AGP Executive Report

Chart Power: Taylor Swift keeps dominating the UK charts, landing a chart double with “Patient Zero” at No.1 and “The Life Of A Showgirl: The Encore” back on top, while “Patient Zero” also hits the airplay summit. Label Moves: DeepMatter Records appoints Matt Brinkworth as co-owner/COO and links up with Virgin Music Group, plus launches a new publishing arm. Culture & Marketing: Warner Music Central Europe hires Nici Ochmann to lead culture and creator marketing from Berlin, and Warner Music Mexico promotes Yusim Aladro to general manager to push domestic growth and global cross-border success. New Music Momentum: Keo’s “Put A Smile On For Me” scores the biggest-selling debut by a band in over two years, debuting at No.2. Community & Live Music: Westbrook completes an $81M music building; Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights announces it’s for sale but keeps shows booked through spring. Global Spotlight: P-pop group KAIA leads the “Made in the Philippines” spotlight at Music Matters Live in Singapore. Music in Society: The Conxemar Fest in Galicia spotlights “Fish & Hits,” pairing music with seafood tastings to pull in younger audiences.

Music & Memory: The Vermont Historical Society has acquired the Vermont music archive built by Big Heavy World, preserving interviews, radio shows, recordings, posters, and more for future scholars and fans. Tribute Spotlight: k.d. lang is being toasted at Canada’s National Arts Centre with performances from Michael Bublé, Jann Arden, Allison Russell and others. Loss: South Africa mourns Babsy Mlangeni, the blind Soweto legend behind “Sala Emma,” who died at 83. Health Update: Lady A’s Charles Kelley revealed a multiple myeloma diagnosis after unexplained rib fractures, saying he feels hopeful and plans to keep performing. Local Scene & Up-and-Coming: Slimcase says it’s getting harder for Nigeria’s new artistes to break through as promotion costs soar and influencer culture drives prices up. Festival Watch: Austin City Limits 2026 drops its full schedule and streaming info, while local acts like NIGHT TRAVELER and Austin’s Grocery Bag gear up for ACL debuts. Community Creativity: Young carers in Coventry turned their dreams into an original musical at The Albany Theatre. Global Music Culture: Burkina Faso’s Vibra-Signe lets deaf dancers “hear” music through floor vibrations and touch.

Music Archive Saved: Vermont Historical Society acquired the Big Heavy World collection, preserving decades of Vermont music history—interviews, radio, recordings, posters, and more—for scholars and fans. Global Festival Cancellations: Saudi’s MDLBEAST Soundstorm was postponed, and Kanye West’s Russia concerts were canceled, adding to a string of entertainment pullbacks amid conflict. Parade Spotlight: The UW-Eau Claire Blugold Marching Band earned a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade invite after standout field shows that range from Verdi to Chappell Roan. New Releases & Releases-Adjacent Buzz: DJ Beige and Virgin Music Group dropped “DMV Top 20 Vol. 1,” a mixtape-style release built to route royalties to independent creators; Bruno Mars recruited Karol G for “Dance With Me” in a new video. Pop Culture & Industry Moves: Madonna finally posted after her MTV VMAs comeback drew backlash; Sia sold half her catalog to Pophouse in a reported $180M deal. Live Music Calendar: Tampa Bay’s Oct. 1–8 lineup highlights major touring and local favorites, while Central Lakes College announced its fall tribute and theatre slate.

Music Tech & Rights: Rights Intelligence’s Linda Collin and Åsa Enström question Europe’s “mega-hub” publishing model, arguing pan-European licensing still struggles with the real-world limits of data-heavy systems. Streaming Updates: Apple Music expands to Albania, Brunei, Burkina Faso, and Pakistan after an 11-year wait, while the Android beta gets a Liquid Glass-style redesign with floating controls. Industry Moves: Kobalt co-founder Willard Ahdritz launches Ahdritz Capital Partners, aiming to help music and media tech grow in the U.S. Pop Culture & Artists: Robot Boii opens up about keeping his Masked Singer SA identity secret. Live Music & Community: BRIT Awards’ Manchester impact study credits a £5M boost; York’s Live For St Leonard’s raised £5,551.51 for hospice care; Sag Harbor’s free festival returns this weekend after a storm delay. New Releases/Performances: Margarita Hranova debuts “Otpechatuk”; Mariachi Herencia de México brings its “new generation” sound to Dayton; Grand Junction Symphony performs “Spirited Away” music this weekend. Local Scenes: Decatur’s music-venue boom sparks talk of the next Atlanta-style hub. Controversy: A Keyvitup music video shoot near Incheon’s Jemulpo Market drew 3 a.m. noise complaints; the agency apologized.

New Talent Spotlight: Thai teen rock breakout Nene Royal (Rattikarn Amloy) just won “America’s Got Talent,” and says her next moves are writing her own songs, touring, and “go back to school,” with a Singapore opening slot lined up for Avenged Sevenfold. Classical & Vocal Ensemble: VOCES8 co-founder Barnaby Smith brings the group’s soaring sound to the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center on Oct. 9. Local Stage Buzz: Valley View High School’s theater crew tackles Ken Ludwig’s farce “Lend Me a Tenor” Oct. 1–2. Community Music & Culture: New Orleans’ Music and Culture Coalition (MACCNO) marks its 14th year with an Oct. 1 benefit show at Nola Brewing. Big Live Music Moment: Tom Morello performs “Soldier In The Army Of Love” on Jimmy Kimmel Live and has a run of upcoming Power To The People dates. Industry Watch: The Paradox signs a publishing partnership with EMPIRE and Wave Theory ahead of their Oct. 2 EP and a sold-out tour. Festival Picks: Mercury Prize ceremony in Newcastle (Oct. 22) adds Florence + The Machine, RAYE, JADE, Dove Ellis and more.

Music Scholarship: Vermont’s Mockingbird Foundation (Phish fans) teamed with VSAC to launch a music scholarship funded in perpetuity for Vermont undergrads studying music or music education. China Entertainment Rules: Chengdu granted singer Na Ying a rare exemption after an unapproved tribute song at a concert, spotlighting China’s strict pre-approval rules for live content. Big-Name Classical: Martha Argerich opened the George Enescu Philharmonic chamber season with works by Debussy, Ravel, Schubert and Schumann, plus upcoming October concerts featuring her Prokofiev concerto. Stage Adaptations: Indonesia’s “Home Sweet Loan The Musical” brings the sandwich generation’s housing stress to the stage (Sept. 30–Oct. 18). Broadway-Style Pop: Kelsey Theatre kicked off its “Wonderland” season with a grown-up Alice in a modern pop/R&B/jazz take on Carroll. Live Music & Community: Over 1,000 young people packed Finsbury Park for a battle of the bands event supporting mental health. New Releases: Lithuanian metal band Black Spikes premiered the “Senas Demonas” video ahead of their album “Ydos.” Tour Talk: Silverchair shut down reunion hopes for the NRL grand final, saying they’re too rusty. Rising Star: Thai teen rocker Nene Royal plans to write her own songs, tour, and return to school after winning America’s Got Talent. Music Beyond Entertainment: A Grand Junction girl’s music therapy story highlights how Michael Jackson helped with emotional regulation.

Music Justice: An Ohio jury convicted former “American Idol” contestant Caleb Flynn of murdering his wife, after prosecutors argued he staged a fake home invasion to cover up the killing. Local Live Scene: Madison’s Red Bicycle Hall hosts a Music & Poetry event this Sunday featuring poets and musicians including blues guitarist Keith Scott. New Work on Stage: Greenville’s Centre Stage will workshop the new musical “La Zafra” (Oct. 9–10), rooted in Mexican immigrant experiences and inspired by true events. Community Through Music: Phish fans and VSAC launched a Vermont scholarship for students pursuing music or music education. Artist Health Update: Lady A singer Charles Kelley revealed a rare diagnosis of multiple myeloma. Music Policy/Industry: Kentucky’s governor announced a new Office of Music to support artists, venues, festivals, and the state’s music economy. Streaming Tech: Reports say Spotify went down for some users, disrupting listening. Passing: Naked Eyes co-founder Peter Byrne died at 74; his cause of death was listed as an acute hemorrhagic stroke.

MTV VMAs Recap: Taylor Swift made history as the most-awarded artist, taking Video of the Year and the inaugural Artist Director Honors, then premiering “Patient Zero” starring Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell; Madonna won Artist of the Year and revisited her 1984 VMAs wardrobe mishap. AI Music Legal Clash: UMG and Sony sue Suno over its new AI model, alleging it copied huge amounts of copyrighted recordings to train. New Music & Releases: Little Angels return with their first new track in 32 years, “Hero (That Was Then, This Is Now),” ahead of the Big Bad & Back EP; banríon drops “Forgiving” from upcoming album Untarnishing. Local Live Scene: CSU Homecoming’s Festival on the Oval brings live funk/R&B from Titonic; Music Box Village hosts the Rhythm of the Drums International Festival with 100+ artists worldwide. Artist Watch: Irish traditional/folk figure Dónal Lunny celebrates Planxty’s legacy at a special event. Safety & Accountability: Singer Shriya Rao accuses an Uber driver of inappropriate behavior and urges the platform to remove him.

MTV VMAs: Taylor Swift made history as the most-awarded artist in VMA history, taking the inaugural Artist Director Honours and dedicating her top prize to Dolly Parton, while Madonna and LISA also dominated the night and Nirvana earned major recognition. Global Pop Moment: Shakira’s Oct. 3 Madrid finale will stream worldwide for free via Amazon Music and Prime Video. Music Tech & Industry: Universal Music Group named Òscar Celma as Senior VP for Applied AI and Machine Learning, aiming to expand AI tools across its labels and operations. New Music: KEXP highlighted fresh releases including Blondshell and Julia Jacklin, and Story Of The Year shared the “See Through” video ahead of their fall tour. Live & Local: Ohio’s R&B festival is getting a backing-band boost from LynMonty and a local trio, while Milwaukee’s Riverwest welcomed experimental sounds at The Brain in the Cupboard. Loss: Calypso legend Mighty Sparrow died at 91.

MTV VMAs 2026: Taylor Swift made history again, becoming the most-awarded artist in MTV VMA history and taking home Video of the Year for “The Fate of Ophelia,” plus the inaugural Artist Director Honors—then debuted her dark new “Patient Zero” video starring Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell. Pop Royalty Returns: Madonna swept seven trophies, including Artist of the Year, and teamed up with Sabrina Carpenter for “Bring Your Love,” while her “Danceteria” moment with Charli xcx lit up the stage. K-Pop Momentum: BTS won big with Song of the Year for “Swim,” and Lisa became the first K-pop solo artist to win Best Pop. Live Music & Local Scenes: Norwich’s Rock N Roll Circus is expanding with a London debut in 2027, and Shoko Festival in Zimbabwe’s Chitungwiza ended with a “Peace in the Hood” concert featuring young hip-hop and zimdancehall acts. Artist Spotlight: Sierra Leone’s Rozzy Sokota welcomed her first child, a baby boy, marking a major new chapter for the Afropop star.

MTV VMAs 2026: Snoop Dogg hosts as Madonna opens and leads nominations with 11; Taylor Swift follows with 9, and Swift also gets the inaugural Artist Director Honors plus a “Patient Zero” video premiere—here’s how to stream live on CBS/MTV and Paramount+ Premium. Pop Poll Buzz: Billboard readers crowned Madonna & Charli xcx’s “Danceteria Afterhours” as this week’s favorite new music. Artist Spotlight: Kizz Daniel says his music break was driven by losing his mother this year. Live Music Calendar: Aftershock 2026 returns Oct. 1–4 with My Chemical Romance, Tool and Limp Bizkit headlining. Local & Community Music: Antigo High School earns WSMA accreditation; Santa Cruz Symphony kicks off its 69th season with “United Sounds of America.” Controversy & Culture: Moldovan rapper 351 Bratan was deported from Italy after blocking a highway for a music video. Theater With a Soundtrack: “Hell’s Kitchen” brings Alicia Keys hits to Toronto, blending original songs with fan favorites.

SNL Spotlight: KATSEYE made their Saturday Night Live debut with “Animal” and “Hootie Frutti,” capping a fast rise from Dream Academy to Billboard success. Metal Loss: GWAR founding member Chuck Varga (Sexecutioner) died at 68 after battling cancer, with the band launching a fundraiser earlier this year. Big Pop TV Moment: The 2026 MTV VMAs hit Los Angeles on Sept. 27, with Madonna opening after a 23-year gap and Taylor Swift leading nominations plus a new MTV honor. Local Music, Big Energy: Spokane’s South Perry Street Fair returned with 20 bands, 150 vendors, and family-friendly stages. Community Classical: WPR’s Classical Music Day in Milwaukee (Oct. 14) offers free main-stage performances by youth ensembles at Bradley Symphony Center. New Music to Watch: Rebecka Edlund brings her Nordic-folk-meets-jazz debut-album sound to Hastings on Oct. 6. Global Stage: Pedro Sampaio joins Ricky Martin for the Brazil NFL halftime show in Rio. In Memoriam/Legacy: King Sunny Ade marked his 80th birthday with tributes celebrating his “juju” influence worldwide.

New Genre Buzz: Eylsia Nicolas is turning heads with “EOP” (Eylsia’s Orchestral Pop), a fast-rising blend of orchestral, house, Afrobeat, ragtime and more—“Music on My Mind” hit #1 on the Global Groover Singer-Songwriter charts and racked up 50M+ views in weeks. P-Pop Crossover: James Reid and BINI’s Aiah are teaming up for the “Attention” music video, dropping Sept. 26. Pop Comeback Watch: Cheryl is reportedly set to return to the studio after joining The Voice UK, with will.i.am pushing the collaboration. Live Music & Streaming: Farm Aid 2026 is back Sept. 26 with Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews—CNN will stream it live (7–11pm ET). Industry Labor Tension: Cleveland Orchestra musicians are on strike, while Chicago Symphony Orchestra musicians ratified a new three-year deal. Local Scene Spotlight: Oakland’s Oaktoberfest returns Oct. 3–4 with free entry, live music and 200–300+ craft pours. Global Folk Moment: Irish trio Saltaire lands a first-ever Irish band slot at Ziro Music Festival in Arunachal Pradesh. Genre Education: A new piece breaks down microtonal music myths—no, it’s not just “out-of-tune.”

Pop Star Spotlight: Taylor Swift drops “The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore” with four new tracks, and the “Patient Zero” video (starring Colin Farrell and Dakota Johnson) lands during the 2026 MTV VMAs. K-pop Breakthrough: Rookie girl group TUIDE hits Billboard success fast, topping the Emerging Artists chart and scoring strong album placements. Music Video Buzz: James Reid and BINI’s Aiah team up for the “Attention” video release Saturday, Sept. 26. Global Music Loss: Chinese singer Liu Huan, famed for “You and Me” at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, dies at 63. Community & Culture: Paraguay’s Recycled Orchestra of Cateura tours the Bay Area, turning landfill trash into instruments and opportunity. Live Music & Policy: Laguna Beach temporarily suspends its 70 dBA sound cap at Irvine Bowl for a festival study, with monitoring and a reinvestment plan. Industry Watch: Cleveland Orchestra musicians go on strike, forcing cancellations. Local Scene: Wiley, “Godfather of Grime,” headlines a Trilogy nightclub show Oct. 3.

AI & Fraud Watch: Qobuz rolled out in-app tags for AI-generated music, saying only 0.38% of streams are flagged as synthetic—but 60% of those tracks are treated as fraudulent and excluded from royalties. Big-Stage Pop: Apple Music Hall at Battersea Power Station debuts with Elton John opening, then Baby Keem, Skye Newman, Troye Sivan, Arlo Parks, Burna Boy, Chase & Status, and Charli xcx—plus global live-streaming. Rock at Home: U2 marked 50 years with surprise school gigs in Dublin, including a Mount Temple performance and a pop-up on Grafton Street. Charts Buzz: Beabadoobee lands a second straight No.1 album with “Pylon,” while Sienna Spiro keeps the singles summit. Community Music: Muskegon Community College honored late music director Daniel Meyers by renaming an ensemble room after him. Local Live Music: CliftonFest returns to Ludlow Avenue with chalk art, films, and nearly 20 local acts.

Pop Culture x Music Video: Taylor Swift’s “Patient Zero” is set for a VMAs premiere, with Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell starring in the clip and Swift also set to receive a new “Artist Director” prize. Global Pop x Fashiontainment: Gap is teaming up with emerging boy band Just Your Type for a docuseries, capsule collection, and a U.S. mall tour. Live Music x Labor: Cleveland Orchestra musicians begin a strike Friday, forcing cancellations of two shows. Royalties Watch: Tanzania says it will distribute about 2bn/- in copyright-levy royalties to artists in November. Uganda Music Tragedy: Afrigo Band founder Moses Matovu has died after an attack; a prime suspect has been arrested. Festival Buzz: Ohana Festival returns to Doheny State Beach for its 10th anniversary with Eddie Vedder, Pearl Jam, Billy Idol, Maná, and more across three days. Local Scene Spotlight: Stockton’s Gathering Sounds 2026 drops a full lineup for Sept. 26 across seven venues. Music Tech/Business: Amazon Music Live Season 5 returns with Noah Kahan, Don Toliver, Lainey Wilson, and Doja Cat.