AGP Executive Report

Madonna’s comeback: The Queen of Pop has dropped Confessions II, a club-focused follow-up to Confessions on a Dance Floor with critics calling it her best in decades, reuniting her with British producer Stuart Price. Elton John chart longevity: Diamonds hits a never-before-seen 450 weeks on the UK albums chart, landing at No.16. Joan Jett in the UK: The Rock Hall icon brings straight-ahead hard rock to her first UK headline show in 16 years, with a review noting her voice and covers still hit hard. Harry Styles spending surge: Barclays estimates Wembley’s Together, Together run could spark a £1.1bn spree, with big jumps in nearby clothing, leisure and hospitality spend. Tour news (UK & Europe): Ezra Collective announce the 2027 Here Because of Hope tour; MNEK confirms autumn UK/Europe dates for THE!! BULLDOZER!!; Skindred adds extra Nottingham and Glasgow shows due to demand. Live dates to watch: Duran Duran headline BST Hyde Park on July 5 with Scissor Sisters and Nile Rodgers & Chic. Local culture: Ely Folk Festival’s 40th anniversary reveals its Christian Raphael Prize shortlist and a starry weekend line-up.

UK Sacred Music: Church Times and the Royal School of Church Music bring “Alleluia: The power of music as mission” to Southwark Cathedral on 10 October, with choirs, panels and practical sessions built around music’s role in worship. Big Stage Pop: Rita Ora and Clean Bandit are set to perform at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 final at Lord’s on 5 July, with Ora pre-match and Clean Bandit post-match. Live Music Review: Alabama Shakes return to the UK for the first time in a decade, headlining Millennium Square in Leeds after Harry Kane’s World Cup moment, with Dove Ellis opening. New Album News: Shed Seven announce a self-titled new album for January 2027 and share “Stand Together” as a rallying cry. Local Music Infrastructure: Newcastle City Council has approved demolition of derelict Sinfonia House, a former rehearsal space, with plans to restore the site and improve security. UK Music Business: Sheffield’s Limit nightclub gets £146,500 National Lottery Heritage Fund support for a 50th-anniversary heritage project, including a digital archive, talks and a touring exhibition.

UK Live Music & Emerging Talent: Damfino Records returns with a student-led showcase at Glasgow’s Nice N Sleazy on Friday July 3, featuring Ayr campus-linked acts Gina Smith and Sam Richard, plus more, with tickets via Skiddle. Britpop Album News: Shed Seven announce their self-titled seventh studio album (Jan 8, Cooking Vinyl) led by new single “Stand Together”, with a surprise acoustic livestream from London’s 100 Club tonight hosted by Steve Lamacq. Major UK Festival Spotlight: Mumford & Sons headline British Summer Time Hyde Park on Saturday July 4, with set times, tickets and lineup details for last-minute fans. International Pop Moment (UK audience): Robbie Williams joins a Seville busker for an impromptu street rendition of “Angels”, filmed and shared online. British R&B Collaboration Watch: Jorja Smith teases a forthcoming Wizkid collaboration, with the track due out Thursday. Community Music Licensing: A Shotton pub (Castle Inn/Hendy’s) wins permission for late-night outdoor live music, 8am–11pm daily, after objections. Music + TV Crossover: Coronation Street’s Jack P Shepherd lands a Christmas pantomime debut in Wales with Venue Cymru’s Sleeping Beauty.

Theatre & Football Fever: Alex Hill’s one-man play “Why I Stuck a Flare Up My Arse for England” turns a viral Euro 2020 moment into a raw comedy about loyalty and identity, now landing for a limited run in New York’s Soho. UK Pop TV: McFly’s Tom Fletcher and Danny Jones are reportedly set to quit The Voice UK ahead of the next series, with Kelly Rowland replacing LeAnn Rimes. Eurovision News: Canada’s Mark Carney says the country will debut at Eurovision in 2027. Music Law: Blur drummer David Rowntree loses his PRS “black box” royalties appeal, with the court backing PRS’s approach. Iconic British Music on Screen/Stage: V&A’s David Bowie archive highlights are confirmed for a UK tour, starting in Scotland. Chart Milestone: Sade’s The Best Of hits a 52-week run on the Official UK Albums Chart, matching the longevity of Diamond Life. Live Music Weather Watch: Glasgow Summer Sessions fans are being told to pack ponchos for Pitbull’s outdoor show after heavy-rain forecasts. New Releases: Westside Cowboy share “Pin Up Boys” and announce record-store live dates ahead of their debut album It Goes On.

Royal Wedding Watch: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s reported Madison Square Garden wedding plans are sparking talk of major security and a venue makeover, with experts warning costs could run into the millions. Tax Backlash: Rhode Island’s “Taylor Swift tax” on second homes is drawing fresh anger from long-time coastal owners, even as the couple’s wedding chatter continues. Big UK Culture Moment: The Bayeux Tapestry is set for a high-demand UK run after thousands queued for tickets in London, with transport details kept tightly guarded. Local Music & Community: Dodgy previewed new single “Summer Forever” at the Lytham Proms weekend, while Halifax’s Piece Hall hosted Bowling for Soup and Frank Turner. Live Music Buzz: My Chemical Romance kicked off their 2026 tour at Anfield with a dramatic “man on fire” stunt that left fans stunned. Tech & Streaming Policy: The UK competition regulator’s app-store consultation is criticised by developers as not going far enough on “steering” rules. Music Heritage: CPRE Herefordshire marked 100 years at Queenswood with guided walks and live music. Royal Week: King Charles and Queen Camilla attended the Order of the Thistle service in Edinburgh.

Royal Week & pop buzz: Reports say Prince William and Kate won’t attend Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding, despite William’s earlier “no comment” tease. Museum spotlight: The V&A’s David Bowie archive is set to tour the UK, with “David Bowie: On Tour” launching at V&A Dundee from Nov 2026–Feb 2027. West End value row: Lily Allen has hit back at backlash over her West End Girl shows, defending ticket pricing and the shorter set. Live music, big energy: My Chemical Romance kick off their UK/Europe “Long Live The Black Parade” run at Anfield with a full confirmed setlist and Liverpool FC tributes from the band. Welsh choral return: Barry Male Voice Choir returns to Penarth on July 17, joined by Lisburn Community Choir from Northern Ireland. Industry money: PPL pays £81.6m to 140,000+ performers and rightsholders in Q2 distribution. UK hospitality pressure: Northern Ireland venues back a UK-wide VAT cut campaign for hospitality, aiming to cut VAT from 20% to 10%. Music & controversy: Metallica covered Tom Jones’ “Delilah” at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, a song banned there since 2023.

UK Pop & Theatre: Waitress marks its 10th UK & Ireland tour with a fresh Oxford stop, bringing Carrie Hope Fletcher and the cast’s pie-and-hope story to new audiences. Wales Live Music: Katy Perry headlines TK Maxx presents Depot Live at Cardiff Castle tonight, with Bea and Mimi Webb supporting. Scotland Classical Spotlight: Carnatic vocalist Radhika Balakrishnan becomes the first Carnatic singer to receive an honorary fellowship from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. UK Festival & Community: Blackweir Live keeps rolling with Lewis Capaldi’s back-to-back Cardiff dates, while WOW Fest in Wells brings Irish Chamber Orchestra’s ICO Youth and young musicians from across the world. Business & Streaming Rules: The UK competition watchdog moves to loosen Apple/Google “effective duopoly” limits, pushing for easier steering so apps can sell without app-store fees. Music Tech & DIY Listening: Topping launches the DX1 II DAC/headphone amp aimed at adding “analog character” to everyday digital listening. Tour Updates: Death Cab for Cutie adds a new UK & Ireland stop in Bexhill-On-Sea; Violet Grohl expands her Be Sweet To Me run with extra dates.

Metal & Community: Metallica’s Cardiff stop on its UK tour came with a £20,000 donation to Cardiff Foodbank via its All Within My Hands Foundation, expected to help fund around 9,000 meals after shelves were flagged as dangerously low. Big UK Pop Event: BTS is set to turn London into an ARIRANG-themed citywide fan experience from July 4–10, with two nights at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on July 6 and 7 plus landmark illuminations and immersive activations. LGBTQ+ Music & Belonging: Northern Proud Voices marks its 15th anniversary with a Newcastle Cathedral concert, aiming to create a safe, non-judgemental space where “if hate is shouting, we will sing and love louder.” Live Music Calendar: Clacton Pier’s first-ever Clacton Live festival ends with “Best of British” tribute acts after three free weekends of reggae and country. UK Music Return: Beth Orton’s The Ground Above lands as a life-affirming return, with the title track described as her most grounded step yet. UK/Ukraine Bridge: A Kyiv-founded duo, Soprano and Piano, performs in Winchester on July 5, bringing Ukrainian composers to a local audience. Practical Note for Fans: Martin Lewis urges UK households to photograph gas and electricity meters before June 30 to avoid higher charges when the Ofgem price cap rises July 1.

West End Comedy: Mel Brooks’ The Producers lands in its final weeks at London’s Garrick Theatre, with the revival built around Patrick Marber’s direction and a Tony-winning pedigree. Romsey Abbey Classical: Romsey Choral Society opens its festival on July 4 with 19th-century German Romantic favourites, including Brahms and Mendelssohn, ending with Brahms’s A German Requiem. UK Tour Announcements: The Hunna confirm a Final Tour run across major UK cities this autumn, while Skindred add a spring Cardiff Utilita Arena headline date (May 8) to extend their You Got This Tour. Arena Dates: Two Door Cinema Club announce a 2027 UK and Ireland arena tour performing Tourist History in full, and Diljit Dosanjh adds Birmingham and Manchester dates to his Aura World Tour, with tickets on sale July 2. Live Music Spotlight: BST Hyde Park’s 2026 line-up kicks off with Garth Brooks and Ateez, with Maroon 5, Mumford & Sons, Duran Duran, Pitbull and Lewis Capaldi following. Royalties Ruling: Blur drummer David Rowntree loses his appeal over a proposed PRS claim tied to up to £200m in black box royalties. Health & Safety Buzz: Harry Styles’ Wembley choking scare sparks fresh fan concern after videos of his collapse go viral. Community & Charity: Metallica donate £20,000 to Cardiff Foodbank ahead of their Principality Stadium show. Diaspora Calling! UK: Ms Lauryn Hill headlines the Milton Keynes National Bowl festival on August 7, with Erykah Badu, Giggs, Fireboy DML and Dave Chappelle among the final additions.

UK Live Music: Lewis Capaldi adds a second Cardiff date at Blackweir Fields after selling out the first, with the Scottish singer set to headline on Tue June 30 and Wed July 1. Pop & Weather: Katy Perry’s Belgium festival set was cancelled hours before she was due on stage after severe weather and government safety orders. Manchester Pop Review: Robyn returns to Co-op Live with her Sexistential Tour, leaning into a career-spanning, dancefloor-ready sound. Classical/Trad Spotlight: Scotland’s Gaelic trio Sian plays a one-night concert at Dornoch Cathedral on Wed July 8. Community Music Research: A Vancouver study on a ukulele programme for people living with dementia finds learning music together can boost confidence, social connection and belonging. Music in the City: Romford’s MEGA MEGA exhibition plans to preserve rave-era memories through an interactive VW Golf artwork. Big UK Gig Buzz: Foo Fighters post a final Liverpool message after two Anfield shows.

Pop Culture Shock: Former One Direction singer Liam Payne, 31, has died after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires; police say he jumped and an autopsy is underway. Armed Forces Day: The UK marked Armed Forces Day with a major national parade in Aldershot plus 230 events across all four nations, with military bands and cadet groups at the heart of celebrations. Stadium Pop Moments: Adele turned up in an England Three Lions shirt at Bad Bunny’s Tottenham gig, while Bad Bunny’s London show leaned into Spanish crowd energy and big diaspora vibes. Tour Buzz: Lewis Capaldi marked one year back in music with a huge Exeter return, teasing new material as fans packed out his set. UK Live Music Calendar: Billy Ocean lit up Llangollen Pavilion with a hit-filled singalong, and Jools Holland’s Eastbourne date is set for July 5. Industry & Policy: India’s FM radio sector is pushing for reforms to allow news broadcasts and ease rules as streaming squeezes traditional radio. Health & Safety on Stage: Harry Styles briefly collapsed at Wembley after choking on water during “As It Was,” then returned to perform the next night. Community & Inclusion: Scotland’s Recovery Connects festival (July 5) is alcohol-free and aims to reduce addiction stigma with live music and Pete Doherty headlining.

Heatwave & Wembley Safety: Harry Styles sparked concern after appearing to choke on water during his Wembley set in sweltering 37C-plus conditions, then recovered and kept performing. TV Distraction Watch: Rod Stewart’s Glastonbury 2025 broadcast was repeated on BBC, with viewers fixating on his “ageless” look and his recent health-related rescheduling. Political Rap Tribute: Kneecap used a Croydon show to pay tribute to Trevor Dietz (“Trevor Radiator”) with on-screen memorials and Palestinian-flag imagery. Local Festival Tender: Fermanagh and Omagh District Council is inviting bids to run Omagh Music Festival (Oct 9–10), with Strule Arts Centre and town-centre venues central to the plan. UK Live Ambition: Muse frontman Matt Bellamy teased a spaceship-level stage build for upcoming arena dates. Big UK Rock Moment: Kings of Leon kicked off the new State Fayre festival at Hylands Park, Chelmsford, with a hits-heavy headline set. Country Tour News: Don Toliver announced UK arena dates for November, including Leeds, Birmingham, Manchester and London. Music & Tech Culture: KT Tunstall said a publisher’s TikTok-follower question nearly put her off writing a memoir.

UK Live Music & Festivals: Blackpool has announced “Blackpool Live”, a new seven-date season at Winter Gardens with headliners Feeder, The Fratellis, The Enemy, Cast, Doves, The Pigeon Detectives and Happy Mondays, plus a wider roster across 17,500-capacity nights. Edinburgh Music Infrastructure: Work continues on Edinburgh’s National Centre for Music, with crews burrowing into the foundations of the former school site as the venue nears a new chapter for performers. Regional Culture Boost: Rossendale’s new Gather@ festival launches 26–28 June across multiple venues, with over 60% of the line-up led by women and free events supported by council grants. Album News: Primal Scream will reissue 1997–2002 classics Vanishing Point, XTRMNTR and Evil Heat as the “Bunker Trilogy” later this year. Industry Funding: Amazon’s Regional Creatives Fund is opening applications for grants up to £30k for UK charities and community groups building creative career pathways, including music. Weather & Safety: Heatwave conditions are driving record temperatures across Europe, while UK event organisers are still making tough calls—Tenby’s Summer Spectacular has been cancelled amid safety and crowd-control concerns. Pop Culture & Collecting: Panini World Cup sticker demand is so intense that packs and albums are selling out, with the 980-sticker book expanded for the larger tournament. Health & Music Education: A Scottish school has been praised by inspectors for “very good” music access, highlighting partnerships with local music projects like Baby Strings.

Pop Culture & Music Business: UK Music appoints Arit Eminue MBE as new chair of the UK Music Diversity Taskforce, continuing work on equity and inclusion and building on the Black Music Means Business report. Chart News: Luton singer-songwriter Myles Smith’s debut album My Mess, My Heart, My Life lands at No.2 on the UK Official Albums Chart, delivering the biggest debut album opening of 2026 so far. Classic Pop Spotlight: Diana King’s Shy Guy hits platinum in the UK, reaching 600,000 units via sales and streaming. Live & Local Theatre: Havering Music Makers brings Oklahoma! to Hornchurch’s Queen’s Theatre (July 16–18). Reggae Return: Birmingham reggae pioneer Admiral Jerry releases Windrush Day single Chant Down Babylon, with an EP built around the HMT Empire Windrush legacy. Festival/Community: Glasgow School of Art’s latest impact report says it generates £115m+ for the UK economy each year, underlining the wider creative ripple effect.

Gorillaz Stadium Moment: After a 13-date UK & Ireland run and their first-ever Tottenham Hotspur Stadium show, Gorillaz announce The Mountain Tour stops in Mumbai and Bengaluru in Jan 2027, with a 13-piece live band plus 24 guest performers. UK Tour Boost: Ricky Gervais adds extra dates to his Legend Tour, adding second shows in Guildford, Manchester, Basingstoke, Birmingham, Brighton and Cardiff. Punk Headliners: Downtown Boys confirm a UK & Europe winter run in support of new album Public Luxury, including London, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Big Pop Weekend: Bad Bunny lands at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for his first UK stadium dates (June 27-28), with full practical details for fans. Festival Focus (Scotland): Glasgow Summer Sessions kicks off with State Fayre (June 27) headlined by The Lumineers, plus banned items and set times. Live Music Licensing (NI): Belfast’s Lavery’s Bar wins a new outdoor entertainment licence for live music/DJs in its beer gardens. New Music Release: Sonny Fodera’s sixth album leans into piano-house revival with standout tracks like Look.

Metallica at Hampden: Thousands are pouring into Glasgow for the sold-out M72 World Tour stop, with big queues at Glasgow Central and fans spotting the band around the city. Theatre Pride: Stephen Beresford and Matthew Warchus’ Pride musical lands at the National Theatre, Dorfman, blending LGBTQ+ solidarity with miners’ strike history and the HIV/AIDS impact. Ellie Goulding deal: Ellie Goulding has returned to WME ahead of her sixth album, I Know Too Much, due Sept 4. Blues vinyl reissues: Craft Recordings and Bluesville announce AAA vinyl editions of Jimmy Reed and Skip James classics. Wikipedia fallout: Wikipedia co-founder Larry Sanger has been banned indefinitely in a “show trial” over intellectual diversity plans. Heatwave gig rules: Take That follows Harry Styles with stadium guidance for London Stadium shows, including cheaper water and reusable bottles. Belfast outdoor music licence: Lavery’s Bar in south Belfast wins a new outdoor entertainment licence for live music and DJs. Health worry: Lionel Richie’s UK-relevant tour news hits after he cut a show short in the US, reportedly feeling dizzy. Cardiff Palestine T-shirt claims: Music fans allege Rubicon security targeted Palestine solidarity clothing at Tafwyl and a Garbage/Skunk Anansie Cardiff Castle date. Tribute act surge: Bookings for Harry Styles impersonators reportedly jumped 560% since Wembley began. Rod Stewart update: Rod Stewart admits it “wasn’t a good look” to cancel a California gig, after health issues and oxygen-tank controversy.