AGP Executive Report

Chart Shake-up: YouTube will resume sending streaming data to Billboard in 2027 after the chart-maker changed its formula to give ad-supported plays more weight. Live Shows: Pink will become the first solo female pop artist to headline the Sphere, with an eight-date Las Vegas residency in 2027; Stray Kids also announced a world tour that includes North American and European stadium dates. Global Charts: Tate McRae’s “Housewife” held the top spot on Billboard’s global charts for a third week, while Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” surged after Halloween. Artist News: Robbie Williams dismissed calls for a copyright dispute over similarities between his song “Candy” and Olivia Rodrigo’s new Christmas track. Dr. Dre, meanwhile, says he plans to step away from music for a year or two. Awards: Carly Rae Jepsen will host and perform at the 2027 Juno Awards in Winnipeg. Industry: International attendance overtook the U.S. at Live Nation as the concert giant posted record third-quarter results.

Global Touring: The Weeknd’s After Hours Til Dawn tour reportedly set a RM5.3 billion world record, ending with two Kuala Lumpur shows that drew 130,000 fans. Live Nation also reported that international revenue overtook US revenue in its latest quarter. Asia’s New Stage: Eurovision’s first Asian contest lands in Bangkok on November 14, with 11 countries competing. India, Japan and China are absent, and ticket sales have been slow. Cross-Border Pop: Filipino singer TJ Monterde will represent OPM at South Korea’s ROUND Festival, while veteran Gurdas Maan says Punjabi music’s global rise depends on staying rooted in its origins. Classical Music: Conductor Herbert Blomstedt has died at 99. He continued leading major orchestras into his final year. Music and Activism: King Gizzard, Jimmy Barnes and other Australian artists have released “If Not Now,” urging the government to protect Scott Reef from proposed gas drilling.

Tour Milestone: The Weeknd’s After Hours Til Dawn tour has reportedly become the highest-grossing tour by a male artist, with receipts topping RM5.3 billion. Farewell Show: Brazilian metal pioneers Sepultura closed their live career in São Paulo on Nov. 7, ending a four-decade run that carried Brazilian heavy music worldwide. Global Sounds: Tanzanian singer Leilah represented her country at South Korea’s Changwon K-pop festival, while Pasadena’s Conservatory of Music introduced audiences to Indonesian gamelan. Cultural Legacy: A Konkani singing marathon passed 130 hours as organizers pursue a Guinness record, and Ghanaian musician King Ayisoba drew attention in England in his signature Fugu attire. New Listening: Rosalía marked Lux’s first anniversary with a 1,000-song playlist spanning artists from Kate Bush to Caetano Veloso. Industry Watch: A global music body warned Australia’s prime minister that weakening AI copyright protections could threaten creativity. Awards: Susan Boyle and Calvin Harris were among the Scottish Music Awards winners; the event raised £205,000 for music therapy charity Nordoff and Robbins.

Airline Soundtrack: Qatar Airways has unveiled a five-track travel album created with Hans Zimmer, drawing on Qatar’s culture and the emotions of a journey. South African Summer: Mi Casa opens Kirstenbosch’s 19-show sunset concert season on November 22, with Lira, Goldfish and other major local acts on the bill. Global Breakthrough: Pakistani duo Hamza Malik and Zain Zohaib’s “Alfaaz” reached No. 39 on Spotify’s Global Top 50 and topped the platform’s Pakistan and India charts. Music and AI: Vietnamese artists and industry leaders are debating how to use AI while protecting music’s cultural roots. Asia’s Eurovision Debut: Bangkok hosts the first Eurovision Song Contest Asia on November 14, with 11 countries competing in a new regional edition. Korean Culture: CJ Group’s Miky Lee received an Asian Hall of Fame lifetime achievement medal for helping bring Korean film, music and television to worldwide audiences.

Language & Identity: Bad Bunny’s unapologetic use of Puerto Rican Spanish has reignited debate over “proper” Spanish, as the global star’s dialect challenges ideas of who gets to define the language. Losses: Television guitarist Richard Lloyd, whose playing helped shape New York’s punk underground and the landmark album Marquee Moon, has died at 75 after a cancer diagnosis. African Music: Ghanaian singer Efya married Nigerian musician Tomi Thomas, a former member of the group LOS who blends Afro-pop, R&B, soul and dancehall. Festival News: Jools Holland, Beverley Knight and Level 42 lead the first announced acts for Sidmouth’s 2027 Jazz and Blues Festival; Chicago and Emeli Sandé are also set for Saint Lucia’s 2027 festival. Heritage: Limburg will assess whether Pinkpop merits Dutch cultural-heritage status and a possible future UNESCO nomination. AI & Rights: Elvis Presley’s rights owners are suing Suno over alleged AI voice cloning, while music industry group IMPALA is pressing for action on AI and sustainability.

Record-Breaking Tours: The Weeknd’s After Hours Til Dawn run ended in Kuala Lumpur after 176 shows across 30 countries, selling more than 9 million tickets and grossing over $1.3 billion — a record for a male artist. Qawwali Goes Orchestral: The acclaimed Orchestral Qawwali Project will make its India debut on Dec. 5 in Delhi, bringing its blend of Sufi music, Qawwali vocals and Western classical arrangements home. New Voice, Global Reach: Bassist Mohini Dey, who began performing as a child and spent eight years in A.R. Rahman’s band, is touring internationally with her own album, The Dey Way. Bluegrass Legacy: Bill Clifton, who helped bring American bluegrass to Europe during a 15-year stay in England, has died at 95.

Music Industry: Nashville’s AES Show drew nearly 3,000 people from 37 countries, with attendance up 108% and exhibitors up 250% from 2025. Festival News: Mexico City’s Vive Latino has unveiled a 2027 bill spanning Mötley Crüe, Turnstile, Residente and Milo J, among more than 50 acts; performances will stream on Amazon Music. New Releases: JENNIE, XG, Lil Baby, Dove Cameron, Kings of Leon and Boys Noize are among the week’s notable drops. Global Stages: Simphiwe Dana and Mahotella Queens lead the first acts announced for the 2027 Cape Town Jazz Festival. Live Nation says international markets surpassed the U.S. in fan attendance this year as third-quarter revenue rose 19% to $10.1 billion. Legacy: Gram Parsons will enter the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Nov. 14, with a sold-out Los Angeles tribute featuring Emmylou Harris, Elvis Costello and the Black Crowes.

K-pop: Netflix has added 78 minutes of KPop Demon Hunters bonus videos, while Blackpink’s Jisoo and Lisa continue solo releases during the group’s pause. Music Business: Sony reported record third-quarter recorded-music and publishing revenue of $3.15 billion, up 8.9%; Afreximbank is targeting more than $540 million in creative-industry deals at Lagos’s CANEX gathering. Access & Identity: A Turkish online library now offers nearly 11,000 accessible scores to visually impaired musicians; Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie says performing in Twi helped define his international career. Legacies: Bob Dylan met Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, and South African broadcasting pioneer Ramu Gopidayal has died, remembered for championing Indian music and culture. The Zombies’ Rod Argent also returned to the stage more than two years after a stroke. Live Music: Plovdiv Jazz Fest brings international artists to Bulgaria this weekend, while U2 has added 2027 tour dates in Europe.

Asian Breakthrough: Filipino-Japanese artist ena mori won Best Asian Creative Artist at Taiwan’s Golden Indie Music Awards for her EP Ore, following a Summer Sonic appearance in Japan. Regional Voices: Nagaland’s Ticket to Hornbill showcase brings local musicians, folk fusion and fashion to New Delhi on Nov. 6, spotlighting the region’s contemporary culture. Latin Milestone: Karol G became the first artist to claim all three top spots on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart with songs from one album. Heritage: Sarah Aroeste marks 25 years of keeping Ladino and Sephardic culture alive with a new live collection of 13 songs. Global Soundtrack: India’s Ramayana: Rise of a Legend launches worldwide with a score by A.R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer. Industry Watch: Global songwriter royalties hit a record in 2025, while CISAC warns that AI poses a major test for creators’ rights.

Asian Pop: Filipino-Japanese singer ena mori won Best Asian Creative Artist at Taiwan’s Golden Indie Music Awards for her EP Ore. BINI will share Manila’s Asia Pop Girl Fest stage with Japan’s HANA and Thailand’s 4EVE in February 2027. Global Tours: BIGBANG added a March 2027 SoFi Stadium show as the finale of its 20th-anniversary world tour. Cross-Border Collaboration: Greek singer Konstantinos Argiros performed in Ankara and says he is open to more projects with Turkish artists, including another song with Sıla. Music Business: CISAC reports creator royalties reached a record $15.9 billion in 2025, while AI’s impact on music remains a growing concern; UMG and Sony are seeking distributor data in their legal fight with Suno. Film Scores: A.R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer have teamed up for the Ramayana soundtrack, as its producers aim to bring the Indian epic to global audiences. Dance Music Legacy: Techno pioneer Juan Atkins has died at 64, prompting tributes to his influence on the genre.

Classical Music: Herbert Blomstedt, the celebrated conductor who led major orchestras into his late 90s, has died at 99. Legacy Releases: Sinéad O’Connor’s children are working with Chrysalis Records on upcoming releases, saying they want to honor her music and life. Music and Creators: Adobe is adding licensed Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group tracks to its Premiere mobile video app; users can add up to 60 seconds for personal, non-commercial videos. Royalties: Global music royalties rose nearly 12% to €14.06 billion in 2025, according to CISAC, with live and background music income overtaking TV and radio for the first time. Industry Moves: Warner Music Group has acquired German distributor Zebralution Music, prompting concern from independent-sector group IMPALA about further consolidation. International Breakthrough: Fontaines D.C.’s latest album reached a career-high No. 14 in the U.S. and topped charts in eight countries, while the band’s monthly Spotify audience has grown sharply since 2023.

K-pop: BTS plans new music and group and solo projects in 2027, while HYBE says it is preparing more dates for the group’s “Arirang” world tour after a record quarter. Tour News: Noah Kahan has announced his 2027 “Last of the Bugs” tour, running from Athens, Georgia, on April 24 to London on July 25. Electronic Music: Anyma will headline the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after-party, bringing his high-tech audiovisual show to the event. Industry: Global music publishing collections reached €14.6 billion in 2025, up 11.9%, but CISAC warns that AI poses a major test for creators’ rights. Warner Music has also completed its acquisition of German distributor Zebralution. Legacy: Detroit techno pioneer Juan Atkins, whose work helped reshape electronic music, has died at 64. Global Stage: A new revival of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “In the Heights” brings a Latino cast to New York’s City Center, nearly two decades after the musical’s debut.

BTS’ 2027 Plans: HYBE says the group will keep touring through the first half of next year, with more dates planned, while working on new music and solo projects. Music Losses: Tony Butala, co-founder of harmony trio The Lettermen, has died at 87. Juan Atkins, a foundational figure in Detroit techno, has also died, aged 64. Arabic Music Investment: Anghami co-founder Eddy Maroun’s new company, IPNation, aims to invest $100 million in Arabic music catalogs and entertainment rights across the Middle East and North Africa. African Creators: The NAACP Image Awards are adding 10 categories for African film, television and music, opening submissions to creators across all 55 African Union member states.

Festival Spotlight: Doha Film Festival’s November 19–27 music programme pairs Grammy-nominated Australian artist RY X with the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, alongside regional hip-hop, Afrobeat, electronic and Arabic sounds. Heritage: Sarawak musician Rining Peter Paris is among the few remaining makers of the Lun Bawang community’s two-string tapi, keeping its carving traditions alive. Across Borders: “Cauces Sónicos” brought musicians from California and Mexico together to create and perform original work, while Philippine singer Carmelle Collado heads to the inaugural Eurovision Asia hoping to introduce OPM to new audiences. Techno Loss: Juan Atkins, a founding figure in Detroit techno, has died at 64; fellow artists credited him with helping spark electronic music’s global revolution. New Sounds: Shenzhen has released “Meet You Where Wonders Bloom,” its APEC 2026 host-city song, performed by Jane Zhang and Joseph Zeng.

Techno Loss: Juan Atkins, widely regarded as a founding father of techno, has died at 64, prompting tributes across the music world. World Sounds: Wisconsin Public Radio launches “The River Flows” on Nov. 7, a weekly four-hour journey through music from cultures and traditions around the globe. Roots & Heritage: Grammy-winning Louisiana Creole musician Terrance Simien brings zydeco to Susquehanna University, drawing on a tradition he has shared in more than 45 countries. Music & Freedom: Belarusian singer Ales Chumakou, released from prison in September, is preparing a Warsaw concert of freedom songs, Belarusian anthems and rock translated into Belarusian. Touring Pressures: Canadian musicians face rising fuel and visa costs, political tensions and growing U.S. industry consolidation, making cross-border careers harder to sustain. Industry Debate: Prague Music Week, opening Nov. 4, will bring artists and international music professionals together to discuss women’s influence and AI-generated music.

Global Pop: Shah Rukh Khan marked his 61st birthday with “Tu Mil Jaaye,” a new song from King featuring Arijit Singh, Ed Sheeran and Deepika Padukone. Touring Power: BTS drew 853,000 fans across 14 sold-out South American shows, with the concerts also boosting local travel and hospitality. Farewells: Detroit techno pioneer Juan Atkins has died at 64; Filipino comedian Ate Gay, known for musical mash-ups, died at 55. Music Across Cultures: A Qatar Foundation and Reina Sofía School of Music conference in Madrid explored Arab–Iberian musical ties, while Lyre Camp brought students from 11 countries to Mount Olympus to study ancient Greek music. Industry Watch: Australian music’s share of audio streams has fallen to 8.5%, prompting the Ausify campaign to push local artists’ visibility.