AGP Executive Report

World Cup Music & Culture: Shakira, J Balvin, Wyclef Jean and Nora Fatehi weigh in on what makes a World Cup anthem stick, with Shakira’s “Dai Dai” (alongside Burna Boy) set to soundtrack the 2026 kickoff. Saudi Pop Spotlight: Syrian star Assala Nasri announces a live show in Jeddah on June 19 at Abadi Al-Johar Arena, promising tarab-meets-modern hits from her long-running catalog. UAE Electronic Scene: Desert Beat opens AlphaTheta’s first premium dealer store in Dubai, adding DJ workshops, creator-studio access and community programming for the region’s growing electronic music crowd. Middle East in the Mix: A Coca-Cola Middle East football anthem release highlights how major brands are using pop music to build World Cup hype across the region. Israel/Palestine Backdrop: Amnesty accuses Israel of “ethnic cleansing” in the West Bank, a reminder that music and public events are unfolding amid heavy political pressure. On-the-ground Viewing: Monaco’s SBM venues publish where to watch World Cup matches, including Lebanese and Lebanese-style dining spots and late-night bar screenings.

Kuwait–China Cultural Diplomacy: Kuwait’s Traditional Crafts Association teamed up with the Chinese Cultural Center for “Arabic and Chinese Calligraphy: Harmony of Strings and Ink,” pairing Arabic calligraphy and Kuwaiti craft traditions with Chinese calligraphy and music to mark the International Day of Dialogue Among Civilizations. World Cup Culture & Music: As FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off, the build-up keeps spilling into music and community—Moroccan Israeli singer Neta Elkayam reimagines her ancestors’ blues, while a new Met exhibition, “Musical Bodies,” explores how instruments mirror the human form. Human Rights Spotlight: Amnesty International again accuses Israel of “ethnic cleansing” in the occupied West Bank, citing state-linked displacement patterns. Ticketing Talk: FIFA’s dynamic, demand-based pricing for World Cup tickets is in the spotlight, with FIFA urging fans to buy early as prices can swing. Live Music Pick: Thievery Corporation marks 30 years with a June 13 show at Belly Up, blending dub, bossa nova, reggae and more.

World Cup Anthem Drop: Rahma Riad and Coca-Cola released “First Among the Best,” a Middle East football anthem aimed at Arab fans ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026. UAE Live Culture Picks: Abu Dhabi’s June events roundup highlights music-and-performance experiences, including “The Silk Fold by ETHR” at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental. Boxing Meets the Music Crowd: Jack Catterall says he feels “better than ever” and is pushing for a big welterweight unification fight with Rolando Romero. Iran–US Escalation: Iran and the US traded retaliatory strikes after fresh US action, keeping regional tensions high as the World Cup approaches. Saudi Digital Sovereignty: IBM’s roundtable in Saudi Arabia focused on AI sovereignty readiness, with leaders citing a major gap between strategy and execution. UFC Freedom 250 Update: Dana White denied claims that Sean Strickland was banned from the White House event, blaming the issue on limited space and tickets. International Day for Dialogue: June 10 marked the UN’s International Day for Dialogue Among Civilizations, urging cooperation amid a strained global system.

Apple Music & Siri AI: Apple rolled out major iOS 27 updates, including a more capable Siri AI that can pull up artist info and seamlessly start playing music, plus upgraded AutoMix transitions and faster, more reliable streaming. Arab Music Live: Lebanese star Nancy Ajram and Egyptian singer Nesma Mahgoub are set for a live performance at Egypt’s Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) on June 16. Egyptian Pop Release: Amal Maher dropped new single “Bagi Bel Horreya,” leaning into more intricate arrangements and “quality music” over quick-hit trends. Arab Culture Festival: Abu Recordings’ all-Arab flagship festival Mahrajan announced its full lineup for London’s Crystal Palace Bowl on August 1, featuring Cheb Khaled, Lella Fadda, Omar Souleyman, Manal and more. MENA Creative Retail: Paris’ Jihan opened as a cultural retail space for African and West Asian design, with film screenings, listening sessions and a women-focused profit-sharing model. Digital Music Business: Nerve Media Group named Nick Bennett CEO as it expands its music-rights and content IP support for TV production companies, with an advisory group aimed at scaling monetisation. Music x Global Pop Culture: Bad Bunny met Pope Leo privately in Madrid, with the Vatican saying no photos would be released.

Middle East Music & Culture: Egyptian creatives Mariam El Gendy and Youssef El Sayed have opened “Jihan,” a Paris concept store blending African and West Asian design with screenings, reading rooms, listening sessions and conversations—plus a 5% profit commitment to women’s economic independence. Music Meets Soccer: K-pop’s FIFA World Cup presence keeps growing, with Blackpink’s Lisa’s “Goals” landing on the tournament soundtrack ahead of the 2026 opening ceremony. Human Stories Through Sound: In Gaza, singer Ahmad Abu Amsha and others use music and singing with displaced children to ease isolation and help trauma recovery. Regional Tensions, Cultural Ripples: Iran and Israel traded strikes again after a ceasefire, raising fears of a wider Middle East escalation—while artists and public figures continue to use stages to call for Palestinian rights. Global Music News: The Nobel-Artist International Music Competition announced its 2026 final-round winners, recognizing finalists from 27 countries.

Middle East Conflict Watch: Israel and Iran appear to be pausing strikes after trading fire for the first time since an April ceasefire, with both sides warning they’ll retaliate if provoked. Immersive Tech in MENA: Disguise is expanding deeper into the region, setting up a Saudi Arabia entity in 2026 and a UAE entity in 2027, adding local hires and partnering with Tanmiya and A Loud Minority to support immersive projects across MENA. Syrian Classical Spotlight: Violinist Ayman Hlal, a Bagri Music Award winner, is set for performances in the UK this summer, blending Arabic musical roots with Western classical training. Film & Identity: Iranian filmmaker Nader Saeivar’s “Hijamat” is heading to Karlovy Vary’s Crystal Globe Competition for a world premiere, exploring faith, sexuality and family pressure. Sports Culture Event: Israel’s Maccabiah is launching “Expo Maccabiah City” (July 6–10) as an indoor, family-friendly sports and entertainment hub during the Games’ summer break.

Middle East conflict: Israel launched airstrikes on central and western Iran after missile fire, with explosions reported near Isfahan, Tabriz and Tehran, further complicating efforts for a permanent ceasefire. Regional music & culture: South African hit “Jerusalema” is trending again after Kylie Jenner’s TikTok dance clip, reigniting global attention on Master KG and Nomcebo’s sound. MENA hip-hop roundup: New releases across the region include Morocco’s ElGrandeToto returning with “SALGOAT II,” Egypt’s Abyusif and Arsenik reuniting on “The Sting,” plus fresh tracks from Sudan, Palestine and more. Classical spotlight: A concert in Beijing marked Shostakovich’s 120th birth anniversary with performances by Song Siheng and the China National Symphony Orchestra. Arts & identity: Moroccan-American Tony winner Ali Louis Bourzgui, also a singer and musician, won featured actor in a musical for “The Lost Boys,” highlighting Arab representation on Broadway. Tech meets culture: Eros launched a “Cultural AI” platform in 34 languages aimed at preserving cultural voice and identity in digital performances.

UAE Music & Gaming Scene: Dubai’s GameExpo is spotlighting local artists, creatives, gaming developers and SMEs through “The Narrows,” with more than 75 Dubai-based exhibitors—mixing DJ demos and music with gaming culture. Palestinian Activism at Major Pop Events: Barcelona’s Primavera Sound saw Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez attend Gorillaz, after Palestinian activist Aarab Barghouti spoke to the crowd and festival messaging pushed “No War” and pro-Palestinian solidarity. Lebanon/Arabic Music Spotlight: Lebanese artist Sandy Chamoun released “Sawt El Doumouh,” a grief-to-defiance album drawing on tarab, Arabic poetry, southern folklore and electronics. Egypt Pop Crossover: Egyptian singer Nourine Abouseada teamed up with Copa Açaí for “Nourine’s Smoothie,” a mango-coconut-mint-lime release tied to her music persona. Global Music Politics: Kanye West’s Holocaust Museum visit proposal was rejected in Amsterdam, while his Arnhem concerts continued amid controversy. Uplift Through Sport & Sound: Special Olympics UAE’s Abu Dhabi Games opened with dance and musical performances, running until June 10.

Western Wall Archive Push: Jerusalem’s Tower of David Museum is preparing a major exhibition on the Western Wall’s history and is asking the public to share rare family photos and private archives ahead of next year’s 60th anniversary of reunification. AI Music Politics: US President Donald Trump amplified a surreal AI-generated music video on Truth Social that repeatedly praises him, adding fuel to the debate over synthetic media in political campaigns. Mizrahi Music Loss: Israeli singer Ishay (Yishai) Levi, a pioneer of Mizrahi music known for hits like “Rikud Romanti,” has died at 63. New Album Drop: Iraqi-born, New Zealand-raised alternative hip-hop producer WHO SHOT SCOTT released “I’M YOUR ALIEN,” the lead single for debut album HAIRY. Cultural Diplomacy Through Literature: Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan held events in Turkmenistan honoring poets Shirvani and Azadi, blending scholarship with cultural celebration. Regional Tensions, Gulf Focus: Iran’s missile and drone strikes hit Bahrain and Kuwait amid renewed ceasefire strain, while the US weighs using frozen Iranian assets for Gulf reconstruction.

Mawazine Festival: Morocco’s Mawazine (Rythmes du Monde) returns for its 21st edition June 19–27, with Syrian singer Mayada El Hennawy, Egyptian mahraganat star Hassan Shakosh, and French rapper Ninho on opening night, plus headliners Major Lazer and Imany. Arab Pop Spotlight: The lineup leans hard into Arabic music with Tamer Hosny closing the festival, alongside Marwa Nagy, Saad El Soghayar, Iraqi-Saudi singer Majid al-Muhandis, Tunisian Lotfi Bouchnak, and Syrian acts Al Shami and Sanaa Maharati. Global Chart Watch: LE SSERAFIM’s “BOOMPALA” keeps climbing on the UK Official Charts, jumping to No. 22 on the Singles Sales chart and No. 17 on Downloads, while also gaining ground on Spotify across multiple countries including Saudi Arabia. AI + Music Politics: Trump posted an AI-generated “Everybody loves Donald Trump” style music video using his name 45 times, reigniting debate over synthetic media in political messaging. World Cup Culture: FIFA World Cup fever is spilling into music and marketing, with AI-made songs and clips spreading fast as brands race to stand out.

Traffic & Law: Türkiye’s revised traffic rules get a high-profile test in Trabzon, where a driver was fined over 1.2 million liras after alleged drunk driving, dangerous maneuvers, an illegal exhaust, loud music, and ignoring police stop orders. Streaming & Film Music: Ram Charan’s sports action drama Peddi is set for Netflix by mid-July after its theatrical run, with AR Rahman credited for the score and the film already drawing big opening-day crowds. Cultural Diplomacy Through Sound: Azerbaijan Culture Days in Turkmenistan kicked off in Ashgabat/Arkadag with major concerts featuring the Fikret Amirov folk orchestra and the Gara Garayev chamber orchestra, plus a “Composition of Friendship” performance. Regional Music Spotlight: Bahrain marks Russian Language Day with growing interest in Russian culture, including events at Gulf University’s Russian Language Hub. Eurovision Watch: Eurovision 2026 audience fell to 131 million viewers across 35 territories, down sharply from 2025 amid a boycott tied to Israel’s participation. Music & Identity: Palestinian-Jordanian artist Zeyne and Greek-Sudanese pop star Marina Satti release ‘A’ti’, a minimalist, Middle Eastern-tinged duet about attachment and self-love. Media Freedom: RSF accuses Israel’s army and Shin Bet of inhumane treatment of Gaza journalists, alleging torture and systematic persecution tied to their work. World Cup Culture: UAE venues are rolling out fan zones and match-day entertainment across Dubai and beyond as FIFA World Cup 2026 approaches.

Jerusalem Jazz Festival Preview: Next week’s Jerusalem Jazz Festival (June 9–11) at the Israel Museum leans into jazz’s messy, ever-changing identity—from ragtime and swing to bebop—setting up a lineup that’s as much about cultural mix as musical craft. World Cup Music Rollout: FIFA’s 2026 World Cup album is out, with Canadian artists Nelly Furtado and Jessie Reyez among the names, as the tournament’s host-nation sound gets packaged for fans. UAE–Italy Cultural Night: Abu Dhabi’s Italy National Day event drew major officials and featured performances by a youth orchestra and choir, with Italy’s “Made in Italy” brand spotlighting music and culture alongside trade ties. UAE Music Spotlight: Angham is set to perform live in Bahrain on June 12, adding another regional stop to the Middle East’s busy live-music calendar. Global Pop & Politics: Vanilla Ice says he hopes to perform at Trump’s “Freedom 250” rally in Washington, while the week’s wider coverage keeps circling how celebrity music collides with public debate.

World Cup Music: FIFA confirmed Shakira and Burna Boy will headline the 2026 World Cup opening ceremony, performing “Dai Dai” at Estadio Azteca ahead of the June 11 kickoff. BRICS Culture: The second BRICS Culture Working Group meeting opened in Varanasi, with delegates including Iran and the UAE discussing the creative economy, people-to-people cooperation, and ethical AI plus copyright rules. Israel Pride: Thousands joined Jerusalem’s Pride parade under tight security, with organizers pushing for equality and inclusion amid ongoing tensions. Turkey Live & Heritage: Istanbul’s Zorlu PSM kicks off “PSM Loves Summer” on June 6, while Mehter performances return at national palaces through Sept. 30. MENA Club Scene: Cyprus’ BEONIX Festival announced its 2026 lineup (Sept 25–27) with MENA acts including Egyptian DJ Mohasseb and ThatGirlSherryK. Music & Film: Marjane Satrapi, director of Persepolis, died at 56; and experimental ambient artist Gintė Preisaitė released “Instruments of Forgetting and the Singing Bone.”

BRICS Culture Track: India hosted the second BRICS Culture Working Group in Varanasi, with Iran and the UAE at the table, focusing on copyright protection and ethical AI for the creative economy, plus cultural exchange and people-to-people cooperation. Music & Identity: A new interview spotlights Bedouine (Azniv Korkejian), exploring how the Bedouin name carries inherited stories and mythology through her music. Freedom 250 Fallout: Poison guitarist Pete Evick blasted critics after Freedom 250 backlash, as the politically charged US concert series continues to lose acts. Istanbul Pop Moment: Kanye West’s Istanbul debut drew massive crowds despite bans elsewhere, keeping the Middle East pop conversation loud. Regional Culture Diplomacy: Venezuela and Egypt announced a plan for cultural cooperation in Cairo’s parks and gardens, signaling more music-linked public programming ahead.

UAE Music & Culture: Dubai’s summer calendar is gearing up with DSS 2026 running 2 July–30 August, promising live entertainment, concerts, dining deals and citywide “summer surprises” across malls and venues. Lebanon Outreach: With Israel-Hezbollah tensions forcing evacuations in southern Lebanon, Heart for Lebanon is reshaping its “Summer of Hope” youth programs, including music, games and drama, as plans shift to safer areas. Saudi Arabia Live Entertainment: Formula E’s Saudi after-race concerts are getting a behind-the-scenes look, highlighting how regional production partner AES turns race venues into full concert-style spaces. Israel/Palestine Human Stories: Former hostage Bar Kupershtein, released after 738 days, is now spending time with Israeli children battling cancer in Los Angeles—an emotional reminder of how music and community can support recovery. Türkiye Music Scene: Türkiye’s cinema attendance fell 15% in 2025, with domestic and foreign ticket drops—another sign of shifting entertainment demand.

Dubai Live Music: Punjabi Sufi powerhouse Khan Saab lands in Dubai on June 12 for his first-ever city debut, “Dhurandhar Experience,” promising a big night of qawwali-style soul with DJ sets by Sohail and Manoj. Egyptian Pop Release: Ahmed Saad drops “Kouti,” the lead single from his upcoming album “El Farfoush,” rolling out five tracks across platforms. Egypt/Arab Video Single: Composer Madian releases “Tagheeb Al-Gheeba” as a music video, with lyrics by Tamer Hussein and arrangement by Tamim, plus more summer releases lined up. North Africa + Reggae R&B: Montreal artist Somaya shares “RHINESTONES,” blending reggae grooves with Middle Eastern textures and a self-destruction/delusion theme in both song and video. World Music Festival: Portugal’s Festival MED returns to Loulé with an expanded 2026 lineup mixing artists from around 30 countries, including Goran Bregović, Salif Keita, Arooj Aftab and more. Israel/Concert Culture: A Dutch judge rejected a bid to block Kanye West concerts, despite ongoing controversy around his remarks. Regional Music & Culture Events: RefuFest returns to Prague on June 20 for its 20th edition, using music and food to push intercultural exchange.