AGP Executive Report

Alt-rock Tour News: Weezer just announced more dates for its The Gathering Tour, with UK & Europe tickets going on sale today at 10am local time (Taking Back Sunday on support). The run also hits Japan in February and continues across North America this fall. Local Music Spotlight: WLRN reporter Carlton Gillespie won a National Edward R. Murrow Award for a feature on a hip-hop album created inside Broward County jails, highlighting incarcerated artists and the making of the 16-track project. Florida Live Music: Stand Atlantic added October 2026 tour dates and will swing through Florida for a Warped Tour stop. Community + Culture: Lauderhill’s Jamaica Independence celebration at the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center drew big names including Marcia Griffiths and Beenie Man, plus a key-to-the-city moment for outgoing Florida consul Oliver Mair. Music in the News: A South Florida attorney is spotlighted for channeling his love of music through ROCKIN’1000’s massive “1,000 musicians” concept. Mental Health + Virality: Perez Hilton remains hospitalized after a TikTok livestream incident in Miami that led to his hospitalization under Florida’s Baker Act.

Weekend Live Music & Arts: WUSF’s Tampa Bay picks include Dome After Dark: Surreal Nature at the Dali Museum (360 immersive show Friday) and Artists in Wonderland at Lowry Parcade (Alice-themed art pop-up with DJ Acidbitter). Local Concert Spotlight: David Dondero plays a Tampa house show Friday (suggested $20 donation) as he continues his Florida run. Classical in Florida: NSU faculty Stephen Clark (flute) and Chialing Hsieh (piano) bring a free recital Aug. 20 in Natchitoches. Broadway Across South Florida: Broward’s Broward Center announces its 2026–27 Broadway in Fort Lauderdale season, while the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach and the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami roll out their own subscription lineups. Music Industry Buzz: Ella Langley’s “I Can’t Love You Anymore” hits No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay, while “Choosin’ Texas” keeps dominating the Hot 100.

Local Live Music: Gerald McClendon & the A-Team Band brought Motown, soul and R&B to Ridgeville Park for the latest “Concerts on the Ridge” stop, with the next show set for Aug. 19. Florida Concert Deals: JAXFAIR launched a 72-hour flash sale for $20 lawn tickets at the new JAX Amphitheater, bundling fair admission and free parking; acts include JJ Gray & Mofro, Dwight Yoakam, 311, Grace Potter, Jake Owen and more. Community + Music: Indie Underground returns as a two-day “superlocal” music & arts fest at Churchill’s Pub (Aug. 28–29) with 40+ South Florida acts and proceeds benefiting Guitars Over Guns. South Florida Arts & Culture: FAU and Palm Beach Pops announced a “Holiday Spectacular” concert for Dec. 8 featuring Tony DeSare and Katharine McPhee. Music in the News: Beyoncé is named in a sample-related copyright lawsuit tied to “Alien Superstar,” though the case was dismissed for lack of standing. Viral Florida Music Moment: Riley Green bought a Gibson J-45 from a Florida seller via Facebook Marketplace—then posed for a photo.

Janet Jackson Spotlight: Janet Jackson: Control 40 — The Airtab Music Movie will be filmed Dec. 12 at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, with a concert spanning her full catalog and a global release planned after. Tour News: Steve Lacy announced his Oh yeah? North American tour, with stops including Miami, plus a fall run that kicks off Sept. 27. Local Live Music: Rock the Dock Overwater Music Festival returns to Merritt Island Sept. 18–20 at Dolphins Waterfront Bar & Grill, with a free three-day lineup (schedule to drop later). Community & Culture: Florida Intergenerational Orchestra of America is entering its 21st season, bringing kids and seniors together through music in South Florida. Miami Scene: Las Rosas marked its one-year reopening anniversary, celebrating Miami’s local bands and the community that helped bring the venue back. Orlando Dining + Soundtrack: Nomikai by Sushi Saint opens at ICON Park Aug. 19, pairing Japanese-inspired shareable dishes with a Tokyo neo-cyberpunk vibe and electronica/house/lounge music. Florida Music Memory: The Mavericks return to Indian Ranch Aug. 22 for The Music Lives On Tour after Raul Malo’s 2025 death, keeping the band’s music moving forward.

Rock & Pop Tours: Shinedown, formed in Jacksonville, is set to bring more than two decades of hits to Spokane with Coheed and Cambria and others on the bill. Country Spotlight: Sugarland’s Ride or Die Tour kicks off Oct. 1 in St. Augustine and runs through Nov. 21, with the duo celebrating the 20th anniversary of Enjoy the Ride. Florida Live Music Scene: Central Florida’s hardcore/punk community is carving out a space for young bands to push activism and mutual support, with venues like Will’s Pub serving as hubs. Local Community & Culture: Lake Worth Playhouse announced a $1 million endowment gift to stabilize programming, preserve its historic home, and expand youth education. Music-Adjacent News: A South Florida church in Miami says thieves stole thousands in sound and streaming equipment hours before service, forcing cancellation. Charity & Music: Miranda Lambert’s MuttNation Foundation and Tractor Supply are teaming up for $255,000 in surprise grants to animal shelters nationwide. Florida Events: Fantasy Fest returns to Key West Oct. 16–25 with the theme “Musical Icons and Iconic Musicals.”

Tour News: Sugarland is back on the road with the 26-city “Ride or Die Tour,” kicking off Oct. 1 in St. Augustine and running through Nov. 21 in Dallas, celebrating the 20th anniversary of Enjoy the Ride with hits like “Stay,” “Want To,” “Settlin’” and “Everyday America.” Florida Live & Community: Fantasy Fest in Key West returns Oct. 16-25 with the theme “Musical Icons and Iconic Musicals,” plus contests and a Royal Coronation event benefiting the Florida Keys SPCA. Local Scene Spotlight: Central Florida’s hardcore/punk community is carving out space for young bands to push activism—mosh pits included, with a strong emphasis on looking out for each other. Classical & Family-Friendly: Ocala Symphony Orchestra announced its 2026-27 season, featuring “Disney’s Aladdin in Concert” (Nov. 7-8) and other subscription shows plus holiday events. Music Tech: Jerry Harvey Audio expanded its Universal-Fit in-ear monitor range, bringing its custom-IEM sound to more listeners without ear impressions.

Classic Rock Live: Styx is bringing its “Rockin’ in Paradise with Styx & Friends” beach weekend back to Miramar Beach Oct. 8-10, 2026, with Yacht Rock Revue and new Yacht Rock guests Peter Beckett (Player), Elliot Lurie (Looking Glass) and Walter Egan, plus single-day ticket options. Tribute Night + Fireworks: Foreigner and Styx tribute bands—Forever Foreigner and Renegade—are set for a one-night arena-rock throwback at Florida’s Bandshell Aug. 15, followed by fireworks. Sacred Music Spotlight: St. Patrick’s Cathedral’s organist/choir leader Dr. Jennifer Pascual is highlighted ahead of a Longwood nativity church recital featuring a renowned NYC organist. Local Music & Community: Florida Studio Theatre’s “Legacy, Motown & More” revue is drawing big sing-along energy at the Goldstein Cabaret. Touring Country Buzz: Russell Dickerson shares his “Mount Rushmore” country picks and talks genre-crossing with hip-hop collabs. Festival Heavy-Hitters (Florida connection): Limp Bizkit, formed in Jacksonville, is set to headline Australia’s Good Things Festival 2026.

Local Music & Venues: Lakeland Symphony Orchestra announced its 61st season, “Tradition and Tomorrow,” with a Jenkins Memorial Symphony Series (Oct. 2026–Mar. 2027) and a Gallery Concert Series featuring chamber sets and a larger ensemble debut at The Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art. Live Shows: Florida Studio Theatre’s “Legacy, Motown & More” revue brings storytelling and harmonies to classics from the Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind & Fire, and more. Festival Spotlight: Key West Rum Fest returns Aug. 10–16 with tastings, education, and live entertainment, with the Grand Tasting (Aug. 15) supporting MARC. Community Calendar: August at the Music & Arts Community Center in Fort Myers spotlights CeCe Teneal’s “Divas of Soul,” the Gulf Coast Jazz Collective’s Wayne Shorter focus, and “Some Enchanted Evening” with Gulf Coast Symphony Pops. Music Culture: Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” keeps stacking records, extending its Hot 100 #1 run as it dominates 2026 charts. Sports-Adjacent Music: Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando/Hollywood adds an Ice Nine Kills–scored “Terror Tram” experience tied to “Terrifier.”

Florida Music Beat Picks: Live Music & Local Culture: Gainesville spotlights DIY punk/metal at The Ox and indie-friendly nights at Loosey’s Downtown, showing how small venues keep the city’s scene moving. Big-Name Florida Shows: Gov’t Mule, JJ Grey & Mofro brought a full night of rock and jam to Artpark. New Music Events: Phoebe Bridgers is rolling out “Lost Weekend” listening events at planetariums across 30+ cities, plus midnight record-store parties. Florida Music Business: Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium generated an estimated $3.44M from two Ye concerts in June, despite backlash and calls to cancel the contract. Florida Scene Spotlight: Pensacola’s Hippie Fest aims to recreate that Woodstock vibe at Seville Square this fall. Community & Arts: BIG ARTS in Sanibel is building a second collaborative mural, “Currents,” with six artists. Music Beyond Florida: Tyler Hubbard drops a faith-focused track for The Chosen soundtrack compilation.

Faith & Florida Country: Tyler Hubbard is featured on the “Songs Inspired by The Chosen” compilation, tying his country voice to the TV series’ Season 6 rollout. Local Live Music: Gainesville’s scene gets a spotlight with stops like DIY punk/metal hub The Ox and indie-friendly Loosey’s Downtown. Reggae From South Florida: Rasta Lightening shares the message behind his 2026 release “The Road We Choose,” rooted in faith and life experience. Caribbean Music in South Florida: Buju Banton brings his new album “Too Too Bad” to VP Records in Miramar for an in-store signing. Concert Economics: Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium generated about $3.44M from two Ye shows in June, despite backlash from residents and Jewish leaders. Music in the News Cycle: Taylor Swift songs were pulled from some Trump campaign/White House social media videos. Shark Story (Florida Beat, but not music): A new dead great hammerhead found in Jupiter adds to 2026 concerns. Arts Access: Pyramid Studios in Florida stages an original jukebox musical, “Radio Underground!,” built with students.

Local Music & Community: Buju Banton is set for a South Florida album-signing stop in Miramar at VP Records today, promoting his new project Too Too Bad (out July 17) and continuing VP’s Caribbean-music hub momentum. Florida Spotlight: The TaxSlayer Gator Bowl unveiled its 2026 “Dream Team” with a dozen kids and teens joining the Gator Bowl Association as ambassadors and honorary members, aiming to give seriously ill children a taste of normal—theme parks, concerts, and game-day moments. Music History (Florida connection): A new look at Gregg Allman’s “Whipping Post” traces how the classic Southern anthem began in Jacksonville, with Allman sketching lyrics using whatever he could find in the middle of the night. Music News Beyond Florida: Morrissey canceled his Las Vegas Wynn residency days before it was set to begin, citing “unforeseen logistical challenges.” Health & Safety (viral): Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton remains “serious but stable” after a TikTok livestream incident in Miami that led to hospital treatment under Florida’s Baker Act.

Caribbean Spotlight: Grammy-winning dancehall/reggae legend Buju Banton is stopping in Miramar today for an in-store signing at VP Records for his new album Too Too Bad (3 p.m.). Local Arts & Inclusion: Pyramid Studios is staging Radio Underground!, an original jukebox musical built with students at the nonprofit arts program for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Florida Music Scene: Sarasota arts groups are bracing for the impact of Florida’s new anti-DEI law, with county grant agreements now requiring acknowledgments tied to SB 1134. Big-Name Music News: Morrissey has canceled his upcoming four-night Las Vegas residency at Wynn Las Vegas, citing “unforeseen logistical challenges,” disappointing fans who already booked travel. Polk County Honors: The Polk Arts & Cultural Alliance announced its 2026 Polk Arts Hall of Fame inductees, with an Oct. 6 ceremony in Haines City.

808 Day & Gear Spotlight: Roland’s TR-808 turns 46 today, and the beat machine’s instantly recognizable kick, claps, and cowbell helped shape hip-hop, pop, R&B, techno, house, and electro—plus a look at classic tracks that cemented its legacy. Florida Music Moment: Jacksonville is set to honor late Southern hip-hop architect Bigga Rankin with the city key during the K.I.N.G. Foundation’s Back to School Community Day. Live Music (Florida connection): Rock The Country is bringing Brooks & Dunn, Blake Shelton, Lauren Alaina, Shenandoah and more to Ocala’s Florida Horse Park (Aug. 28–29), with a Meldon Law VIP giveaway tied to the festival. Community + Music: Fort Myers Philharmonic is set to mark its 25th anniversary with an “Honoring First Responders” concert. Local Culture: Orlando’s International Guitar Festival is in the spotlight, with Ann Yao and Rui Yang helping usher it in.

Album Buzz: Ariana Grande’s Florida-made comeback, Petal, debuts at No. 1 with 47,889 units in week one, marking her sixth straight chart-topper. Tour & Live Music: Gov’t Mule and JJ Grey & Mofro teamed up for a Van Morrison tribute moment, while Earth, Wind & Fire faced a show disruption after a member was hospitalized for a cardiac incident. Local Scene: Miami songwriters Alexa Lash and Belinda Niling Stohner drop “Pero, Like (Magic City Anthem),” built to unite the city through Latin-pop energy and local collaborators. Community & Culture: Fort Myers Philharmonic launches its 25th-anniversary Sept. 11 tribute season with “Honoring First Responders.” Venue Watch: Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium pulled in an estimated $3.44M from two Ye concerts in June, despite backlash. Grassroots Discovery: hapjam rolls out a hyperlocal map for finding bands, DJs, and acoustic sets near you. What’s Next: Florida deathcore act Bodysnatcher announces a U.S. headlining fall tour.

Local Music & Culture: Orlando’s Timucua International Guitar Festival kicks off this week with Ann Yao (guzheng) and Rui Yang (erhu), plus a month of guitar music from Israel, Colombia, Italy and America. Touring: Mon Laferte brings her “Femme Fatale” tour to Hard Rock Live in Orlando on Aug. 9. Theater Spotlight: Orlando Family Stage adds a stage adaptation of The Hobbit to its 2026-27 season, swapping out a previously planned world premiere. Weekend Live Music (Tampa Bay): A Tampa Bay roundup highlights Rock the Park (free), plus American Idiot at Jobsite Theater and more concerts and shows Aug. 6-13. Community Events: Port Charlotte’s Caribbean Jerk & Cultural Festival returns after an eight-year break, featuring Etana and Caribbean food, vendors and cultural programming. Media Industry: UF College of Journalism and Communications and Saga Communications announce a seven-year partnership starting Sept. 1 to market ad inventory for WRUF-AM/WRUF-FM and expand student training.

Local Music & Venues: Carne Viva’s VIDA Festival debuts Aug. 6–9 at Sandrell Rivers Theatre in Miami with workshops, choreographic labs, and a finale built for dancers, musicians, and multidisciplinary artists. Radio/Media for Music Fans: The University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications and Saga Communications ink a seven-year partnership starting Sept. 1 to market ad inventory for WRUF-AM/WRUF-FM, with added training and collaboration for students and sports media. Community Music Events: WJCT Public Media’s “Electro Lounge” marks 25 years with an anniversary celebration Sept. 16 in Jacksonville, spotlighting two hours of downtempo, chillout, reggae, world music, and nu jazz. Pop Culture, Florida Connection: Ashley Cooke’s “cities that made me” tour lands in Parkland and Sarasota during release-week for her sophomore album. Live Music Moment: Hilary Duff’s Lucky Me Tour stop at Madison Square Garden included a surprise Good Charlotte cameo of “The Anthem.” Privacy & Tech: Florida sheriff’s offices quietly bought Meta smart glasses, raising concerns about officers recording the public without notice. Arts Calendar: SOBO Art Gallery hosts an Aug. 6 opening reception for “Florida Roots, Land, Light & Life,” with live music from jazz-fusion band Pocket Sand.