AGP Executive Report

Local Music Economy: Kelowna’s Denim on the Diamond returns to City Park and is projected to generate $4M–$5M in economic impact for the Okanagan, with Thick as Thieves Entertainment calling it a year-round jobs and hospitality boost. Culture Centre Upgrade: Whitecourt council approved a $348K purchase of theatre equipment for the Canfor Culture and Events Centre, including stage drapery, a room divider and rigging. Culture Days Spotlight: Lambton’s Culture Days events include a Sept. 23 talk with music photographer Richard Beland, plus live music from Jeff Getty and friends. Adaptive Dance: Courtenay’s Triple Heat Dance launches Dance is for All, a free adaptive program for adults 16+ starting Sept. 15, spanning ballet, jazz, hip hop and musical theatre. Indigenous Performance: Native Pride Productions’ father-and-son Grass Dancers (Sean and Jason Soukkala) bring Prairie Experience 2026 to Goldthwaite on Oct. 3. Canadian Pop News: Carly Rae Jepsen says her baby’s name, Ilya, was inspired by Heated Rivalry. Music in Sports: The Buffalo Bills’ home opener will feature Barenaked Ladies performing “O Canada” and Auli’i Cravalho singing the U.S. anthem. Legal Music Update: K’naan was acquitted of sexual assault charges in Quebec City.

Canada Music & Culture: Twin Temple drops “Love You To Death,” the third single from Shooter Jennings-produced Doomed Lovers (out Oct. 9 digitally, Oct. 23 physical), blending sweet doo-wop romance with murder-ballad darkness. Canadian Live Scene: GEDfest YLW returns Oct. 24 at Kelowna’s Revelry Food + Music Hub, with The Hip Replacements headlining and The Bush Party opening—fundraising for Kelowna General Hospital’s Cancer Care Program. Community Arts: Pembroke’s fiddle-and-stepdance contest debuts as the Canadian Fiddle and Stepdance Championship, elevating the long-running event to national status. Music Industry Watch: Brian Eno is relaunching Opal Records after a 35-year pause, aiming to spotlight experimental and ambient “music two.” Local Spotlight: Montreal police allegations include officers cutting locs and keeping them as trophies, tying into broader anti-Black history and policing debates. Security/Pop Culture: Punjabi singer Ammy Virk reportedly escaped unhurt after shots were fired at a vehicle linked to his Abbotsford convoy following a Rogers Forum show; police are investigating.

Music Education & Community Impact: BG Fuels’ Waypoint Cares says it has topped $69,000 for MusiCounts to expand music access for kids, including classroom visits to show results. Toronto Waterfront Arts: The Bentway-led Public Pier launches Sept. 18 with free day-to-night programming, including local DJs, beginner dance sessions, and an interactive public art installation. Live Music Updates: Theory of a Deadman adds Penticton to its Northern Chaos Tour (March 29), with Mammoth as support and $1 per ticket going to charity. Classical in the Community: Pianist Victor Santiago Asuncion headlines a free Piatigorsky Foundation concert at the Broadway Theater (Sept. 15). Local Festivals: K-W Oktoberfest returns Oct. 9–11 with Bif Naked and Lee Aaron headlining, plus country-themed programming Sunday. Industry & Copyright: SOCAN has sued Suno for copyright infringement, as Canadian artists push back on AI disruption. Nostalgia & Pop Culture: Esprit’s 1980s-era comeback is fueling Gen X-style throwback buzz. Touring Metal News: Kill The Lights withdraws from As I Lay Dying’s November U.S. tour due to rising production and travel costs. Cultural Storytelling: Come From Away continues to spread its Gander-based 9/11 aftermath message through special performances and anniversary programming.

Spiritbox: Canadian alt-metal band Spiritbox drops the new single “Mourning” and a co-directed video, teeing up a big fall Europe/UK headline run with Jinjer and Dying Wish. Koffee: Koffee’s “Toast” hits gold in France (and is already gold in Canada), adding to its massive streaming and YouTube momentum. Local live music: Delta’s Barnside Harvest Festival returns Sept. 11–13 with Marianas Trench and J.J. Wilde Friday, Smash Mouth Saturday, and Tom Cochrane plus Kim Mitchell Sunday. Community & culture: West Vancouver’s Coho Festival brings back the Coho Run to Ambleside Park on Sept. 13, pairing salmon conservation with prizes and music. Craft spotlight: Montreal luthier Jerry Greenberg, repairing and customizing instruments since the 1970s, keeps his workshop busy in semi-retirement. Pop culture Canada: Justin Bieber reposts Jungkook’s viral shirtless moment, while Katy Perry calls Justin Trudeau “the love of my life.” Music on screen: FX/Hulu’s “The Drop: A Snowfall Saga” is set to premiere Sept. 8.

Legal/Politics: Irish-language rap trio Kneecap has temporarily lost its first bid to sue Canadian MP Vince Gasparro for defamation, with a judge citing translation issues in the paperwork and allowing the application to be refiled. New Music: Seattle sludge/hardcore act Great Falls announced its October 16 album The Bite That Grows Up and shared the lead single “Nicotine In The Spine,” plus an Eastern North America tour. Live Music (Canada): Barrie’s Troubadour Festival closes Sept. 12 with Tim Hicks headlining a free downtown day of stages, local openers, and family programming. Live Music (Canada): Orillia Opera House hosts Million Dollar Quartet Sept. 17–19, bringing Johnny Cash, Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins to life with a live onstage score. Charts: Taylor Swift’s “I Knew It, I Knew You” hits No. 1 on country radio, marking her 14th career chart-topper there. Culture/Industry: A new report says N.L. artists are weighing in as SOCAN sues a song generator. Music & Tech: Citizen adds a new NH8410 textured-dial automatic reference with a white dial. Music/Media: Nathan Fielder teases You Can See Everything, a documentary about Elizabeth Holmes.

Live Music & Safety: Toronto ordered Live Nation to repair storm-damaged Rogers Stadium before AC/DC’s Sept. 16 show, with a seven-part compliance plan tied to safety checks and permits. Canadian Country Spotlight: The CCMA will induct The Wilkinsons into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame during Country Music Week in Saskatoon (Sept. 16–19). Jazz & Local Culture: Austin Di Pietro’s Windsor-set concert “Live at Mackenzie Hall” highlights a cross-border jazz quintet with original ballads and standards. Classical Leadership: Étienne Lemieux-Després named Artistic Director and conductor of Münchner Studienstiftungsorchester starting in 2027, with a Strauss-focused first program. Community & Music: Winnipeg’s Sikh community held its annual Nagar Kirtan with music, prayers and a parade despite hateful graffiti. Labour Day, With Sound: Waterloo Regional Labour Council’s Ed Weidinger Memorial picnic returns Sept. 7 with free live music and family activities. Tech & Privacy: LG smart TVs were reported to log audio with the screen off and scan nearby devices, raising new concerns for connected-home users. Mental Health Through Music: “All We Need Is Love” launches for National Suicide Prevention Month, with proceeds aimed at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Big Tour News: Pearl Jam announced the Dark Matter world tour, kicking off May 4 in Vancouver.

Neil Peart documentary: CBC has dropped the trailer for Neil Peart: No One’s Disciple, premiering at TIFF Sept. 16 and hitting CBC/CBC Gem Sept. 23, with major drummer names joining Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson. Canadian music spotlight: R&B duo Majid Jordan’s new album Two Roads (Aug. 28) is getting attention for its mature, heartfelt 15-track run. Local live music: Bragg Creek’s volunteer-run Bragg Creek Performing Arts Dinner Concert series returns Sept. 12 with Shari Ulrich at Snowbird’s Lounge. Indigenous arts loss: The Enoch Cree Nation is mourning filmmaker Georgina Lightning after a fatal accident at the Indian Relay race. Music + culture abroad: Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra marks the 2026 Years of Culture with Sounds of Canada (Nov. 7) and Sounds of Mexico (Sept. 18). Tech/industry: SOCAN’s lawsuit against AI music platform Suno keeps the copyright fight in the spotlight.

Canada-U.S. Trade War Diplomacy: Alberta’s senior U.S. representative Nathan Cooper says Premier Danielle Smith’s “diplomacy-first” approach is helping the province weather tariffs, noting Alberta’s oil imports keep flowing and Americans have been “significantly more responsive.” Live Music Calendar (Prince George): Prince George’s free Music In The Park wraps Sept. 3 at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park with Joe Daniels, Amy Nelson, and Carter Felker. Community Music & Culture (Nanaimo): The Elliot Freedman Group brings an avant-fusion jazz set to Simonholt Restaurant on Sept. 6. Theatre & Song (Sudbury): YES Theatre announces auditions for Hairspray, heading to Sudbury next July. Music, Memory & 9/11 Storytelling: Come From Away continues to open and reopen after setbacks, including a Norfolk, Va. run that resumed after Wells Theatre flooding. Music Rights Fight (SOCAN vs. AI): SOCAN sues Suno, alleging Canadian music was copied without paying creators. Recruitment With a Musical Twist (West Kelowna): 909 Peregrine Air Cadets host open houses for ages 12–18, with a marching band now part of the program.

SOCAN vs. AI: SOCAN has sued Suno, alleging the AI platform copied Canadian songs without paying creators. Local auditions: YES Theatre announced auditions for its Sudbury staging of Hairspray (Sept. 16–19 at the Sudbury Theatre Centre). Live theatre homecoming: Come From Away is landing at Vista’s Moonlight Amphitheatre in San Diego for a 9/11 homecoming run through Sept. 26. Canadian music on the air: CBC’s In the Key of C marks Labour Day with “work” songs from Rita MacNeil, USS, Aysanabee, Sara Craig and more. Festival spotlight: Kitchener’s free Endless Summer concert closes out the season with Mother Mother headlining at Victoria Park (Sept. 5). Pop culture: Blackpink’s Lisa says K-pop rules forced her to hide past relationships to protect the group’s popularity. Touring/streaming: Disney Descendants x ZOMBIES x Camp Rock: Worlds Collide adds a new streaming single, “Worlds Collide 2026.” Music & community: White Rock Concerts kicks off its 70th season with Quartetto Gelato (Oct. 3).

K-pop Spotlight: Blackpink’s Lisa opened up in her upcoming documentary Always Lalisa about the pressure to keep relationships private, saying paparazzi sightings could hurt the group’s popularity. Canadian Live Music: Halestorm shared an in-studio session for “Ernie Ball: BIG SOUND” and their Toronto stop is set for Sept. 7 at RBC Amphitheatre (support: Babymetal). Classics & Culture: The NAC announced its 2026–27 season, with conductor John Storgårds starting as Music Director of the NAC Orchestra and a lineup spanning major Canadian and international artists. Music + Community: Toronto’s Rogers Stadium is ordered to undergo repairs after storm damage, with the AC/DC show still in question. Canadian Storytelling: Gord Downie’s Secret Path project marks its 10th anniversary, with his brother Mike Downie reflecting on the long-running drive to tell the Indigenous story. On the Ground in Canada: A new exhibit reimagines Friendship Park’s border fence into tables, turning the 9/11-era kindness story into a public art experience.

AI & Music Industry: A new study says Canadian musicians feel AI is disrupting their creative process, adding pressure as AI-made work spreads. Toronto Live Music Safety: The City of Toronto ordered Live Nation to hire an engineer and repair storm damage at Rogers Stadium before the AC/DC show, citing safety risks. Canadian Identity Through Song: Blue Rodeo’s “Lake Ontario” lyric is being used as a rallying cry after Trump’s “Lake America” renaming order, with the band urging fans to sing it “with full authority.” 9/11 Commemoration in Canada: Gander, N.L. is defending its invitation to U.S. ambassador Pete Hoekstra as protocol, while Historica Canada released a new Heritage Minute highlighting Gander’s hospitality during the 25th anniversary. New Releases & Tours: Little Big Town talks AI and their new album “It’s a Dying Art,” while Stella Lefty’s fall dates are selling fast, including sold-out stops in Toronto and major U.S. cities. Local Culture & Festivals: Sault Ste. Marie’s VIVID art.culture.media returns with a free headline concert by Fefe Dobson and community-led programming.

Ontario byelections: Progressive Conservatives held Hamilton East—Stoney Creek (Jeff Beattie) and York—Simcoe (Susan Lahey), while the NDP won Scarborough Southwest (Fatima Shaban), with voters weighing tariff and affordability pressures. Storm damage hits Toronto music infrastructure: Severe thunderstorms left parts of southern Ontario without power and caused “significant damage” to Rogers Stadium ahead of AC/DC’s Sept. 16 date, raising repair-timing questions. Labour Day in Hamilton: The Hamilton & District Labour Council says the parade and picnic at Bayfront Park are a chance for workers to connect amid a trade-war-hit economy. Canadian music release: Vancouver roots quartet Honeybear announced The Cure (Sept. 4) and two release shows in Victoria (Sept. 9) and Vancouver (Sept. 10). Pop culture + Canada: Jann Arden joins Alberta performers for a free “Calgary Concert for Unity” (Sept. 20) ahead of the Oct. 19 separation referendum. AI music rights fight: SOCAN is suing AI platform Suno, alleging it copied Canadian music without paying creators. Live music charity: London, Ont. student rock band KRUSH headlines KRUSH 4 Riley at London Music Hall (Sept. 5) for the Kidney Foundation of Canada.

Nova Scotia Politics & Music: Premier Tim Houston says “tragedy” drove his energy minister’s resignation after misogynistic rap lyrics resurfaced, with the song later removed from platforms. Polaris Music Prize (North): Polaris heads to Sudbury for a Sept. 4 Polaris Music Prize Festival event at Knox Hall, spotlighting Northern Ontario talent through the Northern Sound Exchange. Toronto Live Music & Venues: Storm damage hit Rogers Stadium in Toronto, with photos showing collapsed seating and a damaged sign ahead of upcoming shows. Ticketing Rules: Ontario fined SeatGeek Canada $25,000 under its anti-scalping face-value law, citing alleged overpricing and disclosure issues. Community Music Events: Toronto’s Kyle Lowry gets a free Raptors block party at Maple Leaf Square Sept. 19, while Surrey’s Harvest Fair returns Sept. 19 with live music and storytelling at Historic Stewart Farm. Charity Concerts: Toronto’s Live Loud benefit for Matthew Perry’s legacy runs Sept. 10 at Massey Hall with a lineup of Canadian and international music stars. Storm Aftermath: Southern Ontario continues cleanup after damaging storms left thousands without power.

AI Copyright Clash: SOCAN has filed a Federal Court lawsuit against U.S. AI music platform Suno, alleging it copied Canadian songs (including Nickelback’s “Photograph”) without permission or pay. Provincial Politics & Music: Nova Scotia Energy Minister Marco MacLeod resigned after misogynistic rap lyrics he wrote resurfaced, following meetings with women’s advocacy groups. Storm Disruption for Live Music: Severe storms hit southern Ontario, leaving tens of thousands without power and damaging Toronto’s Rogers Stadium. Quebec Culture Meets Science: Jérôme Dupras, former Les Cowboys Fringants bassist, is now Quebec’s chief scientist and is using his public-facing skills to tackle misinformation. Pop Culture, Canada Connection: Ariana Grande stepped away from the spotlight after her Eternal Sunshine Tour finale in London. Canadian Live Scene: Prince George’s 2026-27 Performing Arts Series adds six theatre/dance/music shows. Community Arts: Halifax Fringe Festival returns with a full city-wide lineup. Music Tech & Gaming: Free-to-play tank shooter Tyr launches on Steam in early access. Touring Headliner: Tame Impala plays Vancouver’s Rogers Arena this weekend.

AI Copyright Clash: SOCAN has sued U.S. AI music generator Suno in Federal Court, alleging it copied Canadian songs (including Nickelback’s “Photograph”) without permission or pay, as the platform says it trains on publicly available internet music. Canadian Music on Screen: The Owen Hart documentary is headed to the festival circuit and has been sold to Crave in Canada, with Chris Jericho as executive producer and Slash composing the score. Music Documentary Spotlight: CBC has released the first trailer for Rush drummer Neil Peart’s film No One’s Disciple, premiering at TIFF Sept. 16. Tour & Legal Drama: Alanis Morissette is suing her former tour manager in California, alleging a “calculated blackmail campaign” tied to drug-trafficking threats. Live Music Picks: Manitou Music Fest runs Sept. 4–6 in Manitou Beach with blues, roots, rock, reggae and dance. Pop Culture Crossover: Dolly Parton is being honored with 20 corn mazes across North America, with proceeds supporting her Imagination Library.

Canadian Music & Culture: Ariana Grande wrapped her Eternal Sunshine Tour with an emotional goodbye at London’s O2, telling fans she’ll “cherish this experience always” as she steps back from public visibility. Canadian Music Industry: Ontario has fined ticket reseller SeatGeek $25,000 under its new anti-scalping rules, marking a first penalty under the Ticket Sales Act cap. Live Music & Events: The Moseley Folk & Arts Festival runs Sept. 4–6 with Canadian acoustic act The Dead South among headliners. Indigenous Growth in Music Education: Brandon University reports a 12.5% jump in Indigenous enrolment, reaching 570 students, helped by a new Indigenous recruitment and transition officer role. Film & Music Crossover: VIFF returns Oct. 1–11 with a major Asian cinema lineup, including multiple premieres and a focus on East, South and Southeast Asian films. Global Music Spotlight: BTS’ Jungkook went viral with an “ideal type” description—fans first thought romance, but it was tied to future video production plans.