AGP Executive Report

Oasis Live ’27 Tour: Britpop giants Oasis have confirmed a 38-date world tour for 2027, kicking off in Glasgow and running through major stops including Manchester, Germany, and other European arenas, plus Boston and Las Vegas. Ticketing & new music: Fans will need to register for an onsale code, and Noel Gallagher has made it clear there’s no new Oasis music planned for now. German concert film buzz: Rammstein are teasing their “Live in Mexico City” concert film, recorded in 2022, with a likely release later this year. AI music legal fight: Suno has admitted in court filings that it used audio data obtained from YouTube to train its AI models, as its copyright case against major labels continues. Local culture: The Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra opens its 2026–27 season with Mendelssohn and Tchaikovsky, featuring violinist Eunice Kim.

Immersive Live Rights Deal: L1VE and ATP Media struck a three-year partnership making L1VE the Official Immersive Partner of ATP Media, delivering stereoscopic 360° 3D experiences from ATP Masters 1000 events and more, starting with the Rolex Shanghai Masters in October 2026. German Music Spotlight: A Japanese string quartet, Quartet Fugue, won third prize at the ARD International Music Competition in Munich, performing Beethoven’s Op. 127. Deaf K-Pop Breakthrough: Big Ocean, the world’s first deaf K-Pop trio, released “Love Sign,” using Korean, American and British Sign Language and blending nu-disco with English lyrics. Tour News: Malcolm Todd announced expanded 2027 UK/Europe/Australia dates for his “Do That Again” tour, with Cologne, Berlin, Amsterdam, Paris and more on the European run. Live Music Culture: Spotify House Seoul’s indie rock night highlighted Korean bands in a fan-close, interactive pop-up format. Music Tech Gear: Zvex’s Vexter Fuzz Factory review spotlights the classic germanium fuzz’s modern control and signature synthy chaos. Festival/Community: Oktoberfest Zinzinnati marks 50 years this year, running Sept. 17–20 with German food, music and dancing.

Touring & Releases: Alternative metal band Spiritbox has surfaced fan-shot video of their newest single “Mourning,” and Swedish melodic rock act Remedy dropped an acoustic version of “My Devil Within” ahead of their “Messing Up Our Legacy Tour” with German dates including Hamburg, Mörlenbach, Augsburg and more. Live Music (Germany): Spiritbox’s European run includes a Berlin show on Sept. 22 and Munich on Sept. 29, plus Frankfurt, Hamburg, Düsseldorf and other stops. Concert Culture: Rush’s TD Garden run (Sept. 12) leaned into a Neil Peart tribute with theatrical, time-themed staging and classics like “Xanadu” and “Spirit of Radio.” Industry & Media: France Inter staff began a two-day strike over the appointment of a far-right weekly editor, with programming replaced by music during the disruption. Festivals & Community: Oktoberfest returns in multiple places with German music, food and beer—Grantsville’s Sept. 19 event and Milford’s German Oktoberfest Oct. 2-3 are both set for family-friendly lineups.

Concert Comeback: Céline Dion returned to the stage in Paris for her first show in six years, opening with “On Ne Change Pas” at the sold-out Plenitude Arena as she battled stiff-person syndrome. Jazz & Cross-City Collaboration: Cologne Jazzweek featured “Cologne Meets New York City,” with trombonist Kalia Vandever joining bassist Florian Herzog, guitarist Simon Jermyn and drummer Jonas Burgwinkel for original compositions at LOFT. Classical Spotlight: Bryce Dessner (The National) discussed the “concert hall vs the algorithm” debate and his orchestral work, including a solo Australian tour with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. German Music Scene Events: The “Ball of the Austrians” returns to Prague’s Žofín Palace on 22 January 2027 with Czech National Symphony Orchestra and Josef Hlavsa Orchestra providing music. Music & Identity: Hungarian Romani artist Norbert Olah is reclaiming his identity in his work, pushing back against how Roma art is often dismissed.

Berlin Music & Culture: A new Berlin party is set to launch on Sept. 12 for Slavic communities, inspired by Baba Yaga and Slavic folklore, turning myth into a local scene. German Music in the Spotlight: Doro Pesch joined Udo Dirkschneider on stage in Wuppertal for two songs, including a JUDAS PRIEST cover and ACCEPT’s “Winter Dreams,” continuing the metal crossovers fans love. Community & Heritage: Stiftungsfest in Norwood Young America put authentic German folk and immigrant dance music front and center, with ensembles from Germany and the U.S. keeping Volksmusik traditions alive. Music Industry Tech: Suno is rolling out new AI music models trained on licensed Warner and BMG catalogues, while Germany’s rightsholders are pushing back after a key victory against Suno AI. Pop Culture (Global): Lady Gaga reportedly welcomed her first child with fiancé Michael Polansky, adding fresh buzz to her post-tour era.

Pop Culture & Artist News: Lady Gaga has welcomed her first child with fiancé Michael Polansky, with US media confirming the birth but still keeping details like the baby’s name, sex and date private. Gaga, 40, wrapped her “Mayhem Ball” tour in April and recently won a Grammy for “Best Pop Vocal Album” for “Mayhem,” while Polansky, 42, is a Harvard-educated tech investor and philanthropist. Live Music & Safety: Katseye member Megan says an audience member grabbed her chest during the group’s Paris show, urging fans to respect boundaries during close-up interactions; the band continues its “The Wildworld Tour” with a stop in Cologne, Germany, on Sunday. German Music Business (Streaming): An IFPI report highlights the EU’s paid streaming growth in 2025, noting penetration still lags the US—useful context for Germany’s streaming market and labels planning releases. German-Theme Events: Oktoberfest-style celebrations with German food and music are rolling out across Europe and beyond, including a Durham event featuring German food, music and yodelling.

Streaming Industry Watch: The IFPI’s “Music in the EU 2026” report says EU recorded music revenue hit €6bn in 2025 (+5.1% YoY), with paid streaming driving the biggest gains and vinyl also climbing fast in key markets. German Live Scene: German rock band H-Blockx announced a Bulgaria return for 2027 after releasing “Fillin_The_Blank,” bringing tracks from their 1990s era alongside new material. Music Tech & Accessibility: G&L Systemhaus is extending AI sign-language support in Germany, partnering with Signapse to roll out a Digital Signer for German Sign Language from autumn 2026. Local Industry News: DHL opened an expanded parcel center in Cologne-Eifeltor, boosting sorting capacity to nearly 50,000 pieces per hour and adding 250 jobs. New Releases: Whippets shared new album “No Skulls” details with German tour dates, while Boards of Canada’s “Inferno (2026)” gets a retrospective look. Classical & Culture: Remembering cellist Bruno Schrecker, plus a spotlight on Peter Gast’s music and legacy in a Germany-linked performance event.

German Music News: A major German-language music headline this week is the reported killing of Marlon B., a former rapper with Söhne Mannheims, shot in Jamaica—his band’s official Instagram shared a tribute. Tour Announcements (Europe): Emeli Sandé confirmed a 2027 UK & mainland Europe tour celebrating 15 years of Our Version of Events, with dates including Cologne, Hamburg, Berlin and Munich. Classic Album Live: Stevie Wonder will mark 50 years of Songs in the Key of Life with a UK/Europe run plus US dates, performing the album in full. Pop/Indie Live (UK): Jack Savoretti and James Morrison announced a 2027 co-headline UK tour, with tickets going on sale today. Global Music Business: Suno’s new AI music models with licensed music from Warner and BMG raise fresh questions about how AI tools will reshape the industry. Local Culture (Germany-linked): A German Christmas market in Birmingham/Frankfurt-style planning notes how Remembrance Sunday affects opening hours—useful for anyone tracking German-themed events abroad.

Oktoberfest in the US with German music at the center: Rifle and Glenwood Springs are rolling out “Oktoberfest” weekends with live acts like Alpine Echo, stein-holding contests, and Bavarian food—showing how German-themed community events keep spreading beyond Germany. Music & tech business: Stingray launched 17 localized free ad-supported music TV channels on Rakuten TV across Europe, including Germany’s ’80s & ’90s Pop and Schlager. AI music licensing showdown: Suno unveiled new AI music models (v6) claiming industry partnerships and partner compensation, while the company still faces major label lawsuits and a Germany GEMA case. Metal releases: Ov Sulfur dropped a Slayer “Disciple” cover tied to Slayer’s 25th anniversary, and Beast In Black released “Fear The Beast” ahead of its upcoming album. Live classical in the US with German ties: Tryon Concert Association kicks off its 2026-27 chamber season with the German Phaeton Piano Trio.

Dance & Live Scene: German house star Claptone and Spain’s Crusy headline a TOKEN2049 rooftop party at Marina Bay Sands on Oct. 9, with more acts including ANONM and Leon, plus Polygon Live’s 360° spatial audio setup. Metal & Touring: UK crossover band Guilt Trip drops “Burn” live from Graspop 2026 and announces a run through Germany (Bochum, Wuerzburg, Hamburg, Berlin, Leipzig, Munich) in late Oct. Pop & Covers: The Rasmus share a punk-rock cover of Alphaville’s “Forever Young,” and kick off their first North America headline tour. Music Tech/AI: Suno rolls out new AI music models trained on licensed Warner and BMG catalogue, while Germany’s rightsholders score a key victory against Suno AI. Classical & Culture: Marian Anderson’s lifelong love for Schubert’s songs gets a spotlight, alongside a North Idaho Opera staging of “Die Fledermaus” as light, comedy-first operetta fare.

AI Music & Copyright: Suno has rebuilt its AI music models from scratch, moving to a new v6 generation trained on licensed Warner Music Group, BMG and Believe catalogues, after recent legal pressure—plus it’s retiring older models and rolling out new editing features. Tech Meets Music Culture: IFA 2026 in Berlin leaned hard into consumer tech with nightly concerts and DJ sets, while the show floor mixed appliances, wearables and AI/robot demos—another sign how music and media are blending into everyday gadgets. German Live Scene: Bülent Ceylan drops “Randale und Radau,” teaming up with In Extremo’s Michael Rhein ahead of his “B.L.N.T.” album release. Touring Spotlight: Stevie Wonder announces a Europe run for the 50th anniversary of “Songs in the Key of Life,” including Hannover and Cologne dates. Community Oktoberfest: Lake Arrowhead Oktober Fest returns Sept. 19 with German food, live music and family contests—another reminder that German-style music traditions keep spreading.

Brian Eno & Opal Records: Veteran British musician Brian Eno is relaunching his independent label Opal Records after a 35-year pause, with plans to reissue two long-unavailable albums and spotlight his “music two” approach to ambient sound. German music scene & touring: Megan Moroney has added a second Brisbane date to her Cloud 9 Tour, and her Europe/UK run includes a Germany stop in Cologne (Sept. 18). Classical-meets-modern in Germany: German pianist LEVI.SCT (Levi Schechtmann) is blending classical repertoire with hip-hop/house rhythms, with a major Türkiye concert set for Nov. 28 after sold-out shows including Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie. Live music business in Germany: Key Production Group says its EU division has surged since 2024 and is opening a new Hamburg office to expand physical music manufacturing and packaging across Europe. Viral controversy: A German TikToker (“Streichbruder”) drew backlash in Seoul for DJing and dancing on subway trains, sparking debate over public nuisance vs. fun. Metal touring: Deathcore band Signs Of The Swarm announced a Europe/UK headline tour for February 2027, including Berlin and Hamburg dates.

AI Music Licensing: Suno lands a new partnership with Believe (and TuneCore), letting participating artists opt into licensed Suno models with compensation and protections—another step toward mainstream legitimacy. Major Tour Announcement: Stevie Wonder confirms his 50th-anniversary “Songs in the Key of Life” tour, performing the album in full across Europe and the US, including Hannover and Cologne in Germany. NFL x Rock in Germany: Cage the Elephant will headline the halftime show at the 2026 NFL Munich Game (Nov. 15), bringing a big live-rock moment to the FC Bayern Munich Arena. German Politics & Culture: Germany moves to shut down the Russian House in Berlin, triggering protests over cultural exchange and “russophobia.” Local Music Scene: Havok releases “The Ultimate Weapon” and tees up a Europe/UK run that includes Frankfurt and Bochum. Classical Spotlight: Pianist Victor Asuncion performs a free community concert in Rock Springs as part of the Piatigorsky Foundation Tour.

Spiritbox Europe Tour: Canadian metalcore stars Spiritbox drop the standalone single “Mourning” with a video, then kick off a UK-to-Europe headline run starting Sept. 12 in Glasgow and reaching Berlin (Sept. 29), Frankfurt (Sept. 30) and Hamburg (Oct. 2). German Film Spotlight: Malayalam filmmaker Don Palathara’s “Ekadesham” (The Uncertainty Principle) heads to Filmfest Aachen 2026, premiering Sept. 25 in the competition section, with music by Basil CJ. Metal Scene Update: Former Fear Factory drummer Raymond Herrera appears in Angst Fabrik studio posts after 16 years away from the kit, fueling fresh “Fear Factory” side-project buzz. Classical & Culture: The 37th Praemium Imperiale names Herbert Blomstedt as the Music laureate, with Cate Blanchett honored in Theater/Film; the ceremony is set for Oct. 28 in Tokyo. Local Music Life: A new record shop, Revolving Eye Records, opens in Kendal and draws vinyl hunters from day one.

Cultural Retaliation: Russia orders the closure of Germany’s St. Petersburg consulate and forces Goethe-Institut branches to shut by mid-September, escalating a diplomatic and cultural tit-for-tat. Music & Streaming: Spotify names Ariana Grande’s “hate that i made you love me” as its 2026 Song of the Summer, with four other breakout tracks rounding out the list. Live Music Calendar: Oktoberfest is back on the German-style coast—Clacton Pier hosts free, multi-weekend Bavarian music and food, while McKinney Oktoberfest returns with German bands, costumes, and family events. Berlin Arts Pulse: Berlin Art Week returns with major exhibitions and performances, including a Ryuichi Sakamoto retrospective and Maurizio Cattelan’s first major solo in Germany. K-pop on Tour: ENHYPEN adds extra London and Berlin dates to its Blood Saga World Tour due to demand. Rock Tour News: Cage the Elephant announces a UK/Europe “Dying In Reverse” run for early next year, with tickets going on sale Sept. 11.

German Politics: AfD surged in Saxony-Anhalt’s state election, winning about 44.5% in exit polls and dealing a major blow to Merz’s CDU—sparking fears for arts funding and independent expression in Magdeburg. Classical & Opera: The China National Symphony Orchestra opened its 2026/27 season in Beijing with a program spanning German composers Richard Strauss and Johannes Brahms alongside Czech Leos Janáček. New Releases (Live): Laura Misch released Lithic (Live at the Barbican), turning her studio world into a ritual-like live experience with sax, strings, harp and drums. Rock/Metal: Korn says it has recorded drums for its long-awaited 15th studio album, with a new track tied to Diablo IV’s expansion. Electronic: German DJ Boris Brejcha announced a Prague O2 Arena date for Oct 2 as part of his Reflections tour. Music Industry/AI: Roku’s 24/7 AI “slop” channel drew fresh backlash, reigniting the debate over AI-made music and video. Live Music Safety: A Chainsmokers show in San Jose saw 14 people hospitalized amid reports of suspected alcohol and drug-related issues. Festivals: Oktoberfest-style events keep spreading—Cortez (Sept 26) and other community editions are going family-friendly.