AGP Executive Report

K-pop China push: SM Entertainment has teamed with Tencent Music to launch STE in Beijing, aiming to debut a new Chinese idol group in 2–3 years and manage SM artists in Greater China. Big-screen music tie-in: Jay-Z’s HBO docuseries “JAY-Z in 8” lands Sept. 18, with Rick Rubin guiding the rapper through the songwriting behind “Reasonable Doubt” era tracks and beyond. Country legend fallout: Dolly Parton’s team says she left a “project roadmap” for decades, with multiple shows and screen projects in the works, while tributes keep rolling in. Live music moment: Harry Styles kicked off his MSG run with a reordered setlist and a Dolly Parton tribute during his first night. New releases & tours: Polyphia announced “BE NOT AFRAID” and shared new single/video; Bruno Mars added more Romantic Tour dates across Australia/NZ/Asia/Mexico. Local scenes: Spokane’s Garrett Zanol brings a new Americana project to Revolver North; plus a packed New Braunfels live-music calendar for Aug. 27 week.

Dolly Parton: Country icon Dolly Parton has died at 80 after a brief battle with cancer, sparking tributes from across music and pop culture. Unreleased music: Her secret final track “My Place in History” is locked in a Dollywood “Dream Box” time capsule and won’t be released until 2046 (with some chatter it could land in 2045). Industry spotlight: A new report finds women make up fewer than 30% of creators on major music industry rosters, with even lower shares among managers and agents. Live music business: Atlanta’s Tabernacle is getting a new name—Tabernacle presented by iTHINK Financial—as it marks 30 years as a music venue. Festival updates: Jacksonville Beach’s Springing the Blues Festival is retiring after 34 years, while Nashville’s Live On The Green returns in 2027 with 1,000 free tickets up for grabs. New releases: Polyphia announces Be Not Afraid (Oct. 23) and delays North American tour dates into early 2027. AI in entertainment: Australia bans largely AI-generated songs from official charts, and a new study says only 3% of listeners can tell AI music from human-made.

Dolly Parton: The country icon has died at 80 after a brief battle with cancer, with tributes pouring in from across music and Hollywood and fresh details spotlighting her final health struggles and long-running legacy. Reissues & milestones: Republic/UMe is marking Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black 20th anniversary with deluxe formats, demos, rare tracks, and a live set from 2007. New music drops: Nettspend releases “Sober” with a black-and-white video; Bad With Phones follows with liberation anthem “Human”; Harlem composer Malloy James shares “Sunset Roof” ahead of his Season 1 & Season 2 rap albums (Oct. 23). Live & industry: Spark expands its Mushroom Group partnership for NZ live-music access and presales; Luminate lays out a plan for labeling AI-generated music on Billboard-powered charts. Local scenes: Music Video Asheville returns Sept. 9 with 30 regional clips on the big screen.

Dolly Parton’s Legacy: Country icon Dolly Parton has died at 80 in Nashville, with her family confirming the news via a video from her nephew Bryan Seaver. The songwriter behind “Jolene,” “9 to 5,” and “I Will Always Love You” leaves a career spanning nearly seven decades plus major philanthropy through the Imagination Library. AI in Music (Australia): Australia’s ARIA says fully AI-generated tracks won’t be eligible for its top charts, while songs using generative AI as a supporting tool can still qualify—following backlash over AI-made chart hits. New Releases: Queens of the Stone Age announced their album Perfecth (Oct. 30) and shared “Insignificant Other,” and U2 will release a cover of The Pogues’ “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah” this Friday as part of a Shane MacGowan tribute project. Music Tech/Industry: Stability AI raised $76M with backing that includes Universal, Warner, Sony Music and EA, aiming to expand AI tools for professional creatives.

AI vs Charts: Australia’s ARIA says “wholly AI-generated” tracks won’t qualify for official charts or ARIA awards, while “AI-assisted” songs can stay eligible if they’re substantially human-made—after the Madonna “Like a Prayer” AI cover sparked a huge backlash. Industry Moves: Whynow hires ex-PRS for Music CFO Laura Golding as senior finance director, and SoundOn’s James Cattermole argues A&R is now about end-to-end campaign support and long-term careers. Direct-to-Fan Push: Fenix360 and India’s Gaana team up to roll out a direct-to-fan ecosystem inside the Gaana app, with storefronts, ticketing, and artists keeping 70% of revenue. New Music Drops: DOUDOU releases “A Rusty Dream” for Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2; BLACKPINK’s Jisoo readies solo single “Click” for Sept. 4; Big Thief debuts upcoming triple album Horsepower live at the Ryman. Local & Live: Nambour’s Live at the Chapel returns Sept. 5 with free family-friendly indie and hip-hop; Cross Street Music Festival announces its first 2026 lineup wave.

Billboard Buzz: Taylor Swift’s “I Knew It, I Knew You” climbs to No. 2 on Radio Songs, getting blocked from No. 1 by another smash. Pop Culture Collab: Backstreet Boys team up with “PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie” for “Bottle Up,” written by Ed Sheeran and crew. New Music Drops: XIN LIU releases “STRANGE,” a retro-funk single built on live drums, guitar and bass; Reachel Singh follows with “Warrior,” a slower, inward anthem about facing fear. Big-Name Releases: Neil Young posts “Casting Me Away From You,” a track from his upcoming Chrome Hearts project. Festival & Live: 10,000 Maniacs hit Ocean City Music Pier tonight for their 45th-anniversary run. Local Scene: Playhouse Stage Company announces its 39th season at Cohoes Music Hall, including “Carrie,” “Dear Evan Hansen” and “Les Misérables.” Community Music: Longville Area Community Choir names new leadership ahead of its Dec. 6 “Lights of Hope” concert.

K-pop Spotlight: ENHYPEN’s THE SIN: BLISS just topped a fan-voted new music poll, winning nearly 73% of the vote and extending the group’s THE SIN era momentum. AI in Music: Dr. Dre says he’s using AI in production and calls out “closet AI producers,” arguing it’s just another creativity tool—not a threat. New Releases: Canadian melodic rock band Fatal Vision dropped the official video for “Do You See Me,” from Four Sides To Every Story, continuing its interconnected video run. Big Collaborations: YOSHIKI and Josh Groban announced a new live recording of “Forever Love,” arriving worldwide Aug. 28. Pop Culture Tie-In: The Backstreet Boys will sing “Bottle Up” for the upcoming PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie. Local Scene & Education: A UK music-education push warns state schools are losing choirs and instrument access, urging more chances to learn music.

Tribute & Legacy: Filipino songwriter Cecile Azarcon-Inocentes gets a homecoming tribute with “The Songs Came Home,” created by Cheska CK and Jun Mirasol. Live Music: The Lightfoot Band brings Gordon Lightfoot classics to Place des Arts (Aug. 26). Alternative Rock: Meat Puppets return to Phoenix Art Museum for an unplugged SOUNDCHECK set (Sept. 25). Metal/Pop-Punk: Ayr’s Hopes Avenue aims to ignite the alternative scene with a new single. Classical Spotlight: NZ Symphony Orchestra’s Radiance concert pairs Wagner with star tenor Simon O’Neill. Tech for Music Lovers: OneOdio launches Fusion Series A70 Gen 2 hi-res wireless DJ headphones. Music Industry Talk: New Orleans writers push for infrastructure so artists can build careers without leaving the city. AI in Music Debate: Dr. Dre says AI isn’t a threat—people who “have trouble creating” are. Community Through Sound: Winnipeg’s North Point Douglas poetry project publishes “You Shine Today” from a women-led creative hub. Pop Culture Buzz: Hasan Piker faces backlash after mocking “We Are Charlie Kirk” live.

New Music Releases: Olivia Rodrigo sold out 500 limited CD copies of “Serena Joy” at Analog Record Shop ahead of Daisy Chain Fields, while K-pop band PLAVE headlined YouTube Music Weekend 12.0 with the top concurrent viewership for “PLAVE WAVE FESTIVAL.” Artist Updates: Ariana Grande demanded Donald Trump’s team stop using her song after an anti-trans TikTok, and Cortis expanded its EP “GreenGreen” with two new tracks for its first anniversary. Legal/Business: Kang Daniel won an appeal in a USD 510,000 damages dispute with Genie Music over a concert revenue shortfall. Music + Tech: Google Gemini will let users toggle visible watermarks on AI images, video, and music. Live/Community: Levitt AMP Moss Point kicked off with free concerts, and Llangollen Fringe launched “Scotland Introducing” to spotlight contemporary Scottish folk and roots. Safety Watch: Yash’s “Toxic” pre-release event in Hyderabad saw a sound setup collapse, injuring students.

Devotional Drop: Aushim Khetarpal releases “Maya Moh,” a Bhagavad Gita-inspired bhajan for Janmashtami, with plans for multiple language versions. TV Music Buzz: Kelly Rowland joins The Voice UK 2026 as a new coach, alongside Sir Tom Jones, will.i.am, and the McFly duo. Anime Watch: Reincarnated as a Sword Season 2 finally lands this fall on HIDIVE, with a new opening theme revealed. Live Music Spotlight: Cynthia Erivo dazzles at Tanglewood, turning “Let Me Go” into a quiet, intimate moment. Festival Safety: A coroner urges changes after a teen’s road death linked to fatigue from a music festival. Pop Surprise: Olivia Rodrigo drops “Serena Joy,” a Handmaid’s Tale-inspired track on limited CDs ahead of her women-led Daisy Chain Fields festival. K-Pop Power Move: BIGBANG kicks off its “XX: COSMOS” world tour and debuts “BiiiG” for its 20th anniversary. Streaming/Tech: Apple Music plans AI labeling for tracks “Created with AI,” as the debate over AI music heats up.

K-Pop Comeback: Girls’ Generation unit HRS drops its debut digital single “Skibidi” on Aug 31, with “Skibidi” (house-to-hip-hop) plus “Lowkey in Love.” Pop Release Buzz: Olivia Rodrigo issues “Serena Joy” as a tiny run of 500 CDs, sold at one shop in California before a wider digital drop. Music Industry Move: Liza Daniela joins the Recording Academy as a voting member, spotlighting Latina immigrant voices. AI Labeling Fight: Apple Music will add “Created with AI” labels later this year, pushing mandatory disclosures for AI-made parts. Festival Update: Bonnaroo is taking a “much-needed” year off in 2027 after weather struggles. Live Music & Community: The Blue Ridge Music Center books the Amanda Cook Band (with His & Hers) for Aug 29, while Long Island Gay Men’s Chorus seeks new singers for its holiday season. Film-to-Song Hype: Priyadarshan’s “Haiwaan” has a new song shoot at SNDT College featuring Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan.

Bollywood Buzz: Rajinikanth’s Jailer 2 keeps building hype as the first song “Ala Bolelo” drops, with Anirudh on music and vocals and Shamna Kasim leading a big choreography moment. Music Business: Quality Control co-founder Pierre “P” Thomas is hospitalized, and his label is pushing back on death rumors while asking fans to respect his privacy. New Music Friday: Sam Smith headlines the week with Hazel Eyes, alongside releases from Weezer, ENHYPEN, Jorja Smith, Brandon Flowers and more. Pop Culture Clash: Ariana Grande again slams Donald Trump’s team for using her song on a TikTok, telling them “Never use my music again” after another post. Live Music & Local Scenes: Bristol gets a new late-night club/live music venue with a 5:AM licence; Worcester’s weekly market moves to Cornmarket; and Preston Music Festival is postponed due to rain. Global Sound: Japan’s city pop gets a UK spotlight as London hosts a City Pop Waves concert featuring Masayoshi Takanaka and others. Tour Anthem: Mondo Duplantis releases “Gold” as the anthem for the Ultimate Championship in Budapest.

Mac Miller: The Mac Miller Estate drops “Butterflies,” a previously-unreleased track on The Divine Feminine (10th Anniversary) out Oct. 2, with two more unheard songs. Ariana Grande vs Trump: Grande tells Team Trump “Never use my music again” after a TikTok used “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)” for anti-trans messaging; her label is working to get it removed. AI in music: Apple Music says it will add visible labels for AI-made tracks later this year, building on its AI Transparency Tags. Tech for creators: Tamber v2.0 launches with new tools and native Windows support, aiming to keep music tech “magical” for artists. Local live music: Horsham RegFest 2026 lands Oct. 24 with Lee Kernaghan and more. New releases: Gracie Abrams says she couldn’t listen to “Look At My Life” for six months; Moses Koul shares “Jee Le.” Music business: Take-Two shares dip as the GTA 6 leak situation keeps escalating.

AI Music Licensing: UMG-backed Music IP Holdings says it’s licensing 24+ generative-AI patents to Udio and GRAI, aiming to protect artists while enabling licensed covers, remixes, and interactive music experiences. AI Transparency on Streaming: Apple Music will add “Made With AI” labels later this year for tracks “materially generated using AI,” building on its AI Transparency Tags push. R&B Debate: Kehlani shuts down the “R&B is dead” narrative, arguing fans are just not digging into new artists. New Releases: The Calling returns with its first album in 22 years, Before the World Turns to Dust (Sept. 25), while Remi Wolf readies Mud and drops “Bottle.” Live & Local: Miranda Lambert headlines Nashville’s new venue The Truth (Oct. 1), and Spotify rolls out Playlist Notes so curators and listeners can add context to tracks. Community Music: A new Route 66 centennial song contest in Santa Monica has one month left to enter.

Kris Lawrence: The “Prince of R&B” drops “Unlove You,” a “one that got away” breakup-to-hope track co-written with Lil Eddie, timed with his renewed closeness with ex Katrina Halili. K-pop Comebacks: Seventeen’s Vernon releases his enlistment-era solo single “I’ll Be Back,” while (G)I-dle’s Soyeon readies a solo album in early September. Global Pop Moments: Baby Shark Boy (Park Geonroung) returns with debut K-pop single “WAVE,” featuring Monsta X’s Joohoney. Rock Release Buzz: Queens of the Stone Age tease their next album “Perfecth” with a chaotic video that makes the Sept. 30 date feel… uncertain. Bollywood Music Rights: Himesh Reshammiya Melodies adds Anil Sharma’s “Arjun Naga” to its growing soundtrack rights slate. Tour/Live: Niall Horan asks fans to vote on his Dinner Party tour setlist. Local Scene: Stamford Town Center’s “The Annex Project” launches monthly dance-music concerts in a parking garage.

Music Career Spotlight (Nagaland): A new two-part look at Nagaland’s music ecosystem breaks down how churches, schools, educators, producers, sound engineers, and digital creators shape what “a career in music” can actually mean. Stan Culture Backlash: A fresh debate over modern fandom toxicity is sparked by stories of concert-goers taking it too far—plus the bigger question of why people feel entitled to ruin the experience for everyone else. Big Album Drop + Safety Study: A new study links distracted-driving crash deaths to days when major albums drop, arguing that mass phone use during releases may be a factor. BTS VMAs Buzz: BTS’ “Swim” lands a Song of the Year nomination at the 2026 MTV VMAs, adding to the group’s already stacked awards hopes. Phoebe Bridgers’ “Liberty Tree”: Bridgers turns an abandoned mall into the muse for “Liberty Tree,” a track about falling in love in a hopeless place. UMG x Hook: Universal Music Group strikes a licensing deal with AI-powered social remix platform Hook, aiming to monetize fan-made remixes while keeping artist control. Haywire 617 Release: Boston hardcore band Haywire 617 drops “Interstate Love Affair” ahead of their Oct. 2 album. Elliott Smith Biography: A new biography, “Nobody Broke Your Heart,” revisits Elliott Smith’s life with fresh access and context. Xbox Insider Update: Xbox rolls out Home customization and local save management upgrades for Insiders. GTA 6 Leaks: Rockstar ramps up takedowns as more leaked GTA 6 gameplay spreads, raising questions about legal consequences for the leaker. Jamie T Album News: Jamie T announces “Ghosts (100 Days of Morning)” with new single “3310,” plus a new video. Popstar Live on Amazon: Tinashe performs “Crash Out” and “Too Easy” on Amazon Music’s In the Paint ahead of her Sept. 25 album Popstar.