AGP Executive Report

Local Music & Community: Hartsville’s Downtown Sound stage welcomes The Scarecrows (Aug. 13), a high-energy Red Dirt Alternative/Americana trio with harmonies and singles on major platforms. Cultural Heritage Through Sound: Dromore Summer Festival (Aug. 20–23) brings four days of traditional music, song, sessions, and family events, anchored by Blackwater Céilí Band and a big outdoor street celebration. Art Meets Music: “The Unheard Melody” opens in New York, using Song Dynasty Chinese paintings to spotlight musical imagery and U.S.–China cultural exchange. Music as Therapy/Expression: Overtones at the Israel Museum turns instruments and sound-making into playful, reflective art—an antidote to information overload. Global Music Industry: Türkiye’s Toygar Işıklı and Büşra Kayıkçı join the Recording Academy as voting members. Loss in Irish Music: Tributes pour in after the death of indie pop vocalist Cat Dowling, known for Babelfish/Alphastates and major collaborations. New Releases: UT Tyler adjunct lecturer Anna Larson debuts studio album “Tell Me a Story” with ensemble Consonari. Pop Culture Moment: Ariana Grande’s “Petal” video leans into explicit, violent imagery as a critique of industry image policing.

Music & Heritage: Christian Rohit Samuel, 19, is celebrating his “Prarambham” solo Bharatanatyam recital while balancing Hindustani classical music and theatre alongside his university studies. Arts Funding & Access: Shea’s Performing Arts Center marks its 100th anniversary with a centennial gala featuring Tony/Grammy-nominated Megan Hilty, with proceeds backing accessibility upgrades. Classical Spotlight: Northwestern State University’s pipe organ returns after reinstallation and digital enhancement, with an inaugural showcase concert set for January. Community Music: “Voices of the Valley” on the Cannon Valley Trail brings live accordion and banjolele performances plus family activities. Global Pop: Dayoung teams with Jay Park for “FLIRTY,” a summer R&B/dance hit built for nightlife. Industry & Culture: Media-diversity advocates blast an FCC vote on ownership limits, warning it could mean fewer local jobs and less representation. Major Loss: Producer William Orbit, famed for Madonna’s “Ray of Light,” dies at 69. Local Stage: OnCue Theater founder Molly Herson performs “The Last Five Years” to fund tuition for students.

Urban Music & Community: Oklahoma City teachers in Putnam City Public Schools traded classrooms for cello lessons, then capped the summer with a performance—learning the struggle up close. Radio & Culture: iHeartMedia’s WWPR-FM “Power 105.1” leads Urban Contemporary’s Top 10, with major-market stations stacking up for the format’s biggest audience draw. Classical Outdoors: Budapest Festival Orchestra launches its autumn season with a free Sept. 12 open-air concert at Heroes’ Square, featuring Schubert’s “Unfinished,” plus Arvo Pärt and Prokofiev. Opera & Reimagining: A Proms “Oberon” review spotlights a semi-staged approach that replaces dialogue with new narration to make Weber’s final opera land for modern audiences. Folk & Festivals: Belfast’s Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann kicks off today, with thousands competing across music, dance, and sean nós singing. New Releases: Neil Young’s “As Time Explodes” captures his canceled 2026 tour dates with the Chrome Hearts, while Brazilian funk-pop “BOTADINHA” pairs Gabby B and Cacau Chuu. Indigenous & Global Voices: Astoria’s Liberty Theatre hosts Inuit Soul Music by Pamyua, blending traditional Inuit rhythms with contemporary vocals and dance.

Community Arts & Education: Tampa City Ballet and Prodigy Cultural Arts are running free summer dance classes for University Area kids (ages 5–17), ending with a showcase. Music for Humanitarian Causes: Gustavo Dudamel’s Los Angeles Philharmonic “A Concert for Venezuela” at the Hollywood Bowl (Aug. 23) will raise funds for earthquake-affected communities, with Beck, Natalia Lafourcade, Carlos Vives and more. Local Live Music: Dayton Contemporary Dance Company kicks off its 58th season with the free StreetBeats block party (Aug. 8) plus back-to-school giveaways and mini-performances. Global Cultural Spotlight: Ghana’s “Highlife to the World” campaign launched in Barcelona to push Highlife onto the global stage. Pop & Remixes: Madonna and Kylie Minogue drop “Love Sensation” remixes, including an Afterhours Radio Edit and Afterhours Mix. Industry & Radio Business: EMF files an $8M deal to buy Charlotte’s Kiss 95.1 and Las Vegas’ X-107.5 from Beasley, reshuffling formats across both markets. Classical/Youth Music: OPUS’ annual chamber music camp culminates in “Salute, Honor, and Love” at North Central College.

Local Live Music: Bethlehem Land Trust’s free Aug. 13 Caroline Ferriday Preserve set brings back bluegrass/country singalongs with Out of the Barn. Immersive Folk & Storytelling: Athlone singer-songwriter Eva Coyle’s “Folk & Harvest” lands Aug. 17 at St Mary’s Church of Ireland with music, poetry and storytelling (plus Belgian accordionist Hartwin Hoore). Classical & Opera Spotlight: The Lakes Area Music Festival’s “Carmen” runs Aug. 14-16 in Brainerd, with Julia Bullock debuting as Carmen. Global Pop Culture: Prime Video’s YA hit “Sterling Point” drops an Olivia Rodrigo-to-Lana Del Rey soundtrack rundown. Tech for Music Creators: Universal Audio releases native UAD EMT 140 plate and EMT 250 electronic reverb plug-ins for macOS/Windows. Rock Legacy: CBC will air “Neil Peart: No One’s Disciple,” featuring drummers Stewart Copeland, Chad Smith and Danny Carey jamming with Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson. Music Industry Watch: A rehearsal CCTV clip alleges an orchestra director groped a singer in Peru, leading to firing after the footage went public.

Local Gigs: Mark Dionne brings freestyle acoustic songwriting to the Lane Tavern in Sanbornton on Aug. 13 (free). Blues Weekend: Heritage Music Bluesfest hits Wheeling with J.J. Grey & Mofro, St. Paul and the Broken Bones, Sonny Landreth and more. Community Radio & Culture: iHeartMedia’s “Angela Yee Day” returns Aug. 23 in Brooklyn, while KVPR Fresno expands “The Maddy Report” across California. Classical & Film Crossover: Manchester Camerata will perform Brian Eno’s “Music for Airports” at Manchester Airport next month. Global Stage: VOU Fiji’s Fijian Flying Circus tours Australia from Aug. 2026 to Jan. 2027. Music Education: Music Conservatory of Sandpoint’s Summer Academy runs Aug. 3–14 with student performances at Panida Theater. Big Screen Music Buzz: Streaming gains for Tame Impala and Steve Lacy track the “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” soundtrack spotlight. Festival Spotlight: Lebanon Opera House’s Nexus Music and Arts Festival returns Aug. 7–9.

New Music Export Spotlight: Angeliki Spyridaki talks “Music from Greece,” tracing her path from Cretan roots and choir work to an international push for Greek artists and industry. Live Orchestral + Nostalgia: Hillcrest’s Camp Orchards hosts “Vintage, Vogue & Velocity,” pairing classic cars and fashion with performances from the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra and jazz act BeatRoute. Traditional Music Festival Buzz: Belfast’s Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann hits Day 4 with Planxty O’Rourke, dance troupes, and late-night boundary-pushers Tempest and NxNW—plus a big family programme at Central Library and around the city. Metal + Mental Health: Northlane announces seventh album Anemoia (Oct 30) and new single “CUT_it,” framing it around burnout. Cultural Mashups: Danish DJ Hedegaard teams with Gansu’s Saer Group to revive Yugur songs through electronic collaboration. Global South Asian Scene: NaadhaGama UK draws 2,500+ fans for a major Sri Lankan music night, while NY artist abiraahmi debuts KAPALI, inspired by Chennai’s Kapaleeswara Temple. Music News Beyond the Stage: Barry Manilow cancels a Kentucky show again, citing “unforeseen circumstances.” Legal/Health Headline: Former child pop star Briohny Smyth sues Singapore Airlines over an alleged vocal-cord injury from a chicken satay skewer. Arts & Community: Central Province rebrands and expands its festival into the Central Music, Arts and Cultural Festival (Sept 11–13, 2026). Touring Dance: The House & Garage Orchestra announces a 2027 UK tour celebrating 10 years.

House & club buzz: David Morales is set for a classic-meets-contemporary house night at Athens’ Bolivar Beach Club on Aug. 20, with Steph b2b Rezo supporting. New K-pop debut: WAYF BOYS dropped a teaser for their debut single “WAYF BOYS DO,” arriving Aug. 7 at 1 PM KST after a Waterbomb Seoul reveal. Ballet leadership moves: Queensland Ballet named Jun Masuda Principal Dancer, debuting in “Elegantly Wasted” (INXS music) this September; American Ballet Theatre appointed David LaMarche as Music Director effective Aug. 1, 2026. Classical & community stages: KU’s Collage Concert returns Sept. 25 at the Lied Center; Orchestra Bash brings 30+ East Texas musicians together for free sacred music; United Way’s Fun in the Sun program gave 350 kids a live Britten orchestra experience. Music history losses: Booker Rowe, trailblazing Black violinist with the Philadelphia Orchestra, died at 85; flamenco guitar master Pepe Habichuela has passed at 82. Global soundtracks: “Nabd Qatar” is now on Qatar Airways’ in-flight entertainment, featuring a Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra-backed cinematic rework of national sounds.

Pop & Honesty: Gracie Abrams opens up about building intimate, art-filled moments around her music, keeping the focus on vulnerability. Musical Theatre Spotlight: Nathan Canning lands the Tony role in West Side Story with the National Symphony Orchestra Ireland at Dublin’s National Concert Hall. TV Meets Music: America’s Got Talent adds a first-ever Judges’ Callback round, with judges hosting acts for a second look before live shows. Classical/Opera Tech Debate: Bayreuth’s 150th Ring Cycle uses AI-driven staging and triggers boos—plus a big ovation—at the anniversary performance. Global Touring (Classical + Pop): Daniel Caesar expands his Son of Spergy Tour with Australia and Latin America dates. Festival Fever: Bansko Jazz Festival continues with Djabe and Marina Gospodinova, blending jazz, world music, prog rock and ethnic traditions. Music + Culture Access: Miami’s Adrienne Arsht Center announces a 2026–27 Arsht Impact season of free and “Pay What You Can” arts programming. Chart Watch: Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” extends its Hot 100 No. 1 run to a record 15 weeks. UK Live Music: Van Morrison adds 10 more UK autumn dates after sold-out September shows.

Community & Healing Through Music: Zimbabwe’s Heroes Day and Defence Forces Day are paired with storytelling that tackles division—Madlela Skhobokhobo’s film Sizolobola uses romance strained by Shona–Ndebele history to push tolerance and nation-building. Immersive Art Meets Sound: David Hockney’s immersive audiovisual exhibition Bigger & Closer lands at Sydney’s Carriageworks this October with an original score by Nico Muhly. Outdoor Big-Band Energy: Goshen Public Library’s free Aug. 15 patio show brings back Dave Cole and The Big Band Sound, a 20-piece swing lineup spanning Ellington to modern favorites. Local DIY Scene Spotlight: Sacramento’s The Hearth keeps the DIY music spirit alive as a living-room venue built for community gathering, not just gigs. New Music Picks (KEXP): KEXP highlights fresh releases including Francisca Valenzuela’s MALDITA and Charli xcx’s Music, Fashion, Film. Classical With a Cause: A peace memorial concert in Nagasaki on Aug. 9 features a violin that survived Hiroshima and another tied to Holocaust history. Global Youth Anthem: World Youth Day Seoul 2027 unveils Confidente, Ego Vici Mundum, released in symphonic-choral and pop versions.

New Music Release: Finishing Line Press has published Skeletons, Sequins, and Kin, a debut chapbook by Wednesdae Reim Ifrach exploring trans/non-binary selfhood, body autonomy, and chosen family. Classical Spotlight: Paavo Järvi led the BBC Symphony Orchestra with Leonidas Kavakos in a standout, technically dazzling Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto performance. Community Music Event: Tanglewood on Parade returns Aug. 4 with BSO and Pops musicians, storytelling, dance, and hands-on activities across the Lenox campus. Local Live Dates: Thrasher Opera House in Green Lake announced late-summer/fall concerts including VOCALITY (Aug. 8) and Anna Fermin’s Trigger Gospel (Aug. 22). Global Gospel Moment: Mercy Chinwo joined Kirk Franklin onstage at London’s Gospel Garden Festival, a viral cross-Atlantic collaboration. Tech Meets Audio: Kickstarter-backed SonicGlassA1 pitches a transparent lyric speaker with AI visuals and multilingual lyrics. Music + Culture Policy: Scotland’s CCA archive in Glasgow faces potential sale after insolvency—campaigners and arts groups are pushing for preservation.

Women in Pop & Rock: New Zealand’s Atomic returns this month with Julia Deans leading an all-femme lineup (Boh Runga, Dianne Swann, Vera Ellen, Jazmine Mary) plus an all-women band, reworking classics from Blondie to Kate Bush. Classical Spotlight: Australian soprano Miriam Allan brings Bach’s Wedding Cantata and Coffee Cantata to Canberra with father Christopher Allan, plus arias and orchestral selections. Orchestral Leadership: Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra launches its 77th season under new music director Michael Repper, with a “Together, Echoing” series of community-focused concerts. Live Music Dates: Pacific Symphony taps conductor Michael Repper for “Symphony in the Cities” in Newport Beach on Aug. 9. Pop Culture in Concert: “Love Actually in Concert” lands in Australia and New Zealand with live orchestras performing Craig Armstrong’s score to the film. Community Arts: Danceworks On Tap brings “Sole Expressions” tap concert (Aug 7–9) to Milwaukee. Music & Politics: Massive Attack’s Singapore ban follows a pro-Palestinian flag display and chants. Musical Theatre: Ariana Grande steps back from the West End revival of Sunday in the Park with George; the production continues with recasting.

Radio Charts: Bruno Mars’s “Risk It All” rebounds to No. 3 on Billboard’s Radio Songs chart, putting him within reach of a historic No. 1. New Releases: South African DJ/producer JAZZWRLD drops “Secrets of The WRLD,” while Adam Freeland revives his Marine Parade label with EP “Transhuman,” and New York duo Fcukers shares remix EP “nüyork.” Live Music & Festivals: Glasgow’s Piping Live! 2026 triggers major street closures ahead of Aug. 9–14 events, and Lollapalooza 2026 closes Sunday with Tate McRae and The xx headlining. Classical & Culture: Theatro da Paz and Teatro Amazonas win UNESCO World Cultural Heritage status, and Han Kang’s “Tear Box” is reborn as a choral music drama for Korea’s National Chorus. Music Community: Tributes continue for Cambridge composer Asteryth Sloane, who died at 26, and a professional cellist sues Starbucks after a fridge incident left her unable to perform. Local Scene: Hyderabad’s rooftop resto-bar Vayu launches with regional Indian flavours and a music-forward social setup.

Youth Orchestras on Tour: Carnegie Hall’s NYO2 is in the Dominican Republic for concerts Aug. 2 in Santiago and Aug. 3 in Santo Domingo, with flash-mob stops in the Colonial Zone. Community Music Access: Rotary Club of West Seattle is collecting gently used instruments for Music4Life in The Junction next Saturday (Aug. 8, 10am–2pm), taking band/orchestra gear plus guitars. Local Culture & Identity: Canberra’s tango scene gets a spotlight on how the dance’s immigrant roots and drama-rich spirit go beyond pop stereotypes. Queer Performance Spotlight: Edinburgh Fringe is seeing drag kings rise, with shows using masculinity as a lens on power and gender. Global Sound Tech: Radio Kuwait says it’s using AI to rework Kuwaiti folk traditions with symphonic orchestration for wider international audiences. Awards Watch: Ghana Arts and Entertainment Awards 2026 has revealed record-breaking nominees. Music in the Spotlight: October London’s “Make Me Wanna” lands on Barack Obama’s 2026 summer playlist. Festival Energy: Oklahoma City’s Red Earth Festival is underway with 130+ Native artists, plus dance, film and music.

Music Courts & Copyright: A Lagos federal court dismissed Sinach “Way Maker” ₦5bn copyright suit, ruling the claimant didn’t prove co-authorship and that Sinach had already written and performed the song before he was hired for mixing/mastering. Pop Album Watch: Ariana Grande dropped Petal, leaning into restraint and emotional nuance with Max Martin-era polish and a more controlled vocal approach. Rock Update: Soundgarden’s drummer Matt Cameron says the band is mixing its final album built on Chris Cornell’s completed vocals, with eight songs in place after a long legal delay. Live Music & Community: Penn Yan Community Band returns to the Yates Concert Series Aug. 5 (free), while Wyoming International Chamber Music Festival expands to Cheyenne on Aug. 11 alongside daily Laramie performances. Global Stage Politics: Massive Attack members were permanently barred from Singapore after a pro-Palestinian flag display at a July 29 show, with regulators investigating licensing breaches. Classical/Arts Spotlight: Montreal composer Ana Sokolovic premieres Montréal cirque at a free Mount Royal Park concert with Orchestre Métropolitain.

Classical Spotlight: Vienna Philharmonic’s Schönbrunn Summer Night Concert returns with Lorenzo Viotti and Sir Bryn Terfel, mixing opera highlights with “If I Were a Rich Man.” New Music & Crossovers: Ariana Grande’s “Petal” leans into restraint and atmosphere, while organist-producer Matt Walters’ Reductio goes full “Bach meets disco” on Revival. Orchestral Access: Birmingham’s CBSO launches “First Listen,” a three-part, £5, no-interval series built for first-time symphony-goers. Local Live Music: La Crosse Jazz Orchestra closes its summer with a free Riverside Park big-band set featuring cabaret classics and a jazz take on “Stairway to Heaven.” Industry Watch: Warner Music Group CFO/COO Armin Zerza steps down; Lou Dickler takes over as acting CFO and Tom Corson is promoted to COO. Pop Chart Moment: Sam Fender and Olivia Dean’s “Rein Me In” becomes the longest-running UK No.1 single ever. Community & Culture: Ghanaian composer Michael Adangba lands the TV3 GMB 20th anniversary theme-song commission. Big Stage: “Hamilton” announces Oklahoma City dates Aug. 11–23 with tickets now on sale. Legacy News: Arlene Smith of The Chantels, “Maybe” co-writer and lead singer, dies at 84.