AGP Executive Report

UK Live-Music Relief: Prime Minister Andy Burnham says business rates for pubs, clubs and live music venues in England will be cut by 20% from April next year, saving a typical pub about £1,100 a year and covering around 32,000 venues, with funding tied to changes for “non-contributing” businesses like vape shops and a crackdown on online sellers’ VAT issues. Community Music Spaces: Rotary’s new music garden at Ellison Park in Monticello lets visitors of all ages play sculptural instruments like chimes and bells—an outdoor, no-training-needed sound hub. Local Courses for Adults: Woolpack Studios launches six-week daytime programs—ukulele/guitar “Strum and Sing” plus “Find Your Voice” singing and a recorder ensemble—aimed at low-pressure social music-making. Global Stage Moves: SM Prime is ramping up live entertainment at the SM Seaside Cebu Arena with 20+ major events, including concerts and theatre, as it targets a bigger share of the regional live economy. A Cappella in Seoul: Yale’s Whiffenpoofs brought Korean songs to a Seoul gallery, blending guest classical and traditional performers for a cultural exchange night. Protest Through Music: Chicago guitarist Dave Specter organized “Songs of Protest, Sounds of Freedom,” featuring blues, jazz, punk and slam, with proceeds for immigrant and refugee rights. New Album Spotlight: South Korean singer Lim Kim returns with “Exit to Nowhere,” a personal, identity-focused follow-up after a long gap.

Local Concerts: Brevard Music Center students played a free public set at the Transylvania County Library, mixing Beethoven, Chopin and more. Community Series: Community Church of Walker’s “Music Under the Pines” gazebo concert is set for Aug. 2, free with a donation for the musicians. Big-Name Live: Jack White’s sold-out Pine Knob show will stream live via Nugs, and Phish’s MSG run is also available to livestream through LivePhish. New Music Drops: Victoria Monét teases “Reach Out” ahead of her album Frequency of Love (Oct. 2), while HyoLyn returns with mini album OriginaLyn and title track “ChecK.” Festival & Lineups: Hardly Strictly Bluegrass announced its initial 2026 lineup for Oct. 2-4 in Golden Gate Park. Industry & Platforms: SoundCloud acquired the indie web3 platform Nina Protocol after it shut down, aiming to bring its editorial archive and tools to creators. Health Alert: Arizona officials listed new measles exposure sites tied to a Fuerza Regida stop at Chase Field.

AI & Streaming Fraud: Deezer says fully AI-generated tracks now make up over half of new uploads on peak days, with nearly 90,000 synthetic songs arriving daily in June—while warning that up to 85% of AI-related streams can involve fraudulent listening meant to inflate plays and divert royalties. Major Label/AI Labor Fight: The musicians’ union AFM urged a New York court to keep its lawsuit against Universal and Warner alive over Suno and Udio licensing, arguing “new use” terms require payments to performers. Platform Updates: Instagram rolled out “Replace Audio,” letting users swap music on existing posts without reuploading or losing engagement; Spotify also launched its first global music video chart. Apple Music Price Hike: Apple Music raised subscription fees in multiple regions, citing rising licensing costs. Orchestral Crossover: St. Vincent is leaning into orchestral collaborations on a summer tour with major symphonies. Live Music Tech: Gov’t Mule’s Keuka Lake show will be paired with a drone display right after the set. Chart Moments: Future’s The Real Me debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200; Burna Boy becomes the first male artiste to top Spotify’s Global Music Video Chart with “Dai Dai.” Community & Culture: Ghana’s “This Is Music Business” seminar brought industry training to creatives, while local festivals and concerts keep rolling out worldwide.

Video Push at Spotify: Spotify says it’s expanding its music-video push with a new global “Music Video Charts” and an artist pitching tool, plus direct video uploads for nearly 100,000 artists. AI Rights in Canada: SOCAN partners with Musical AI to set opt-in consent and attribution/compensation rules for creators whose work informs AI music. Jazz Loss: Plas Johnson, the saxophonist behind “The Pink Panther” theme, dies at 94. Concert Safety Shock: A Morgan Wallen Baltimore attendee says a man urinated on his family, including an 8-year-old, with viral videos sparking outrage. Local Music Life: Collingwood’s Porchside Festival and Collingwood Music Festival both wrap big, with sold-out backyard shows and a star-studded finale. Community & Classical: A free youth music production camp launches in Sacramento, while Colorado Music Festival’s “CPR Classical Night” spotlights Prokofiev, Copland and Ravel. Industry Business: Montreal’s Steve’s Music Store closes after 61 years, selling off remaining stock.

AI Crackdown: Deezer says it’s now seeing AI-generated “slop” make up over half of daily uploads (90,000+ tracks in June), and it’s tightening exclusion rules to curb streaming fraud. Streaming & Pricing: Apple Music is rolling out iOS 27 features (including landscape mode and smoother AutoMix) while also pushing subscription price hikes in multiple markets. K-pop Updates: IU cancels her September concert and postpones her album release due to an ear disorder; HYBE’s new girl group TUIDE will preview its full debut album live before an official debut date. New Music Drops: Atif Aslam teases comeback album “Subah Aye Na” after 18 years; Tyler Hubbard releases “Land,” previewing his third solo album. Live Music & Community: UK grassroots venues can apply for the Music Venue Trust-led Liveline Fund; Cincinnati’s Adaptive Arts and Music Camp expands access for artists with physical disabilities. Policy Signal: The Maso Awards bars AI-generated music and AI artists from nominations for now. Oasis Reality Check: Liam Gallagher rules out a new Oasis album for the moment, but hints at future shows.

Streaming’s Money Engine: Global paid music subscriptions hit 865M in 2025, up 71.5M, as streaming drove 86% of recorded-music spending and pushed the market toward $50B+ in 2026. K-Pop Milestone: PSY’s “Gangnam Style” becomes the first K-pop video to cross 6B views on YouTube, cementing its crossover legacy. New Music & Releases: Future’s “The Real Me” debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, while Atif Aslam announces his long-awaited album “Subah Aye Na.” AI & Platforms: Spotify removes 75M AI songs amid spam/royalty concerns, and Spotify also rolls out tools to help listeners spot AI-made tracks. Touring/Live Updates: Rusko announces an indefinite hiatus from music and touring; Bad Bunny’s Milan show was disrupted by severe weather. Community Music: A “Musical Museum” series in Chicago uses music and context to support dementia patients and caregivers. Local Events: Glenn Miller Orchestra performs at Vilar Center; free Rixton pub family fun day and Wiscasset Art Walk jazz duet bring live music to the streets. Losses: L7 bassist Jennifer Finch dies at 59; UK dubstep veteran Rusko pauses indefinitely.

Streaming & AI Crackdown: Spotify removed an estimated 75 million AI-made tracks, targeting “AI slop” uploads meant to game royalties rather than creative AI music. Global Pop at the Biggest Stage: Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber, Shakira and Burna Boy headlined the FIFA World Cup final halftime show in a fast, multi-act spectacle at MetLife Stadium. Music Meets Film/Streaming: Sheetal Menon’s short film Duet becomes Spotify’s first-ever short film premiere on July 30, with Duet also on YouTube. Album Drops & Tracklists: Tyla revealed the full APOP tracklist ahead of its July 24 release; Cody Jinks announced an expanded deluxe edition of In My Blood for July 24. Live Music & Local Scenes: St. Vincent brings three orchestral shows to Michigan; Ilkley’s Yorkshire Day weekend returns Aug 1–2 with live music and markets; York’s Ruby Rae’s opens a second, more live-music-focused venue. Industry Honors: Polydor Label Group president Ben Mortimer named 2027 Seymour Stein – Global A&R Award recipient.

World Cup Halftime Spectacle: The 2026 final’s first-ever halftime concert at MetLife Stadium turned into a pop-and-football mashup, with Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber, Shakira and Burna Boy, plus Ronaldinho/Ronaldo, an orchestra and even the Muppets—while Roy Keane’s cheeky ITV reaction sent fans into a frenzy. Fact Check: Ariana Grande rumors about attending the final were debunked after a viral image was traced to her 2024 Super Bowl appearance. Weather Disruptions: NYC flash flooding left restaurants dealing with sewage smells and canceled plans, while severe storms also forced reschedules and cancellations including Noah Kahan and Bad Bunny’s Milan shows. Festival & Tour Updates: Hank Williams Jr.’s Pine Knob date was pushed to August; High Sierra Music Festival “saved” itself with a move to Grass Valley; BOYNEXTDOOR kicked off its first world tour in Seoul with three sold-out nights. Music Business: Apple Music raised subscription prices in India and worldwide, citing licensing costs. Deaths: Freddy “Boom Boom” Cannon (89) and L7 bassist Jennifer Finch (59) both passed away. Local Spotlight: Nanuet hosted a World Cup final watch party with live music and family activities.

Global Pop Power: BTS wrapped its “ARIRANG” Paris run at Stade de France with a record 184,000 fans across two sold-out nights, and the group is now set for the 2026 World Cup final halftime show alongside Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber, Burna Boy and more. Streaming Milestones: ILLIT’s “NOT CUTE ANYMORE” hit 200M Spotify streams, while Tyla was named South Africa’s most-streamed local R&B artist. Big-Stage Weather Woes: Bad Bunny’s Milan show was abandoned after hailstorm damage, and Niall Horan/Thomas Rhett postponed a Pennsylvania date due to severe storms. Music Biz & Tech: Apple Music and Apple One prices rose in the US and other markets, citing licensing costs, while Google upgraded AI Mode to add shopping and playlist-building via Instacart, Canva and YouTube Music. Fan Backlash: CORTIS faced criticism for a short, repetitive first solo setlist. New Releases: Billie Eilish says her third album is mastered; Echo & the Bunnymen announced “Apples for Isaac.” Live & Local: SummerFest in Weymouth drew ~10,000 attendees (fireworks canceled for dry conditions), and a free concert series continues across communities.

Streaming & Pricing: Apple Music raised subscription prices in multiple markets, citing rising licensing costs—Singapore’s Individual plan jumps to S$11.98 and Family to S$20.98, with similar hikes reported elsewhere. AI in Music: Lorde blasted Spotify’s “About the Song” AI feature after it generated an inaccurate description of her track “Current Affairs,” and Spotify removed the synopsis. Live Music Under Pressure: Wildfire smoke and extreme heat kept hitting concerts—Morgan Wallen fans still packed M&T Bank Stadium despite a code red air-quality alert, while Hiawatha Traditional Music Festival pushed on with safety precautions as smoke lingered. Touring & Global Moves: Tiffany Young announced her “Edge of Calm” Asia tour, and YOUNG POSSE revealed their first European run, “Pilot3,” across London, Paris, Barcelona, Berlin and Kraków. Music Business & Labor: Australia’s new “pay super fast” rules sparked backlash from jazz musicians, who fear extra costs and paperwork could push venues toward streaming. Sports Meets Music: IndyCar’s Music City Grand Prix returns in Nashville, with race picks and a practice crash leaving Team Penske’s No. 12 under hospital evaluation.

Spotify & BTS: BTS’ “Normal” hit a new Spotify milestone, becoming the most-streamed K-pop music video in a single day on the platform, with the video set for YouTube release July 19. World Cup Music: BTS will also join the 2026 FIFA World Cup final halftime show in New York/New Jersey alongside Madonna, Shakira and Justin Bieber. Apple Music Price Hike: Apple Music raised prices in multiple markets, citing rising licensing costs—US plans now $11.99/$19.99/$6.99 (Individual/Family/Student) and similar jumps elsewhere, including India and Malaysia. Festival Disruption: London’s Rock the Park ended early and The Lumineers never took the stage due to wildfire smoke and very high air-risk readings, with refunds promised. Local Music & Community: Minnesota’s Lakes Area Music Festival kicks off with free Prelude Series chamber concerts by the Thalea String Quartet; in Michigan, a free Mikki Sodergren concert is set for Little Falls. Press Freedom Case: Bangladesh’s CID arrested a Facebook group admin over an alleged Atif Aslam ticket scam. New Releases: Ulver dropped a new video for “Hollywood Babylon,” while heavy acts Boundaries and Entheos announced fresh album-era updates.

World Cup Music Moment: FIFA says the 2026 final halftime will run longer, with an 11-minute “Super Bowl”-style musical segment featuring Madonna, Shakira and BTS (plus Burna Boy, Justin Bieber, Gustavo Dudamel and PS22 Chorus). Streaming Prices: Apple Music quietly raised rates—Individual to $11.99, Family to $19.99, Student to $6.99—citing higher licensing costs. AI vs Artists: Lorde hit back at Spotify’s AI “About the Song” feature after it generated an inaccurate summary tied to the wrong performance moment; Spotify says it’s in beta and will fix errors. K-pop Spotlight: BTS released the Spotify-exclusive “Normal” video, with a wider rollout on July 19, as they push their “Arirang” era. Physical Media Comeback: A report says US CD sales jumped 16% in H1 2026, fueled by collectors—even as many Gen Z buyers don’t own a CD player. Live Music Disrupted: Wildfire smoke forced cancellations, including Ruby Summer Concert Series in Morgantown (Switchfoot) and other outdoor shows moved indoors. New Releases: Rick Ross dropped “Set In Stone,” and The Internet teased a new band album after years apart.

BTS Spotlight: BTS dropped the “NORMAL” music video, showing quieter, post-party moments, with a Korean version also rolling out; the video goes global July 19. AI & Streaming Tension: Spotify is testing a “Talk to Spotify” AI assistant for paid users, while Suno faces fresh scrutiny after hacked data claims it scraped millions of songs from YouTube, Deezer and more. Human vs Machine Voice: Veteran singer Petula Clark says AI can’t replace the warmth and emotion of a real performer. New Releases: Beck confirms “Ride Lonesome” for Sept. 18 and shares “In The Night,” and Tyla reveals the 14-track “A*POP” set for July 24. Live Music Picks: Free Beatles tribute hits Muskingum Park July 18; “Music Under the Oaks” returns in Hays Park with family-friendly outdoor sets; and Eau Claire’s Eaux Claires Festival revives July 24–25 with Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon. Community & Culture: A Sofar Sounds Harare homecoming spotlights Sambiri on July 25.

Big Festival News: Goldenvoice is launching the Ocean Way Festival in Santa Monica on Sept. 26-27, with The Killers and Olivia Dean headlining alongside Jack White, Khruangbin, Sublime, Hot Chip DJs and more. Streaming & Discovery: JioSaavn rolled out Music Profile, turning listening habits into a “Music Persona” with weekly/monthly insights and badges. Latin Music Momentum: Luminate’s midyear report says U.S. English-language streams hit a new low while Latin and country surge, with Bad Bunny a major driver. Industry Moves: Reservoir Media expands its Latin push by acquiring Nacional Records and its publishing arm, plus a new JV to sign and develop artists. Tech + AI in Music: Rolling Stone’s Mick Jagger and Keith Richards weigh in on AI, arguing it should be original and not just copying. Live Music + Weather: Hazardous wildfire smoke forced Chicago to cancel outdoor concerts and close beaches/pools, while Albany still drew crowds to Washington Park’s Alive at Five. Local Culture: Hoboken revives the free River City Fair for Sept. 26, and Rainier’s Rainier River Jam returns weekly July 22-Aug. 26. Artist Spotlight: Jelly Roll turns a real prison visit into a music video for “Hands Up.”

AI & Copyright Clash: A new report claims AI music app Suno scraped millions of YouTube tracks, including 2M clips and thousands of hours from YouTube Music, plus data from Genius and Pond5—renewing pressure on platforms and labels. Industry Power Moves: Warner Chappell Music promoted David Goldsen to EVP, A&R, while Music Venue Trust named Chris Hurne head of external affairs to strengthen government ties for grassroots venues. Big Releases: Alabama Shakes announce “I Must Be Dreaming” (Aug. 28) and Nickelback unveil “Everything Under The Sun” (Oct. 30). Pop Culture & Music: Lana Del Rey teases companion album “Spyda” for “Stove,” and BTS pushes “Normal” with an exclusive Spotify release. Live Music Despite Conditions: UPMC Sunset Music Series went ahead at Presque Isle even under a Code Red air-quality advisory. Community & Access: England libraries get £12.5M for music spaces via the Ed Sheeran Foundation, and a Lancaster Disability Pride concert series spotlights inclusive performances.

Bluegrass Awards: The IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards 2026 nominees are out, with Billy Strings and Alison Krauss leading the Entertainer of the Year race, plus Hall of Fame inductees announced for October 22 in Chattanooga. Pop Star Tour: Stan Walker is set for his first headline show in six years—an October 17 orchestral event in Auckland that reworks his catalog with a 30+ piece orchestra. R&B Headliner: Brandy will headline South Africa’s 2026 All White Soul Sessions Concert Tour with Cape Town and Pretoria dates in December. K-Pop Buzz: BTS confirmed the “Normal” official music video rollout, with Spotify promotion and a global release schedule tied to the “Arirang” era. Streaming & Culture: Luminate’s midyear report points to K-pop’s physical sales surge and a broader shift as Latin music grows and English-language streaming share dips. AI in Music Creation: BandLab acquired AI studio Aiode, touting licensed, traceable training audio and keeping Aiode running as a standalone tool. Live Music & Community: A new “People R Ready” musical debuts in Columbia in August, while local scenes keep moving—like Owensboro Symphony’s free Concert on the Lawn and a North Fork Music Festival return in Hazard. Policy & Royalties: US artists are pushing Congress over the American Music Fairness Act as EU radio royalty rules could change. Legal/Workplace: A court case involving a music orchestra and political speech claims ends with the judge rejecting key parts of the complaint. Safety/Weather: Wildfire smoke forced cancellation of Marquette’s Music on Third, and Kansas City braces for hotter, more humid conditions with pop-up storms.