: Glastonbury 2027 sells out in 45 minutes, with prices rising and Oasis confirmed not to play at Worthy Farm. New Music Releases: Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi drops solo single “Stormwatcher,” while Jordan Davis previews his next era with “What Do I Do If You Don.” Culture & Power Through Art: Belarusian musician Maria Kalesnikava argues dictators fear independent culture, citing how music sustained her in solitary confinement. Classical Music Reckoning: Violinist Lara St. John’s documentary “Dear Lara” confronts sexual abuse in classical music, tied to her own allegations. Regional Music Scene: Macao’s Macao International Music Festival opens with “Silk Resonances,” pairing Chinese and Western traditions, including Yue opera and Brazilian body-percussion.

Global Pop & Fashion: KATSEYE lands a major crossover slot, set to perform at the 2026 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in Los Angeles on Oct. 18. Music as Protest: Bruce Springsteen and other stars headline Maryland’s “Power to the People” festival, using the stage to push voter turnout and denounce recent U.S. actions. New Releases With Real Grief: Polaris returns after guitarist Ryan Siew’s 2023 death with “Without You,” framing the song as a first step forward that can’t replace what was lost. Tour News: Diljit Dosanjh announces the city-by-city schedule for his AURA World Tour India leg, with pre-sales starting Oct. 6. World Music Spotlight: Trinidad calypso legend The Mighty Sparrow is remembered as “the calypso king of the world,” with tributes highlighting his global impact. Classical/Electro Loss: French electro icon Kavinsky dies at 50; tributes focus on “Nightcall” from Drive. Regional Culture: Dubai’s October calendar stacks music, comedy, and sports, while Sharjah’s Perform Sharjah runs Oct. 11–Nov. 29 with free premieres and puppetry.

Music & Culture in Motion: Malaysia’s Citrawarna Speed Festival 2026 closed with “Colours of Parade,” a nationwide showcase of art, music, dance and multi-heritage performances featuring 1,500 dancers. Global Classical Spotlight: Israel’s Voice of Music Festival returns for its 41st season (Oct 28–Nov 1) in Kfar Blum, mixing Schubert/Ravel/Schoenberg with world premieres by Israeli composers and audience-friendly formats like open rehearsals. Star Power, New Music: Taylor Swift shared an “Expanded Video” behind-the-scenes look at “Patient Zero,” while her shorter curly bob is also making chart-celebration headlines after the track’s UK No. 1 debut. New Album Review: Geoff Downes and Chris Braide’s Downes Braide Association released “Trauma,” with critics praising its immediate opener and more adventurous mid-album turns. Music Meets Tech/Research: India’s PM Modi is set to inaugurate the Ilaiyaraaja Centre at IIT-M, aiming to blend music learning and research with technology. Festival Updates: Roskilde announced first 2027 acts, and Terminal V confirmed a move to Glasgow’s Clydeside Live for its 2027 edition. Community & Archives: Vermont Historical Society acquired Big Heavy World’s Vermont music collection, preserving decades of recordings, interviews and local cultural history.

AI Music Fight: Sony Music Group says it’s escalating legal action against AI tools, including a second Udio lawsuit and a fresh Suno case, as courts and policy debates intensify over training and copyright. Global Pop: BTS kicks off its Latin America run in Bogotá, with dates across Peru, Chile, Argentina and Brazil. Latin Grammy Momentum: Natalia Lafourcade brings her “Cancionera Tour 2026” to Puerto Rico on Oct. 3, with a live-analog-tape set built around her “La Cancionera” concept. Touring & Exchange: UTEP musicians head to Leeds, England, for performances and outreach, with a “Music Without Borders” preview concert in El Paso Oct. 6. New Releases: Hilary Duff drops “CATastrophe” for The Cat in the Hat movie, ahead of the Oct. 30 soundtrack release. Classical Outdoors: Sayuwon’s inaugural Saya International Music Festival opens with Beethoven’s “Pastoral” under moonlit skies. Music on the Move: Royal Caribbean adds “The SpongeBob Musical” to the Hero of the Seas lineup starting in 2027.

Music Heritage & Archives: Vermont Historical Society acquired the Big Heavy World music collection, preserving a Vermont-built archive meant to keep local sounds, recordings, and community history alive for scholars and fans. Dancehall & Regional Development: Shatta Wale says his Volta Region plans go beyond music, aiming to create youth jobs via his Shaxi platform ahead of MoMoFest–ShataFest on Oct. 3. Global Latin Industry: Billboard Latin Music Week returns Oct. 19–22 in Miami Beach with major artist conversations and showcases, setting up the Oct. 22 Latin Music Awards. Festival Spotlight: SON Estrella Galicia Posidonia marks its 10th anniversary with a special Formentera edition (Oct. 2–4) built around intimate, secret lineups and island experiences. Live Music & Community: San Francisco Symphony musicians honor late conductor Michael Tilson Thomas in a blue-lit tribute concert at Davies Symphony Hall. Big Pop Moment: Noel Gallagher’s MTV Unplugged guitar sold for a record $300,000 at Propstore’s Music Live auction.

Blues Spotlight: Buddy Guy celebrated his 90th birthday with a sold-out “Buddy’s Got the Blues” show at Radio City Music Hall, with a star-studded lineup led by Steve Jordan keeping the Chicago legend’s spirit front and center. Rock & Pop Culture: The Rolling Stones dropped the cinematic “Mr. Charm” video from Foreign Tongues, starring Alexander Skarsgård, and also shared the previously unheard “Bad Luck Hideaway.” Classical & Global Collaboration: NZSO conductor Sir Donald Runnicles teams up with Kiwi soprano Madeleine Pierard for Strauss’ Four Last Songs and Brahms’ Symphony No. 3 in Wellington and Auckland. World Music Crossover: Joi Barua released an Assamese version of sci-fi track “Teleportation,” recorded with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Abbey Road. Music Industry & Live Scene: Prague’s Metronome Prague festival ends after ten years, citing weak long-term support and tougher conditions. Community Through Music: Young carers in Coventry turned their dreams into an original musical at The Albany Theatre.

Music Archives Preserved: Vermont Historical Society acquired the Vermont music collection built by Big Heavy World, safeguarding decades of interviews, radio shows, recordings, posters, and performances for future fans and scholars. AI Meets Music Learning: Simply teamed with Meta to bring Simply Piano and Simply Guitar to Meta Ray-Ban Display, aiming to make real-world practice more interactive. Global Pop Chart Power: Taylor Swift’s “Patient Zero” kept topping Spotify’s Global chart for four straight days after its Sept. 25 release. Industry Deal Watch: Pophouse bought a 50% stake in Sia’s publishing and master rights in a reported $180M-plus partnership. AI Music Valuation: ElevenLabs completed a $300M employee tender offer, valuing the company at $22B. International Spotlight: Bogota named BTS honorary guests ahead of sold-out El Campin shows Oct. 2-3. Live Music Tech & Culture: Elton John opened the new Apple Music Hall at Battersea Power Station with an intimate 600-fan set. Regional Music News: South Africa reaffirmed ties with Nigeria on Heritage Day, pointing to Nollywood, film, and music as key bridges. Festival Disruption: Saudi Arabia’s MDLBEAST Soundstorm postponed “Soundstorm ’26,” joining other Middle East-linked cancellations.

Humanitarian Music Activism: Macklemore says his “Free Palestine” tour dates in London, Paris and Dublin sold out “immediately” after he was dropped from Ed Sheeran’s Loop tour over Gaza comments, with proceeds aimed at humanitarian aid. Global Streaming Expansion: Apple Music finally launches in Albania, Brunei, Burkina Faso and Pakistan—11 years after its 2015 debut—continuing its push to widen access worldwide. Music Industry Finance: Kobalt co-founder Willard Ahdritz launches Ahdritz Capital Partners, a music and media tech investment firm, adding Isabel Keulen as an investment partner. Tech + Music Culture: A new report on Waymo’s airport rides shows mixed reactions from riders—some like the privacy and ability to play their own music, others question safety and convenience. Live Music & Community: Humble Farmer Brewery kicks off Oktoberfest in California’s Imperial Valley with German folk music, competitions and a big turnout. Classical Spotlight: A piano recital at Southampton Cultural Center features Bach, Scriabin, Liszt, Chopin and Rachmaninoff. Pop Culture Crossovers: Andrew Garfield credits Fela Kuti’s rhythms for shaping his Spider-Man movement and character “activism” mindset. AI vs Authenticity: An event in Indonesia tests listeners’ ability to spot AI-generated music, with composer Ananda Sukarlan pointing to limited chord variety as a tell.

New Music & Tours: AFROJACK brings his CONTROL North American Tour to Brooklyn Storehouse on Oct. 2, with Torren Foot, as the venue heads into its final season. Publishing Deal: Atlanta pop-punk quartet The Paradox signs with EMPIRE and Wave Theory Music Group, with a new Proceed with Caution EP out Oct. 2 and a headline tour starting Oct. 14. Global Soundtrack Release: Milan Records drops the Goodbye, Lara original soundtrack by Yuma Yamaguchi, now streaming everywhere. Live Music Culture: Lansing musicians attempt a 60-hour nonstop jam session with rotating players, no prerecorded tracks, and at least 10 genres. World Events & Heritage: Macau announces a month-long run of cultural and sporting events, including international music performances and the Lusofonia Festival. Teen Rock Breakthrough: Thai guitarist-singer Nene Royal, winner of America’s Got Talent, says she’ll write her own songs, tour, and return to school. Music in Motion: Southwest launches year-round nonstop Reno–Nashville flights starting Oct. 1. Country Spotlight: Wynonna Judd readies The Hard Truth, her first solo album in a decade, arriving Oct. 2.

Global Solidarity Through Music: Malaysia’s creative community is being urged to keep Palestinian stories alive via collaborations with Palestinian artists and writers, with cultural institutions seen as key to preserving identity. Classical Spotlight: NZSO will pair Sir Donald Runnicles with Kiwi soprano Madeleine Pierard for Strauss’ Rosenkavalier Suite and Pierard’s Four Last Songs, plus Brahms’ Symphony No. 3 in Wellington and Auckland. K-pop & Live Culture: SOUNZ names Elliot Vaughan for its 2026/27 Community Commission, partnering with Silver Noodle Soup to build inclusive, experimental music-led theatre and film projects. Pop News: Lee Seung-chul marks 40 years with a tribute project starting with WOODZ duet “Our Story,” while Zara Larsson’s collaborator MNEK hints new music is coming in 2027. Industry & Business: IGT previews a Queen-themed video slot for next year, and Mushroom Group’s Melbourne HQ is listed for sale after decades as an indie music hub. Remembering a Legend: Trinidad and Tobago mourns Mighty Sparrow, “Calypso King of the World,” who died at 91.

Creative Economy: A new TV BRICS analysis says BRICS+ countries are leaning harder on culture and IP—projecting the global creative industry could top $4.3T by 2033—as investors still treat it as less “independent” than traditional sectors. Live Music & Community: The Sisters Folk Festival keeps growing, now a three-day roots showcase with 33 acts spanning Americana to West African-influenced sounds. Animation & Music Video: Montreal’s Animaze crowned Mexico’s YUCA’s “Who’s Waiting for You?” as Grand Jury winner, while “SAFE ZONE” took the first Best A.I. Film prize and “Addicted To It” won Best Music Video. Global Pop Culture: Linkin Park frontman DJ Joe Hahn says the band is back in the studio writing new material after its “From Zero” comeback era. Touring & Theater: Rod Stewart says his final tour is his last, while West End’s “Paddington the Musical” confirms a second-year cast and extended run. New Releases: Niall Horan marks 10 years since “This Town,” now over a billion streams. Music Business: Warner Music Latina signs Cuban duo Pututi & Nesty, betting on reparto’s crossover momentum.

Guinness World Record (Nigeria): President Tinubu sent a heartfelt message to filmmakers Damilola Osikoya and Nora Awolowo after their Nollywood hit Black Market drew 51,000 viewers at a Lagos screening—an all-time Guinness mark for attendance. Global Radio Culture: Radio Is a Foreign Country, a New Orleans nonprofit built on obscure international broadcasts and field recordings, has relaunched as a 24/7 global transmission. Pop Livestream (India): Shakira will livestream her Madrid concert on Oct. 3, with Indian fans able to watch for free via Amazon Music India, Prime Video, Fire TV and Twitch. K-pop Tech (South Korea): Enhypen’s VR concert Destiny is turning fan eye contact into an interactive, choose-your-member experience. Industry Moves: Warner Music UK & Ireland names Sonny Takhar chairman and CEO, while UMG appoints Òscar Celma as SVP for applied AI and machine learning. Irish Trad Spotlight: Dónal Lunny celebrates Planxty’s legacy at a special Planxty event tied to Culture Night. Caribbean Loss: Calypso legend Mighty Sparrow dies at 91, leaving a towering musical legacy.