AGP Executive Report

Ghana Music Rivalry: Abena Moet and Vida Adutwumwaa Boateng weighed in on the latest Stonebwoy–Sarkodie–Shatta Wale online flare-up, framing it as part of the “game” of music business and defending Stonebwoy’s comments as coming from a genuine place rather than hatred or jealousy. Artist Career Notes: Reggie Rockstone says he didn’t struggle breaking into Ghana’s scene because his father backed him with resources. Pop Culture & Touring: Harry Styles addressed retirement rumours during his MSG run, telling fans he’s trying to appreciate the moment as his tour ends next year. Music Biz Tech: Suno’s AI push continues to dominate industry talk, with new licensed-model partnerships and label involvement driving the next phase of AI music creation. Live Music Locals: Ellesmere Port’s revamped market event space hosted Ian Prowse’s homecoming gig, drawing hundreds and signaling more community shows ahead. Music & Community Economy: Trinidad’s Caribbean Music Awards aim to spotlight the region’s “orange economy,” using music tourism to drive spending across islands.

AI & Labels: UMG and ElevenLabs launched an AI-powered music creation platform built on licensed works, as the industry keeps racing to define “legal” AI music and provenance. Music Tech & Fans: Musixmatch’s product chief argues lyrics—not algorithms—are the moment streaming listeners stop being passive and start becoming super-fans. Live-Music Rules: South Korea’s small venues are getting hit with suspensions over “dancing” regulations, turning club nights into awkward compliance tests. Legal/Business Moves: Ticketmaster is named Meta’s first music partner for Muse AI, while Universal Music continues expanding its AI strategy. Local Scene Spotlight: Singapore’s Gail Belmonte is set for Homegrown 2026, highlighting homegrown R&B talent and the growing push for local discovery. Music Culture & Community: Olivia Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain Fields festival used an all-women lineup to spark conversations on women and girls, with major philanthropic backing.

AI & Energy Debate: Commentary flags growing backlash to AI data centers over power, water use, and control—arguing the environmental cost is real even as supporters push for smarter solutions. Global Music Business: Kenya’s creative economy is getting a serious push as Grammy/Recording Academy leaders meet local artists and partners while advancing plans for a Kenya-based Grammys headquarters. AI Music Platform Moves: Universal Music and ElevenLabs are teaming up on an AI-powered music creation platform, adding fuel to the wider “AI music models” licensing race. Live Music & Venues: Rochester performers are organizing to protect working conditions as multiple local venues face closures or major changes. Industry Recognition: MusiCares names U2 (Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen Jr.) as 2027 Persons of the Year, with the gala set for Feb. 5, 2027 in Los Angeles. Local Culture Through Music: A Maui symphony concert (“Mele For Maui”) pairs orchestral performances with local artists and a community market. Songcraft Spotlight: Kailash Kher says the best love songs come “from your soul,” cutting through repeat listens by sheer emotional truth.

CMA Awards Buzz: Ella Langley led 2026 Country Music Association Awards nominations with nine nods for “Choosin’ Texas” and “Be Her,” followed by Miranda Lambert (six) and Kacey Musgraves/Ben West (five each). AI x Music Partnerships: Adobe is pushing AI into Premiere Pro workflows, while LG Uplus and artist Eric Oh used AI to deepen audience engagement at Frieze Seoul. AI Rights Tensions: Shabba Ranks sued Greensleeves to claw back publishing rights, arguing his catalog shouldn’t be treated as “work made for hire.” Festival Fallout: Santa Monica canceled Goldenvoice’s Ocean Way beach debut after Hurricane Marie erosion; refunds are set for ticket holders. Live Music + Local Business: Huntington Beach’s reimagined State of Surf City at Pier Plaza spotlighted tourism and music-adjacent commerce. Music Industry Moves: Universal Music is teaming with ElevenLabs on an AI-powered music creation platform, as labels race to strike deals in the AI era. Charts Spotlight: The Official Charts Company launched a new weekly Official Homegrown Albums Chart for UK artists.

AI x Music Business: Google DeepMind co-founder Demis Hassabis urged a “new Renaissance” where science and the arts collaborate, as AI reshapes creative work. AI x Rights & Labels: The big story in music this week is labels moving from fear to deals—Suno’s licensed-model push and major-label partnerships (including Warner and UMG) keep raising the question of who gets paid and how. Live Music & Ticketing: Oasis’ 2027 tour rollout is driving fan rushes and Ticketmaster queue talk, while venue and nightlife policy fights keep popping up. Industry Governance: Zimbabwe’s parliament is probing collective management organizations, with artists complaining they’re being sidelined in how rights are handled. Artist/Brand Crossovers: Olivia Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain Fields Festival shows how major artists are turning partnerships (Etsy included) into immersive, charity-backed fan experiences. Local Music Economy: Record Bonanza returns in Oregon for buy/sell/trade nostalgia, and multiple community festivals keep live music front-and-center.

AI & Music Rights: Suno’s latest push to train on licensed catalogs keeps the legal and policy pressure on AI music platforms front and center, as unions and labels argue over consent and compensation. Industry Deals: UMG-backed AI model announcements and new partnerships (including with Believe/Warner-linked efforts) signal a fast shift toward “licensed” AI workflows. Live Music as Business Engine: Hopscotch Music Festival is set to pour visitors into downtown Raleigh, while Rainier Beer’s R-Day returns with a lineup built to drive local foot traffic. Big-Name Tour Hype: Oasis confirmed 2027 Manchester dates via a drone show over the Etihad, turning a marketing moment into a city-wide event. Country Spotlight: CMA Awards nominations are led by Ella Langley (nine), with Lainey Wilson returning as host for a milestone 60th year. Community & Culture: Tempe’s Healing Field marks 9/11’s 25th anniversary with music and memorial programming, and Hull PorchFest readies 40+ bands on neighborhood stages. Artist News: Ed Sheeran’s early Bournemouth loop-pedal set gets a fresh spotlight, and Adam Hurt lands a major Shaky Knees Festival slot with Sophie’s Body.

AI + Music Business: Suno’s latest push is all about licensed training—new models are being rolled out in partnership with major labels (including Warner Music and BMG), after earlier legal fights and backlash over AI-generated tracks. Live Music + Funding: The UK Artist Touring fund (UKAT) extended its application deadline by 48 hours, aiming to get “top up” support to more artists so tours stay on the road. Artist News: Sampa The Great announces her third album, Nu Zamrock, arriving Oct. 30 via Loma Vista, with the single “Simon Says” spotlighting pressure around visibility. Touring/Events: Harry Styles adds a big 2027 stadium run for Together, Together, including $20 “Unpredictable Fun Tickets” and community-volunteering ticket unlocks. Local Music Economy: Grand Rapids launches “Phase Zero,” certifying 15–18 musicians as city vendors for paid public performances, testing how direct municipal support boosts neighborhood culture. Industry Recognition: Malaysia’s AIM25 (Anugerah Industri Muzik) names Siti Nurhaliza as the top nominee with 14 nods across multiple categories.

AI Music & Rights: Suno rolled out a new AI music model developed with Warner Music Group, BMG and Believe, reigniting the debate over training sources and copyright pressure as lawsuits and backlash keep mounting. Streaming/Charts: Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” holds the UK No.1 spot in the Official Charts Company midweek flash, with Sienna Spiro’s “Great Expectation” close behind. Live Music Crossover: Evanescence and Poppy debuted “End Of You” live with Spiritbox’s Courtney LaPlante absent, marking the first onstage performance of the 2025 collaboration. Major Artist Loss: Greek singer Giorgos Mazonakis died at 54 after cardiac arrest, prompting tributes across Greece’s music and TV world. Country Spotlight: New Zealand’s Tami Neilson is headed to Nashville as a CMA Awards finalist for the Jeff Walker Global Country Artist Award. Tech Meets Music: Apple unveiled the foldable iPhone Duo and teased new AirPods features tied to iOS 27, with custom EQ among the upgrades. Industry/Community: Trans Voices Cabaret returns to Manhattan at Caveat on Sept. 19, continuing its mission to spotlight trans and nonbinary musical theater performers.

AI Music & Rights: Suno is rolling out its new v6 AI music models with Warner Music Group, BMG and Believe, positioning the update as “faster, more expressive and higher quality” while the platform continues to face copyright pressure and backlash. Streaming & Consumer Choice: Lyft and Waymo are expanding autonomous rides in Nashville, letting riders book Waymo vehicles via the Lyft app as well as the Waymo app. Live Music Business: Glastonbury 2027 tickets are set to cost £408 (up from £378.50 in 2025), with sales dates and non-transferable rules aimed at curbing touting. Industry Culture & Debate: A fresh pushback against AI songs is gaining traction as Spotify faces calls for clearer controls and labeling. Local Music Scene: Onion City Records is opening in Chicago’s West Town with a house-first focus and plans for in-store performances. Touring/Events: The Warehouse Project details its 20th anniversary flagship show at Depot Mayfield in Manchester this November.

Live Music & Culture: Dolly Parton’s SongTeller Hotel and Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum are set to open together in Nashville on Sept. 29, with two nightly live venues built around songwriting and performer spotlights. Music Tech & Social: ShareAScan, a wearable QR platform meant to turn everyday objects into conversation starters, is being added to Emmy nominee and presenter gift bags. Country Spotlight: Lainey Wilson will host the 60th CMA Awards again this year, calling it “extra special” as nominees are due Sept. 10. Industry Business: Carlin Music publisher and former CEO Caroline Bienstock has died at 68; her Brill Building-era catalog included major standards across pop, jazz, and rock. Streaming/TV Crossover: FX’s “The Drop: A Snowfall Saga” premieres Sept. 8 and shifts the franchise focus toward the rise of rap’s music-industry power. AI & Copyright Policy: A U.S. software lobby is urging Australia to reverse a new tax treatment for streaming and cloud fees, warning it could spark an investor backlash. Local Scene: Your Roots Are Showing will move to the Europa Hotel Belfast for its Feb. 2027 edition, expanding global folk/roots partnerships.

Mental Health for Touring Crews: Radiohead drummer Philip Selway backs a new MITC “Pay It Forward” fund that gives small and mid-scale tour teams free specialist mental health support, aiming to cover occupational health costs that big-budget productions can afford. New Music Release Tease: Steven Wilson has launched a “Requiem For A Village” website and shared a trailer for his next studio album, with Dr. Who actor David Tennant narrating. Major Anniversary Tour: Stevie Wonder announces a worldwide 50th anniversary run for Songs in the Key of Life, starting Oct. 13 in Birmingham and running through Europe, the UK and North America. Live Music Business: Teddy Riley plans to open a Virginia Beach nonprofit performing arts academy, with training spanning music genres plus the business side of music and video production. Global Music Awards Push: Ghanaian producer Obofour Raphael submits his album Adom Akyedeɛ and singles for multiple 2027 Grammy categories. Local Scene Momentum: The Caddo Kats score eight Josie Music Awards nominations ahead of the Sept. 20 Nashville ceremony.

AI & Celebrity Culture: Dolly Parton’s sister Stella Parton is urging fans to stop “fake AI garbage” tributes after Dolly’s death, saying the flood of insensitive posts has been “challenging to absorb” and asking for more compassion and respect. Zimbabwe Music Economy: A Zimbabwean artist’s complaint about performers allegedly cloning her style and persona has sparked a wider debate about where homage ends and commercial identity theft begins, with a separate wedding booking clash showing how fast these disputes can spill into real-world gigs. Live Music Tourism: Busan’s Star Sea Night Music Camp-Picnic drew 4,900 visitors in its opening weekend, blending live sets, food and a camping vibe to push after-dark tourism. Local Business & Music: Royse City’s chamber held its second Small Business Summit, spotlighting projects including “Music on Main” as the city plans more growth. Tech in Entertainment: EA Sports is using generative AI voiceover for NHL 27 commentators, with a pro noting it can mislabel details but still sounds convincing. Industry Calendar: AACTA Festival confirmed 2027 Gold Coast dates (Feb 3–7), expanding its awards and industry programming.

AI & Culture: A new debate is heating up around AI-generated music and cultural preservation, with writers warning that replacing traditional voices and instruments (like Balochi music’s tamburag and other folk traditions) risks erasing identity. K-Pop Releases: Jeon Soyeon (i-dle) drops her first full-length solo album “What a Wonderful Life” on Sept. 7, while NiziU gears up for its first Korean mini-album “Sour Grapes” on Sept. 28 and ZEROBASEONE’s Sung Han Bin prepares a solo debut on Oct. 12. Live Music & Community: Wizkid headlines the final night of Afro Plus Fest in Maryland, marking 15 years since “Holla at Your Boy,” and Knoxville honors Dolly Parton with a parade and giant puppets. Industry Business: Physical media keeps climbing—CD and vinyl sales surged in H1 2026—while Google’s Lyria 3.5 rollout keeps pushing the AI music conversation into the mainstream. Touring: Folk-pop breakout Faheem Abdullah announces his first India tour, “The Unbecoming Tour,” across six cities in late 2026. Local Scene: Powerleague opens new padel courts in Gateshead with a £1.1m investment, showing how sports-and-entertainment venues keep expanding.

Live Music & Festivals: Seismic Dance Event, Fabrika Festival and ADE-adjacent lineups keep expanding, with Seismic adding SPFDJ, ØTTA, Chris Liebing and more for Nov. 13–15 in Austin, while Fabrika’s 2026 wave two brings names like Miller and Gojnea76. New Releases: Saoirse drops tech-house single “Boombox,” and Holly Lester follows with EP “Open Your Mind.” Country Radio Buzz: Taylor Swift’s “I Knew It, I Knew You” jumps to No. 1 on Mediabase after a Saturday surge tied to radio appearances that some fans say were misrepresented. Physical Media Comeback: RIAA mid-year data shows CDs up 45.7% in volume and vinyl also rising, reinforcing the physical rebound. Music Industry Business: TBWA\Media Arts Lab hires Google music supervisor Anh Do as its first global head of music, aiming to pull music teams into creative earlier. AI & Streaming Backlash: Naver shuts down music streaming VIBE at year-end, citing weak traction as it doubles down on AI and live-streaming. Community Culture: RiNo Art District’s Art RiNo Festival returns Oct. 2–4 with live mural painting, food and music.

AI & Copyright: Google’s Lyria 3.5 is rolling out across Gemini users as the music world keeps pushing back on AI-generated tracks and training practices, while major labels and creators continue legal pressure over alleged copying. Artist Releases: Independent pop newcomer Tina Win readies her EP She Knows for Sept. 9, leaning into self-ownership and emotional honesty. Live Music & Venues: A Glenside, Pa. bowling-alley-to-micro-mall conversion is adding a record store and planning a music venue, showing how brick-and-mortar is reinventing itself with experiences. Local Scenes: Waunakee, Wis. is turning shopping into live-music culture with Piggly Wiggly concerts backed by the Create Waunakee nonprofit. Music Business: Apple’s Sept. 9 event will be the first without Tim Cook, with analysts watching for AI-era product direction. Controversy: India’s Mirzapur: The Movie faces backlash after a Rajasthan artist claims a song was used without permission or credit.

Pop Culture Milestone: Lea Salonga became the first Filipino to earn a Hollywood Walk of Fame star, celebrated by Broadway peers including Darren Criss, Brandy, and Ming-Na Wen. AI & Streaming Policy: YouTube Music’s AI labeling is still murky, while Tidal is clearer—AI tracks must be labeled and can’t be monetized, and platforms are tightening how AI-made music shows up in libraries and recommendations. Country Music & Legacy: Jane Fonda teared up in tribute to Dolly Parton, calling her “love” and recalling Parton’s careful, fan-first kindness. Music Business & Copyright: Google is pushing its Lyria 3.5 AI music model into Gemini as the industry keeps fighting over copyright and AI training—while Anthropic’s Claude adds stricter rules around reproducing lyrics. Live Music on the Ground: Gulfport’s GeckoFest returns with free live music and street performers, and MTSU’s Blue Zoo Bash kicks off home opener festivities with live entertainment. Controversy Watch: Ye’s Chicago homecoming at Soldier Field leaned into hits and collaborators, while the broader Ye conversation remains tied to his past.