AGP Executive Report

Global Breakthrough: Ayra Starr became the first African artist to headline an NFL International Games halftime show, performing in London on Sunday. U.S. Access: Popcaan secured a U.S. visa, opening the door to American performances; no dates have been announced. Live Business: Powderfinger confirmed an 18-date Australian reunion tour for 2027, with presales starting this week and general sales on October 19. Platform Rights: DistroKid confirmed it removed tracks following UMG claims, as affected artists dispute the takedowns. Streaming Fraud: A U.S. man was sentenced to prison and ordered to forfeit more than $8 million after using AI-generated tracks and automated accounts to inflate streams and divert royalties. Artist Ventures: Gunna launched SB THE LABEL in partnership with Warner’s Atlantic Music Group. Chart Milestone: Taylor Swift became the first solo artist to spend 100 weeks atop the Billboard 200.

Touring: Powderfinger will return for an 18-date Australian reunion tour in 2027, staged in a travelling big top across six cities. Nickelback has also announced a seven-date Australian run with Don Broco. Safety and Cancellations: Ella Langley defended canceling her sold-out Tulsa show after a reported security threat, saying audience safety came first, though police said they found no credible threat. Usher and Chris Brown have canceled several stadium dates on their joint tour. Industry: DistroKid confirmed removing tracks over claims connected to Universal Music Group, as artists challenge the takedowns. Global Reach: Ayra Starr is set to become the first African artist to headline an NFL halftime show, while BTS drew 155,000 fans to its first concerts in Peru. Artist Health: Journey drummer Deen Castronovo thanked fans after a medical emergency interrupted a Tulsa concert; he rejoined the band two days later.

Artist Funding: New York City is doubling its maximum grants for artists and small nonprofits to $10,000, the first increase in nearly 20 years. Live Music: U2 marked its 50th anniversary with two free gigs in Dublin. BTS drew about 151,500 fans to three Lima shows, with Peru projecting $19 million in tourism benefits. Concert Safety: Ella Langley defended canceling her Tulsa show after a reported bomb threat, saying fan and crew safety came first; police found no initial indication of a threat. Charts & Releases: LE SSERAFIM’s “Made My Night” topped Japan’s Oricon daily singles chart, while Cardi B’s new track “Don’t Chart” joins the upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI album. Afrobeats: Victor AD apologized to Tiwa Savage over an unreleased “Wetin We Gain” remix she contributed to, and Ghanaian singer Sista Afia is seeking a Stonebwoy feature on “BOSSIT.”

Live Moment: The Weeknd reunited with BLACKPINK’s Jennie in Seoul for the first live performance of their 2023 hit “One of the Girls.” Health Setbacks: Barry Manilow canceled two Las Vegas shows after developing bronchitis, days after returning from a six-week break; Dermot Kennedy has also postponed the rest of his U.S. tour to protect his voice. Streaming Dispute: DistroKid says it has removed songs in response to UMG’s lawsuit alleging an “AI-slop pipeline.” Artists say legitimate tracks were caught in the takedowns, some without warning. Tour Fallout: Ed Sheeran has added new openers after dropping Macklemore following the rapper’s pro-Palestinian remarks and performances. Former Black Midi frontman Geordie Greep, who denies rape and describes the incident behind allegations against him as a misunderstanding, has canceled U.S. dates. Industry Pay: Lance Bass says *NSYNC members received just $35 a day and a first check of about $10,000 despite the group’s hit records and sold-out tours.

Touring & Ticketing: Charlie Puth says Manila is the only stop on his Asia tour that hasn’t sold out; fans point to ticket costs and low awareness ahead of the Oct. 14 show. Ella Langley canceled her Tulsa concert over a reported threat, though police said they found no credible danger. Usher and Chris Brown’s stadium dates in Columbia, Baltimore, Cincinnati and Indianapolis have also been canceled, with no public reason given. Live Music: Ayra Starr will become the first African artist to perform at halftime of an international NFL game, taking the stage in London on Sunday. Ed Sheeran has named new Loop Tour openers after earlier acts withdrew amid controversy over Macklemore. Tour Plans & Releases: Nickelback has announced a 2027 world tour with Don Broco supporting on many dates, alongside a new album due this month. Record Store Day’s Black Friday list includes more than 150 exclusives, arriving Nov. 27. Charts & Awards: Olivia Dean’s The Art of Loving returns to No. 1 in Australia as her tour gets underway. At the Filipino Music Awards, BINI won Artist and Tour of the Year, SB19 took Concert of the Year, and Maki’s KOLORCOASTER won Album of the Year.

Touring & Ticket Demand: Charlie Puth says Manila is the only unsold stop on his Asia run; fans point to ticket costs and limited awareness ahead of the Oct. 14 show. New Music: Chilean hitmaker FloyyMenor has released Off The Planet, a three-track EP rooted in his home scene. Live Safety: Ella Langley canceled her Tulsa concert over a reported security threat; police later said they found no credible danger. Select Usher and Chris Brown dates were also canceled, with the promoter citing the strain on touring crews and the need to continue safely. Global Tours: Nickelback has announced a 2027 world tour with Don Broco, alongside an album due Oct. 30. Def Leppard will take Goo Goo Dolls and The Struts on a 45-date North American run, donating $1 per ticket to cancer research. Reunions: Former Menudo members have launched a 50th-anniversary tour, while Australian rock band Powderfinger has confirmed its first tour in 16 years for 2027. Music & Technology: Queen guitarist Brian May has cooled on an avatar-based show, citing the AI required and its wider environmental and ethical costs.

Global Touring: Nickelback will take its “Everything Under The Sun” tour across North America, Europe and Australia in 2027, with Don Broco supporting; the band’s 11th album arrives Oct. 30. Band Milestone: Judas Priest bassist Ian Hill is retiring after more than 55 years, citing advanced arthritis. Uriah Heep’s Davey Rimmer, who filled in during the European tour, will take his place. Tour Changes: Música Mexicana stars Tito Double P and Natanael Cano have suspended remaining Mexico dates; Cano cited his health, while Tito’s team gave no specific reason. Support Shake-Up: Ed Sheeran has named Isaac Slade and Brooks Rosser as new US tour openers after several acts withdrew following Macklemore’s removal from the bill. Reunion News: Australian rock band Powderfinger will reunite for a 2027 tour, 16 years after its farewell. Awards: Tyla earned a Soul Train nomination for “Chanel,” in a category opening to public voting for the first time.

Live Concerts: Journey’s Tulsa show resumed with a drum tech after drummer Deen Castronovo was taken to hospital; no update on his condition was reported. In South Korea, JENNIE joined The Weeknd for the first live performance of their hit “One of the Girls,” during a two-night run that sold about 108,000 tickets. Tour News: Australian rock band Powderfinger confirmed a 2027 reunion tour, 16 years after splitting. Def Leppard will take a 45-show North American tour with Goo Goo Dolls and The Struts on the road next year. Music Business: Live Nation faces class-action lawsuits over a data breach involving customers’ Social Security numbers and health records. Kakao Entertainment and Warner’s Atlantic Music Group also struck a partnership to develop K-pop artists from early in their careers. Artist Partnerships: Apple Music and UMG-backed Sollos launched 151 re-engineered tracks by artists including Olivia Dean, Sam Smith and Shawn Mendes, aimed at focus, relaxation and sleep.**

Electronic Music: Ukrainian DJ KOROLOVA reached No. 36 in DJ Mag’s Top 100, the highest position ever for a Ukrainian artist. New Music: Tate McRae will release “Housewife” on Friday, her first new song since 2025’s So Close to What. Taylor Swift’s “Cleveland!” debuted at No. 3 on the Hot 100, with three more of her tracks also in the top five. Live Business: Suno hired former Ticketmaster executive Michael Chua to lead its live division and oversee Songkick, aiming to connect artists and fans and improve concert recommendations. Global Deals: Kakao Entertainment and Atlantic Music Group have formed a partnership to develop K-pop artists from early in their careers. Concerts on Screen: Stray Kids’ Tokyo Dome show will be screened in cinemas worldwide, while Shakira’s Madrid concert livestream set an Amazon Music record.

K-pop’s India Push: HYBE will bring its Weversecon festival to New Delhi on March 27–28, pairing K-pop acts with Indian artists as the company looks to build a local music hub. New Releases: (G)I-DLE’s Yuqi returns with a self-written, six-track Chinese-language solo EP, while Kacey Musgraves has released a Spanish version of “Uncertain, TX” with Tejano group Intocable. Artist Partnerships: Kakao Entertainment and Warner’s Atlantic Music Group plan to develop K-pop artists from the earliest stages. Live Comebacks: Aerosmith will return for two Hollywood Bowl shows with an all-star guest lineup, more than two years after ending its tour plans over Steven Tyler’s vocal injury. Streaming: Spotify is expanding its Music Quiz to more than 2,000 artists for Premium users in 11 countries. Industry Crime: Michael Smith, convicted of an $8 million AI-generated song and bot-streaming fraud, was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Global Touring: BTS’s Lima debut has sparked citywide celebrations, including a temporary “BTS Avenue” renaming.

Songwriting Honors: Jessie Reyez will receive SOCAN’s international achievement award, while Drake is set for his fifth straight songwriter of the year honor, recognizing the Canadian stars’ global reach. Live Music Growth: India’s live events sector grew 44% over the past year, with about 34,000 events and more than 10 million livelihoods supported; the government aims to double the industry by 2030. DJ Milestone: David Guetta has become the first artist to win DJ Mag’s No. 1 DJ poll six times. BTS in Peru: Lima has renamed a street “Avenida BTS” temporarily and lit landmarks purple ahead of the group’s first concerts in the country. Awards Season: Olivia Rodrigo has submitted “the cure” for Grammy consideration in both Song of the Year and Record of the Year. Artists and Activism: Lorde joined artists backing Macklemore after his removal from Ed Sheeran’s tour over his Palestine speech, keeping the debate over musicians’ public statements in focus.

P-pop Spotlight: SB19 was tapped to sing “Together in Motion,” the official theme for the 2026 ASEAN Summit in the Philippines, with BINI also in the ambassador spotlight. Awards Buzz: At the Filipino Music Awards, BINI led as Artist of the Year and won Tour of the Year for “Signals World Tour 2026,” while SB19 took People’s Choice wins for “VISA” and “Wakas At Simula” plus a Concert of the Year nod. Tour Updates: Olivia Rodrigo kicked off her “Unraveled” run in Connecticut with Wolf Alice opening, while Simple Plan announced a 2027 Canada tour stop in Victoria with Marianas Trench and Bowling For Soup. Live Music News: Chris Stapleton postponed a Lincoln date after a flu diagnosis, rescheduling for Oct. 26. Big-Stage Moments: Bruno Mars’ “Marry You” soundtrack played as Lakers forward Ziaire Williams proposed at SoFi Stadium. Controversy Watch: Sheila E. slammed Carson Jazz Festival organizers after a woman’s body was allegedly left in the crowd after her death. Global Hip-Hop: Kanye West’s Jakarta show pitch leaned heavily on local culture and Indonesia’s music scene.

Tour Politics & Backlash: Lorde posted a “Free Palestine” jacket callout tagging Robert Kraft after the Ed Sheeran Loop Tour controversy, where Macklemore’s pro-Palestine stance triggered opener dropouts and a Kraft-led push to bar Sheeran. Onstage Tensions: Shatta Wale threatened to slap his DJ at ShattaFest in Ho after a song switch, then kept performing. Chart Power: Taylor Swift’s “Patient Zero” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, tying Drake for the most No. 1 debuts (10 each) and lifting multiple new tracks into the top five. Live Crossover Moment: Hayley Williams brought Zedd back onstage for “Stay The Night” after reviving “Airplanes” with Rico Nasty. Industry Moves: Believe named Adriana Sein President for the Americas, overseeing U.S., Canada, and Latin America operations. New Releases & Touring: Carly Rae Jepsen announced her 2027 “Day and Night” tour, including first-ever headlining dates at the Kia Forum and Madison Square Garden. Legal/Personal Fallout: Singer David “Sky” Whatley Jr. was charged with battery after an alleged onstage slap of a woman in Georgia.

K-pop Comeback: Super Junior’s Yesung marks 10 solo years with his second Korean full-length album Where We Are, led by “Pedazos,” and lines up an eight-city Asian anniversary tour. Global Pop Push: Hearts2Hearts drops a Korean version of “Iconic Heart” after its Japanese debut, with plans to promote on Korean music shows. New Music Rollout: YG’s Babymonster announces a late-October single release (Oct. 23) and keeps the “Choom” world tour moving through Asia and Australia. Band Update: Squeeze’s Glenn Tilbrook says the next album could be “maybe our last,” while the band heads to a UK tour in November. Tour Spotlight: Matchbox Twenty announces a one-night-only 30th anniversary show at LA’s Fonda Theatre on Oct. 12. Live & Culture: San Diego’s San Diego Tijuana International Jazz Festival sizzled in Escondido, while Austin City Limits Weekend 1 leaned into indie-pop and electronic heat. Music + Politics: Country star Zach Bryan wore “Free Palestine” at Gillette Stadium, reigniting the wider Sheeran-Macklemore-Kraft controversy. Community Impact: Nigeria’s Concert for Change targets N500m for a Green Worship benefit for children with disabilities. AI & Identity: Vishnu Manchu reacts to deepfake abuse tied to a “Chuttamalle” controversy, calling for accountability without killing free expression.

Big Tours Announced: Arijit Singh is gearing up for his biggest-ever India run in 2027, hitting nine cities from January to May with stadium-scale production and 360-degree audio. Global Pop Momentum: FLO confirmed a 2027 “Therapy At The Club” tour across North America, the UK and Europe, including major arena dates like London’s OVO Wembley. Rock & Metal on the Move: Fontaines D.C. mapped out a 2027 North American tour supporting their upcoming album Dopamine Chamber, while Bad Omens revealed 2027 U.S. dates for the “Killed and Born Again” run with support acts. Live-Set Buzz: Olivia Rodrigo debuted “love is embarrassing” live for the first time on The Unraveled Tour, instantly igniting fan demand to keep it in the set. Music History Spotlight: Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love” UK single—reportedly ordered destroyed—surfaced on Antiques Roadshow. New Music Watch: Amon Amarth released The Allfather Awakens (out Oct 2), and HARDY dropped “Man In The Box,” a genre-hopping, nearly eight-minute track.

Stadium Tour Buzz: Slipknot has announced a global stadium run for summer 2027, starting at Wembley and rolling through major North American dates with Bring Me The Horizon as direct support. Chart Power: Taylor Swift’s “The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore” returns the album to No. 1 on the Billboard 200, adding four bonus tracks and extending its chart reign. Pop Culture Moment: The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards crowned Taylor Swift as the most-awarded artist in VMA history, while Madonna dominated the night with multiple wins. Live-Show Reality Check: Hundreds of young fans were reportedly turned away from Freya Skye’s Milwaukee show after ticket scanning issues tied to resale platforms left families stranded. Global Spotlight: Shakira’s Madrid concert set an Amazon Music livestream record for a female artist, with Dua Lipa joining her onstage. New Music Watch: Hardy drops “Man In The Box,” a genre-hopping, nearly eight-minute track described as his most ambitious release yet. Loss in Rock: Montreal rocker Sass Jordan has died at 65.