AGP Executive Report

ARIA Charts: Sydney alt-rockers Stand Atlantic landed their first No. 1 album with GODBREATH. Reunion Run: Powderfinger added cities, dates and support acts to their 2027 tour after initial shows sold out. New Sounds: Tame Impala took on Seal’s “Kiss from a Rose” for triple j’s Like a Version, while Sydney post-rock band We Lost the Sea will perform Departure Songs with orchestra and choir. Industry Watch: Music and recording bodies warn proposed AI copyright changes could expose Australia to major compensation claims from creators. Live News: Perth’s new Drift electronic festival is set for 2027, while Hypersonic cancelled its Sydney and Melbourne shows weeks before they were due to take place. Touring: KATSEYE announced their first Australian shows as part of an expanded 2027 tour.

ARIA Charts: Sydney pop-punk band Stand Atlantic scored their first No. 1 with GODBREATH. Dan Sultan debuted at No. 5 and Boo Seeka at No. 10. Like a Version: Tame Impala returned to triple j with a cover of Seal’s “Kiss From a Rose”. Powderfinger Reunion: The band added nine “Encore Run” dates, taking its 2027 tour to 35 shows, with more than a dozen Australian acts joining the line-up. J Awards: Genesis Owusu leads the 2026 nominations, alongside Bugs, Ecca Vandal and other local artists. New Releases: Radio Free Alice have released debut album What’s In Between, while Fanny Lumsden’s fifth album, Traditions, is out now. Live Music: KATSEYE will bring its 2027 tour to Melbourne and Sydney for its first Australian shows. Perth and Melbourne dates for electronic festival Hypersonic have been cancelled weeks before the event. Industry Deals: Peermusic acquired Sydney-based 120 Publishing and named Karen Hamilton managing director of Peermusic Australasia; BMG signed Australian band Parcels to a global publishing deal.

Powderfinger’s Encore Run: After 300,000 tickets sold for their first 26 shows, the band has added 2027 dates in Hobart and Canberra, plus extra Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane shows. The all-Australian support lineup includes Violent Soho, The Living End, Ocean Alley and Thelma Plum. Tour News: KATSEYE will make their Australian debut with Melbourne and Sydney shows in February 2027. Publishing: Peermusic has acquired Sydney-based 120 Publishing’s catalogue of about 5,000 works, with Karen Hamilton appointed managing director of Peermusic Australasia. Awards: Genesis Owusu leads the 2026 J Awards nominations. Live Music: JPEGMAFIA and A. G. Cook will headline PRESSURE POINT, a three-city Australian event in March 2027, featuring local acts including Shady Nasty and FUKHED. Festival Cancellations: Dance festival Hypersonic has called off its Sydney and Melbourne shows, just weeks before they were due to take place. New Music: The Chats have announced their third album, Half Cut, for March 2027, alongside a 17-date Australian tour.

Tour News: KATSEYE will make their Australian debut in February 2027, with shows in Melbourne on Feb. 24 and Sydney on Feb. 28 as their WILDWORLD tour expands across Asia-Pacific. Foo Fighters are also set to kick off Australian and New Zealand dates next week. Awards: Genesis Owusu leads the 2026 J Awards nominations; Josh Hogan and Ned Beckley took four Screen Music Awards for Tales from Outer Suburbia. Festival Setbacks: Hypersonic has cancelled its Sydney and Melbourne events just weeks before they were due to take place, adding to a run of Australian festival cancellations. Industry Moves: Peermusic has acquired Sydney-based 120 Publishing and appointed Karen Hamilton to lead its Australasian business, while BMG signed Australian-rooted Parcels to a global publishing deal. New Live Events: Live Nation plans a 5,000-capacity Melbourne venue, and promoters I OH YOU and MG Live have announced Pressure Point, a new touring event launching in 2027.

The Chats: The Australian punks have announced their third album, Half Cut, due March 5, and a 17-date national tour, led by new single “Off It.” Publishing Deals: Peermusic has acquired Sydney-based 120 Publishing, adding about 5,000 works and appointing Karen Hamilton as Peermusic Australia MD. Byron Bay-born Parcels have also signed a global publishing deal with BMG. ARIA Charts: Fontaines D.C. scored their first Australian No. 1 album with Dopamine Chamber; The Avalanches debuted at No. 5, The Rubens at No. 6 and Tina Arena at No. 11. Live Sector: Live Nation has announced a new 5,000-capacity Melbourne venue, while the Hypersonic festival has been cancelled just weeks before it was due to take place. Tour Controversy: Marilyn Manson’s planned February 2027 Australian shows have prompted calls for venues to cancel, with the government reportedly investigating the visit. Screen Music: Winners of the 2026 Screen Music Awards have been revealed, with Tales from Outer Suburbia and Addition among the recognised works.

Australian Tours: The Chats are back with new album Half Cut, due March 5, 2027, and a 17-date national tour. Weezer will bring Third Eye Blind and Fountains of Wayne to Australia in February and March for a five-city arena run. Festival Shake-up: Hypersonic has cancelled its Sydney and Melbourne events weeks before they were due to take place, citing scheduling problems. Meanwhile, promoters I OH YOU and MG Live have teamed up on new touring event Pressure Point, set to launch in 2027. Industry Moves: Byron Bay-born Parcels have signed a global publishing deal with BMG, while Spotify has renewed its presenting partnership with the 2026 ARIA Awards. Tour Controversy: Marilyn Manson’s planned February return has drawn backlash, with domestic violence advocates urging Australian venues to cancel his shows. Manson has denied abuse allegations. More Live Music: Gang of Youths have teased a return to Australian stages, posting that they’ll see fans “soon, in rooms.”

Australian Artists: G Flip and Chrishell Stause have split after more than four years together. The Australian musician said they will always share a special connection. Chart Watch: Fontaines D.C.’s Dopamine Chamber has hit No. 1 in Australia and scored the UK’s third-biggest album opening week of 2026. Tour News: Disturbed will bring their The Sickness album in full to Australia and New Zealand in 2027, their first headline run Down Under in more than a decade. Live Music: Untitled Group has announced a new festival for Perth and Brisbane in 2027. Industry: An ARIA poll found strong public opposition to changing copyright laws for AI, as Australian screen composers also launched a campaign warning of risks to human-made music. New Releases: Australian band Frenzee have released their new album, Runnin’ Amok, ahead of a local tour.

Artist News: Australian musician G Flip and Chrishell Stause have announced their separation after four years together; both say they’ll treat the split with love and respect. Touring: Disturbed will return to Australia and New Zealand in April and May 2027, playing The Sickness in full alongside a second set of hits. Festivals: A new electronic music festival is planned for Perth and Brisbane in 2027, while Adelaide Festival’s 2027 program has no major free headliner after its planned Aida production was cancelled and organisers failed to secure funding for a replacement. Industry: An ARIA poll found most Australians oppose changing copyright laws for AI companies. Meanwhile, Spilt Milk has been locked in through 2030, and Australian Women in Music has announced a new DJ award honouring the late Courtney Mills.

Australian Artists: G Flip and Chrishell Stause have announced their separation after more than four years together. Live Music: Canberra’s independent Sundowner Festival returns on October 31, led by Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever; Untitled Group has also announced new festivals for Perth and Brisbane in 2027. Spilt Milk is secured through 2030. AI & Copyright: Composer Antony Partos says advertisers have asked his studio to recreate AI-generated music, raising concerns about work built on copyrighted material. An ARIA poll found most Australians oppose weakening copyright laws for tech companies. New Music & Charts: Slowly Slowly’s new album, Everybody Tells The Truth, arrives February 5, ahead of the band’s Good Things appearance. Tate McRae’s “Housewife” has claimed her first No. 1 on the ARIA Singles Chart. Touring: Bon Jovi has added Australian stadium dates to its extended Forever Tour, as Jon Bon Jovi discusses his return to performing after vocal surgery.

Live Venues: The Lady Hampshire’s future remains uncertain after its sale and closure disrupted bookings at the Sydney venue; no reopening timetable has been confirmed. Festivals: Untitled Group has announced DRIFT, a new two-stage electronic festival for Perth and Brisbane in 2027, while Adelaide’s Good News festival will launch at Bonython Park on Boxing Day. Industry: An ARIA poll found most Australians oppose changing copyright laws for AI companies, as Australian screen composers launch a “Human Made” campaign. Artists: Silverchair drummer Ben Gillies has launched new band The Kiln, and Dan Sultan is preparing to release Little Miracles, which he calls his best work yet. Live Circuit: Powderfinger is planning more reunion shows after selling out 26 concerts, and Spilt Milk is locked in through 2030. Emerging Talent: Melbourne’s Cedar Quartet has been named the Australian Festival of Chamber Music’s 2027 Fellowship Ensemble.

Emerging Talent: Perth triplets Birdland are juggling Year 12 exams with festival sets, touring and a debut EP, but hope to focus on songwriting once exams are over. Sydney Milestone: Zara Larsson says her 12,596-strong Sydney show was the biggest headline gig of her career. Canberra Releases: Ami Williamson brings her new album, Sing You Out of Me, and one-woman show to Smith’s Alternative on November 7. Live Music Pipeline: Live Nation plans a 5,000-capacity venue in North Melbourne, while a new Fremantle recording and performance space aims to support the next wave of Australian acts. Copyright Debate: A new poll finds most Australians oppose letting AI companies train models on local creative work without stronger protections. On the Road: Harry Styles has announced a new video for “Coming Up Roses” ahead of the Australian leg of his tour. Sydney Stages: Mudhoney brought grunge to the Factory Theatre, with local acts Primitive Ring and Cammy Cautious and the Wrestlers on the bill.

Live Music: Concert bookings by K-pop, Robbie Williams and Foo Fighters helped keep the Samoa–Tonga World Cup clash out of Sydney’s larger Accor Stadium, underscoring the squeeze on major venues. On the Road: Stand Atlantic launched its GODBREAT H tour in Brisbane alongside the release of its new album. San Cisco also unveiled a single and regional Australian tour. Australian Releases: Dan Sultan says new album Little Miracles is his best work yet, while Tate McRae scored her first Australian No. 1 album with Housewife. Big Shows Ahead: Powderfinger is planning more reunion shows in 2027 after selling out 26 concerts; Tina Arena will mark her 50-year career with her first residency. Party in the Paddock’s 2027 lineup features Hilltop Hoods, Gang of Youths, Ninajirachi and Violent Soho. Industry: Live Nation is adding a 5,000-capacity venue in Melbourne’s Arden precinct as Australia’s live entertainment sector faces rising costs.

Touring: Swae Lee will bring his Same Difference tour to five Australian cities in January 2027, while Spilt Milk has secured its future through 2030. Australian Releases: Dan Sultan has unveiled Little Miracles, calling it his best work yet; The Rubens are also embracing the independent route with Group Therapy. Industry Watch: APRA AMCOS reports record revenue but a sharp dip in streams of local music, as rising costs continue to squeeze Australia’s live entertainment sector. Copyright: Australian and international music groups are warning that weakening copyright protections for AI companies could undermine creators’ rights. Charts: Tate McRae’s Housewife debuted at No. 1 in Australia, alongside Fontaines D.C.’s first Australian albums-chart No. 1.

New Music: Tones And I and Australian producer CYRIL have teamed up with Cyndi Lauper on a dance remix of “Time After Time,” released October 23. Fanny Lumsden will launch her fifth album, Traditions, with a community concert in Tooma on October 31, while Dan Sultan has unveiled Little Miracles, which he calls his best work yet. Chart Watch: Tate McRae scored her first Australian No. 1 single as “Housewife” debuted atop the ARIA chart. Festivals: Spilt Milk is locked in through 2030, and Pitch Music & Arts has revealed its 2027 10th-anniversary lineup. Industry: APRA AMCOS reported record revenue, but local-content streams have slumped. Rising costs are also squeezing live entertainment, while Australian creatives warn proposed AI copyright changes could weaken protections.

Tour Watch: Slayyyter has cancelled the rest of her UK and European dates over vocal cord tears, but her Australian shows remain planned for 2027. New Releases: Dan Sultan has unveiled Little Miracles, calling it his best album yet, while The Rubens discuss healing and taking the independent route for Group Therapy. Live Music: Spilt Milk is locked in through 2030, and a new Fremantle studio and performance space aims to nurture the next wave of local talent. Live Nation has also added a North Melbourne venue to its Australian portfolio. Music Rights: Industry groups are warning against weakening Australia’s copyright laws for AI companies, after reports that Kylie Minogue and Nick Cave’s music was used to train AI without consent or payment. Industry: APRA AMCOS reported record revenue of $857.4 million, even as Australian music’s share of streaming shrinks. On the Road: Kings of Leon will return to Australia and New Zealand in 2027, with Ocean Alley among the announced support acts.

ARIA Charts: Tate McRae scored her first Australian No. 1 with “Housewife”, while Fontaines D.C. topped the albums chart. The Avalanches’ No Bad Memories and The Rubens’ Group Therapy also debuted in the top six. New Music: Dan Sultan released Little Miracles, calling it his best work yet; CYRIL and Tones And I teamed up on a dancefloor-ready take on Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time”. Live Music: Spilt Milk is staying in Canberra through 2030, while Live Nation plans a new 5,000-capacity venue in North Melbourne. Fremantle Arts Centre has also opened a recording studio and performance space for emerging artists. Industry: APRA AMCOS reported record revenue, but Australian music’s share of streaming is shrinking. Industry voices are also warning that local songs have been used to train AI without permission or payment.