AGP Executive Report

Roc Nation Deal: Jackson Wang has signed with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, releasing “Thank You” as his first single since the move and continuing his post-GOT7 solo momentum. Music Policy Push: Rep. Maxwell Frost used a panel with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis to argue for more federal support for artists, backing his CREATE Art Act to fund instruments and studio time. Tour Health Update: Lionel Richie is pausing his tour after a heart procedure for atrial fibrillation, with dates in San Francisco, Columbus and Chicago still listed for late September/early October. Big-Stage Honors: George Michael will be honored at the 2026 MTV VMAs with performances from Raye, Sombr and Teddy Swims, plus a live album and film tied to “The Faith Tour.” Pop Chart Record: Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” extends its Hot 100 reign to 23 weeks at No. 1, surpassing Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” Brand Meets Boy Band: Gap’s “fashiontainment” platform is partnering with Just Your Type for a documentary series, mall fan activations and a fall capsule collection. Local Live Music: Heart Theatre brings “The Walking Tenor” Jesús Daniel Hernández to Whitefish, Montana for a free concert Sept. 26.

Major Label Move: Jackson Wang has signed with Roc Nation, releasing “Thank You” as his first drop since the deal, following his GOT7-to-solo breakout and Billboard 200 milestone. Pop & Culture: Taylor Swift will become the most awarded artist in MTV VMA history with a new “Artist Director Honors” prize at the Sept. 27 ceremony. Touring & Tickets: Metallica announced 2027 North American “M72” stadium dates, with presales starting Sept. 21 and general onsale Sept. 25. K-Pop Spotlight: NCT 127 kicked off its 10th-anniversary “Neo City: The Redline” tour with sold-out Seoul shows and livestreams. Music Meets Community: J. Cole’s Dreamville Ventures brought an art-and-healing workshop to Fayetteville State University students tied to his “The Fall Off” tour. Classical & Global Repertoire: “Secrets of Armenia” will tour Australia and New Zealand in November 2026, spotlighting rare Armenian classical works. Local Live Music: Florida Georgia Line confirmed 2027 festival dates for “Anything Goes Again.”

MTV VMAs: Taylor Swift will receive the inaugural “Artist Director Honors” at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards on Sept. 27, pushing her to 31 VMA wins and making her the most decorated artist in the show’s history. Touring & Tickets: Metallica announced a 2027 resumption of the M72 World Tour with 12 North American stadium dates, plus multiple presales tied to fan clubs and Spotify Premium. Pop Culture Meets Retail: Garth Brooks will unveil a vinyl edition of “Double Live” via a Walmart Live event tonight, with the vinyl release hitting stores Nov. 6. Music Meets Politics: Ed Sheeran opened his Philadelphia show addressing the Gaza controversy and the fallout from Macklemore’s removal, as protests and backlash continued. K-pop/International: Red Velvet’s Irene and Seulgi kicked off their Japan-dedicated “Cheetah” tour, debuting the mini-album’s tracks live. Metal News: Ozzfest teased a return to both the U.K. and the U.S. for 2027.

AI & Copyright: Japan’s book publishers association is demanding answers from distributor Nippan Group over suspected bulk sales of books to Anthropic for AI learning, raising questions about consent and legal rationale. Pop Culture & Politics: Ed Sheeran apologized in tears at a Philadelphia show after the Macklemore “Free Palestine” controversy led to his removal from the Loop Tour and prompted other opening acts to drop out. Music Tech & Royalties: Korea’s KOMCA is still catching up as an AI-assisted track (“Forest of the Heart,” made with Suno) briefly hit Melon’s charts, exposing gaps in rules for authorship and payouts. Streaming & Discovery: Spotify is rolling out “Fresh Finds Forward” to back emerging independent musicians, while Suno’s AI model keeps expanding label-backed support. Live Music & Community: A Navy Entertainment concert featuring country artist Brett Young marked a morale stop as USS Abraham Lincoln left Guam. Legacy Releases: Rhino is issuing limited premium reel-to-reel editions of Black Sabbath’s first two albums, timed with Ozzy Osbourne’s enduring legacy. Tour News: Suki Waterhouse announced Australian Loveland Tour dates for December.

Ed Sheeran Fallout: Sheeran opened his Philadelphia solo show with a direct Gaza address, calling the situation “catastrophic and unjustifiable,” apologizing for “mistakes,” and warning he’s worried about venues pre-approving content—after Macklemore’s removal sparked protests and backlash. Pop Culture Satire: “SNL UK” mocked Sheeran in a cold open tied to the Macklemore controversy, leaning into the idea of taking sides (or refusing to). Live Music Attendance: Reports around the same Philadelphia run included empty-seat chatter and heavy security as protests continued outside the venue. Country Music Spotlight: The CCMA wrapped a weekend of country celebrations in Saskatoon, with local events and awards highlighting Canada’s next wave of talent. Classical & Roots Touring: Punch Brothers announced a new all-instrumental album era, bringing their latest project to UC San Diego’s La Jolla Amphitheater. Community Music Education: Seattle’s Jazz Night School launched “Beginning Instruments for Adults,” aiming to close the access gap for adult learners using jazz-based training. International Music Scene: Haitian-American artist ZAMA is set for a high-profile Hï Ibiza performance with Francis Mercier, building on the “U&I” collaboration.

Tour Fallout in Pop: Ed Sheeran returned to the stage in Philadelphia after Macklemore was dropped from his Loop Tour over pro-Palestinian remarks, with Sheeran apologizing for “making mistakes,” saying he’s “never wanted to be an activist musician,” but calling Gaza “catastrophic and unjustifiable” and warning against venues pre-approving content; multiple support acts withdrew, leaving the show largely solo amid protests and reports of empty seats. Festival & Health: Papa Roach canceled its Louder Than Life set after bassist Tobin Esperance faced an unexpected medical emergency, with the band saying his health comes first and promising a return in November. Country Music Spotlight: CCMA’s 50th anniversary country celebration wrapped in Saskatoon, featuring live performances, songwriter showcases, and CCMA Legends events across the weekend. Local Community Music: A Walk for Alopecia is set for Sept. 26 in Winchester, highlighting hair-loss awareness through a music-and-community event. Industry/Streaming Buzz: Spotify added Taylor Swift’s full music video catalog to its platform, extending its push into video-first music discovery.

Tour Fallout: Dropkick Murphys’ Ken Casey says Ed Sheeran “doesn’t sit right” after Macklemore was dropped from Sheeran’s Loop Tour over pro-Palestinian comments, arguing artists should choose their touring “family” and promoters shouldn’t control onstage speech. Live Music & Culture: At AmericanaFest’s Queer Roots, Jaimee Harris and Mary Gauthier spotlight queer storytelling in roots music at Nashville’s Lipstick Lounge. AI Music Legal Fight: Sony and Universal sue Suno over its label-backed AI model, arguing it still trained on unauthorized material via outputs from earlier models. Pop Spotlight: Tinashe says her upcoming album “Popstar” is drawing unusually intense attention and pressure as release nears. Industry/Tech: Spotify backs emerging indie artists through its “Fresh Finds Forward” program. Arts Under Pressure: More than 2,000 rally at the Kennedy Center in a “human chain” protest against Trump threats to close or demolish the venue. Minaj Politics: Nicki Minaj doubles down on support for Trump, telling critics she has “absolutely nothing” to say.

Tour Fallout: Ed Sheeran is set to resume his U.S. “Loop” tour Saturday in Philadelphia, possibly solo, after multiple supporting acts withdrew in solidarity with Macklemore, who was dropped following pro-Palestinian remarks. Local Music & Culture: Nashville’s AmericanaFest adds MT Jones at The 5 Spot, while El Paso’s Chuco Relic hosts the 915 Market with live music and local vendors. Festival Updates: Papa Roach cancels its Louder Than Life set after bassist Tobin Esperance faces a health emergency. Pop & Awards: BTS and rookie Cortis each score a third MTV VMAs nomination ahead of the Sept. 27 ceremony in Los Angeles. Community Spotlight: Puerto Rican Bomba and Plena classes expand in Central Florida through the Escuela de Bomba y Plena Tata Cepeda in Kissimmee. Sports-Adjacent Music: “Dancing with the Stars” kicks off its 35th season with early eliminations and a new pro lineup.

Supreme Court Copyright Ruling: In Cox Communications v. Sony Music, the Court narrowed when general-purpose online services can be hit with contributory copyright liability, saying repeat infringing customers and notice alone don’t prove the provider intended misuse—pushing platforms to tighten policies and response practices. Music & Culture: Tony- and Grammy-winning composer Duncan Sheik, best known for Spring Awakening, died at 56. Live Music & Touring: Gorillaz kicked off their U.S. “The Mountain” tour in Orlando, blending live musicians with the animated band’s political, genre-hopping style. Pop Music Politics: Zara Larsson condemned the White House for using her “Midnight Sun” in an ICE deportation promo. Local Scenes: The Grace Church Concert Series in Virginia opens Oct. 16 with Voces8, and Yachtley Crew brings its “Seas The Night” yacht rock set to the Lied Center Friday. Community Festivals: Geneva’s Latino Festival returns this weekend for its 15th anniversary.

Live Music & Touring: Death Cab for Cutie announced 2027 U.S. tour dates including New Orleans for its new album, “I Built You A Tower,” with Swapmeet opening. Music Industry/Tech: Spotify rolled out “Fresh Finds Forward” to back emerging indie artists, while Google’s Pixel “Now Playing” update reintroduces recognized-music notifications and adds easier favorites/history access. Major Loss: Rosalind Ashford, the soprano behind Martha and the Vandellas’ “Dancing in the Street” and “Heat Wave,” died at 83. Concert Business: Ticketmaster’s new global president pushed back on claims venues lack ticketing options, saying renewals are competitive and contracts are scrutinized. Pop Culture/Politics: The Ed Sheeran–Macklemore “Loop Tour” fallout kept escalating, with U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee attacking Macklemore over antisemitism and renewed debate over what venues will allow. Local Culture: Hans Zimmer announced “Zimmer Live - The Next Level” North American dates starting Feb. 2027, including Orlando.

Ed Sheeran vs. Macklemore Fallout: Macklemore was removed from Sheeran’s U.S. Loop Tour after a “Free Palestine” speech, with Sheeran and others pointing to venue/promoter pressure—sparking support, backlash, and new pledges tied to Palestinian groups. Industry & Community Music Moves: Death Cab for Cutie added early-2027 North American dates for I Built You a Tower, while Death Cab’s “Stone Over Water” video drops alongside the tour expansion. Big-Stage Pop: Harry Styles’ Madison Square Garden residency is turning into a full New York weekend, with fans boosting nearby New Jersey lodging and hotels tailoring experiences. Latin Heritage Media: HITN premieres El Sueño Americano, a Spanish-language special of Amerigo: The Search for the American Dream, timed for Hispanic Heritage Month. Local Live Music Calendar: Arkansas State Fair returns Oct. 16–25 with more rides and local talent on the Main Stage, plus new attractions in the Hiland Dairy Fun Zone. Classical Leadership: Gustavo Dudamel takes over as music director of the New York Philharmonic, bringing fresh energy to the orchestra’s next era. Box Office/Screen Crossover: Paramount premiered Brad Pitt’s Heart of the Beast at FirstBank Amphitheater, blending film buzz with live music-area attention.

Streaming & Video: Spotify rolled out all 58 of Taylor Swift’s official music videos to Premium subscribers in supported markets, with “Switch to video” syncing playback to the exact point in the song. Tour Fallout: Ed Sheeran’s U.S. “Loop Tour” keeps unraveling after Macklemore was removed over pro-Palestine remarks; multiple opening acts and even the backing band reportedly quit in solidarity, while Sheeran says the decision was made by promoters/venues. Celebrity Philanthropy: Patriots owner Robert Kraft pledged $2 million for humanitarian aid “in the region,” after Macklemore said he’d donate $1 million from tour earnings and challenged Kraft to match. Music Industry Legal/AI: Jason Isbell sued a Cambridge-based AI music platform, arguing harm to his work and rights. Pop Art Loss: Psychedelic pop artist Peter Max, whose visuals shaped 1960s culture and appeared on major music-adjacent projects, died at 88. Local Music Scene: Bakersfield spotlighted guitar-heavy shows in a local roundup, while New Orleans’ Biscuits & Buns opened a Maple Street location with plans for live music.

Ed Sheeran Tour Fallout: Ticketmaster says thousands of seats remain for the rest of Sheeran’s Loop Tour as support acts and band members quit after Macklemore was removed over pro-Palestine remarks, sparking refund questions and renewed debate over who controls concert lineups. Stadium Rock News: Metallica adds more 2027 North American dates to the M72 World Tour, including June 8 at Highmark Stadium, with presales starting Sept. 21. Pop Tour Update: Hilary Duff’s Lucky Me U.K. run ends with “2027 more dates loading,” plus a Canada/US-facing schedule teased for early 2027. Streaming/Podcast Business: Amazon Music expands video podcasts via new publisher deals and rolls the format out beyond the U.S. to Canada, the U.K., Mexico, Brazil and Japan. Local Music & Community: Vermont’s Make-A-Wish chapters announce Oteil Burbridge and LaMP for the Wish Benefit Tour 2026 across Saratoga Springs, Burlington, Brooklyn and Somerville. Culture Spotlight: Sara Bareilles brings her grief-forward Good Grief era to Toronto’s Massey Hall, mixing new songs with hits.

Tour Fallout: Ed Sheeran’s North and South America run is unraveling after Macklemore was dropped for pro-Palestinian remarks, with four supporting acts (including Finneas, Lukas Graham, Beoga and Aaron Rowe) quitting in solidarity and Sheeran saying the promoter made the call. Performing Arts Politics: The Kennedy Center board voted to close the venue for renovations after a judge blocked adding Trump’s name, with Trump threatening to keep it shut unless higher courts allow the change. Local Music & Community: Middletown Springs volunteers moved the town library “one book at a time,” with music and kids helping ahead of a Sept. 20 reopening. Live Music Calendar: The Newton Theatre announced Puss N Boots (Norah Jones, Sasha Dobson, Catherine Popper) for Nov. 8, 2026, with tickets starting at $58. Native Culture: The Chumash Intertribal Powwow returns Oct. 3-4 in Santa Ynez with drumming, dancing and traditional food.

Tour Fallout: Ed Sheeran says dropping Macklemore from the U.S. Loop Tour “was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine,” after Macklemore’s onstage “Free Palestine” remarks triggered venue backlash and a Kraft-linked push to remove him. Local Response: Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud invited Macklemore to play a free, city-sponsored concert in Michigan if stadiums won’t book him. Legal/Arts Governance: A federal judge blocked efforts to add Trump’s name back onto the Kennedy Center exterior, while the Kennedy Center board prepares a vote on the venue’s future. Live Music Calendar: Kenny Chesney announced his 2027 “Original Vibe Room Tour” with 19 stadium dates, starting April 24 in Tampa and running through Aug. 28 at Gillette Stadium. Broadway: “& Juliet” will end its Broadway run Jan. 3, with “Annie” set to return in fall 2027 for its 50th anniversary. AI Music Rights: SOCAN sued Suno in Canada over alleged near-copies of Canadian songs, raising fresh questions about how American AI tools affect artists north of the border.

Macklemore Fallout: Macklemore says he’s been dropped from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour after pro-Palestinian remarks at MetLife Stadium; venues told the promoter they won’t host the lineup, and Sheeran’s team removed him from remaining U.S. support dates. Orchestra Contract: Philadelphia Orchestra musicians reached a tentative three-year labor deal that would lift the base minimum salary to $200,008 by the end of the contract, with a ratification vote set to begin Wednesday. Live Music Education: At Grammy U’s Unwrapped in Los Angeles, Charlie Puth and Jimmy Jam walked aspiring pros through Puth’s creative process and “Whatever’s Clever!” track-by-track. Festival Focus: Austin Emerging Arts Leaders’ VISIONARIES 2026 showcase highlighted young local artists through a mentorship program and multi-disciplinary performances. Classical Season Preview: Classics Northwest kicked off its 2026-27 season with concerts at Barrister Winery, emphasizing collaboration as it maps its next chapter. Industry Integrity: IFPI launched a Streaming Integrity Initiative to curb streaming fraud, asking participating companies to adopt baseline anti-fraud practices. Tech for Concerts: Samsung and Verizon reported a successful 6G field trial using integrated sensing to map crowd density in real time—aimed at events like sports and concerts.