AGP Executive Report

ARIA Chart Buzz: Taylor Swift’s “I Knew It, I Knew You” debuts at No. 1 on the ARIA singles chart, tying her with Elvis Presley for the most No. 1s by a woman, while Niall Horan’s “Dinner Party” opens at No. 1 on the albums chart. ARIA Hall of Fame & AI: Inductees and industry leaders used the ARIA Hall of Fame to push back on AI fears and argue Australia’s copyright stance should protect creators while shaping how AI is used. Festival Fallout: Bluesfest Byron Bay’s liquidator report says the festival may have been insolvent from around Oct 2025, with unsecured creditors expected to recover just 11c in the dollar. New Music (Global, but relevant): Noise-rock band Chat Pile announced third album “Who Loves The Sun” and shared single “Deep Blue,” while Koe Wetzel opened up about how fatherhood reshaped his life and touring. Local Spotlight: ARIA Hall of Fame inductees include Australian icons such as Gurrumul and Jenny Morris, with more acts added across the ceremony.

ARIA Hall of Fame: Gurrumul’s family led ARIA’s 40th-year celebrations as the Indigenous icon was inducted, alongside Jenny Morris, Kate Ceberano, Spiderbait, The Living End and Vika & Linda at Carriageworks, with the event set to screen nationally on ABC. New Music: Spacey Jane drops the EP Exit Wounds, while Peking Duk shares “Do Your Best” featuring Kah-Lo ahead of their album Paradise; To The Grave sign to BLKIIBLK and release “Eyestalk Ablations” plus major tour dates. Live & Touring: Simple Minds announce a 2027 NZ run with Gary Numan as guest, and BIGBANG confirm their 20/26 stadium world tour with Australia included. Industry & Policy: Musicians including Paul Dempsey push for mandatory AI music labelling on streaming; Bluesfest creditors face a likely small dividend as a liquidator probes unusual transactions. Culture & Community: Kate Miller-Heidke releases “Holiday” with drag queens Serenity and Lazy Susan, and a new Sunshine Coast venue (Aura Hotel) begins construction with a $68m band room for up to 2,500 guests.

ARIA Hall of Fame: Six Australian acts—Gurrumul, Jenny Morris, Kate Ceberano, Spiderbait, The Living End, and Vika & Linda Bull—were inducted as ARIA marked 40 years, with the ceremony in Sydney putting decades of chart impact into the spotlight. Accessibility Tech in Live Music: British soul star Beverley Knight will trial Auracast broadcast audio on six dates in June, aiming to help her mum (and other hearing-aid users) experience shows with compatible audio delivery. Indigenous Performing Arts: Bangarra Dance Theatre’s Sydney Opera House season continues with Sheltering, a triptych of First Nations stories exploring culture, technology, and what it means to stay grounded. Film & Music Crossover: Sydney Film Festival is screening Dao, an autofiction feature by filmmaker Flora Gomis that blends real-life detail with improvisation—anchored by themes of love, death, and community storytelling. Global Pop on the Move: K-pop giants BIGBANG announce a 31-show stadium world tour for their 20th anniversary, including Sydney dates, as they return after years between full treks.

ARIA Awards Update: ARIA has revived the Best Alternative Release category for 2026 and also announced new AI eligibility rules, a big deal for how artists and labels will submit work going forward. Local Recognition: Staghorn Flat arts leader Margie Gleeson has been awarded an Order of Australia Medal in the King’s Birthday Honours for decades of service to arts access, especially for rural and regional students. Tour News (AU/NZ): Simple Minds are returning to Australia next February, with tickets for the general public due Friday June 19 and a special guest slot for Gary Numan (his first NZ tour in over a decade). New Music (AU audiences): Katy Steele’s intimate Australian run is now backed by a Rolling Stone AU/NZ “In My Room” session, spotlighting her Undressed era and “Volume One” plans. K-pop Live: BIGBANG have announced a 31-show stadium world tour that includes Australia as part of their 20th anniversary run. Screen-to-stage: Bluey’s Big Play stage show is headed to Australia’s region via international touring momentum, with the franchise continuing to expand beyond TV.

Australian tours & new releases: Niall Horan has locked in the Australian leg of his Dinner Party Live On Tour for early 2027, hitting Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane with Jude York in support. Local live music: South Arcade are returning to Australia for their first headline tour this August, bringing their “Y2KCORE” alt-pop/rock energy to Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney. Global pop with Aussie links: G Flip says their Off Campus hit “Bed on Fire” helped spark a career boom, and they’re sharing advice for young artists. Big-screen music moment: Madonna’s Confessions II—The Film is out on YouTube after its Tribeca premiere, built around tracks from her upcoming album. Brisbane Olympics music event: José Carreras will host an exclusive Gabba concert on Dec 5, 2032, with Robbie Williams, The Corrs, Natalie Imbruglia, Sheppard and more joining. Community & culture: Darwin Glenti Festival drew a record 40,000 across June 6–7, celebrating Greek food, music and dance. Industry news: ARIA has revived the Best Alternative Release category for the 2026 awards and added new AI eligibility rules.

Tour Announcement: Niall Horan has confirmed his “Dinner Party Live On Tour” for February 2027, with arena dates in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane (Perth again left out). New Music: Vera Blue will release her third studio album Modern Rituals on Aug 21, sharing the single “Rituals” and announcing an Australian tour. Local Arts Shock: Sydney vocal ensemble The Song Company has folded after appointing a liquidator, citing long-term financial unsustainability. Opera House / Dance: Sydney Opera House will host limited-season returns by First Nations choreographers Amrita Hepi (Rinse) and Lewis Major (Triptych) in September. Indie Label Move: Melbourne band Wayside has signed to Will Yip’s Memory Music, releasing “Invisible Strings” as their first 2026 release. Classic Rock Live: Robert Forster (Go-Betweens) has announced a belated Australia tour in September supporting Strawberries, with tickets on sale June 15. Industry Buzz: Brisbane Festival has unveiled its 2026 program, running 4–26 September with 700+ performances and 2,000+ artists.

Australian music in peril: A Guardian deep-dive using ARIA chart data says homegrown pop has been squeezed out over 40 years, with Australian artists now appearing in the low single digits of annual chart spots. World Cup + music crossover: The Reytons are turning their US run into “Reytons at the World Cup,” scheduling shows around England group matches. Tour news: Jet has added more regional dates, extending its “Rumblin’ Regional Revue” with an extra leg. New releases: Oklahoma noise-rock band Chat Pile announce Who Loves The Sun and share “Deep Blue.” Book-to-music moment: Soundgarden guitarist Kim Thayil’s memoir A Screaming Life lands today, promising a close look at the band’s rise and breakup. Big local live push: Brisbane Festival has unveiled its 2026 program, with citywide arts and music highlights. Industry spotlight: ABC’s “The Big Issue” marks 30 years in Australia, celebrating vendor work and community impact.

Brisbane Festival: Brisbane’s 2026 program is officially unveiled under “Switch On, Light Up, Come Alive,” with 160 productions across three weeks (Sept 4–26), sunrise-to-late-night events, and a big return for Riverfire on Sept 5. TV Music Spotlight: Tones and I is joining The Voice AU as the fifth coach for 2026, joining Melanie C, Richard Marx, Ronan Keating and Kate Miller-Heidke. Touring (Metalcore): Inertia announce five headline dates in support of new single “Emerald Whisper,” hitting Sydney, Brisbane, Hobart, Adelaide and Melbourne in July/August. Touring (Alt/Indie): Ecca Vandal adds Australian headline dates in early November, with presales starting June 10–11 and general sale June 12. Local Breakthrough: G Flip says their career got a global “boom” after “Bed on Fire” landed on Prime’s Off Campus, with streams surging and a second season confirmed. Live Music Access: Spotify’s Turn Up Aus will film intimate shows with Hooligan Hefs and Genesis Owusu at The Bat & Ball Hotel in Redfern, with double passes up for grabs. Industry Business: Vinyl Group is acquiring Pedestrian Group from Nine (completion June 15), adding youth media brands including PEDESTRIAN.TV and Openair Cinemas. Arts Infrastructure (SA): South Australia launches its first professional music theatre company, Full Circle Theatre Co, with Catch Me If You Can set for early November.

Australian Tour Watch: Niall Horan has teased an Australian return “early next year” after releasing his fourth album Dinner Party, telling Rolling Stone AU/NZ he’s “down” for sure, with announcements still to come. Dream Collabs: The former One Direction star also named his wish-list collaborators—Gracie Abrams and Taylor Swift—though he’s unsure how “doable” either is. Hard Dance Expansion: SANDBOX is taking its hard dance brand national, announcing a festival series hitting Brisbane (Sept 18), Sydney (White Bay Power Station), Melbourne (PICA) and Perth (Sept 27), with an initial lineup featuring international acts plus Sydney’s HIJCKD. Local Talent Spotlight: Sunshine Coast youth performers can audition for STARS alive! 2026 (ages 8–18), with finals at Tewantin-Noosa Lions Park and a spot in the NOOSA alive! Festival program. Regional Festival Update: Cooktown Discovery Festival has locked in Djawarray after his Queensland Music Awards Regional Artist of the Year win, joining Kingswood and others for 19–21 June. K-Pop Tour News: ITZY has announced the UK and European leg of its Tunnel Vision tour, starting Sept 11 in London.

Live Music Spotlight: Mitski brought a slightly shaky start to Sydney’s Opera House with a technical whine on opener “In a Lake”, then powered through her new-era set as the crowd proved anything but casual. Hard Dance Expansion: SANDBOX is launching its first national festival series this September across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, with tickets on sale June 15 and a debut lineup including Jovynn, Zapravka and Beauz. Local Touring: Mitch Tambo heads to Gosford’s Fun Haus Factory on June 19, blending contemporary music with First Nations culture and Gamilaraay language, plus support from Voice of Lele. Industry Pulse: A new deep-dive asks whether Australian music is at risk of extinction, pointing to a long-term slide in the share of Australian artists in the annual charts. Community & Culture: King’s Birthday Honours recognise music-adjacent service, including OAM recipient Richard Morgan for youth, community and cultural work in Forbes, and HIV advocate Mark Reid for Perth Queer Film Festival and STYLEAID. Venue Watch: Venues roundup flags upgrades and live-music momentum, including Brisbane’s The Felons Barrel Hall and The Broadway Hotel set for changes. New Releases for Pride: Fresh tracks from ratbag, Jimi the Kween, Jett Blyton and Tove Love land as Pride Month playlists get louder.

Opera House Boost: NSW plans will let Sydney Opera House forecourt gigs run louder at night, raise outdoor capacity (5,000→6,000 for smaller events; 6,000→7,000 for major shows) and extend curfews to midnight seven days a week—aimed at keeping the venue central to Sydney’s live calendar. Tour News: Niall Horan has teased an Australian tour for early 2027 alongside his new album Dinner Party, with dates still to be announced. New Live Release: Georgia Lines is dropping Live At The Civic, a 10-track album from her Auckland headline show at The Civic. Album/Single Spotlight: WHO SHOT SCOTT releases debut album HAIRY era single “I’M YOUR ALIEN,” while Evanescence has unveiled Sanctuary and extends its world tour. Local Music Culture: ABC Classic 100 crowns Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 as Australia’s favourite classical work. Community & Safety: Police investigate a gun attack near a US festival with live music—festival organisers cancelled the remainder of the event.

Sydney Opera House Noise Rules: NSW ministers have backed “common sense” changes that lift late-night sound limits for forecourt concerts, aligning them with daytime settings and reducing the influence of nearby “Toaster” residents after past complaints (including a $15,000 fine). Tasmania Festival Spotlight: Dark Mofo returns to Hobart (June 11–22) with Baker Boy among the acts, mixing metal, hip-hop and darkwave. Touring News: Evanescence has released new album Sanctuary and added Australia/NZ dates for early 2027, while Bryson Tiller announced The Neo Trapsoul Tour with a final Australia leg starting Jan 19, 2027. Industry Shake-up: Australia’s first music school empire, Stormer Music, has collapsed owing $1.8m to creditors, with locations taken over under another name. Streaming vs Collecting: A new report finds some Australians are returning to DVDs, VHS and vinyl as streaming fatigue grows. Global Chart Watch: BTS’ ARIRANG hits No.1 on Spotify’s Weekly Top Albums Global chart and climbs ARIA album charts in Australia.

Australian Live & Touring: BINI adds Australia and New Zealand dates to its “Signals” world tour, with Melbourne (Sept 20) and Sydney (Sept 27) plus Auckland (Sept 25), and tickets rolling out via Weverse then Spotify Premium before general sale. K-pop Ticketing: BTS’ Arirang Singapore run is sold out, with Klook the last channel to exhaust allocations for National Stadium shows in December. New Music / Collaborations: Electric Callboy drops “Let the Good Times Roll” featuring The Offspring’s Dexter Holland, a preview of their August album TANZNEID. Australian Artists in the Spotlight: Northlane’s Marcus Bridge shares his influences and first gig/record in a Q&A, while West Australian Symphony Orchestra prepares Schumann’s Cello Concerto (June 26–27). International Music Buzz (with local pull): Iron Maiden releases a Sweden Rock Festival tank-arrival video ahead of its tour, and 5 Seconds of Summer’s “Everyone Is A Star!” stop highlights the enduring Sydney-to-fans connection.

Australian Live & Touring: Neighbours actor Alan Fletcher is swapping scripts for the stage, announcing The Alan Fletcher Band will play the UK’s Brightlingsea Free Music Festival on Aug 2, with a wider July 31–Nov 2 tour plus seven extra August dates. International Pop Film: Madonna has set Confessions II – The Film for a YouTube release after its Tribeca premiere, with a 10-minute visual built around the first six tracks of her July 3 album. Australian Screen-to-Song: Greg Gould’s new single “Running” lands as the closing credits theme for queer Australian film Body Blow, following its sold-out Sydney Film Festival debut. Perth Breakout: Birdland, the Perth indie pop triplets, are set for a national tour after their debut EP He Was Me, riding major streaming and Triple J momentum. Global Touring News: Fischer-Z is heading Down Under for the first time in Nov/Dec to mark 50 years since their debut show. Music & Business: UMG’s nextWAV artist development program is launching in New Zealand, while Australian music industry moves include publishing and JV announcements.

Australian Music on Screen: Netflix’s new campus drama Off Campus has become a surprise platform for Australian music, with tracks from AC/DC, The Kid Laroi, George Alice, Royel Otis and more—while G Flip’s Bed On Fire is credited with a big streaming spike after featuring in a key montage. New Releases & Collabs: Electric Callboy has dropped Let The Good Times Roll featuring The Offspring and Dexter Holland, teasing their next album TANZNEID. Tour News: Evanescence has announced Sanctuary and extended its world tour with an early-2027 Australia/NZ run. Industry/Live Scene: BIGSOUND 2026 keeps stacking its lineup, with Julia Jacklin, King Gizzard and Trials among the latest speakers/artists-in-conversation names. Local Spotlight: Papua New Guinea’s Mama Masalai (Wan Fire Festival) confirms she’ll perform at the Wan Fire Festival and releases new single Mi go.

Australian Music Loss: John Farnham has confirmed he’ll never sing on stage again after oral cancer surgery, ending a career that became part of Australia’s everyday soundtrack. Big Tour News: Evanescence have announced 2027 arena dates across Australia and New Zealand for their new album Sanctuary, kicking off in Perth and running through Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Auckland. Festival Dates: Good Things Festival has locked in 2026 dates (Dec 5–6) on its usual Melbourne/Sydney/Brisbane route, with venues still to be confirmed. New Music Spotlight: Asha Jefferies drops Art of Suggestion ahead of her October album Desire Is An Angel, while Savage Honey shares an exclusive early listen to debut album Darling (June 8). Industry Moves: Seeker Music has acquired Simon Raymonde’s publishing catalogue, and 10K Projects has struck a JV with Runway Records. Live Culture Pulse: A new Creative Australia survey says 98% of Australians engage with the arts, with arts attendance hitting its highest level since 2009.