AGP Executive Report

Irish Traditional Music: Uilleann piper Paddy Keenan, dubbed the “Jimi Hendrix of the uilleann pipes” and a founding force behind The Bothy Band, has died, leaving a major legacy in Irish folk. Music Awards (Malaysia): Siti Nurhaliza leads AIM25 with 14 nominations, including Best Female Vocal for “Kesuma,” multiple traditional-song nods, and album recognition for “Gema Bumantara.” Label News: [PIAS] relaunches Source with UK-France A&R leadership, signing new acts including Ifulki and Disgusting Sisters under the “We Grow Loud” banner. Jazz Loss: Cassandra Wilson, the NEA Jazz Master and genre-bending vocalist, has died at 70. Live & Touring: Elvis Costello brings “Radio Soul!” early-career set to Ohio; Graham Nash returns to Bethel Woods; Robert Plant receives the Americana Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award. Global Pop: aespa drops the “Switchblade” video with Ty Dolla $ign, while Bella Shmurda revisits his bicycle-selling origin story. Classical/Arts: VCUarts Qatar debuts “Alternative Frequencies” at Ars Electronica 2026, linking visual and sonic research.

Foldable Tech Meets Pop Culture: Apple unveiled its first folding iPhone, the iPhone Duo, with a 7.6-inch open display and a 5.4-inch closed screen, plus a titanium hinge and Touch ID. Global Pop Heat: Shakira and Maluma teased “Agua,” their fourth collaboration, with a Sept. 17 release date. Dancefloor Reboot: Eric West, Samuel Mancini and Kedward Avilés turned “Choose” into club-ready Lusinate dance remixes, aiming for a new Latin Grammy push. Live Music Calendar: Fatboy Slim announced a 2027 Australia run with a three-night Sydney residency. Community & Culture: Fort Myers Brewing launched its Sundown Concert Series to support pediatric cancer research. Classical Crossover: Han Kang brought Nobel-winning literature to the Berlin Philharmonie in a music-and-reading program. Local Scene Spotlight: Turnstile will perform on “Saturday Night Live” Oct. 3, while Smokin’ Rock-N-Blues Festival returns to Brighton this weekend.

Modern Rock Charts: Shinedown’s “Young Again” hits No. 1 on the Active Rock chart, marking the band’s 26th chart-topper and underlining their staying power in melodic rock. Documentary Spotlight: Mickey Duzyj’s “Smooth World” brings a fresh look at smooth jazz, with Atlanta screenings starting this week. K-pop Pop Culture Buzz: BABYMONSTER’s official YouTube channel surpasses 10 billion views, while Jungkook’s latest viral moment gets a surprise boost after Justin Bieber reposts it. Dance-Pop Release: Pitbull and Jason Derulo team up again for “Privacy,” a club-ready anthem built for global playlists. Zimbabwe R&B/Soul Live: Strictly Soul lands in Bulawayo on Sept. 18, aiming to grow a dedicated R&B and soul scene beyond Harare. Immersive Music Tech: Zimbabwean artist Zwa debuts “The Overloaded Mind,” a 360-degree audio-visual experience blending music, movement, and wellbeing. Classical & Opera Crossover: Richard Armitage joins Classic FM for “Curtain Call,” a five-week series pairing classical music with theatre stories. Label Business: Warner Chappell partners with French electronic company Kidding Aside to scale publishing and export French dance music.**

P-pop Buzz: SB19’s Josh Cullen teased what looks like new solo music with an Instagram “#JoshCullen” teaser, following a run of SB19 members’ solo releases. Rock Crossover Moment: Carrie Underwood headlined Velocity Festival and surprised fans with rock covers of Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, Papa Roach and Collective Soul. Funk Legacy Live: The Meters will reunite for a New Year’s Eve show at New Orleans’ Orpheum Theater celebrating the 50th anniversary of “New Directions.” Classical Fundraising: Idaho State University’s Jensen Grand Concert Hall hosts a scholarship benefit with singers Caryn and Phillip Marlowe plus pianist Mark Neiwirth. Metal on the Calendar: Pantera’s Phil Anselmo brings “The Great NOLA Trendkill” to LSU New Orleans’ Lakefront Arena on Nov. 20-21 with a stacked local-and-national lineup. Traditional Music Spotlight: The World Nomad Games’ “Köçmön dö r Sanaty” festival wrapped with winners across storytelling and instrumental categories. Music & Community: Jacksonville’s Coach Linda Charity blends Haitian community support with digital media through The Coach Linda Show.

South Africa Tour: Jack White announces his first-ever Africa shows, hitting Johannesburg (Dec 11) and Cape Town (Dec 14) with tickets on sale Sept 9, plus new album Frozen Charlotte in the set. Pop Release: Miley Cyrus drops “Bass Persuades” with a dance-pop/post-punk video ahead of her Sept 18 album. K-pop Spotlight: SB19’s Josh Cullen teases new solo music after a run of SB19 member solo singles. Metalcore News: Spiritbox releases “Mourning” and kicks off a Europe tour starting Sept 12 in Glasgow. Afrobeats Meets Latin Pop: Burna Boy and Shakira’s “Dai Dai” clears 1 billion YouTube views and is named FIFA World Cup 2026 official song. Tragic Story: Manipur rock pioneer Chongtham Vikram Singh is beaten to death in Delhi after a noise dispute; police have detained suspects and the case sparks national outrage. Live Music & Culture: AmericanaFest expands its 2026 lineup with Melissa Etheridge, Wynonna Judd and Amy Grant.

Campus Pop Spotlight: Normani brought her “Wild Side” to Princeton’s Lawnparties, with students packing Prospect Avenue and Frist North Lawn for food, DJ sets, and student openers before the headliner. Local Arts & Memory: Grand Forks muralist Paul Archer is nearing 150 murals after a Dolly Parton tribute painted on the back wall of Misty Mountain music store. K-pop Health Reveal: Former ENHYPEN member Evan says he was diagnosed with malignant lymphoma in fourth grade after severe coughing and sudden breathlessness, sharing how treatment and hospital life shaped him. Rock Politics & Pop Culture: Sammy Hagar fired back after Alex Van Halen called him “a complete idiot,” escalating a long-running feud with a fresh public exchange. Metal Update: KoRn says they’ve finished recording their new album after writing nearly 40 songs for the follow-up to 2022’s “Requiem.” Big Loss: EMF’s Derry Brownson, known for “Unbelievable,” has died at 55 after a brain tumor diagnosis. Streaming/TV: Netflix green-lit 10 Korean dramas for 2026, mixing romance, horror fantasy, and cross-border thrillers. Community Through Music: Victoria’s Voices in Motion choir is expanding for people living with memory loss and their care partners, aiming to reduce isolation through weekly singing. Safety Watch: Burning Man reports a second death at the 2026 festival, with causes still undisclosed.

AI & Culture: A new argument warns that replacing Balochi traditions with AI-generated music could erase more than songs—threatening instruments, storytellers, and identity. K-pop Pricing Pressure: tripleS cuts concert ticket prices for its “ANDLESS” tour, aiming to lower barriers as inflation pushes live costs higher. Live Music Health Scare: The Chainsmokers concert in San Jose saw 14 people hospitalized, with officials citing suspected alcohol and drug-related issues. Global Pop Milestones: Janet Jackson announces “Control 40,” a concert film capturing her 1986 album live in Florida. Rock Tour News: Radiohead confirms 16 Australian dates in 2027, including four Perth nights at RAC Arena. New Releases: Evan (ex-Enhypen) readies debut solo EP “Death of Me,” while Nadine Lustre drops “Donuts” with Apl.de.Ap. Community Music Events: A charity “Trash Bash” and multiple local festivals spotlight live music as neighborhood glue.

Super Bowl & Awards: Bad Bunny’s Apple Music Super Bowl LX halftime show swept all seven Creative Arts Emmy categories, pushing him halfway to EGOT status. Rock & Metal Tragedy: Andy “The Butcher” Williams, guitarist for Every Time I Die and an AEW wrestler, died at 48 after collapsing during a match. Community Through Music: Memphis’ Stone Soul Picnic kept its Labor Day tradition alive with free soul food and gospel performances at WLOK’s event. Latin Jazz Spotlight: Casselberry, Florida hosts a free Latin Jazz and Art Festival Sept. 12 headlined by Néstor Torres and Fabiola Méndez. K-pop/Design Drama: BLACKPINK’s Lisa faces a design-copying claim over the “SaWaDiKa” video’s coin-adorned headphones. New Releases & Tours: EVAN teases his mini-album title track “Death of Me,” while Godsmack’s Sully Erna confirms new music is coming by summer 2027. Live Music Safety: The Chainsmokers’ San Jose show sent 14 attendees to hospitals, with police citing suspected intoxication and drug-related issues. Global Scene: Macao’s MIMF announces a month-long lineup of opera, symphonic concerts, and citywide “Floating Notes” activities.

Global Culture Exchange: Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra kicks off its Qatar–Canada–Mexico 2026 Year of Culture with “Sounds of Mexico” on Sept. 18 and “Sounds of Canada” on Nov. 7 at the Qatar National Convention Centre, led by Enrique Arturo Diemecke and Charles Olivieri-Munroe. Broadway-Style Touring: “The Phantom of the Opera” lands in Tempe (ASU Gammage) on Sept. 16–Oct. 4 with a revitalized North American tour starring Isaiah Bailey and Jordan Lee Gilbert. Hip-Hop Memorabilia: A rare Lil Wayne handwritten-lyrics notebook from 1999 is reportedly up for sale at $5M after a New Orleans legal fight over ownership and authenticity. Pop Loss: Dolly Parton dies at 80 after a brief battle with cancer, with tributes highlighting her songwriting legacy and major awards. Metal/Alt Release: Blue Medusa drops “Crocodile,” featuring ex-Arch Enemy vocalist Alissa White-Gluz, plus a new Behemoth Venom cover video with Shagrath. Live Music & Community: Big Freedia’s long-stalled Decatur Street project pivots from hotel plans to a ground-floor restaurant and music venue.

Tragic Violence: Mexican indie rock keyboardist Jonathan Meléndez, his pregnant wife, their young daughter, and their nanny were shot dead in a penthouse attack; their child survived, and the band posted a tribute. Music Safety: San Jose police say more than a dozen medical calls hit an Insomniac EDM show at Discovery Meadow, with about 10 attendees taken to hospitals for suspected alcohol intoxication and drug-related issues. AI & Artist Rights: Suno pulled a Mary J. Blige AI ad after saying the deal was negotiated by someone not authorized to represent her. Pop Studio Talk: Taylor Swift told a radio interviewer that studio success starts with the energy you bring to the room, as fans speculate about new music. Rock Doc Buzz: Reviews for “Pete Townshend: Behind Blue Eyes” praise rare archival footage but say it leans more into Townshend’s poetic side than his power-chord persona. Live Music & Community: Rooftop Festival lands in Athens Sept. 20; St Paul’s Cathedral in London will host DJ gigs with Fabric through 2030; and San Francisco’s free El Grito celebration returns Sept. 15 with folklórico dancing and live music. New Releases: Tanya Nolan drops the “Reckless” official video, and Blackpink’s Lisa continues solo momentum with “SaWaDiKa.”

K-pop Pressure & Privacy: BLACKPINK’s Lisa says she had to hide past relationships to protect the group’s popularity, opening up in her documentary “Always Lalisa” about years of silence and trainee-era emotional strain. Solo Pop Rollout: Jisoo drops “Click,” a futuristic pop single with a Joseph Kahn-directed video, while Lisa follows with “SaWaDiKa” ahead of her “PRESS PLAY” EP. Jazz Loss: Grammy-winning vocalist Cassandra Wilson has died at 70, remembered for her contralto and genre-blending work from “New Moon Daughter” to “Blood on the Fields.” Rock Legacy & Storytelling: Metal Hammer writers share standout festival sets from the summer, and a new “Pete Townshend: Behind Blue Eyes” doc heads to Telluride. Local Music Culture: St Paul’s Cathedral teams with electronic promoter fabric for contemporary music events, and Wivenhoe launches its first Music Trail with free live performances. Community & Tradition: Dream Forest in Seoul hosts a hanok-based concert with craft activities, and Zimbabwe’s cover-band royalty dispute keeps escalating.

AI & Artist Rights: Korein Tillery filed a lawsuit on behalf of musicians including Jason Isbell against AI music generator Suno, alleging name-based identity exploitation without consent. AI Music Tools: Roland launched Melody Flip, a plug-in that generates melody/chords/bass/drums via preset “palettes,” positioned as a creative spark rather than full song output. Pop Politics: Olivia Rodrigo criticized the Trump administration for using her “All-American Bitch” in immigration enforcement raid promos, calling it a distraction tactic. K-Pop Business: South Korea’s K-pop album exports to the U.S. surged, with the U.S. becoming the top overseas market; meanwhile, CJ ENM is pushing new K-pop/K-drama channels. Music Industry Deals: Enrique Iglesias reportedly sold his music rights, name, image and likeness for a nine-figure sum. Tragedy: Indie rock keyboardist Jonathan Meléndez, his pregnant wife, their 3-year-old daughter and nanny were killed in Mexico; two arrests reported. Live & Local: New Orleans Public Library seeks artists for its Crescent City Sounds streaming platform; Oshkosh Jazz Festival drew award-winning acts; Punx in the Park returns to Salem with free punk and youth resources.

Pop Rulebook Rewrites: Beyoncé turns 45 on Sept. 4, spotlighting how her surprise releases and visual-first strategy reshaped mainstream pop, with B’Day’s 20th anniversary bringing back expanded editions and new material. New Music Friday: Miley Cyrus launches her comeback era with “Bass Persuades” and a high-heat video, while Billboard’s guide also flags fresh drops from Beyoncé and ADÉLA. K-Pop Expansion: CJ ENM debuts free FAST channels on Amazon Prime Video (CJ ENM K-Stories and CJ ENM K-Pop), and Lisa returns with “SaWaDiKa,” plus a documentary spotlight on dating pressures. Jazz Loss: Grammy-winning vocalist Cassandra Wilson dies at 70, remembered for genre-bending blues-to-jazz artistry. Metal Business: Cooking Vinyl signs progressive metal band Sikth to a worldwide artist services deal. Classical & Community: Worcester Chamber Music Society’s Ariana Falk steps in as executive director, while Bonn’s Beethovenhalle reopens for Beethovenfest with major orchestral programming. Cultural Crossroads: Greek lyre player Aliki Markantonatou connects China and Greece through the ancient instrument, culminating in the album “AEGEAN.”

Soul Train Awards Return: BET’s Don Cornelius legacy show is back after a three-year pause, returning Nov. 27 from Chicago with a CBS simulcast and Spotify as exclusive streaming partner. Jazz Loss: Grammy-winning vocalist Cassandra Wilson has died at 70 in Jackson, Mississippi, remembered for a contralto that blurred jazz, blues, folk, pop, R&B and country. Music Meets Film/Community: Fort Wayne’s Memorial Park STEAM Middle School jazz band is set to be the subject of a documentary after a producer was impressed by their live performance. Local Live Music Boost: Fort Wayne Philharmonic and its musicians union reached a four-year deal expanding the season and raising minimum pay. New Releases/Pop Culture: Tom Hardy officially drops his rap debut as Frankie Pulitzer with Czarface on “Czarface Meets Frankie Pulitzer,” featuring Busta Rhymes and Method Man. Classical Spotlight: WXXI Classical screens “Dear Lara,” a documentary on abuse and institutional cover-ups in the classical music world. Festival Watch: Keene Music Festival returns Sept. 5 with seven stages and free music across downtown.

K-pop Legal Storm: South Korean police have referred HYBE chairman Bang Si-hyuk (BTS’ boss) to prosecutors over alleged investor fraud tied to plans for the company’s IPO, with Bang denying wrongdoing. Jazz Loss: Cassandra Wilson, the two-time Grammy-winning jazz vocalist known for her genre-bending contralto, has died at 70 in Jackson, Mississippi. Festival Power Play: Coachella 2027 booking talks reportedly include BTS as Goldenvoice pushes to land the supergroup, alongside names like Tame Impala, Dua Lipa, Fred again.., SZA, Oasis and Radiohead. Local Live Music: Ventura County’s fall lineup leans classical, jazz and jam-band energy, while Ireland’s Circus Extreme returns to Cork and Dublin with a rock concert-meets-extreme stunts show. Culture & Community: ASL interpreters are seeing growing demand for signed live music and theater, and Warner Music India launched Season 2 of folk franchise “Maati,” starting with a Sufi qawwali track.

Jazz Loss: Cassandra Wilson, the two-time Grammy-winning, genre-bending jazz vocalist, has died at 70 in Jackson, Mississippi, with tributes highlighting her contralto and her ability to fuse jazz with blues, folk, pop, R&B, and country. Pop-Culture Backlash: Stella Lefty’s “Boston” keeps climbing, but her wealthy-family ties have sparked “nepo baby” and “industry plant” debate online. Indie Independence: Nashville singer-songwriter Michaela Anne says her new album “These Are the Days” is fully self-owned, taking control of recording and release. Live Music Calendar: Virginia Beach is launching its first Super Girl Surf Festival with a free Oceanfront music lineup featuring Switchfoot, CeeLo Green, Gym Class Heroes, and Lupe Fiasco. Community & Culture: Stockton debuts the Central Valley Lebanese Festival with Lebanese food, live oud music, and dabke dancing. Music & Safety: A Mexican composer (Camilo Septimo keyboardist) and his family were killed in a penthouse shooting; authorities report arrests.