AGP Executive Report

Copyright Policy: The U.S. Copyright Office is set to raise registration fees nearly 43% this November, with rights holders urged to use Cosynd bulk filing before Sept. 10 to lock in current rates. AI & Music Rights: Sony Music Publishing and Warner Chappell Music sue Anthropic, alleging “blatant theft” of tens of thousands of copyrighted compositions used to train Claude. Pop Culture & Philanthropy: Olivia Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain Fields has now raised $20 million for women- and girls-focused nonprofits after Melinda French Gates matches the initial $10 million. K-pop Spotlight: NCT’s 10th anniversary is turning into a citywide Seoul takeover, with a month of fountain shows, fashion-week tie-ins, and exhibitions. Music Milestones: IVE’s “I AM” hits 400M YouTube views. Local Music & Community: Pierpont’s Pioneer Picnic drew crowds with live music and family activities. Legacy Moment: Fans gather as Tupac Shakur’s Las Vegas murder trial nears its end, hoping for justice.

Tour Update: Katseye says member Sophia Laforteza will sit out the U.K. and Europe dates of the “Wildworld” tour, citing her well-being after earlier hiatus announcements. Chart Watch: Deftones’ “Around the Fur” marks a major Billboard 200 milestone, spending a full year on the chart for the first time for the band. Big-Name Fundraiser: Olivia Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain Fields festival in Irvine raised nearly €17 million, with Melinda French Gates pledging to double donations to push the total to $20 million. AI vs. Music Rights: Sony Music Publishing and Warner Chappell Music sue Anthropic over alleged large-scale copyright infringement tied to training Claude, seeking damages per work and per violation. Legacy in Motion: Dolly Parton’s posthumous surge continues, with her compilation “The Very Best Of” returning to No. 1 on the U.K. Official Album Downloads chart. Live Music: Iron Maiden returns to Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena for the North American leg of its “Run For Your Lives” tour.

Country Music Mourning: Trump ordered U.S. flags lowered for Dolly Parton after her death at 80, but the move sparked pushback—Mississippi’s mayor argued half-staff should be reserved for military and major national events. Live Tribute: The Grand Ole Opry is hosting a dedicated Dolly Parton tribute show with a star-studded lineup, streaming via Opry channels and major TV/radio partners. Pop Philanthropy: Olivia Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain Fields festival is bringing women and girls together with performances from Chappell Roan, Doechii and Bikini Kill, with $10 million going to 10 nonprofits. AI & Music Rights: Sony Music Publishing and Warner Chappell are suing Anthropic, alleging illegal torrenting and downloading of copyrighted works to train Claude. Hip-Hop Personal News: Lil Nas X shared that his mother, Tameka Hill, has died, adding that “this one’s gonna hurt.” Community Culture: A new Greater Binghamton cultural festival mixed music, food and heritage showcases for local vendors and families.

Dolly Parton Memorial Wave: Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has proposed renaming Nashville International Airport for Parton, echoing a fan petition that surged after her death and is backed by Rep. Todd Warner and Sheryl Crow. Live Music Spotlight: Ye returned to the Superdome after 13 years, drawing massive crowds chasing “old Kanye” hits. Pop Chart Watch: Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet hits a two-year milestone on the Billboard 200, while Charli xcx headlines Reading Festival with a set built around her new era. Tour & Festival Updates: The South Jersey Jazz Society announces Jazz@ThePoint (Oct. 15–17) honoring Louis Armstrong, and Bernadette Peters kicks off the Hylton Center’s 2026-27 season with Broadway and American standards. Industry & Tech: Hollywood is leaning into microdramas for phone-first viewing as U.S. revenue projections climb, and SoundCloud expands paid downloads on-platform. Global Music News: Shakira’s Qatar concert is canceled, and Wuxi Symphony Orchestra brings Chinese classical programming to Italian festivals.

Dolly Parton Memorial Push: Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Nashville’s airport authority are backing a plan to rename Nashville International Airport for Parton, with a Sept. 17 discussion and a petition that has surged past 155,000 signatures. Streaming Surge: Parton’s catalog is spiking fast—Luminate says U.S. audio/video streams jumped 2,458% on the day of her death, with worldwide gains also soaring. Legacy in Pop Culture: AMC Theatres will revive Parton’s big-screen appearances, including The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and Steel Magnolias, as tributes keep rolling. Festival & Tour Buzz: Rock the Country drew thousands to Marion County, while BTS ranked No. 2 on Billboard’s July concert revenue list with $102.5M from its “Arirang” tour. New Music/Events: Olivia Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain Fields festival in Irvine is set to donate $10M to women-focused nonprofits, and Charli xcx is slated to headline Reading/Leeds 2026 at Bramham Park. Local Jazz Calendar: West Orange’s 19th OSPAC Annual Jazz Festival lands Sept. 19 with a lineup spanning local ensembles and touring acts.

Dolly Parton’s Chart Shockwave: After her Aug. 25 death, Parton’s catalog surged across streaming services—Luminate data shows U.S. audio/video streams up 2,109% to 26.3M on the day, with “Jolene,” “9 to 5,” and “I Will Always Love You” climbing fast. Funeral Plans: Parton’s family says her farewell will be small and private for immediate family, with tributes continuing as flags were ordered lowered. Spotify Peak: On Spotify, she became the most-streamed artist in the U.S., and “Jolene” led songs in the country. B’Day Deluxe News: Beyoncé announced the Sept. 4 “B’Day” 20th anniversary deluxe tracklist, including new and unreleased songs plus Spanish versions. Korean Pop Expansion: LeftField Media is launching KPEX, a 3-day Korean pop culture expo at NYC’s Javits Center in May 2027. Tech & Music Business: Apple TV is raising its U.S. streaming price effective immediately. Safety Alert: The Netherlands’ Trimbos Institute issued a “Red Alert” over ecstasy pills shaped like Trump’s head, warning of PMMA-related overdose risk. Weather Tie-In: Tropical Storm Dolly was downgraded to an open tropical wave; forecasters say it may still bring heavy rain to the Leeward Islands.

First Amendment & Comedy: A new 1A in Action profile revisits how George Carlin pushed boundaries of free speech and where protections end. Live Music Disruption: Outer Cape Music Festival in Wellfleet loses Baha Men as visa issues derail the headliner; a local band steps in. Tour News: Bruno Mars expands “Romantic Tour” with 2027 stadium dates across Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Community Music & Philanthropy: Duluth’s Tribute Fest (Aug. 28-29) raises support for Minnesota veterans, while a Neil Diamond tribute concert benefits Meals on Wheels of Howard County (Aug. 29). Big Cultural Moment: Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library milestones and new local tributes keep rolling in, including fresh book-delivery stories from across the U.S. Tech & Music Ecosystem: SoundCloud adds on-platform support for paid downloads, aiming to let artists sell directly. Global Scene: Thai superstar TEN announces a first-ever solo U.S. showcase tour this fall.

Christian Crossover: Shekinah Grace Moyes announced “Rise As One,” a 15-track Christian pop/R&B/gospel crossover album, plus a 10-track Essential Edition. Music Film Spotlight: The LIMEHOF Music Documentary Film Festival returns Sept. 25-27 in Stony Brook with 43 films, live performances, and Q&As featuring artists from The Beatles to Foo Fighters. Chart Watch: Olivia Rodrigo’s “Drop Dead” hits No. 1 on Billboard’s Pop Airplay chart, while Dave & Tems’ “Raindance” climbs to No. 1 on Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay. Tour Updates: Kehlani cancels two 2026 dates after hospitalization for severe pain and trouble swallowing. Rock Live: Winger adds more fall 2026 reunion dates after briefly discussing retirement. Industry & Tech: Kalshi partners with The Weather Company to add odds data to forecasts via Weather Channel platforms. Pop Culture Event: KPEX, a Korean pop-culture convention, is set for May 29-31, 2027 at NYC’s Javits Center. Big Loss: Voice actor Peter Cullen, the original Optimus Prime, dies at 85.

Music Business: Jazz Pharmaceuticals upsized a private offering to $1.1B of 1.875% exchangeable senior notes due 2032, with closing expected Aug. 31. Tech & Kids Online: Meta reached an up-to-$18B settlement with states over teen social media addiction claims, adding stronger child-safety limits to Facebook and Instagram. Touring & Pop: Bruno Mars expanded “The Romantic Tour” with 26 new stadium dates across Australia, New Zealand, Asia and more, plus an extra Mexico City show. Legal/Branding: Christian metal band Demon Hunter sued Netflix and AEG Presents over alleged trademark infringement tied to “KPop Demon Hunters.” Live Events & Community: Greene County supervisors debated tighter rules on agritourism events at farm wineries and similar venues, focusing on traffic, noise and safety. Culture & Legacy: Dolly Parton’s death at 80 triggered widespread tributes, including U.S. and state flag-lowering orders and renewed attention to her Imagination Library literacy work. Fandom Expansion: BeMyFriends partnered with Vietnam’s MMusic to launch “mfan,” expanding its fandom platform into the Vietnamese market.

Music Tech & Artist Revenue: SoundCloud launched a beta for on-platform support for paid downloads, starting with about 200 U.S. creators, saying artists will keep 100% of each sale (minus standard fees and taxes). Legal & Culture Wars: A federal judge again struck down Texas’ drag-performance restriction, saying the law is unconstitutionally vague and could sweep in mainstream performances. National Spotlight on Country: Dolly Parton died at 80 after a brief battle with cancer, triggering flags lowered nationwide and a flood of tributes; her Imagination Library has gifted more than 330 million books. Pop Culture Loss: Tim Curry, the “Rocky Horror Picture Show” star, died at 80. Local Arts: Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra announced its 2026-27 chamber music series lineup. Local Music Scene: Vero Beach’s “The Guitar ER” highlighted as a specialized guitar repair stop for local players. Community & Travel: West Virginia’s vacation guide won a U.S. Travel ESTO award for print marketing.

Country Music Loss: Dolly Parton died at 80 after a brief battle with cancer, leaving a legacy that spans chart-topping hits like “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You,” major film work, and philanthropy through the Imagination Library, which has mailed hundreds of millions of books to children. National Mourning: Governors and officials across the U.S. ordered flags lowered for Parton, including Utah, West Virginia, North Carolina, and others, with tributes pouring in from fans and celebrities. Local Music & Community: Christian duo Caleb & John will headline a Contemporary Christian Music night Sept. 13 at The Center for Rural Development, with People of the Earth opening. Pop Culture on the Charts: K-pop group Katseye landed four songs on Billboard Hot 100, including “Wild” hitting No. 24 and “Hootie Frutti” debuting at No. 31, after their first Billboard 200 No. 1. Live Music Spotlight: Darren Hayes was honored at Australia’s Music In The House gala, celebrating his community impact and “Truly Madly Deeply” success.

Classic Album Spotlight: Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black is getting a lavish 20th-anniversary reissue this fall, including the original album, B-sides, demos, a 2007 live recording, and new liner notes from Mark Ronson and Salaam Remi. Live Music Tech: FENIX360 is rolling out “Streaming Reimagined,” debuting direct-to-fan streaming events via its app and partner integrations with Gaana, starting with launches in New York and Mumbai. New Music Return: Shudder to Think announces its first brand-new songs in nearly 30 years—Who Sent You?, a three-song mini EP due Sept. 11. Festival Buzz: Reading & Leeds Festival unveils a revamped 2026 lineup and site upgrades, aiming to deliver a more polished experience for Gen Z. Touring/Legacy: AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” is back on U.K. sales charts, proving the catalog still sells like it’s new. Controversy Watch: A resurfaced defense by Texas House hopeful Bobby Pulido reignites debate over a graphic Gerardo Ortiz music video.

AI & Charts: Australia’s ARIA will bar wholly AI-generated tracks from its charts starting Aug. 31, while AI-assisted recordings stay eligible under “substantially human-made” rules. Music Law: The American Federation of Musicians has voluntarily dropped its case against Warner Music Group “without prejudice,” while AI licensing and a possible new labor pact remain in play. Streaming & AI Training: Twitch and Amazon face a proposed class action from a Connecticut streamer alleging their content was scraped to train Amazon AI without proper notice or pay. Pop Culture Meets Politics: Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker proclaimed Aug. 27-28 as “BTS Day” ahead of BTS’ Soldier Field shows in Chicago. Tour Spotlight: Megan Moroney closed her “Cloud 9” U.S. run with sold-out Nashville dates featuring Dan + Shay, Lady A, and Kenny Chesney. Live Music Calendar: Thee Sacred Souls return to San Diego for a homecoming show at Petco Park on Aug. 28. Industry/Business: Sony Music and DSW reached a settlement in principle in a copyright case over music used in social media ads. Tech/Privacy: TikTok agreed to a $400M children’s privacy settlement with the U.S. Justice Department.

Pop Culture Momentum: Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris” keeps stacking streams nearly 30 years after release, proving the hit is still finding new listeners. Chart Watch: Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” ties the Hot 100 record for the longest No. 1 run among non-holiday songs with a 19-week stay. R&B Spotlight: Usher and Chris Brown’s “The R&B Tour” delivered a polished, high-energy reminder of why both remain top-tier despite controversy. New Music: beabadoobee drops “Memories,” a bright-yet-bitter preview of her September album Pylon, and teases a major North America/UK/Europe tour. Industry & Tech: TikTok agreed to pay $400M to settle U.S. children’s privacy claims, with DOJ saying the deal resolves alleged Kids Mode bypasses. Live Music Access: “Hadestown: The Musical” gets a pro-shot streaming release, bringing the Tony-winning stage hit to more viewers. Global J-Pop Push: Cloud Nine’s Takuya Chigira explains why Zipangu is built to help Japanese artists break abroad. Local Music Economy: Austin nonprofit HAAM expands health-insurance support for working musicians.

Billboard Charts: Katseye’s “Wild” debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, topping the U.S. albums chart with 170,000 equivalent units, while also landing at No. 2 in the U.K. K-pop Pop Culture: The win marks Katseye’s first U.S. No. 1 since debut and adds to a short list of K-pop girl groups leading the Billboard 200 since 2020. Live Music Business: Australian promoter Fuzzy rebrands under a unified name for its 30th anniversary, signaling a fresh push across festivals and touring. Local Community Music: Williamson County Community Band celebrates 25 years, with a pop-music concert planned Aug. 27 in Bicentennial Park. Streaming & Creator Rights: Twitch faces a new class-action lawsuit accusing Amazon of using streamer content to train generative AI, after creators learned about an opt-out setting. Disaster Relief via Musicians: In Ocean View, Hawaii, a community hub is feeding storm victims and volunteers are using helicopters to deliver supplies. Tour News: The Wallflowers announce their first-ever Australian tour, performing “Bringing Down the Horse” in full.

New Orleans Music Economy: A local music veteran argues the city should invest more in independent venues and capture the economic value they already generate, citing major output and job numbers from the live-music sector. Austin Music Health Access: A nonprofit in Austin is helping musicians afford insurance through ACA premium subsidies, keeping working artists covered as costs rise. Community + Metal for a Cause: Louisville’s “Periods are Metal AF” blends heavy metal and local art to fight period poverty, with organizers pushing for tax relief on menstrual products. Rock Star Retirement: Drummer Chris Slade (AC/DC, David Gilmour) announced he’s retiring from touring and recording after health setbacks. Live Music Infrastructure: A report highlights how public investment in independent venues can strengthen the broader U.S. music economy. Puerto Rico Tour Backlash: Bad Bunny faced criticism after telling fans he couldn’t bring water or electricity during the island’s drought and rationing crisis. Indie/Community Programming: U-M Musical Society launches a biannual Ypsilanti Freighthouse residency with free and pay-what-you-wish events. Tour Bus Tragedy: Buckcherry’s tour bus was involved in a fatal multi-vehicle crash in South Carolina; the band says everyone aboard was unharmed. Music in Court: Lil Durk’s murder-for-hire trial is set to lean on rap lyrics and video as prosecutors argue they show intent.