AGP Executive Report

Music Retail: HMV will close its historic Oxford Street flagship in March 2027 after landlords proposed doubling the rent and requiring major renovations. The retailer says it is seeking a new West End site; sales at the store are up 25% year on year. Concerts and Politics: More than 60 people were reportedly detained after Max Korzh’s Frankfurt concert, where the singer called for an end to the war in Ukraine. European Acts: Fontaines D.C. are set to release their fifth album, Dopamine Chamber, on Friday, blending the Irish band’s sound with themes of distraction and digital life. Touring: Jamie T says Brexit-related costs mean he can no longer afford to tour Europe, as ATEEZ announces a 2027 world tour with European dates. Live Music: Shakira’s Madrid show set an Amazon Music record for the most-watched live stream by a female artist; Erykah Badu, meanwhile, has cancelled five European tour dates.

Frankfurt Concert: Nearly 30,000 fans saw Belarusian singer Max Korzh condemn Russia’s war on Ukraine; police detained 63 people after reports of pyrotechnics and clashes. Touring Europe: UK musicians are warning that Brexit barriers are making European tours harder to afford, while the European Talent Exchange lists Madra Salach, Florence Road and Dove Ellis among the continent’s most-booked acts. New Releases: Duran Duran will issue their “Free To Love” remix collection on CD and vinyl on October 30, with two new reworkings. On the Road: ATEEZ has announced a 2027 world tour with European dates, and Greta Van Fleet has also added Europe to its 2027 itinerary. Studio Watch: The Rolling Stones are reportedly recording with saxophonist Courtney Pine, though no new album plans have been confirmed.

Brussels Philharmonic: The orchestra opened its 25th season with Crossing Cultures, featuring four works by Qatari composer Nasser Sahim and performances blending Arab and European traditions. Glastonbury: Sam Fender is reportedly set to headline the Pyramid Stage next June, though the festival has yet to confirm its lineup. Tickets sold out in 42 minutes. Touring Costs: Jamie T says he can no longer afford to tour Europe, highlighting the continuing impact of post-Brexit barriers on UK artists. 2027 Festivals: Open’er has added The Chemical Brothers, Ellie Goulding and Adéla to its lineup, while ATEEZ has announced European dates for April as part of its world tour.

Artist Allegations: Former Black Midi frontman Geordie Greep has cancelled US tour dates after misconduct allegations. He denied rape, described the encounter as a misunderstanding and said he apologised. Tour News: ATEEZ’s 2027 “ZERO TO ALL” tour will reach Europe in March and April, though cities are yet to be announced. Festival Line-up: The Chemical Brothers, Ellie Goulding and Adéla are among the latest acts booked for Poland’s Open’er Festival 2027. European Dates: Lebanese singer Marcel Khalife has added Manchester and London shows to his European tour. New Music: The Rolling Stones are back in the studio, while Kylie Minogue has announced a 25th-anniversary edition of Fever.

Touring Across Europe: Luxembourg Eurovision act TALI is launching her first international tour, with European dates and a Duran Duran support slot in Brussels. Brexit Touring Hurdles: Jamie T says he can no longer afford to tour Europe, as a UK minister urges Brussels to make progress on easing barriers for British musicians. European Live Dates: Stereo MC’s will bring a 35th-anniversary tour for Connected to Sofia on May 26, 2027. AI and Music: Italy’s regulator is investigating AI music company Suno over its terms of service.

Women In Music: London’s 2026 awards celebrated women across the industry, with Jade winning Artist Impact and Shirley Manson named Inspirational Artist. Publishing: Faber Music CEO Richard King will chair the UK Music Publishers Association, with AI rules and creators’ rights among his priorities. Touring: Jamie T says he can no longer afford to tour Europe, as the UK government presses Brussels for progress on post-Brexit touring barriers. Metal: Judas Priest bassist Ian Hill is retiring after nearly 60 years, citing arthritis and injuries; Davey Rimmer will take over. European talent: Irish acts Madra Salach, Florence Road and Dove Ellis rank among Europe’s most-booked emerging performers. AI and music: Italy’s regulator is investigating Suno’s terms of service, as debate over AI’s impact on creators intensifies.

New Release: Pet Shop Boys’ A Man from the Future revisits the life of British codebreaker Alan Turing, pairing electronic music with strings from Manchester Camerata. European Touring: Irish artist Jamie T says he can no longer afford to tour Europe after Brexit, highlighting the costs facing UK musicians on the road. Industry Watch: Italy’s regulator is probing AI music startup Suno over its terms of service, as questions grow over the technology’s place in the music business. Live Music: Shakira’s Madrid concert set an Amazon Music livestream record, while a historic Bradford brass band is marking a milestone with a special concert. New Talent: Madra Salach, Florence Road and Dove Ellis are among Europe’s most-booked emerging acts, according to European Talent Exchange.

European Talent: Irish acts Madra Salach, Florence Road and Dove Ellis ranked among Europe’s most-booked performers in 2026, with Madra Salach topping the list. Ireland will be ESNS’s focus country in January. Festival Circuit: The Scratch, Gurriers and SPRINTS are set for Killarney’s new All Out Festival on December 19, with more acts to come. Music Rights: German singer-songwriter Alice Merton can include Ye’s alleged antisemitic remarks and her family’s Holocaust history in her copyright lawsuit over an uncleared sample, a judge ruled. Touring Strain: Jamie T says he can no longer afford to tour Europe after Brexit, underscoring continuing challenges for UK artists. Live Music Access: UK gig platform GigPig has partnered with Google to make thousands of pub gigs searchable. Jazz: Cartagena Jazz Festival has announced its 2026 lineup and dates.

Live Music Discovery: Manchester-based GigPig is feeding thousands of UK pub and venue gigs into Google Search, making local performances easier to find, including through AI-powered search features. Irish Arts Funding: Budget 2027 allocates €1.298 billion to the culture, communications and sport department, backing record Arts Council funding and a successor to the Basic Income for the Arts scheme. Music Business: Whynow has partnered with Bleckmann to run EMP’s German warehouse and logistics as the merchandise retailer enters its next phase under new ownership. AI and Music: Google’s new SynthID Detector can identify AI-made media, with the company saying it has watermarked 240,000 years of audio; Italy is also investigating music generator Suno over its terms of service. UK Gigs: Madness will headline a new opening-night event at Southend’s Lazydays Festival in July 2027, their first performance in the town in more than 18 years.

Music Heritage: Queen’s 1986 Budapest concert film has been restored in 4K and released in cinemas, revisiting the band’s landmark stadium show behind the Iron Curtain. A multi-format audio release is due Nov. 6. European Tours: Duran Duran begin their UK run Oct. 15, with stops in Glasgow, Belfast, Brussels and Paris. Roger Waters’ Pink Floyd tribute show, led by his son Harry, will reach Glasgow in June 2027. Eurovision: Czechia has withdrawn from the 2027 contest in Burgas. Music Industry: Italy’s regulator is probing AI music company Suno over its terms of service, while Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is seeking to trademark her voice to guard against deepfakes. Festival News: Glastonbury’s 2027 tickets sold out in 45 minutes.

EU Commemoration: EU leaders marked the 7 October third anniversary with renewed calls for a two-state peace and a firm stance against antisemitism and terrorism. Irish Rap Goes Global: Dublin rapper Curtisy brought his Jobstown sound to US platform On The Radar, wearing “Listen To Irish Rap” as he dropped a freestyle. Kurdish Theatre Resumes: Teatra Jiyana Nû restarted after bans and repression, opening a new season and planning adult work and workshops. Live Music & Tours: Greta Van Fleet announced a 2027 Glasgow OVO Hydro headline date, with Larkin Poe as support, while Pineapple Thief previewed its live-first approach on new album Far and Wide. Venue Business: AEG and Virgin Media O2 extended The O2 naming rights to 2038, adding priority access perks. Baroque Spotlight: Sofia’s Art of the Baroque festival opened its 20th edition with historically informed performances and a youth chamber competition.

Pink Floyd Legacy Tour: Roger Waters and his son Harry will stage “golden era” Pink Floyd classics from 1971–1979, with a 10-piece band and a run starting in Manchester in June 2027. Italian AI Music Crackdown: Italy’s competition watchdog has opened an investigation into Suno over unfair terms, including broad contract powers and account changes, with a public consultation expected. Music Meets Sport in Benelux: UK promo outfit Shoot Music is expanding into the Netherlands and Belgium via a Benelux partnership, pushing electronic releases through stadium media and live channels. Label Sign-Up: Frontiers Label Group’s FLG has signed UK rock band Lady Of Mars, releasing “Let It Burn” as the first single under the new partnership. Tech + Privacy: Australia is probing an app used in low-cost smart glasses, questioning how personal data is collected and stored. Culture Policy Tension (Ireland): Ireland’s government says there won’t be a “culture card” in 2027, despite earlier hopes for a €100 teen voucher. Fontaines D.C. x Rosalía: The pair’s limited white-label 7” for “Where Is Gone?” lands via exclusive listening parties ahead of the album Dopamine Chamber.

AI & Music Law: Italy’s antitrust watchdog has opened an investigation into AI music startup Suno, saying parts of its terms may be unfair to consumers, including broad rights, unilateral changes, and US-based arbitration that could clash with Italian copyright rules. Tour Updates: British progressive metal band TesseracT has postponed its UK and Germany tour to March 2027, apologising to fans after changes to plans. Live Music & Licensing: Brand Licensing Europe reports European licensed merchandise and services hit $82.4bn in 2025 (+3.8%), with Publishing, Sports and Food & Beverage leading growth. Cybersecurity & Retail: UK fashion retailer ASOS is investigating after thousands of app users received a “fully compromised” hack alert claiming access to a Snowflake instance. Pop Culture Streaming: Crunchyroll and Toei announced Dragon Ball Super: Beerus will stream from October 11 with enhanced animation. Pink Floyd Legacy: Roger Waters and his son Harry Waters team up for a 2027 tour celebrating Pink Floyd’s 1971–1979 “golden era.”

Shakira’s Madrid residency: Shakira added a final Oct. 12 date after her Oct. 3 Dua Lipa duet “Antología,” with the livestream crowned Amazon Music’s biggest-ever for a female artist. EU music-tech: OpenAI will roll out invisible watermarks for ChatGPT and Codex text in the EU under AI transparency rules. Italian politics meets AI: Giorgia Meloni has filed to trademark her voice with the EU to help fight AI deepfakes. Greek-German cultural honour: Nana Mouskouri received Germany’s Order of Merit for reconciliation work. UK/Europe touring news: Fionn Regan announced 2027 album Berlin, Berlin plus Irish dates and a UK/Europe run. Industry deal: ADA Central Europe signed a worldwide digital distribution partnership with Switzerland’s Sound Distribution. Bowie80: A global 2027 campaign will mark David Bowie’s 80th birthday with releases, events and retail pop-ups. New releases: Sienna Spiro’s debut Visitor is RIAA gold in the US. Live music business: London’s Olympia cancels some first concerts after a revamp planning-application snag.

Arena & Tour News: Greta Van Fleet has announced its 2027 “Into The Beginning” 59-date North American and European tour, with European stops including Munich, Milan, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Berlin, Amsterdam, Paris, London, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow and Dublin. UK Live Music: First Aid Kit will play Glasgow’s O2 Academy on Jan 20, 2027, as part of a wider UK run. Pop Nostalgia: Bananarama is set for a Cardiff Castle headline gig on July 10, 2027, plus a second Wales date at Llangollen Pavilion on July 4. Music & Film Crossover: Spain’s La Oreja de Van Gogh is moving from Spotify’s “Billions Club” to the big screen, with songs powering the romantic musical “Puedes Contar Conmigo,” directed by Fernando González Molina. Classical Spotlight: World-renowned organist Professor Ian Tracey returns to Sulgrave’s Church of St James the Less for a special concert tied to the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence. Culture Beyond Music: Cyprus’ Mitsikouri festival for children and young people is expanding across the island with productions from 11 countries.

Music & Culture in Europe: Waterford’s Lit Festival returns for its ninth year (Oct 9–11), a youth-led mix of rap, spoken word, theatre, activism and even Dungeons & Dragons. Live Music & Community: Blackpool marks Stanley Park’s 100th birthday with family entertainment and a big drone finale. European Music Industry: Universal Music Europe names Frank Briegmann promoted to chairman & CEO across Europe and more. Artists on Tour: Devin Townsend resumes touring with his “Metamorphosis” run across Europe after a costly hiatus. Classical & Performance: VOCES8 brings musical transcendence to the Mahaiwe. Music, Politics & Rights: Germany’s Beethoven Music Festival hears Maria Kalesnikava argue that dictators fear independent culture, describing music as survival in solitary confinement. EU Policy: EU reopens AI copyright rules debate over creator rights in Brussels.