AGP Executive Report

Live in Asia: Lana Del Rey drew around 60,000 fans at Singapore’s F1 music festival, then hinted she would return after her first major show in the city. Eurovision Asia: SBS will broadcast the inaugural contest from Bangkok on Nov. 14, with artists from 11 countries competing in the region’s first edition. K-pop on the charts: Jennie’s “Dracula” remix with Tame Impala climbed to No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100, its 20th straight week in the top 10. Japan-based boy group JO1 also made its Billboard 200 debut with its first full English EP, “Animal.” On the road: And2ble announced December fan concerts in Seoul and Yokohama, while the Singapore debut of Attack on Titan: The Musical is set for April 2027. Culture and influence: Japan is seeking ¥1.83 billion for overseas cultural projects, including music and anime-song concerts, as it looks to build audiences in emerging markets.

K-pop Awards: BTS and BIGBANG lead the 2026 MAMA nominations; the first announced performers include ENHYPEN, BABYMONSTER and TWICE’s Nayeon. Live Stage: Attack on Titan: The Musical will make its Southeast Asian debut in Singapore next April, where its world tour begins. Hong Kong: The ashes of late Cantopop star Anita Mui have reportedly gone missing from a monastery. Big Crowds: BIGBANG drew 120,000 fans across three Taipei Dome concerts, underlining the region’s appetite for major K-pop shows. India Bound: HYBE’s Weverse Con Festival will hold its first overseas edition in India in 2027.

Live Dates: K-pop group KIIRAS will perform and meet fans aboard a Singapore–Melaka cruise Oct. 25–27, while Le Sserafim has added seats to its sold-out London show as its European tour begins. Across Asia: BigBang drew 120,000 fans across three Taipei Dome concerts. In Kuala Lumpur, a celebration of filmmaker Gautham Vasudev Menon’s 25 years in film and music brought 4,500 people together for performances and stories behind his songs. On Tour: ATEEZ has announced a 2027 world tour beginning in Incheon, with stops across Asia and beyond. Community Stage: Auckland hosts Hyderabad playback singer Praveen Kumar Koppolu and vocalist Vishnu Priya Mallela on Oct. 23 for a concert raising funds for a temple under construction. Music Meets Manga: Attack on Titan: The Musical makes its Southeast Asian debut in Singapore in April 2027, with original songs, choreography and live action.

Indian Music’s Grammy Debate: Sona Mohapatra backed Dhurandhar 2 composer Shashwat Sachdev’s Grammy submissions, arguing Indian music makers often lack recognition at home. K-pop Momentum: BigBang drew 120,000 fans across three Taipei Dome concerts, while LE SSERAFIM topped Japan’s Oricon daily singles chart. ATEEZ has announced a 2027 world tour spanning Asia, Europe and the Americas. HYBE in India: The company’s Weverse Con Festival will hold its first edition outside Korea in India in March 2027, featuring K-pop and Indian artists. Diljit’s Delhi Show: The singer moved his concert to October 30, away from the anniversary of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, after an appeal from MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney. Live Music Growth: India’s live-events sector grew 44%, with the government aiming to double it by 2030.

K-pop: LE SSERAFIM’s “Hot” has passed 200 million Spotify plays, while its new single “Made My Night” debuted atop Japan’s Oricon daily chart. ATEEZ has also announced a 2027 world tour spanning Asia, Europe and the Americas. India: Marathi pop star Sanju Rathod is preparing a 10-song album, Gaon to Global, celebrating his journey from village roots to national success. HYBE’s Weverse Con festival will make its first international stop in New Delhi in March 2027. Pacific sounds: Port Vila’s inaugural Wan Pasifika Festival brought artists from across the region together around music, culture and climate action. Cultural exchange: Young Chinese and American singers shared folk, classical and popular music at a New York concert, while Wuxi Xiju Opera Theatre brought Pearl Pagoda to Sydney for its Australian premiere. Asia’s live scene: Promoters are increasingly looking to secondary cities as high costs squeeze major capitals, while India’s live-events industry is targeting further growth.

K-pop Across Borders: LE SSERAFIM’s “Made My Night” topped Japan’s Oricon daily singles chart, while TWICE’s Nayeon joined Charlie Puth onstage in Goyang for “We Don’t Talk Anymore.” ATEEZ, meanwhile, will launch its 2027 world tour in Incheon. Indian Music: Lenskart’s new Shunya collection comes with a five-evening live series featuring 10 artists across bhajans, classical and Carnatic music, and contemporary takes on traditional sounds. Punjabi Tribute: Sidhu Moosewala appeared as a hologram at a Toronto show, with his younger brother joining their parents onstage. Festival News: HYBE’s Weverse Con Festival will make its international debut in New Delhi on March 27, 2027, bringing K-pop and Indian artists together.

Filipino Live Music: KZ Tandingan and TJ Monterde brought their “In Between” concert to Qatar, where Filipino fans turned out for an emotional night of Original Pinoy Music. K-pop Tours: ATEEZ announced its 2027 “ZERO TO ALL” world tour, starting in South Korea before heading to Japan, Europe and the Americas. HYBE’s Weverse Con festival will also make its international debut in New Delhi next March, with K-pop and Indian artists on the bill. Music Across Borders: Beijing concerts brought mainland Chinese and Taiwanese performers together, while Seoul’s 22nd Korea-Japan Festival framed cultural exchange as a force for reconciliation. India’s Big Stages: Echoes of Earth will celebrate its 10th edition at the Nandi Hills in December, with Thievery Corporation making its Asia debut at the festival. The soundtrack to “Dhurandhar 2” has also been submitted for Grammy consideration across nine categories.

K-pop: SEVENTEEN’s Hoshi has released “Boyfriend,” an R&B-pop single co-written during his military service, as members continue solo projects. Concert Watch: Charlie Puth says his Oct. 14 Manila date is the only stop on his Asia tour not yet sold out; fans pointed to ticket costs and limited awareness. India–Korea: Hyderabad’s free K-Harmony Festa on Oct. 25 will bring K-pop, food and cultural performances, while HYBE’s Weverse Con Festival is set to make its India debut in New Delhi in March 2027. Punjabi Music: A Punjab MP has urged Diljit Dosanjh to move his Nov. 1 Delhi concert, citing the anniversary of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Classical Music: Beijing Music Festival has opened with Mozart and a lineup spanning opera, orchestral concerts and a performance by Anoushka Shankar.

Concert Watch: Charlie Puth says Manila is the only unsold stop on his Asia tour, set for Oct. 14; fans cited ticket costs and low awareness. Opera & Exchange: A metro-set Magic Flute arrives at Beijing Music Festival, while San Francisco Opera is seeking a China staging for its acclaimed Monkey King. Filipino Milestone: BINI becomes the first Filipino act nominated for Favorite Global Music Star at the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards. K-pop in India: HYBE will bring its Weverse Con Festival to India for the first time on March 27, 2027, with K-pop and Indian artists. India Tours: Arijit Singh plans a nine-city tour in January 2027; Diljit Dosanjh’s Aura Tour adds six Indian cities. Industry Moves: GoDigital Music is expanding across Asia through a Pony Canyon partnership and has named Sebastian Mair its APAC president.

Filipino Pop: BINI became the first Filipino act nominated for Favorite Global Music Star at the 2026 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards, after winning Artist and Tour of the Year at the Filipino Music Awards. K-pop’s India Push: HYBE will take its Weverse Con festival overseas for the first time, bringing the event to New Delhi on March 27, 2027, with K-pop and Indian artists. India’s Live Boom: The country’s live-events sector grew 44% in a year, with the government aiming to double it by 2030. Arijit Singh’s nine-city 2027 tour is among the big shows on the horizon. Pacific Voices: Air Niugini flew artists including Papua New Guinea reggae musician Anslom Nakikus to Vanuatu’s inaugural Wan Pasifika Festival, where music will help spotlight climate action. Stages Across Asia: China’s National Day holiday featured 125 concerts and 55 music festivals, while repeated cancellations are rattling Dhaka’s live-music scene.

Singapore Grand Prix: Lana Del Rey and K-pop group Cortis headline the music lineup at this weekend’s F1 race. K-pop Live: Jennie surprised fans at The Weeknd’s Goyang show, joining him for the first live performance of their collaboration “One of the Girls.” Festival Expansion: HYBE will bring Weverse Con to New Delhi on March 27, 2027, its first edition outside Korea, with K-pop and Indian artists; India’s live-events sector grew 44% in a year. India Tours: Arijit Singh plans a nine-city 2027 tour celebrating 20 years in music, while Diljit Dosanjh’s seven-city Aura Tour starts in November. Music for a Cause: Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman played original pieces for rescued moon bears at a Vietnam sanctuary, drawing attention to 125 bears still caged on bile farms.

Japan Expansion: Pacific Music Group has opened a Tokyo office and signed rapper JP THE WAVY to a long-term deal, with new music planned this fall and ambitions to grow his audience across Asia and beyond. K-pop Goes Global: HYBE’s Weverse Con Festival will make its first international stop in New Delhi on March 27, 2027, featuring K-pop and Indian artists. Stray Kids’ Tokyo Dome concert is also headed to cinemas worldwide, with a livestream planned. Big Tours Ahead: Bigbang returns to Singapore for shows on Oct. 17–18, its first group world tour in nine years. In India, Arijit Singh has announced a nine-city 2027 tour, while Diljit Dosanjh’s seven-city Aura tour begins Nov. 1. Live Music Boom: India’s live-events sector grew 44% in a year, with the government aiming to double the industry by 2030. P-pop Wins: BINI took major honors at the Filipino Music Awards, while SB19 recorded the official ASEAN 2026 theme song.

India’s K-pop Moment: HYBE will bring its Weverse Con Festival to New Delhi on March 27–28, 2027, pairing K-pop acts with Indian artists for the event’s first edition outside Korea. New Music: (G)I-DLE’s Yuqi has released her self-written, six-track Chinese-language mini album 27; Chinese composer Yu-Peng Chen’s orchestral album The Poem of Life offers a more personal turn from the Genshin Impact soundtracks that made him famous. India on Tour: Arijit Singh plans a nine-city 2027 tour celebrating 20 years in music, while Diljit Dosanjh’s seven-city Aura tour begins in November. Filipino Pop: BINI and SB19 took major honors at the Filipino Music Awards, and SB19 also lends its voice to the official ASEAN 2026 theme song. Live Music’s Growth: India’s live-events sector grew 44% in a year, with the government targeting a doubling by 2030.

K-pop in India: HYBE will bring its Weverse Con Festival to New Delhi on March 27–28, 2027—the event’s first edition outside South Korea—with K-pop and Indian artists on the bill. Filipino Music: BINI won Artist and Tour of the Year at the Filipino Music Awards, while SB19 took Concert of the Year and two People’s Choice prizes. SB19 also recorded “Together in Motion,” the official song for the Philippines-hosted 2026 ASEAN Summit. India’s Live Scene: The sector grew 44% over the past year, with about 34,000 events; the government aims to double it by 2030. Arijit Singh has announced a nine-city tour beginning in January, and Diljit Dosanjh’s seven-city Aura Tour starts in November. Opera Across Borders: Three young singers from China’s Wuhan Conservatory are joining an international cast for Kuala Lumpur’s first full Turandot production in 20 years, marking the opera’s centenary.

P-pop Spotlight: SB19 has been tapped to sing “Together in Motion,” the official theme song for the 2026 ASEAN Summit in the Philippines, with the track backed by Tourism Philippines and a fresh music video. Awards Buzz: At the Filipino Music Awards 2026, BINI took Artist of the Year and Tour of the Year for “Signals World Tour 2026,” while SB19 won People’s Choice Artist and Song (“VISA”) plus Concert of the Year (“Wakas At Simula”). Japan Live: FT Island will play a Christmas Eve “A Winter’s Night” mini concert in Yokohama, following its recent Asia run. Privacy vs Tech: Australia’s data watchdog has launched an investigation into the Chinese maker behind HeyCyan smart glasses sold at Kmart after privacy backlash. Live Music Calendar: Laneway Festival 2027 is back with Fontaines D.C. and Hayley Williams headlining, with pre-sales starting Oct. 7 across Australia and New Zealand.

Theatre & Culture: Lea Salonga is set to play Bernarda Alba in Theatre Group Asia’s Filipino-language staging of Federico García Lorca’s “The House of Bernarda Alba,” adapted by Chay Yew and translated into Filipino—TGA’s first fully Filipino production, running in February 2027. Music & Film Crossover: Anushka Sen’s Korea-India co-production “Jeju Olle” lands a North American premiere at the 27th Newport Beach Film Festival, with the actress calling it a dream to represent India abroad. Concert Updates: Moira dela Torre’s “Where It All Started” concert at SM Mall of Asia Arena has been postponed to next year, with refunds promised but no new date yet. Pop Culture Promotions: “Jailer 2” will skip a traditional grand audio launch; instead, the music drops via a private fan event and Rajinikanth will appear in a rare three-hour TV interview on Oct 11 ahead of the Oct 15 release. Live Music in Asia: Vietnam’s National Academy of Music director Nguyen Huy Phuong joins the jury for the expanded Vietnam International Piano Talent Competition 2027, open to ages 5–25 worldwide. Festivals & Community: Cebu’s Miss Asia Pacific International 2026 creates a “person first” space for neurodivergent youth and children with special needs through creative workshops and runway coaching.