AGP Executive Report

World Cup Music & Community: New Jersey is funding “Flag Cities” fan events with $5M in grants, pairing match screenings and food trucks with live music across Jersey City, Newark, Paterson, East Rutherford, Secaucus, Bayonne and Leonia. Global Pop & Culture: Jordan telecom Umniah launched “Darb Al Asateer,” a World Cup musical tribute that revives the voice of folkloric legend Miteb Al-Saggar using AI trained on archived material. Live Music Calendar: Radio 2 in the Park returns to Stirling in September with Chaka Khan and Simple Minds headlining, plus The Script, ABC and more. New Releases: Lana Crow drops parenthood-themed indie-pop single “Out of This World,” produced by Grammy winner Tristan Boston. Music Tech & Rights: A reggae act says AI bootleggers used an altered track to profit off its viral success without credit. Classics Still Hit: Engelbert Humperdinck’s new single “I’ve Got You” charts again 60 years after his first No. 1, ahead of a 50-date tour at age 90.

AI in Music Tech: Apple unveiled “Siri AI,” a more conversational assistant that can use personal context across messages, photos, and more, with developer testing starting now. World Cup as a Soundtrack: FIFA’s LA rollout leans hard into music and fan culture, from the FIFA Fan Festival at LA Memorial Coliseum to city fan zones and countdown events. Global Pop Spotlight: Nora Fatehi’s World Cup track “Siir Siir” officially drops as part of the tournament’s official music project. New Releases: Athens band Deaf Radio returns with the cinematic post-punk/post-rock single “No Place Like Home.” Classical Leadership: New World Symphony extended Stéphane Denève’s artistic directorship through the 2031–32 season. Music Business Watch: Merlin and Jamen Capital plan to buy Curve Royalty Systems from Virgin Music Group, aiming to strengthen royalty infrastructure for independent labels. Local Culture: Buon Me Cafe in San Jose hosts a three-generation tribute to Vietnamese singer Lê Uyên.

World Cup Soundtrack Watch: Shakira’s “Dai Dai” is set as the official FIFA World Cup 2026 anthem, with the Colombian star returning for her fourth tournament song. Broadway Buzz: “Schmigadoon!” won best new musical at the Tony Awards, while “Liberation” took best play and “Ragtime” won best musical revival—another reminder that musical theater is leaning into satire and social bite. Music Tech & Marketing: AI video creation is reshaping how artists and celebrities promote releases, letting teams move faster with visuals—dazzling, but also sparking debate. Global Pop Spotlight: Afrobeats singer Ayra Starr earned a UK Silver certification for “Bloody Samaritan,” adding to Nigeria’s growing international chart footprint. Tragic Loss: Grammy-winning Nigerian songwriter Talay Riley (Mark Orabiyi) died after a stabbing in east London, prompting tributes from major artists. Nightlife Reset: Pacha is returning to New York at a new East Williamsburg address after the Brooklyn Mirage’s collapse, aiming to rebuild the dance-music community.

Broadway Spotlight: Pink kicked off the 2026 Tony Awards as host, hitting the Radio City Music Hall red carpet with husband Carey Hart and their kids, Willow and Jameson—an on-brand family moment amid earlier split rumors. Stage Satire: Manhattan Arts Center’s Urinetown returns with its water-drought dystopia, monopoly satire, and a revolution plot that turns “potty time” into political theater. Electronic Music: Australia’s SANDBOX announced a first national festival series, bringing its hard-dance, warehouse-inspired vibe to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth this September. K-Pop Collaboration: HYBE groups LE SSERAFIM, ILLIT and KATSEYE team up for “ICONIC BY MISTAKE,” dropping June 12 with a June 11 live performance. World Cup Soundtrack: Davido headlines FIFA’s June 10 Countdown Concert in Los Angeles, with Tyla and Rema also lined up for major tournament performances. Global Culture & Music: Milo J wrapped his Mexico City tour date with a folk-urban celebration and tributes to Indio Solari and Totó la Momposina.

World Cup Pop Lineup: Ava Max joins Major Lazer and Davido for FIFA’s Countdown Concert at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on June 10, with fans able to attend in person and watch via TikTok. AI Music Meets the City: Muzig AI launched “Muzig of City,” a GPS-based, zero-prompt service that generates real-time audio that shifts with your movement, speed, time of day, weather, and location. Music + Sports Community Culture: In Northern Kentucky, Braxton Brewing’s World Cup Village runs as a six-week, all-ages watch party with live entertainment, local vendors, and limited-edition beers tied to regions. Global Heritage Through Sound: Red Sea Global released “Red Sea Waves Vol. 2,” a second in-house album meant to translate Saudi coastal culture into a contemporary listening experience. Classical Spotlight: Poland won Classical Eurovision for Young Musicians 2026 in Yerevan with an accordion concerto, with Armenia’s Elen Virabyan taking third. Safety Alert: Multiple people were shot near Ohio’s Old West End Festival; police say they’re searching for suspects and urge the public to avoid the area.

World Cup Opening Ceremony: Shakira, 49, and Burna Boy will debut “Dai Dai,” the official 2026 anthem, at Estadio Azteca on June 11, with a star-studded lineup including Maná, J Balvin, Tyla and more. Global Streaming Buzz: BTS’ “ARIRANG” hits Spotify’s Weekly Top Albums Global No. 1 again, while “SWIM” stays in the top songs chart. Music Meets Space/Art: Warrington Arts Festival unveils Luke Jerram’s giant Mars sculpture, paired with Dan Jones music and live sets from HENGE and Dave Haslam. Local Live Culture: Portland’s Lents International Farmers Market returns for its 21st season with Sunday musicians, kids’ activities, and SNAP double-up deals. Theatre & Controversy: London’s “Sinatra The Musical” warns of smoking and haze in a “peak woke” trigger-warning backlash. Industry Shock: Australia’s first music school empire, Stormer Music, collapses owing $1.8m as locations shift under a new operator. Community Pride: West Hollywood Pride Weekend continues with OUTLOUD performances and a major street fair.

World Cup Culture Push (Canada): FIFA is rolling out match screenings, fan zones and cultural programming at 38 stops across Canada, aiming to put events within a two-hour drive for one in four Canadians as the tournament kicks off June 11. Global Pop Spotlight (South Africa): Nomcebo Zikode says she’s proud to see “Jerusalema” still resonating after Kylie Jenner’s viral dance moment, underscoring the track’s long afterlife beyond its COVID-era breakout. Music on Screen (Michael Jackson): Lionsgate’s “Michael” biopic hits digital streaming June 9, as the film continues to chase the box-office benchmark set by “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Live Music Comeback (UK): Duffy announces a secret, intimate London gig July 5, her first public appearance in over a decade, with new material promised. African Talent Pipeline: AFRIMA’s “Diamonds” program launches seven emerging acts at the AFRIMA Diamond Party in Lagos, betting on a new wave of African music stars. Heritage in Motion (Libya): A Libyan National Museum promotional film, “I Am Libyan,” wins three international awards, including Best Music, boosting global visibility for Libyan creative work.

FIFA World Cup Music: FIFA’s official World Cup 2026 album is out with 18 global tracks, spotlighting host-nation artists including Canada’s Nelly Furtado and Jessie Reyez, while the rollout keeps fans guessing after partial anthem reveals sparked BTS-style speculation. Opening-Ceremony Soundtrack: Shakira and Burna Boy are set for the tournament’s Mexico City opener with “Dai Dai,” and the broader lineup leans hard into Latin and Afrobeats energy. Music Industry Legal Fight: The AFM has sued UMG and WMG over AI licensing deals with Suno and Udio, arguing session musicians aren’t getting paid or credited. Black Music Legacy: Tributes continue after MOBO founder Kanya King’s death at 57, with the awards credited for reshaping Black British music. New Releases: Taylor Swift drops the “Toy Story 5” video for “I Knew It, I Knew You,” built almost entirely from franchise footage. Live & Local: Lyon Township’s International Kite Festival returns with music-synced flying, and the Chelsea Music Festival returns with a 250th-anniversary theme. Tech + Creativity: Suno’s latest funding round keeps the AI-music race heating up.

World Cup Anthem Spotlight: Shakira and Burna Boy will perform “Dai Dai” at the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony in Mexico City on June 11, with FIFA framing the track as a global unifier and the show also featuring J Balvin, Tyla and more. Global Music Industry Loss: Kanya King, founder of the MOBO Awards and a champion of Black British music, has died at 57 after colon cancer, with MOBO calling her work “cultural justice” that changed UK music’s mainstream. New Music Friday: Lizzo drops BITCH, Evanescence release Sanctuary, and Taylor Swift unveils “I Knew It, I Knew You” for Toy Story 5, alongside fresh singles from Shaboozey, Madonna and others. UK Music Cities Debate: Sound Diplomacy’s Music Cities Convention returns to Hull, arguing the UK’s music growth is being held back by London-only infrastructure. A&R Appointment: Warner Chappappell Music names Soraib el Jelali head of A&R for Benelux, tasked with expanding the roster and cross-border collaboration. Pop Culture Meets Sport: Nike’s “Rip the Script” World Cup campaign blends football stars with pop and film cameos, turning the tournament build-up into entertainment.

Live Music Monopoly Fight: NIVA’s 2026 conference (June 7-10 in Minneapolis) is turning DOJ “post-monopoly” momentum into a new push on ticket resale caps and stability for independent venues. Latin Urban Expansion: Concord is partnering with Lito Music, the label founded by Lito MC Cassidy, to grow reggaetón and Latin hip-hop with Concord’s global infrastructure. World Cup Music & Culture: Queens’ Billie Jean King Tennis Center is hosting daily World Cup watch parties and performances (June 11-27), with Nas and Wyclef Jean among the acts. Global Beatles Day: Apple Corps is backing the June 25 celebration and releasing a colorized “All You Need Is Love” performance clip online for the first time. AI Music Business: Suno just raised $400M to scale AI music creation, as the AI music race heats up. Soundtrack Spotlight: EA Sports UFC 6 drops June 19 with a genre-hopping tracklist built for fight-night energy. Community Music Access: Hungry for Music says it’s placed 3,000+ repaired instruments annually into kids’ hands worldwide.

World Cup Music: FIFA has unveiled the full 18-track Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Album, stacking global stars across pop, K-pop, Afrobeats, Latin and hip-hop; highlights include “Goals” by Anitta, LISA and Rema and “Game Time” by Future and Tyla, with Shakira, Burna Boy, Davido, Stormzy, the Rolling Stones and more also on the roster. Opening-Ceremony Spectacle: Italian producer Marco Balich is behind a trio of star-studded opening ceremonies for the US, Canada and Mexico, each designed with distinct cultural visuals but a shared theme of soccer passion and unity. Global Spotlight via Performance: Shakira has invited Uganda’s Ghetto Kids to join her at the World Cup final halftime show. Industry Moves: UMG is partnering with Thai distributor/publisher S1, taking a significant minority stake as it expands services across Thailand’s digital music market. Music Education & Live Stages: School of Rock brings about 575 student musicians from 52 locations to Summerfest in Milwaukee (June 25–26). Local Culture Calendar: 906 Fest returns for two days of music in Iron Mountain, with Poolhouse headlining.

Global Charts: BTS keeps ruling Billboard’s Global Excl. U.S. with “Swim,” holding No. 1 for a fourth straight week and climbing on the Global 200. Cross-Border Pop: tripleS drops a Japanese version of “Baby Flower,” with a new multi-city video and fresh momentum for the group’s global push. World Cup Soundtrack Buzz: FIFA confirms IShowSpeed’s “Champions” is on the official FIFA World Cup 2026 album, after the track went viral online. Latin/Global Collaboration: Diplo’s Major Lazer and Los Ángeles Azules are set for FIFA’s Countdown Concert series across Mexico City, L.A. and Toronto. Artist Spotlight: Shakira opens up ahead of her World Cup Final halftime co-headline, reflecting on heartbreak and career milestones. Music & Community: Universal Music Group teams with Hydro Flask to cut single-use bottles in studios and events, while New Zealand’s Universal Music New Zealand launches nextWAV., a 12-month mentorship program for emerging young artists. Industry Moves: Primary Wave partners with Mexico’s Intocable for catalog expansion, and Julia Jacklin signs with 4AD. Loss: Grammy-winning R&B and Disney duet legend Peabo Bryson dies at 75.

Tributes & Legacy: R&B and Disney duet legend Peabo Bryson has died at 75 after a stroke, with Celine Dion and others leading tributes to his “Beauty and the Beast” and “A Whole New World” voice. Global Music Diplomacy: Russia’s St. Petersburg hosts a BRICS open-air symphony on June 5, featuring a world premiere by Murat Kabardokov and guest soloists from Russia, China and Iran, with Italian singer Alessandro Safina joining the orchestra. Electronic Spotlight: Melbourne’s Dom Dolla sells out Marvel Stadium for a September stadium production, another big win for Australian dance music. World Cup Soundtrack Buzz: IShowSpeed’s unofficial “World Cup (Champions)” keeps going viral as FIFA responds, while Davido lands a spot on the official World Cup Countdown Concert in Los Angeles. Culture on the Move: Curaçao’s Soul Beach Music Festival returns with Jodeci, Babyface and DJ Jazzy Jeff, blending Caribbean comedy and R&B. Local Live Scene: Prague’s Open Air festival kicks off June 3 with Kosheen and Dropkick Murphys, and Dubrovnik’s Stradun hosts a majorette showcase plus Giuliano.

World Cup Culture Meets Health Crisis: In Atlanta, Congo fans are organizing huge local viewing plans for the DRC’s June 27 World Cup match, but Ebola travel restrictions keep overseas supporters from coming in. R&B Loss: Peabo Bryson, the Grammy-winning voice behind “Beauty and the Beast” and “A Whole New World,” died at 75 after a stroke. AI in Music’s Business Side: Customers Bank is teaming with ElevenLabs to roll out voice and conversational AI agents for customer and employee support. Juneteenth Goes Wider: Lafayette’s Juneteenth festival returns downtown with a push for broader, non-Black participation. Stage Spotlight: Festival 56 brings “Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash” to the Grace Theater (June 19–28). Creator Economy at Cannes Lions: A guide to Cannes Lions 2026 creator-economy events (June 22–26) highlights panels on AI, trust, and music culture. Mental Health Online: Chappell Roan says she deletes social media from her phone when it gets “disheartening.” Global Music Industry Moves: UMPG names Sunita Kaur president for Asia, and Havas launches Volyum with Virgin to pair emerging artists with brands. Festival Shock: WOMAD Glasgow is cancelled after low ticket sales.

BTS Anniversary Buzz: BTS will mark 13 years since debut with a limited-edition vinyl of “Arirang” (16 tracks) dropping June 12, plus its “2026 BTS FESTA” running online and offline around June 13, with Busan concerts on June 12-13. Global Festival Watch: iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas (Sept. 18-19) adds BTS, Cardi B, Lainey Wilson, Muse, Snoop Dogg, Zara Larsson and more to the broadcast lineup. World Cup Soundtrack Debate: Streamer IShowSpeed’s “World Cup (Champions)” has gone viral fast, with fans pushing FIFA to adopt it over the official anthem “Dai Dai.” Tech Meets Music: Nintendo Music adds a web player and now lets Switch 2/Mario Kart World fans stream the full Mario Kart World soundtrack (130 tracks) across more devices. Regional Culture Spotlight: Brazil’s São João season (June-July) is expanding beyond Carnival with forró, bonfires, and quadrilha dancing. Music Industry Moves: Warner Music Central Europe names Jean-Sebastien “Seb” Permal SVP of A&R for EMEA and Central Europe.

Streaming & AI in the spotlight: Paramount+ is set to debut Baz Luhrmann’s concert doc EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert after a $23M box-office run, while Apple Music may be testing a free, ad-supported tier. Music marketing reality check: Experts say the “first 100 fans” are earned through intention and real-world devotion, not algorithms. Global pop & Latin heat: Coca-Cola Flow Fest 2026 drops a star-studded lineup headlined by Anuel AA, Ozuna, Kali Uchis and more. World Cup culture, with music attached: Philadelphia’s FIFA Fan Fest at Lemon Hill is taking shape, and LA is rolling out major security for World Cup events that include musical acts. Rights & licensing pressure: A Nollywood director says Afrobeats songs can’t be used without proper clearance as publishing deals tighten. Local scenes: Neoni heads home for an August hometown show, and Hope Vocals’ viral Maroon fusion track gets an official recording invite.