AGP Executive Report

Streaming Buzz: Taylor Swift’s “I Knew It, I Knew You” from Toy Story 5 just shattered single-day streaming records across Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. Anime x Rock: Crunchyroll starts streaming the remastered X² - Double X OVA (June 10) and YOSHIKI explains how the CLAMP visuals shaped the track picks. New Music Drops: Bryson Tiller returns with “Drop The Lo,” while Charli XCX announces her Music, Fashion, Film North American arena tour (Sept–Oct) plus $20 “Angel Tickets.” Pop Comebacks: Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour and Guts re-enter Billboard charts ahead of her upcoming era. Artist Spotlight: Ellie Goulding says she “doesn’t remember” making her last album after becoming a mom, and is gearing up for I Know Too Much in September. Local Scene: A new rural choir, Field Notes, launches in Mid-Ulster with rehearsals starting autumn 2026.

Tony Awards Recap: Pink hosted Broadway’s biggest night at Radio City Music Hall, with “Schmigadoon!” taking best musical plus score/book wins, while “Ragtime” and “Liberation” also scored big as the season capped with no clear frontrunner. Broadway Spotlight: The night also featured a “Chicago” tribute medley and standout wins like Zhailon Levingston (direction) for “Cats: The Jellicle Ball.” New Music Buzz: Taylor Swift’s “I Knew It, I Knew You” for Toy Story 5 hit major streaming momentum, and Alex Warren previewed his upcoming album era with “Passenger.” K-Pop Collab: Hybe’s Le Sserafim, Illit, and Katseye team up for the joint single “Iconic by Mistake.” Local Scene: Bremen’s new Village Shops marketplace opens with live music nights, and a Shreveport native wins a Tony for Cats direction.

Pop & Film Buzz: Taylor Swift’s “Toy Story 5” track “I Knew It, I Knew You” drops with banjo-and-harmonica country flavor, and fans are already debating whether the Pixar tie-in is an Oscar play. Alt-Pop Collab: Olivia Rodrigo surprised at Primavera Sound with “what’s wrong with me,” featuring The Cure’s Robert Smith, ahead of the June 12 release. Touring & Live: Journey’s Arnel Pineda led a hit-filled return at Worcester’s DCU Center, while Little River Band rolled through Waite Park’s Ledge Amphitheater with its “Happy Anniversary” set. Pride on Stage: West Hollywood’s WeHo Pride weekend kicks off with the Outloud Music Festival, with organizers expecting hundreds of thousands across the three days. Global Music News: KATSEYE hit The Governors Ball with a 50-minute set, and Freshlyground returns with a new album and lead singer Mbali Makhoba. Music + Tech Talk: A new debate piece asks if AI is helping or hurting music creativity. Policy/Health: California lawmakers push a bill to require heavy-metal batch info for baby formula sold in the state.

Pop Culture Power Move: Taylor Swift’s “I Knew It, I Knew You” from Toy Story 5 is already smashing streaming records across Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music, and it’s being framed as a big pop-country return. New Music Collab: Olivia Rodrigo surprised fans at Primavera Sound by debuting “What’s Wrong With Me” with The Cure’s Robert Smith—her first-ever on-record feature. Genre Watch: Amapiano keeps climbing globally, with TikTok South Africa calling it the platform’s biggest local music takeover in a long time. Live Music & Safety: A shooting near the Old West End Festival in Toledo, Ohio, left at least a dozen people wounded, with police still searching for suspects. Touring/Community: Long Beach’s new waterfront amphitheater opens with Snoop Dogg, while Edmonton Folk Festival tickets are reportedly moving fast. Local Spotlight: Cold War Kids released “There Goes The Night,” finished from their Robbers & Cowards era, ahead of an expanded 20th-anniversary edition.

Pop Drop: Taylor Swift released “I Knew It, I Knew You,” her “Toy Story 5” track, leaning into Jessie-cowgirl nostalgia and co-writing credits with Andrew Stanton, Randy Newman and Jack Antonoff. Album Countdown: Olivia Rodrigo shared full track lengths for “OR3,” with “cigarette smoke” as the longest at 5:40 ahead of the June 12 release. Music Industry Spotlight: MOBO founder Kanya King, who helped transform British music via the MOBO Awards, died at 57 after a colon cancer battle. Local Live Music: Orillia’s “Music in the Park” returns with 13 free lakeside concerts, including decade-themed Sundays and a movie-soundtrack finale. Festival Buzz: Anti Social Camp lands in NYC June 8–12 with Busta Rhymes headlining plus serpentwithfeet and Erick The Architect. Chart Talk: Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” remains blocked from No. 1 on Billboard’s R&B Digital Song Sales by Bruno Mars. New Releases/Reviews: The Bobby Lees return with “New Self,” framed as a defiant comeback after an industry burnout hiatus.

Taylor Swift / Toy Story 5: Swift dropped “I Knew It, I Knew You,” a country-leaning track for Toy Story 5, co-written with Jack Antonoff and inspired by Jessie. She framed it as “musical departure and coming home,” posted cowgirl-era childhood clips, and the song is already breaking records—now the most-streamed country song in a single day by a female artist on Spotify. Madonna / Film Release: Madonna announced Confessions II – The Film will hit YouTube on Monday, built around the first six tracks of her July 3 album, with a star-studded cast including Benedict Cumberbatch, Julia Garner, Kate Moss, and more. Gaming x Music: SEGA revealed Stranger Than Heaven’s January 15, 2027 release window and cast expansion, including Tupac as a character—plus a theme song contribution from Snoop Dogg and others. Live Music / Community: Bowling Green’s Fountain Row Friday kept the summer momentum going with local student openers and DWH headlining. K-pop / Sports Anthem: TWS will release South Korea’s official football cheering song “Dream With Us” on June 11 ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Industry / AI: Madagascar’s music scene is pushing back on AI-made songs and voice cloning, warning about copyright and unauthorized use. Legal / Music Business: The AFM filed a breach-of-contract suit against Universal Music and Warner Music over alleged unpaid compensation tied to Suno/Udio AI deals.

Taylor Swift / Toy Story 5: Swift drops her country-leaning original “I Knew It, I Knew You” for Toy Story 5, written for Jessie and already sparking Oscar buzz. Prince Vault: Paisley Park’s Celebration reveals “Timeless,” a 10-song rarities set of unreleased Prince material (Aug. 28), with “Stone” released to streaming ahead of presales. New Music (Rock): CRO-MAGS return after six years with “Wired For Chaos,” previewing a 2027 album and a UK/Europe summer run. New Music (Alt/Indie): Emma Ruth Rundle announces These Killing Times (Sept. 18) and leads with “Powerless.” Festival Watch: Kesha is set to headline Churchill Park Music Festival in St. John’s (July 17). Music + Wellness: Erie Ave and Dr. Eanah team up on a short film tied to “Terrence’s Interlude,” pushing emotional wellness in the industry. Global Pop: BTS teases its Busan stadium live cinema event with a “Swim” trailer for June 13.

New Music Video: Zimbabwe hip-hop artist Khuphe drops the official visual for “4 Sho,” turning an audio hit into a gratitude-and-perseverance story. Album Launch: Afro-fusion duo FaB Fusion Duo announces “Zuva Rovira,” set for a June 13 homecoming launch in Zimbabwe after a Portugal run. Pop Single: Shaboozey teases his concept-album world with “Cowgirl,” a Western-themed chapter leading to THE OUTLAW CHERIE LEE & OTHER WESTERN TALES on July 31. International Kids’ Music: Samoa Language Week 2026 gets four new bilingual children’s music videos from Malamalama Moni Aoga Amata and The KaRs. Theater + Music: Te Whare Tapere o Te Arawa brings “Tērā te Auahi” to life with movement and music around the 1886 Tarawera eruption. Live Music + Community: Hong Kong indie venue The Aftermath asks fans to help clear back rent to keep the lights on. Tech for Music Education: Yamaha Music India signs an MoU to expand recorder classes in Ahmedabad government schools. Big Screen Music: Netflix releases Michael Jackson: The Verdict, revisiting the 2005 trial with new interview claims.

New Music Releases: Hermanos Gutiérrez are gearing up for Los Ojos Del Cóndor (Sept. 25) with Dan Auerbach-produced Andean-inspired sounds, plus the “Canto Andino” video. Country Radio: Morgan Wallen pushes three tracks to fresh highs on Country Airplay—“Don’t We,” “I Can’t Make You Love Me” (with Ella Langley), and “McArthur.” K-Pop Comeback: Mamamoo returns with “4 Flowers” and the 4ward single album, kicking off a world tour. Pop/Collabs: Lainey Wilson drops “Phone, Keys, Wallet” featuring John Mayer, while DMA’S share “Hurracane” and announce UK/Irish 2027 dates. Classical/Alt: Icelandic composer Eythor Arnalds releases ambient-neo-classical Music for Walking, and Judith Sephuma’s Afro-jazz legacy gets spotlighted alongside new music. Live & Local: Red Rocks adds major shows (Santana, Sofi Tucker, Bryson Tiller, Colorado Symphony). Music Industry: Suno’s AI music surge keeps making headlines, and The Beatles’ “Our World” BBC performance is set for its first free online release ahead of Global Beatles Day.

World Cup Music: FIFA dropped the full tracklist for the Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Album, an 18-song, six-continent lineup with collaborations like Shakira & Burna Boy’s “Dai Dai,” plus Future & Tyla, Stormzy, Daddy Yankee, Major Lazer, 21 Savage, Jelly Roll and more—pre-save now ahead of the June 11 kickoff. Big Pop Tour News: State Farm Arena’s Summer Kickoff ATL series is stacking 19 concert nights around the World Cup, with Megan Moroney, A$AP Rocky, Summer Walker, 5 Seconds of Summer, Shakira, Ariana Grande, Tame Impala, J. Cole, Lionel Richie/Earth Wind & Fire and Daniel Caesar. New Music Releases: Gospel vet Booi returns with the hope-filled EP Themba Inkosi; Charli XCX readies “SS26”; Weezer teases “We Might As Well Be Strangers” with Wednesday; and BTS will release limited-edition vinyl for its 13th anniversary. Live Music & Local Scenes: North Park Music Fest hits June 6 with 30+ acts across venues; Upton House Food & Music Festival returns June 12–14 in Poole; and Hart’s free Music on the Commons runs Thursdays June 25–Aug 27. Music in Film/Anime: Crayon Shin-chan’s July film reveals TOMOO’s theme; BAKI-DOU Part 2 previews new Chevon and J SOUL BROTHERS III themes. Community & Culture: Donaldsonville’s 31st annual Juneteenth Music Festival is set for June 13.

AI Music Business: Suno just raised $400M at a $5.4B valuation, expanding its generative platform as copyright fights and label deals keep shaping the AI music race. Pop & Rock Releases: Weezer drops “We Might As Well Be Strangers” featuring Wednesday, while Citizen shares “Halcyon Blues” ahead of an Aug. 7 album and tour. Live Music Calendar: The Highland Jazz & Blues Festival locks in Sept. 19 in Shreveport with Dumpstaphunk headlining, and Make Music Day returns June 21 with free, citywide performances in places like Huntsville and Vermont. Music Industry Moves: Snap names Anmol Malhotra global head of content and partnerships, overseeing creator and music-related partnerships worldwide. Music Culture Spotlight: Ilaiyaraaja’s story gets a spotlight on how he fought labels and systems to claim more from his massive catalog. Global Music Moments: iShowSpeed’s Ghana FIFA World Cup hype video goes viral, putting Ghana front and center. Music Tech for Fans: Nintendo Music expands beyond mobile to PC browsers, tablets, and car screens via CarPlay/Android Auto. Legacy & News: Peabo Bryson, the voice behind “Beauty and the Beast” and “A Whole New World,” dies at 75.

Obituary: Peabo Bryson, the Grammy-winning voice behind Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” and “A Whole New World,” has died at 75 after a stroke, with tributes pouring in for the R&B legend’s decades-spanning ballads and film duets. Music Business: Universal Music Publishing Group named Sunita Kaur president for Asia, tasking her with driving growth and backing songwriters across the region. Streaming/Radio: iHeartRadio is now integrated into LG’s free ad-supported LG Radio+ service, bringing live stations, podcasts, and location-based recommendations to LG Smart TVs and compatible devices. Community & Culture: A Children’s Miracle Network-funded music therapy program at Penn State Health Golisano Children’s Hospital is using music to ease pain and help kids cope during procedures. Local Live Music: Seattle’s Rainier Beer returns with “R-Day” on Sept. 12 featuring DEHD, Telehealth, Kadabra, and Lace Cadence, plus free entry (21+). Music Law: The American Alliance for Equal Rights filed a federal civil rights lawsuit over alleged race-and-sex discrimination in Broadway’s Wicked music director apprenticeship.

Taylor Swift x Toy Story 5: Swift has officially confirmed she wrote and produced the original track “I Knew It, I Knew You,” set to hit streaming June 5, with the song also landing on the Toy Story 5 soundtrack June 19. K-pop Spotlight: BTS will celebrate its 13th debut anniversary with Festa releases, including the official “Come Over” drop June 12 and a limited-edition vinyl set tied to “Arirang.” New Music (Indie/Rock): Death Cab for Cutie shared “Stone Over Water” ahead of their June 5 album arrival, while Mastodon released “Your Ghost Again” and announced a fall North American run. Pop/Alt-Pop: Charli xcx shut down the “Ford” album rumor and confirmed her July 24 release, “Music, Fashion, Film.” Tech + Listening: Nintendo Music just expanded with web and tablet versions plus Apple CarPlay/Android Auto support. Live/Community: Elvis Costello is booked for Packard Music Hall (Sept. 15), and Liam Gallagher is named ambassador for Manchester charity Brighter Sound.

Pop Culture Spotlight: Taylor Swift confirmed she wrote and recorded an original track, “I Knew It, I Knew You,” for Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story 5, with the song dropping June 5 and the movie hitting theaters June 19. Music Video Buzz: Ariana Grande released the thriller-style video for “hate that i made you love me,” starring Justin Long, but her look sparked online concern and debate over her appearance. Hip-Hop Feud Watch: Jay-Z used his first solo US headline show in years to fire off a diss-heavy freestyle aimed at Drake, Kanye West and Nicki Minaj. Dance Music Business: Juno Download shut down after 20 years, while users can still access past orders; the company says streaming and direct-to-fan services have changed the webstore’s role. Industry Moves: LA Phil named Daniel Harding its next music director for 2027-28. New Releases: Charli XCX announced her album Music, Fashion, Film (July 24) with John Cale, Marc Jacobs and Martin Scorsese on the cover. Community & Live Music: OgFest in Wiltshire drew 300+ for homegrown live music and food, and Tehachapi kicked off its Music on the Mountain series in Railroad Park.

Pop & Video Buzz: Ariana Grande leans into horror for “hate that i made you love me,” with Justin Long haunted by her “Petal” persona in a bunker-set spiral. Album Drop Watch: Charli XCX just announced “Music, Fashion, Film” for July 24, with John Cale, Marc Jacobs and Martin Scorsese on the cover—plus “Rock Music” and “SS26” already out. Country Nostalgia: Eric Church’s “Heart On Fire” video stitches together throwback clips from his past hits, with a behind-the-scenes look promised next. New Releases (K-pop): SHINee returns with the “Atmos” EP and a fireworks-lit music video for the title track. Music Industry/Community: Liam Gallagher joins Manchester charity Brighter Sound as an ambassador, kicking off a prize draw for sold-out adidas Achille SPZL trainers. Live Music & Culture: Björk opens a major Iceland exhibition with large-scale audiovisual installations, including reimagined grief works from “Fossora.” Local Scene: Watford’s The Oddfellows unveils a refurbished beer garden that also hosts live music events. OPM Spotlight: The 17th Star Awards for Music (PMPC) reveals 2026 nominees, led by artists including BINI, SB19, Ben&Ben and Regine Velasquez.

Pop Single Watch: Ariana Grande drops “Hate That I Made You Love Me,” framing it as a bold pivot from heartbreak-only songwriting toward a more complicated, self-aware fan-and-press dynamic. Orchestral Leadership: Altoona Symphony Orchestra narrows its music director search to four finalists after Nick Palmer’s 30-year run ends, with auditions split across fall and spring. Local Culture: Claremore Museum of History hosts Juneteenth (June 20) with a panel, music, snacks, and new museum elements. K-Pop Milestones: Stray Kids’ “Miroh” hits 200M YouTube views and “Easy” reaches 100M as the group prepares for Governors Ball (Seungmin out with an ankle injury). Global Pop/Variety: BTS brings back “Run BTS” and officially releases “Come Over” for Festa ahead of Busan concerts. Tech Meets Music: Threads rolls out playable music stickers for all users, letting people share 30-second song clips in posts. Vinyl Nostalgia: Frank Zappa’s “ZAPPAtite” compilation finally lands on vinyl July 17. Live/Community: Denver’s Outside Days festival leans groovy with Flaming Lips, Death Cab and more. Music Biz: UK music tech faces a scaling crisis as growth-stage funding collapses 90% since 2020, per a new MTUK report. Big Band Spotlight: Carlos Henriquez leads Monk Con Clave, a New York–rooted Afro-Caribbean tribute to Thelonious Monk. Theater: Alicia Keys’ jukebox musical “Hell’s Kitchen” continues at LA’s Pantages through June 21. Music Loss: Ronald LaPread, bassist and Commodores co-founder, dies at 75 after a sudden medical event.