AGP Executive Report

AI Music Theft: Darren Hayes and other artists are calling for action after The Atlantic’s AI Watchdog database pointed to major music datasets used without permission, with claims including Australian works tied to Kylie Minogue, AC/DC, INXS, Crowded House and Slim Dusty. Touring Shock: Beetlejuice The Musical has been cancelled mid-run across Australia, with remaining dates beyond early July scrapped as producers cite rising touring costs and a tougher consumer climate. Radio Move: triple j has locked in Jordan Barr as the new co-host of Drive alongside Luka Muller, taking over the afternoon slot from next month. New Music Dates: Ben Lee and Georgia Maq announce a national co-headline tour, “The Two Most Annoying People You Love Tour,” with tickets on sale June 25. Emerging Talent: ABC Classic reveals 12 semifinalists for the ABC Young Performers Awards, with live recitals in Sydney or Melbourne in August. Industry Culture: Darwin Festival appoints Ben Graetz as next director, set to lead the 50th-anniversary program and spotlight territory artists.

Cannes Lions Australia: Australia landed 25 shortlists in the second wave of Cannes Lions, led by TBWA\Melbourne (five, including Nissan’s “Nissan Patrol. It’s Out There” and Billie’s “Bringing Koala Ears Back to Aussie Beaches”), with TBWA\Sydney close behind (four) for mycar’s “The Sunburnt Car”, plus multiple nods across Social & Creator, Media, PR and Digital Craft. Live Music Tech: Iron Maiden is enforcing a phone-free standing/general admission area at La Défense Arena in Paris using Yondr pouches, with the show filmed for their “Run For Your Lives” concert film. Australian Music Picks: A roundup of Best Australian and New Zealand Music of the Week spotlights releases including Julia Jacklin and Daine. Pop Culture Crossover: Cat Power announces she’ll tour Australia and NZ performing her album The Greatest in full. Industry/Marketing: Warner Music launches “Listen Up”, an artist accelerator aimed at scaling talent across APAC.

AI Copyright Clash: APRA AMCOS says AI firms have used hundreds of songs by Aussie and NZ artists (including Kylie Minogue, Nick Cave, Sia, INXS and Crowded House) in training datasets without licences, consent or payment—sparking fresh calls for stronger copyright and licensing rules. World Music Day (Fête de la Musique): The global celebration returns on 21 June, tracing its roots to France’s 1982 push to get both pros and amateurs performing in public spaces for free. Local Live & Touring: The Living End frontman Chris Cheney has sold his publishing catalogue to BMG, with the band continuing to tour after their ARIA Hall of Fame induction. Queer Music Round-up: New releases from queer artists are landing across pop and electronic, with fresh tracks highlighted for Pride listening. Community & Culture: Maryborough residents are restoring heritage venues like the Embassy Theatre to bring live music back to the city’s centre. Music in Sport: France’s World Cup goal music is Daft Punk’s “One More Time,” while Australia’s is AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck.”

AI Copyright Clash: APRA AMCOS says Kylie Minogue’s songs have been found in AI training datasets without permission, licensing or payment, warning creators could lose hundreds of millions unless protections change. Industry Recognition: Cannes Lions Audio & Radio shortlists land for Australia, with VML Sydney leading (8) for 1001 Optometry’s “Magnif-Eye”, plus Supermassive and Musicians Making a Difference, and M+C Saatchi Australia for Lifeblood. Chart Power: Olivia Rodrigo’s new album opens at No. 1 in Australia, adding another chart milestone. Tour News: The Whitlams announce “Return to Rock Island” pub tour dates for October. Live Theatre Shock: Beetlejuice The Musical cancels the rest of its Australian run after cost pressures, with only Brisbane’s final show on July 5 remaining. Global Music Culture: BTS leader RM is named the first-ever global ambassador of the National Museum of Korea, spotlighting Korean art worldwide.

Touring Shock: Beetlejuice The Musical has been abruptly cut short in Australia, with the national tour cancelled early after rising costs and the economics of moving a large production between cities; the show will now end at Brisbane’s QPAC on July 5, skipping remaining Perth, Adelaide and Sydney dates. Industry Scrutiny: An Australian tour promoter, Silverback Touring, is facing artist payment allegations after an A Current Affair segment raised claims of unpaid debts and refund issues across rock/metal/alternative acts, with the founder disputing some figures. Festival Buzz: Yours and Owls 2026 has locked in BBNO$ and G Flip as headliners, alongside Ball Park Music and DMA’s, with the lineup leaning hard into viral-friendly contemporary sounds plus local favourites. Local Live Music Context: Country music is surging in Australia again, with streaming and younger audiences driving a boom that’s bucking broader festival slowdowns. Tech + Audio: OnePlus has added dual Bluetooth audio streaming to compatible phones, letting users share audio to two wireless devices at once.

AI Copyright Clash: APRA AMCOS says AI firms have added Aussie hits by Kylie Minogue, Nick Cave and Sia to training datasets without permission, licence or payment, and is urging a government copyright carve-out debate after its “AI Watchdog” tool mapped what’s been taken. Live Music Industry: APRA AMCOS will end its Live Music Office and Live and Local program after 13 years, a blow for the sector’s support infrastructure. New Releases & Tributes: Dropkick Murphys have released a new version of Shane MacGowan’s “The Body of an American” ahead of the star-studded MacGowan tribute album 20th Century Paddy (Nov 13). Touring Spotlight: Freddie Gibbs announces an Australian run in October, plus Move My Way Festival dates in Sydney and Melbourne. Sydney Opera House Buzz: King Stingray opened VIVID at the Opera House with their Yolŋu surf rock sound. Big Pop Chart Moment: Olivia Rodrigo’s “You Seem Pretty Sad” debuts at No. 1 in Australia.

Opera Australia on the road: Opera Australia will stage Mozart’s Don Giovanni at Gippsland Performing Arts Centre (GPAC), Traralgon on Tuesday 21 July, a one-night-only event marking 30 years of the company’s national touring program. Festival survival talk: Adelaide Festival Centre CEO Kate Gould says festival programmers must adapt fast as audiences want more than “a show” at 7:30pm, pointing to big swings in recent ticketing and the fallout from Adelaide Writers’ Week. New music drops: Pond released Terrestrials, leaning into tighter pub rock and post-punk energy, with “Skyworks” tackling the contradictions of Australia Day fireworks; The Buoys return with “Kill You Back,” an all-woman indie rock single built for the stage. Tour news: BOY SODA announces a short world tour (Japan for Summer Sonic, then LA and New York) plus Sydney and Melbourne dates, and a deluxe reissue of SOULSTAR with five new tracks. Live music policy pressure: NSW Greens and Alex Greenwich call out alleged overpolicing and sniffer-dog harassment at Oxford Street venues, arguing it’s scaring people away and hitting live music. Industry/arts leadership: APRA AMCOS is reported to be ending its Live Music Office and Live and Local program after 13 years.

Touring Buzz (Asia): BTS has added a third show each in Jakarta and Bulacan for its “ARIRANG” world tour, bringing the run to 88 dates, with Jakarta now set for Dec. 29 (after Dec. 26-27) and Bulacan adding March 16, 2027 (after March 13-14). Touring Buzz (Global): Bad Bunny has crossed $1 billion in total touring grosses, with 2026 stadium dates helping him set a record as the highest-grossing tour in Boxscore history that hasn’t played the U.S. Local Live Music (Regional Vic): Vika & Linda’s “Where Do You Come From?” era is landing big in Australia, with the ARIA-topping album and a major national tour that includes a WPACC stop in Wangaratta on June 19. Grassroots Circuit (Aussie): Phil Jamieson will play Tanswell’s Hotel in Beechworth on June 25 as part of his PJ AIR your tour, previewing his forthcoming album “10Charlie” (due Aug 14). New Music (Australia): Katie Noonan is pushing a ticket-buying message in interviews about the realities of getting bums on seats, plus her broader take on the industry’s negatives. Festival/Arts (SA): Adelaide’s Illuminate is set to premiere “The Lost Art of Listening,” turning audience smartphones into a coordinated “choir” of light and sound.

New Music Deal: Perth alt-pop breakout Alexandria has signed with Warner Music Australia/Warner Records and released cinematic single “Justice,” joining a roster that includes Nick Cave and PJ Harvey. Touring (Australia): Hoodoo Gurus announce a 45th anniversary “Rewind Tour — All Killer, No Filler” with Ratcat and The Stems, playing singles-only across Adelaide, Perth, Sydney, Melbourne (Live at the Gardens) and Brisbane (tickets from 23 June). Anniversary Tour: Bob Evans will tour Australia in Sept–Oct to perform his 20th-anniversary album Suburban Songbook in full, with a vinyl/streaming anniversary edition landing 4 Sept. Rock Return: Faith No More bassist Bill Gould confirms the band will tour again in 2027, including Australia. Health & Media: Iconic Aussie music critic Molly Meldrum’s health is reportedly worsening, while veteran ABC broadcaster Virginia Trioli says she’s leaving after 27 years. Local Scene Moment: Miss Kaninna’s Dark Mofo show in Hobart sold out in just over an hour as she prepares her debut mixtape Blackprint for August. Pop Update: Lil Nas X says he’s back from rehab and has new music on the way, sharing that his fear is easing.

New Music (Metalcore): Motionless In White have released “R.I.P.” from their upcoming seventh album, featuring Skylar Grey and a cinematic video by Jensen Noen. Film & Live Music (Australia): Sia’s Coachella 2016 concert film, Sia: Nostalgic for the Present, is getting a remastered big-screen run from July 23 for its 10th anniversary. Tour News (Guitar Virtuosos): Polyphia announce a 2026 world tour, with Plini and Intervals joining on select North American dates. Industry Moves (Ticketing): TEG has appointed Amy Mackie as managing director, ticketing, overseeing strategy and operations across Australia, NZ, Asia and the UK. Australian Creative Spotlight: Warwick Thornton’s Wolfram lands at the Shanghai International Film Festival, drawing on his family history and Indigenous and migrant labour parallels. Global Pop (Australia-linked): Natalie Imbruglia shares the title track “Algorithm” ahead of her September 4 album release. Live Entertainment (Australia): Electric Callboy add extra UK/Europe arena dates to the Tanzneid World Tour, with Australia dates slated for September.

Publishing Deal: BMG has acquired The Living End frontman Chris Cheney’s publishing catalogue, extending its long-running publisher/label relationship and adding another major win for Australian rock IP. Festival Buzz: Yours & Owls has revealed its 2026 lineup for Oct 3–4 in Wollongong, led by bbno$ (Aus exclusive) and G Flip, with DMA’S, Hiatus Kaiyote, PNAU, The Drones, Tkay Maidza and more. Mental Health + Creativity: A new push argues creativity should be built into mental health policy, citing WHO guidance and survey findings that many Australians know creative hobbies help but don’t do them. Regional Live Music: Benny Walker returns for a soulful regional night with Madi Colville-Walker, backed by Creative Victoria and 10,000 Gigs. Car Radio Demand: A new multi-country study says drivers still want broadcast radio in-car, with most listening while driving and missing the dial if it’s gone. Stage & Screen: Dirty Dancing—The Classic Story on Stage is coming to Sydney as a live-to-film concert experience. Industry Watch: Warner Music APAC launches an artist accelerator program, spotlighting local talent development.

Artist Development: Warner Music APAC has launched Listen Up, a global artist accelerator aimed at scaling Asia-Pacific talent into major markets, with Sydney (Aug 6) and Singapore (Aug 12) showcase events featuring acts including Erin LeCount, Rachel Chinouriri and Barry Can’t Swim. New Music: Julia Jacklin is set to release her fourth album The Gem on Sept 25 (4AD/Remote Control), recorded in Melbourne, and has shared the fuzzy, ’80s-leaning single “Get Away From Me (I Think I’ll Love You Soon)”. Touring (K-pop): BIGBANG has confirmed ticket details for its 20th anniversary stadium tour in the US, UK and Europe, with general sales from 10am local time June 26; Australia and Asia dates are still to come. Touring (Australia): Australian Crawl is reportedly reuniting for a 40-years-later comeback at the Red Hot Summer Tour, alongside Men at Work. Live Music & Culture: Lucas Parklands in Queensland is spotlighted as an intimate, rainforest-surrounded concert venue built for up-close performances. Industry & Policy: NSW musicians have spoken to a parliamentary inquiry about struggling to get grants and working “day to day” after COVID.

UK Under-16 Social Media Ban: Britain’s PM Keir Starmer has announced a ban on under-16s using major user-to-user apps like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, X and YouTube, with wider online-safety controls also on the table—an Australia-style move that raises big questions for how platforms and enforcement will work. Hard Techno Expansion: Sydney underground breakout SANDBOX is going multi-city in 2026, adding Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, with White Bay Power Station and PICA among the venues and a stacked lineup including BEAUZ and Mark Blair. Australian Tour News: Plain White T’s are set for their first headline Australia run in years this October, with Teenage Joans in support. Big Aussie Rock Nostalgia: Australian Crawl and Men At Work will headline the 2026 Red Hot Summer Tour together, with a lineup also featuring Birds of Tokyo, Vika & Linda, Eskimo Joe, Boom Crash Opera and Ella Hooper. New Music Releases: Kyle Jenkins drops “Trocadero” as the first single from his upcoming solo album Palace, while Greta O’Leary releases “Year of the Dog,” a bright, forward-driving follow-up to River Dark. K-pop Live Dates: BABYMONSTER announces their first Oceania tour, landing in Melbourne and Sydney in December plus a debut New Zealand show in Auckland. Industry/Community: The 2026 Rock for Ronnie benefit raised $125,000 for cancer research, continuing the Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund’s work. International Shock: Oliver Tree has died aged 32 after a helicopter collision in Rio, and his ANZ tour promoter has issued a statement following the news.

Australian Releases: Julia Jacklin has announced her new album The Gem for 25 September, recorded entirely in Melbourne with Robert Muinos, plus the new single “Get Away From Me (I Think I’ll Love You Soon)”. Touring (AU/NZ): Evanescence will return for a March 2027 Australian and New Zealand run (Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, then Auckland). Big Live News: Electric Callboy has expanded its Tanzneid World Tour with added UK and European dates, and Ice Nine Kills has booked its biggest headline show yet at London’s O2 Arena for March 28, 2027. Ticketing Industry: TEG has appointed Amy Mackie as Managing Director, Ticketing, overseeing strategy across Australia, New Zealand, Asia and the UK. Global Music Shock: Oliver Tree has died at 32 after a helicopter crash in Brazil, with reports noting he was on tour. Policy Watch (Music/Media): UK PM Keir Starmer confirmed an under-16 social media ban starting in spring 2027, with knock-on effects for youth online culture and creator platforms.

BIGBANG Stadium Return: K-pop legends BIGBANG have announced a 31-date stadium world tour for their 20th anniversary, including a one-night-only Australian stop this October. Live Music Spotlight: Thundamentals played Felons Barrel Room in Manly, with the new 600-cap venue setting the scene for a big Sydney night out. BIGSOUND 2026: Brisbane’s BIGSOUND revealed its BIGSOUND 100 artist showcase lineup for Sept 1–4, with highlights including Ladyhawke, Ngaiire, Jem Cassar-Daley, Sam Fischer and more. Festival Expansion: Rolling Sets grows again in 2026, adding Newcastle’s Foreshore Park (Dec 5) alongside Tweed Heads (Nov 28), headlined by Ocean Alley, G Flip and Violent Soho. Touring Album News: Cat Power will celebrate the 20th anniversary of The Greatest with Australian and NZ dates in late 2026, including Sydney Opera House and Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens. International Tragedy: US pop oddball Oliver Tree has died aged 32 after a helicopter crash in Brazil, where he was touring ahead of scheduled Australian shows in October.

Australian Music at Risk: A new podcast episode asks if Australian music is facing “extinction”, pointing to fewer local artists getting chart and radio traction and exploring what could revive the industry. Like A Version Spotlight: The Tullamarines make their triple j studio debut with a high-stakes cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain”, plus they also perform their original “Running On Empty”. Festival Survival (Brisbane): GRAIN founder Chris Langenberg talks about building Brisbane’s ambitious Against The Grain festival takeover and why the live scene is increasingly about survival, not just logistics. Local Talent, Global Reach: Balu Brigada return home for a sold-out Auckland show, celebrating their debut album Portal’s massive streaming milestone and their homecoming run. Strictly Come Dancing (Music Crossover): Delta Goodrem is confirmed as a 2026 contestant, adding another major Australian music name to mainstream TV. International Star Power: Ed Sheeran hints at a hiatus during his LOOP Tour debut in North America, while Kylie Minogue returns to Hyde Park and gets emotional about what’s changed since her last performance there.