AGP Executive Report

Grammy Fallout: BTS says it won’t submit music for the 2027 Grammys after the Recording Academy launched a new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category—while Grammy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. insists it’s meant to expand recognition, not divide. Artist vs. Politics: Noah Kahan blasted the Trump White House for using his “American Cars” without permission; the post was pulled from Instagram, but the TikTok version reportedly stayed. Big Screen Music Moment: “Ramayana: Part 1” dropped its global trailer with music by Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Yash and Sai Pallavi ahead of a Diwali 2026 release. Live Music Calendar: Wildlands Festival 2027 announced a stacked lineup led by John Summit, Skepta, KI/KI and Disco Lines. Community Music: A Wiltshire course is offering 15–18-year-olds songwriting, vocals, production and jam sessions at the Wiltshire Music Centre. Local Scene Watch: Bournemouth’s new 200-cap venue The Underground opens Aug. 7 with Sigue Sigue Sputnik Electronic.

Grammys Drama: BTS says it won’t submit music for the 2027 Grammys, pushing back on the new “Best Asian Pop Music Performance” category and asking fans to hear the work beyond region or language. Beatles Buzz: UMG and Apple Corps are expanding Rubber Soul for Oct. 2, with newly mixed stereo and Dolby Atmos, plus unreleased session recordings and home demos. Spiritual Jazz Spotlight: Matador Records will release Alice Coltrane’s long-unavailable Ashram Tapes (four devotional albums) after decades of private distribution. New Music Watch: Former Brockhampton member Bearface returns as Ciarán with debut single “K-Bar.” Pop Lawsuit: Ariana Grande sues hackers tied to leaked unreleased music and footage, seeking to unmask the group behind the alleged 2019–2024 theft. Local Culture: New Orleans is named one of America’s most irreplaceable heritage places, spotlighting the city’s living cultural landscape. Safety Tech Meets Music City Life: Eagle County is rolling out HAAS Alert’s digital emergency-vehicle warnings to drivers via navigation apps.

Global Pop Culture: Boy George’s new pro-Israel track “We Will Dance Again” is sparking backlash after lyrics defend Israel’s Gaza war and reject claims of genocide. Film & Music Crossover: First reactions to Spider-Man: Brand New Day are flooding in, with Tom Holland’s performance and Sadie Sink’s role drawing major buzz—plus Steve Lacy’s red-carpet comments are fueling spoiler chatter. Bollywood Music Business: Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana is reportedly landing a massive Rs 75 crore T-Series audio-rights deal for both parts ahead of the July 30 trailer drop, with A.R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer involved. New Releases: Taz Waves teases his Sudan-electronic blend on “The Return Of The Unknown Traveler,” while Terry Milla drops “Forever Free” as a direct-to-fan empowerment anthem. Live Music & Community: Rhythm and Vines reveals first artists for its final Gisborne festival, and a new MINIMO Contemporary gallery/performance opens in Salt Lake City.

Legal Drama: Ariana Grande sued hackers in California, alleging years of theft and dark-web sales of her unreleased music, photos, and footage. New Music & Tours: Tom Morello announced solo album Everyone Gets Everything They Want (Sept. 25) and shared “Date Night,” while OMEGA X kicked off a 23-city U.S. run for August–September. Album Drops: Davido revealed the tracklist for ORIADÉ; Charli xcx moved on from BRAT with Music, Fashion, Film. Fan Culture: Avenged Sevenfold’s experimental STATICA EP sparked debate, with fans defending the left-field sound. Live Music & Community: Jazz at MOCA returns with Cuban flutist Magela Herrera; Red Ants Pants festival runs on hundreds of volunteers. Local Scene: Latitude Festival signed a new 20-year lease at Henham Park through 2046. Spotlight: Denise Julia addressed backlash over filming in Tondo for her “Speechless” performance video.

Ariana Grande vs. hackers: Grande has filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles accusing unidentified people of hacking accounts tied to photographers and producers, stealing unreleased masters, demos, session footage, and private photos—she claims 45 unreleased songs were hit in 2023 alone. Album drop: Kenny Chesney shared the tracklist for his fall studio album Silver Sands Marina (Sept. 25), including duets with Lily Meola, Megan Moroney, and Colbie Caillat. K-pop news: TOMORROW X TOGETHER will release their 5th Japanese single Setsuna Hanabi on Aug. 19. Live music & culture: Hip to Hip Theatre Company marks 20 years with a free park tour of As You Like It and Macbeth (July 28–Aug. 22). Local music moments: Colchester fans unveiled a new bespoke drum at their Open Day, and a Nottinghamshire pub launches “rock and roast” carvery Sundays starting Aug. 9. Health of a legend: Carly Simon says she’s been diagnosed with Parkinson’s and will release Comes in Waves in August.

Big Pop News: Miley Cyrus has signed with Atlantic Records, a major label shift after Columbia-era albums like Endless Summer Vacation and Something Beautiful. K-Pop: NCT 127 set the release date for its 10th-anniversary seventh LP BLINGY (Aug. 24), and NouerA drops its fast-return fourth EP “.exe.” Global Music & Culture: Philippines P-pop supergroup SB19 named a new tourism ambassador for the Philippines. Music Meets Politics: Katy Perry blasted the White House for using her “Firework” in a TikTok tied to Iran strikes. New Music Releases: Nadine Lustre announces her comeback single “PERSONAL” for July 31; Madi Diaz and Lucy Dacus team up again on a new version of “Heavy Metal.” Legacy Watch: Queen’s 1986 Budapest concert gets a 40th-anniversary cinema/IMAX run on Oct. 7. Community & Local Scene: Oldies 107.7 and Oldies 99.7 both rebrand as “WOW FM” with the “Just Great Songs” focus. In Memoriam: Bill McGlaughlin, longtime host of WFMT’s Exploring Music, has died.

K-pop Spotlight: NCT 127 is set to return with its seventh album “Blingy,” dropping Aug. 24 with a nine-track set and a 10th-anniversary vibe. Global Pop Culture: South Korea plans a massive Seoul global music festival, “Fanomenon,” running Dec. 2–12, 2027, aiming to rival Coachella-style scale. Music Business & AI Rights: Cosynd expands its copyright protection platform with an automated registration tool for publishers to defend journalism in the AI era. New Releases: Indie-folk artist Just Janie announces debut album “Mythology of the Girls,” recorded to tape in a 1927 woolshed. Hip-Hop News: Bone Thugs-N-Harmony co-founder Layzie Bone got a surprise Stevie Wonder visit during a radio interview after the group’s Hollywood Walk of Fame honor. Touring: System of a Down and Faith No More confirm a 2027 Australia/New Zealand stadium tour with tickets on sale July 31. Local Scene: Denver’s heat didn’t stop fans—two festivals brought 400+ Colorado performers to support the independent music community. Pop Politics: Katy Perry blasts the White House for using her “Firework” in a TikTok tied to Iran strikes without permission.

Tourism Push: SB19 has been named new Philippines tourism ambassadors, with the DOT citing the group’s global reach and fanbase as a reason to boost travel interest. New Music Releases: Limerick rapper Strange Boy drops “Foul,” a collaboration with Rebel Phoenix that blends hard-hitting hip-hop with Irish traditional sounds. Pop Spotlight: Olivia Rodrigo’s next era is heating up after leaked set photos hint at a new video tied to her current album cycle. Chart Watch: John Mayer’s “Phone, Keys, Wallet” climbs to new Hot Country Songs highs, while Oasis’ “Wonderwall” rebounds to deliver the band a first No. 1 on a Billboard chart. Live & Scene: Neurosis played its first show in seven years with new vocalist Aaron Turner, and Avenged Sevenfold kicked off its tour by debuting the full STATICA EP live from backstage. Artist Spotlight: Debbie Gibson reacts to Filipino fans singing “Lost in Your Eyes,” calling it a “songwriter heart” moment. Local Culture: A new free weekend at the New Orleans Jazz Museum celebrates Louis Armstrong.

Katy Perry vs. the White House: Perry says she was never asked and “absolutely” doesn’t condone the White House using her “Firework” in a TikTok backing video for Iran strike footage—calling it a “complete violation” of her song’s message of hope. K-pop Breakthrough: BLACKPINK’s “DDU-DU DDU-DU” becomes the first K-pop group music video to hit 2.4B views. New KATSEYE Release Buzz: Fans and K-netizens react to KATSEYE’s “Animal,” with Demi Moore featuring in the spy-themed video. Global Touring Move: MONSTA X’s Kihyun drops an English version of “So Good” ahead of North American plans. Local Live-Music Training: The Piece Hall Academy and Calderdale College launch a funded Level 3 live events/music production course starting September. Venue Watch: Derry’s Tupelo Music Hall warns fans about ticket scams from third-party sites. Music Industry Tech Talk: Herbie Hancock weighs in on AI in music, saying it’s an evolution worth studying. Country/Pop Headlines: Kid Cudi announces a year off from music to focus on film/TV.

Katy Perry vs. the White House: Perry says her 2010 hit “Firework” was used on the White House’s TikTok to soundtrack military strikes, calling it a “complete violation” and stressing she wasn’t asked or informed. New Pop Release: Katseye dropped “Animal” with Ed Sheeran co-writing and Demi Moore appearing in the video, leaning into a “restraint vs. instinct” theme. Music Copyright Fight: Baltimore chain Ekiben was sued over using the “Space Jam” song in an Instagram promo video, with the rights holder claiming exclusive rights and no permission. Country Updates: Tucker Wetmore announced the six-song “Sunburn Mixtape” (July 31). Morgan Wallen explained why “Up Down” beat “You Make It Easy” as his second radio single, and he’s also pushing “Been By Now.” Chart/Radio Buzz: Olivia Rodrigo’s “Drop Dead” and “Stupid Song” hit new peaks on Billboard’s Pop Airplay chart. Hardcore Loss: Sick of It All frontman Lou Koller has died at 59. Local Scene: Green House Collective founders keep Laramie’s music alive after venue changes. Live Music Calendar: Plymouth’s Ruckus festival returns in 2027.

New Music Friday: Katseye dropped “Animal” with Ed Sheeran co-writing and Demi Moore cameoing in a red-lit, restraint-vs-instincts video. Chart Watch: CORTIS’ “REDRED” just hit 90 straight days at No. 1 on Apple Music Korea’s daily chart, extending a massive run across Spotify and YouTube Music. Pop Collab: U2 and Martin Garrix officially released “Fireflies,” featuring Bono and The Edge after a live debut at Tomorrowland. New Single: Barry Can’t Swim unveiled “Dance Dance Dance,” a French touch-leaning follow-up to “Return to Bhibo.” Music & Society: India’s student protests picked up a viral anthem, “Desh Ki Tabaahi Ka Hisaab Dijiye,” spreading through reels and street performances. Live Scene: Underground Music Showcase is relocating to Denver’s RiNo Art District for a fresh new chapter this weekend. Local Music Culture: Bradford’s Live at the Courtyard revealed its full support lineup ahead of August dates.

Pop Album Drop: Charli XCX is back with Music, Fashion, Film, a guitar-forward pivot after Brat—and fans are already dissecting “Persona,” plus the album’s closing nod to horror legend David Cronenberg. Chart Power: Polydor lands another UK chart double as Gracie Abrams hits No.1 with Daughter From Hell and Sam Fender & Olivia Dean’s “Rein Me In” matches the all-time No.1 single record for Frankie Laine’s “I Believe.” New Singles: Johnny Marr shares “Ophelia,” inspired by Shakespeare, while U2 and Martin Garrix team up on “Fireflies.” Global Voices: Teni releases EP The Wellness Package with Olamide, Chike and The Cavemen, and Anisha Joseph drops “Plea for Peace” to spread love and unity. Country Spotlight: Orville Peck announces album Mule and previews “Too Little, Too Late,” and Morgan Wallen follows up with “Been By Now.” Live/Film Buzz: George Michael’s The Faith Tour concert film heads to cinemas in late 2026 with IMAX early access in the US. Video Releases: Katseye drops “Animal” with Demi Moore cameo ahead of EP Wild (Aug. 14).

New Music Friday: Morgan Wallen drops “Been By Now,” his first solo release of the year, after previewing it at his sold-out Baltimore show and as his Still The Problem Tour winds down. Pop Album Buzz: Charli xcx is back with Music, Fashion, Film, a guitar-forward follow-up to Brat, featuring tracks like “Rock Music” and the Cronenberg conversation closer “No One Lasts Forever.” Festival Drama: Spilt Milk fans are furious over the 2026 lineup, calling it “sht” and “ragebait” after Lewis Capaldi and Raye were announced as headliners. Live Music & Community: LG is building a studio for the Kagnew Choir—descendants of Ethiopian Korean War veterans—so the group can rehearse with proper sound and tech. Music in Public Life: England’s business rates cut by 20% for pubs, clubs and live music venues from April next year, with typical savings pegged at about £1,100. Film/TV Crossover: WHAM! documentary *WHAM! 10 Days In China heads to cinemas, restoring footage from the tour that helped launch the duo globally. Local Scene: The Clarks bring their 40-year anniversary tour to Palatine Park in Fairmont for a free show.

Music Documentary Buzz: Disney is prepping a Julie Andrews life-and-career documentary for Disney+ in 2027, with rare archival footage and new interviews from R.J. Cutler. Community Music Therapy: A Miami-Dade alum’s nonprofit, Mind&Melody, has grown from a school project into 16,000+ interactive music sessions for people with neurological and developmental conditions. Streaming & Charts: Future’s The Real Me rockets to No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Streaming Albums chart, while Justin Bieber’s World Cup halftime song streams jump 110%. AI Music Policy: The recorded music industry pushes for clearer labeling of AI-made songs, as streaming services debate how to handle it. Live Music Relief (UK): Andy Burnham’s 20% business rates cut for pubs, clubs, and live music venues kicks in next April, with music groups calling it a lifeline. New Releases: Teenage Fanclub announce Do Not Dare To Dream and share “Day In The Sun,” and Duane Betts drops Isle of Hope.

Snoop Dogg Biopic: Universal has set a Summer 2027 cinema release for the Snoop Dogg biopic, with Jonathan Daviss (Outer Banks) cast as the rap legend and Craig Brewer directing. World Cup Music Boost: Luminate says halftime performances from Madonna, Justin Bieber, BTS and Shakira (plus Shakira & Burna Boy’s “Dai Dai”) sparked big streaming jumps right after the show. New Music Drop: Adekunle Gold teases romance with “Blue Fire,” featuring Simi. UK Live Scene: Tottenham’s new 250-cap grassroots venue Radial opens Sept 5, aiming to keep small spaces alive for emerging artists. Tech + Social: WhatsApp rolls out Apple Music/Spotify sharing to Status, plus Adobe Acrobat PDF tools in WhatsApp Web and Windows. Classics & Culture: Belmont University will permanently house Johnny Cash’s personal archive, feeding a new Cash Learning Center. Local Spotlight: New Eyes Collective and MoCADA host “New Eyes on Greg Tate” to celebrate “Flyboy in the Buttermilk.”

Chart Watch (Japan): Number_i’s “BUGS LIFE” debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100, with Mrs. GREEN APPLE’s “Brand New” landing at No. 2 as Spider-Man: Brand New Day theme songs dominate the top. New Music Release: Ashley Paul drops jazz/adult-contemporary single “I Just Had to Fall” ahead of a 54 Below performance, with a Smooth Jazz radio push coming. New Band Project: Dhani Harrison and Nigel Godrich preview Dragonflies with “Slower,” announcing a Sept. 18 debut album. Hardcore/Metal: Pain Of Truth announce a new self-titled sophomore album and share details on the record’s heavier direction. Music + Tech: WhatsApp refreshes in-car messaging for Android Auto/Apple CarPlay and adds new Status music sharing; Spotify also expands music-video charts and full video features. Live Scene: Live Nation’s Local Noise Philadelphia battle of the bands opens for Philly acts, with a Brooklyn Bowl path to a Freedom Mortgage Pavilion performance. Local Culture: Perro Negro launches Perro Negro Label with “Dale Duro Vol. 1,” aiming to preserve reggaetón history while backing new releases.