AGP Executive Report

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.

DMA’S: The Aussie indie-rock trio have dropped new single “Hurracane” and confirmed a UK & Ireland tour for Feb 2027, with tickets going on sale June 12. Big Tour News: Mark Lee has launched his own label Upper Room after leaving SM Entertainment, stepping in as co-CEO. Live Music Moment: Evanescence’s Amy Lee opened up about bringing her 11-year-old son to see Metallica on the road, including getting a piano spot on the Snake Pit. Rock Legacy: Plans are rolling out for Bon Scott’s 80th birthday with multi-country tribute events, including the estate-authorised Bon’s Birthday Bash in New York on July 9. Australian Talent Spotlight: Nigel Wearne is set to bring his rootsy, cross-genre sound to audiences, with coverage highlighting his background and influences. Industry/Policy: Scott Farquhar faces backlash over claims that AI training in Australia would require massive licensing deals under current copyright rules.

Trans-Tasman Live Buzz: Diljit Dosanjh adds a London date to his record-breaking Aura World Tour, after stadium success in Australia and a Wembley finale set for 12 September. Touring Roster: R&B star Bryson Tiller announces the Neo Trapsoul Tour (61 dates), with Australia/NZ pencilled for early 2027 and tickets going on sale 5 June. Local Spotlight: Melbourne alt-pop-rock breakout Joan & The Giants frontwoman Grace Newton-Wordsworth talks songwriting and the band’s UK single “Mamma Don’t Cry.” Community Radio Milestone: Canberra’s 2XX marks 50 years with a new exhibition opening this weekend, celebrating decades of local music and overlooked voices. Industry Moves: Julia Jacklin signs with 4AD and lines up major UK/Europe/North America touring. New Music Premiere: Canberra songwriter Jack Biilmann drops reflective country-leaning single “Never Have It All.”

New Album Drop: Citizen have shared the title track “Halcyon Blues” ahead of their sixth album, due Aug 7 via Run For Cover. The band says the song captures the “silent disconnect” between two people who know it’s over but can’t move on yet. Touring Momentum: Citizen will bring the record to Australia and New Zealand in Feb–Mar 2027, with tickets already on sale. Live Music Moment: Justin Hurwitz’s La La Land in Concert show in Sydney was saved when a 21-year-old student, Sterling Nasa, stepped in after the pianist fell ill—he sight-read and finished the set. Australian Pop in the UK: Delta Goodrem’s UK TV appearance turned into a scandal after ITV’s Good Morning Britain accidentally aired an explicit fan sign during Mighty Hoopla footage; ITV apologised and said it was corrected. Farewell Tour: Saint Etienne have announced their final Australasian run, including capital-city dates in Nov 2026, plus a Perth show in Dec. Local Scene: Dom Dolla has sold out Marvel Stadium in Melbourne for a September stadium show, another big boost for Australian electronic music.

Ticketing Backlash: John Farnham tribute gala at Rod Laver Arena sold out within hours, but fans hit out at “outrageous” pricing, with premium seats reportedly $1650 and the cheapest $179 disappearing fast. Live Music Push (Sydney): Western Sydney alt-rock band SilvereyeZ says it’s prioritising more live music in the area after launching their self-titled debut album with a signed merch-and-album-cover launch party. New Australian Festival: Ocean Sounds 2027 lineup is set for Phillip Island (Jan 9), featuring Missy Higgins, The Living End and Pete Murray, plus Sunshine and Disco Faith Choir, RAGEFLOWER, Selve and Elly Poletti; tickets go on sale June 10. Publishing Deal (ANZ): Concord Music Publishing ANZ acquired an interest in The Presets co-founder Julian Hamilton’s catalogue and signed him for future works. Streaming Monetisation: Amazon Music Prime ads are rolling out for some users in Australia (and India), with ad-free listening nudged to Music Unlimited. AI & Audio (Industry Watch): New reporting highlights the rise of AI audiobook clones and piracy, raising fresh questions for rights holders and accessibility.

Australian Live Music Moment: A 21-year-old University of Sydney student, Sterling Nasa, stepped in to play piano during La La Land in Concert at ICC Sydney after the scheduled pianist fell ill, improvising through a tough solo and earning a standing ovation from a 2,500-strong crowd. Major Touring News: BTS have added a third Melbourne date for their ARIRANG tour due to pre-sale demand, with extra shows also locked in for Sydney. New Music (Local): Ngaiire is launching Musik Blok, a PNG-focused mentorship and songwriting/production lab in Goroka supported by the Australian Government, with eight emerging artists selected for the debut cohort. New Music (International via Australia): Julia Jacklin has signed to 4AD and announced a large UK/Europe/North America run for 2026–27. Album/Single Buzz: The Avalanches share Every Single Weekend featuring Jamie xx, while Death Cab for Cutie preview Stone Over Water ahead of I Built You A Tower (with Australian dates in November). Tech & Culture: LEGO’s Smart Play Pokémon sets launch in August, with Australian stores becoming Pokémon Go PokéStops.

Whale-Safe Fishing Push: Conservationists in SA say commercial rock lobster fishing gear found in Encounter Bay whale corridors is a “walls of death” risk, renewing calls to reinstate a seasonal ban in the southern right whale nursery area. Mandopop Sponsorship: TMGM is back as presenter sponsor for Jay Chou’s 2027 “Carnival II” Malaysia stadium show (Jan 23, 2027). Live Music Spotlight: ARC (Australian Rock Collective) is taking on The Eagles’ Hotel California with a “get under the hood” album-by-album format, with complex vocal harmonies front and centre. Regional Festival Expansion: WA Day lands in Broome for the first time on June 20, turning Town Beach Reserve into a free, family-friendly coastal festival. Tour Hints: Mick Jagger teases that a Rolling Stones tour could happen “as soon as possible,” but not in 2026. Streaming/Screen Music: Baz Luhrmann’s EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert hits Paramount+ this week after a major box office run. Australian TV Meets Music Culture: The Traitors is set for an Australian debut this August on Network 10, hosted by Gretel Killeen. Major Album/Collab Buzz: The Avalanches and Jamie xx reunite on “Every Single Weekend.” Industry Loss: Commodores co-founder and bassist Ronald LaPread dies aged 75.

Major Tours (Australia): Massive Attack confirm their first Australian headline run in 16 years with Brisbane (Aug 6), Sydney (Aug 9) and Melbourne (Aug 11) shows, tickets on sale Fri June 5. Touring (R&B): Bryson Tiller announces the Neo Trapsoul Tour, with Australia and NZ dates set for 2027 after a global run; tickets for the wider tour go on sale Fri June 5. Touring (Metal): Killswitch Engage add a second Melbourne date for Nov 9 at The Forum, alongside the already-scheduled Nov 10 show. Local Releases/Scene: Basement’s WIRED lands after an eight-year studio gap, with the band talking new momentum and why they returned to writing. Streaming/Industry Watch: A new report forecasts online music streaming revenue hitting $52.6b by 2034, driven by on-demand services. Community Music: Bacchus Marsh community radio Apple 98.5 FM faces closure unless it raises $25,000 by July 5. Global Music Tech: Spondula opens an invite-only beta for global payments using simple “S-Handle” usernames. Pop Culture Tie-in: Woolworths and Netflix launch a Big Night In music anthem featuring Australian creator Maddy McCrae.

Massive Attack Return: Bristol trip-hop legends Massive Attack have confirmed their first Australian headline shows in 16 years, landing in Brisbane (Aug 6), Sydney (Aug 9) and Melbourne (Aug 11), with tickets via Frontier Touring presales from June 4 and general sale June 5. Live Music Survival: Sydney’s Mary’s Underground will close in winter 2026, citing rising operating costs and broader headwinds for small venues, after 150,000 tickets across 1,000+ shows. Disability Access in Music: NSW’s Createability internship program expands with 16 paid placements across 14 arts, screen and music organisations, including new regional and Western Sydney hosts. Vivid Sydney Update: Vivid Sydney’s drone shows are cancelled for the rest of the festival after a mid-air failure saw drones fall into Darling Harbour; fireworks will replace them. K-pop Physical Release + Tour: StayC releases its sixth physical single “2:Love” on June 16, then kicks off the “Stay Closer” fan concert tour with stops including Perth, Melbourne and Sydney. Australian Dance Spotlight: Melbourne’s Rising festival folds in the inaugural Australian Dance Biennale and daily dance classes at Flinders Street Ballroom through June 7.

Live Music Moment: Justin Hurwitz’s La La Land in Concert in Sydney turned into a real-life audition when keyboardist Sterling Nasa was called up after a musician fell ill, sight-reading on the spot and stealing the show. Touring Spotlight: Macy Gray has announced a big Australian run, including new cities, with pre-sales from June 1 and general sales June 3, plus a promise of tracks from her latest album The Trouble with the Truth. New Music (AU): Brisbane singer-songwriter Lottie McLeod has shared “Sunburnt”, the lead single from her upcoming The Boat House EP (out Sept 25). Local Creativity: Kate Ceberano is swapping some singing for embroidery, with a deep-dive on her stitched artworks as she heads toward ARIA Hall of Fame recognition. NZ/ANZ Crossover: Jordyn with a Why releases a te reo Māori cover of Olivia Dean’s “Man I Need”, timed with Dean’s ANZ tour. Industry/Global: Italy cancels Travis Scott and Ye concerts over security fears, adding to the wider fallout from recent bans.