AGP Executive Report

Legal Drama: Alanis Morissette has sued former tour manager Keren Urinov, alleging a “calculated blackmail campaign” tied to threats to report her for drug trafficking. Health Watch: Lionel Richie remains in hospital in St Louis after a show at The Muny, with new footage showing him struggling to perform. UK Music Business: The UK’s Music Export Growth Scheme backs 29 acts in its 25th funding round, continuing support for international touring and releases. Chart/Global Pop: ENHYPEN scores its first Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 entry with “Bloody Paradise,” while also charting in the UK and on Spotify’s global lists. Live Music Safety: Police investigate a fatal shooting at a techno rave in Aarau, Switzerland, as the suspect is arrested. Festival Culture: Leeds Festival attendees reportedly arranged an Uber to Creamfields after dance music stages were shut down. Tech & Music Lifestyle: Samsung expands One UI 9 beta access to Galaxy Z Fold 7 owners in the UK and beyond. Classical Spotlight: The Royal Ballet confirms three performers for the 2026 Margot Fonteyn competition final at the London Coliseum.

St Paul’s x Fabric: London’s Fabric lands a four-year deal to host concerts inside St Paul’s Cathedral, with the first show pencilled in for 29 October. Punk nostalgia, cheap tickets: The 100 Club marks Punk Special’s 50th anniversary with “1976 prices” at £1.50 entry for two nights (20-21 Sept), featuring Maruja and Sprints. Big-name UK tours: Noah Kahan adds extra London (third Wembley date) and Dublin shows due to demand; Hayley Williams announces UK/Europe dates for 2027 including Glasgow, Cardiff and London’s Alexandra Palace. Chart momentum: Kiss scores a second 2026 album chart hit in the UK after splitting; Elvis returns with compilation Love Songs; Olivia Rodrigo lands two new UK singles debuts. New releases: Kali Malone announces Burning Song (out 30 Oct) with London dates; Yeah Yeah Yeahs share a live album recorded at Royal Albert Hall. BBC shake-up: Ski Sunday is axed after nearly 50 years. Festival culture: Notting Hill Carnival sees 636 arrests and one man dies after fleeing police into a canal.

Dolly Parton in the UK spotlight: Her estate has confirmed “Dollyfest” will happen in 2027 across two weekends, with star-studded celebrations in Nashville and London—while the team says a “traditional memorial” isn’t the plan. AI music fight: Major publishers have sued Anthropic in California, accusing it of copying Beatles, Taylor Swift and Michael Jackson songs to train Claude, seeking up to $150k per work. Community live music in the UK: Bradford Live turns one, marking a year of sell-out shows and big names, with the venue director promising more to come. Grassroots venue pressure: Music Venue Trust launches “MVT: Origins” with Fatboy Slim in Brighton, spotlighting the venues that shaped artists and the fight against rising costs. New releases to watch: Mixmag’s radar includes Mike D’s debut solo album “Thank You” and Lady Shaka’s single “Sweat.” Touring news: Rush adds extra dates to its Fifty Something run, with tickets for new stops due to go on sale soon.

Festival fallout & crowd behaviour: Reading Festival-goers have been left horrified by reports of rubbish-strewn campsites and abandoned tents after the weekend’s mud and storms. Live music safety in Northern Ireland: PSNI says “shameful” attacks on officers during Belfast concerts left seven injured, including a bitten officer, as police policed an Emerge dance event and a gig at Custom House Square. Dolly Parton in the UK spotlight: Parton’s estate has confirmed DOLLYFEST—two-day celebrations in Nashville and London across consecutive weekends in 2027—while tributes continue following her private family funeral. New stage work in Scotland: Magnetic North’s We Will Hear the Angels brings live cello, guitar and vocals to theatre, mixing sad-music themes with a score spanning Etta James, Hank Williams, Bach and Orange Juice. UK gig planning: Ayr dance school LJM Dance marks its 10th anniversary with a 2027 performance at Glasgow’s SEC Armadillo. Tech & music rights: A major lawsuit alleges Anthropic scraped “tens of thousands” of copyrighted songs to train Claude, putting AI music use back under the spotlight.

UK Festival Politics: Irish rappers Kneecap used a Reading Festival headline set to curse Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and send solidarity messages for Palestine, with further jabs at UK PM Andy Burnham. Chart & Legacy: Dolly Parton’s death has sent her back up the UK charts, with “9 to 5” surging toward a first-ever UK No.1 as tributes roll in. Live Music Headline: Fatboy Slim has been announced as the 2027 Lytham Festival headliner, with Becky Hill set to support. New UK Releases: Westside Cowboy’s debut album “It Goes On” leans into their “Britainicana” sound, blending British alt-rock energy with classic Americana. Tech for Music Makers: Solid State Logic released O-Series V2.0, expanding its Future Analogue workflow and adding project compatibility between Oracle and Odyssey. Big UK Moment: Harry Styles made a cheeky MSG wedding reference to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce during his Madison Square Garden residency. Safety & Tragedy: A pastor identified as Robert Guanco died after a sign structure collapsed at England’s Big Church Festival, with several others injured. Streaming Picks: What to stream includes “Mandalorian & Grogu” and Ellie Goulding’s latest release, alongside other entertainment highlights.

Leeds Festival chaos: Fans are furious after the new Warehouse stage was shut for safety due to overcrowding, with last-minute cancellations including Sheffield DJ Silva Bumpa. Bank holiday weather: The Met Office has issued yellow thunderstorm warnings across much of the UK, with heavy rain, lightning, hail and possible flooding plus gusts up to 45mph. Dolly Parton’s UK moment: Britain’s Coldstream Guards played “9 to 5” outside Buckingham Palace in a royal tribute following Parton’s death, while Olivia Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain fest also paid homage to the star. X Factor comeback talk: ITV is reportedly considering bringing The X Factor back, with Simon Cowell potentially involved and a “modern” social-media twist. New music to watch: Rising UK indie-rockers Overpass and KEO both announce sold-out or fast-moving Newcastle dates after Leeds Festival buzz. Court spotlight: An NHS doctor denies posting Hamas-supporting content ahead of a London court case at the Old Bailey.

Bollywood’s South Africa slump: A new report traces why the 1990s boom of Bollywood live shows in South Africa has largely fizzled, pointing to political isolation, economic pressure and a shifting global entertainment market. Royal spotlight: Prince Harry and Meghan have relocated back to the UK, with Diana’s death anniversary landing just weeks after their return and fresh attention on family plans and upcoming memoir talk. Community fundraising: Scooter fans in Weymouth raised £1,000 for the air ambulance via weekend collections backed by local clubs. Festival weather watch: The Met Office warns Sunday could bring scattered showers, with Leeds Festival facing the risk of heavy, thundery bursts, plus wetter conditions later for Reading Festival and Notting Hill Carnival. London carnival booking: Pasuma is set to headline Woolwich Carnival 2026’s “All White Party” on August 31. Ghanaian music support: The Ghana High Commission has stepped in for Manchester-based highlife star Barosky after viral concern, exploring options to help him return home. Streaming milestone: Kylie Minogue celebrates Can’t Get You Out Of My Head hitting one billion Spotify streams. New music headlines: Tom Hardy drops a surprise rap album as Frankie Pulitzer with Czarface and Wu-Tang Clan links; Tyler, The Creator brings out ASAP Rocky during a second London show. Politics meets pop culture: US authorities deport far-right commentator Milo Yiannopoulos back to the UK after ICE detention.

Dolly Parton in the spotlight: Her family gathered at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Nashville for an intimate farewell, with reports of her burial alongside husband Carl Dean and fresh images of the final resting place emerging online. Local music culture: Newcastle’s Tipsy Cow unveiled a permanent Dolly Parton mural tribute, while Clevedon Live Music announced its first-ever amplify! Music Festival (Sept 3-6) across multiple venues. Electronic music scene: Ministry of Sound launched Boxed In, a search for its next resident DJ, with applications closing Aug 30 and a prize including an official residency plus up to £25,000 of equipment. Big UK weather hits gigs: Met Office issued a yellow thunderstorm warning (midday-9pm Saturday) affecting Reading, Leeds and other live events, with flood alerts also in place. Festival safety after incidents: Big Church Festival was shut down after a sign collapse killed one and injured six. Pop star moment: Harry Styles’ New York speech on Together, Together left fans emotional, telling them the memories “belong to you.”

Reading & Leeds Safety Push: Home Office-backed teams are speaking directly to thousands of festivalgoers about toxic behaviour, with ministers backing the Enough campaign and pledging to tackle misogyny and violence against women and girls. Tragedy at Christian Festival: A large sign collapsed at England’s Big Church Festival in Wiston Park, killing a 41-year-old man and injuring at least six others, prompting an immediate cancellation and evacuation. Poco Lee Court Case: UK authorities confirm Poco Lee’s alleged sexual offence charges are listed at Snaresbrook Crown Court for plea and trial preparation on 15 September 2026, as the case continues to draw major public attention. Milo Yiannopoulos Detained: The far-right British commentator has been detained by US ICE in New Orleans after overstaying his visa, with DHS citing a final removal order. Dolly Parton Global Surge: Following her death at 80, Parton’s music and podcast “Dolly Parton’s America” have surged in downloads and chart activity, including strong UK interest. UK Music Reviews: Joshua Bell revisits Paganini with “restraint” and rare authority; Sara Bareilles returns with Good Grief; Sam Smith’s Hazel Eyes leans into soul-pop; Mystery Jets and Westside Cowboy both deliver fresh, distinctly British indie energy. Live & Festival Planning: Neighbourhood Weekender 2027 announces early headliners including Paul Heaton, Reytons and Courteeners, with Rick Astley also set to appear.

UK Live & Tours: Supergrass announce a big 2027 headline run with a Birmingham O2 Academy date (May 5) plus stops across the UK and Ireland. New Music: MNEK drops “MUSCLE MARY’S..” ahead of “BULLDOZER!!” (Sept 18) and teases a Europe/UK tour this autumn; Catch Your Breath release “Not Broken Enough” with a UK/Europe headline stretch starting Jan 2027. Festival Culture: Vodafone research says 57% of young Brits hit festivals to mark milestones, while parents are anxious but keen—prompting a “Check-in & Chips” experience. Late-Night Arts: V&A East launches Thursday DJ residencies and pop-up culture sessions running late into September, with BBC Introducing involved. Local Scene: Ezra Collective confirm a Birmingham O2 Academy date (March 14, 2027) and preview “Jubilee Feeling” from “Here Because of Hope.” Weather Watch: Met Office warnings threaten bank holiday festival plans with heavy showers and flooding risk.

Dolly Parton’s UK ripple: The country icon has died at 80, and her legacy is hitting Britain hard—from tributes to her “9 to 5” stage moment to fresh talk of her cancer battle and the experimental treatments her sister says she’d consider to help others. Royal crossover: Parton also resurfaced as the singer who turned down Princess Kate’s tea invite in 2023, with her cheeky reason making the rounds again. Health spotlight: A new explainer on endometriosis ties Parton’s story to a wider public conversation about the condition’s pain and lack of cure. New UK music releases: CalledOut Music has dropped gospel/R&B album “The Room,” while Jem Cassar-Daley releases indie-pop debut “tattoos used to come off in the pool.” Industry & live music: J. Cole’s Sacramento show was cancelled after a crew member died in a fiery crash. UK music safety: PSNI urges gig-goers to prioritise safety as outdoor events continue. Arts TV: Sky Arts Awards 2026 announces Grayson Perry and Self Esteem as hosts. UK talent spotlight: Ayla Owen discusses why UK sync is booming and how experience matters. Tragedy abroad with UK links: Glasgow singer Thomas Crawford is reported found dead in Sri Lanka, with police investigating.

London Jazz Spotlight: Saxophonist Graeme Blevins, now a seasoned London fixture, credits his breakthrough to relentless jam-session grind and a “colour and contrast” approach to improvisation. New UK Pop Release: Ethiopian-rooted London singer NOAH drops “MOVE YA BODY,” a dance anthem blending Brazilian funk, amapiano, gqom and EDM-pop. Comedy on Screen: HYPROV’s improv-under-hypnosis special with Colin Mochrie and Asad Mecci lands on Apple TV and Prime Video from Sept 15, after earlier Canadian success. Charity & Culture Funding: Warner Music Group/Blavatnik’s Social Justice Fund names UK grantees including Black Lives in Music (BLiM) and north-east music development group Generator. Proms With a Twist: A new triple concerto for cello, horn and sax heads to the Proms’ final weekend, celebrating the 2016 BBC Young Musician finalists. Community Music Moment: NHS doctors’ orchestra European Doctors’ Orchestra (EDO) plays in Glasgow on Sept 27 to raise funds for Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS). Major Loss: Tributes continue after British actor Tim Curry dies at 80, with fans revisiting his music and stage legacy.

Royal Tribute: King Charles’ soldiers marked Dolly Parton’s death with a Buckingham Palace Changing of the Guard performance of “9 to 5,” with the royal family also spotlighting her Imagination Library. Loss in Pop Culture: British actor Tim Curry, famed as Dr Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, has died at 80, prompting tributes from fellow stars and fans. Tour News: Bruno Mars expanded The Romantic Tour for 2027, adding stadium dates across Australia, New Zealand and Asia, with Tyla and Anderson .Paak (as DJ Pee .Wee) joining. Community Music: The Music Man Project’s Leigh summer school wrapped after three days of music-making for people with learning disabilities, ending with performances from its new musical. Local Spotlight: Newcastle Mela returns for the August Bank Holiday with two days of South Asian music, dance and food, plus a free preview at Grey’s Monument. Stage & Screen: RuPaul’s Drag Race UK is back on BBC iPlayer and BBC Three from 3 September with Thandiwe Newton, Anne-Marie and Rick Astley among guest judges. UK Music Support: Artists in the UK can apply for up to £8,000 to go touring.

Dolly Parton’s UK impact and tributes: The country icon has died at 80 after a brief cancer battle, and Britain has responded with music and memorials—from Buckingham Palace’s Changing of the Guard playing “9 to 5” to fresh coverage of her Scotland ties and the Imagination Library’s literacy legacy. Unreleased Dolly music: Parton sealed a 2015 track in a “Dream Box” for her 100th birthday in 2046, with fans now waiting decades for “My Place in History.” Chart momentum for UK listeners: Carly Simon’s comeback album Comes in Waves lands new career peaks across UK charts, while ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” returns to No. 1 on physical and vinyl singles lists. New releases and collaborations: London trio Los Bitchos announce Los Bitchos & Friends Vol 1; Halestorm’s Lzzy Hale names dream pop/folk collaborators Pink and Mumford & Sons. Big-name UK music moments: The Beatles share a rare early “Day Tripper” demo ahead of Rubber Soul special edition; Forwards Festival returns to Bristol with Djo, Lorde, Self Esteem, Wet Leg and more. Industry news: 1916 Enterprises signs MNEK for management ahead of his September album Bulldozer!!.

Dolly Parton’s death: Country icon Dolly Parton has died aged 80 after a “brief battle with cancer”, with tributes pouring in worldwide. Her family and representatives confirmed she passed away peacefully in Nashville, and her legacy is being framed as much by philanthropy as by hits like “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You” — especially her Imagination Library, which has gifted books to millions of children across the US, UK, Ireland and beyond. UK music spotlight: The Youth Music Awards are moving to Liverpool for the 2026 ceremony at St George’s Hall on Oct 28, with nominations across 11 categories and a strong local presence. Games & culture: UK studio Dlala Studios unveiled isometric action-adventure “Murals” at gamescom Opening Night Live, reworking fairy tales into a twisted, playable world. Live music news: Soundgarden are set for a special NFL season-opening halftime show in Seattle, while Luke Bryan will also perform pregame. Local festival return: Lancaster Music Festival is back in October after a year off, with hundreds of events across new and returning venues.

Charity Fraud Warning: Scotland’s Eilidh MacLeod Memorial Trust (Eilidh’s Trust) says unauthorised accounts are using its name to fundraise, urging donors to use only the registered charity or approved fundraisers. Mental Health & Fame Pressure: Harry Styles told W Magazine he took a break because he was “a little bit in my head”, recalibrating how he deals with expectations and perception. Big UK Tour News: Noah Kahan adds a second Wembley date for The Last Of The Bugs World Tour, with general sale set for Aug 28. Music Meets Politics: UK PM Andy Burnham plays The Smiths’ “Rusholme Ruffians” for Ukrainian soldiers in Kyiv, using a hand-built Kyiv guitar. New Releases & Live Plans: Gnod announce Chronicles Of Gnowt (Vol. 2) for Oct 9 plus “The Witness”; Black Spikes drop “DULKĖS” ahead of their Aug 28 album Ydos. Student Ticket Deal: Jack White offers limited £20/€20 student tickets for select London and Ireland dates, bought in person on show day. Festival Buzz: Green Man sells out at Bannau Brycheiniog, with Wilco headlining and comedy highlights including Joe Lycett and Stewart Lee.