AGP Executive Report

Music & Tours: Don Toliver added a second London date to his OCTANE World Tour, now closing the leg at OVO Arena Wembley on Nov. 24, with tickets going on sale Friday. Pop Culture: Ariana Grande brought Cynthia Erivo back onstage in London for two Wicked-themed duets, including “For Good.” Streaming Picks: The AP’s weekly watch guide spotlights Anne Hathaway’s “Mother Mary” (HBO Max) and Hulu’s “The Christophers,” plus other new TV, film, and games. Massachusetts Arts & Media: VPM’s “Declarations” documentary spotlights Black experiences during the American Revolution, featuring Massachusetts freedom seeker Elizabeth Freeman. Local Sports Media: Tributes poured in after 98.5 The Sports Hub producer Jeremy Conley died at 41. Boston Sports: The Red Sox placed Masataka Yoshida on the IL with a hamstring issue and recalled players from Worcester. Business/Entertainment Crossover: Nestlé is using AI to develop products for GLP-1 users as weight-loss drug demand reshapes food markets.

Springfield Basketball: Mark Few was officially inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, capping a Gonzaga run that included a Tournament streak every season since 1999 and multiple Elite Eights. Boston Red Sox: Masataka Yoshida (strained left hamstring) and Justin Slaten (right elbow inflammation) both landed on the IL, with Mickey Gasper and Raymond Burgos recalled as Boston adjusts its roster. Pittsburgh Pirates: Paul Skenes’ next start was pushed back three days as the ace struggles through a rough 2026 stretch, with Boston’s Patrick Sandoval set for the matchup. NFL Training Camp (Mass. ties): The Bears activated Boston College tackle Ozzy Trapilo from the PUP list, signaling recovery from a torn patellar tendon is ahead of schedule. TV/Streaming (Mass. setting): “Widow’s Bay” creator Katie Dippold shared that Season 2’s writers’ room is “feeling great,” with Matthew Rhys’ Massachusetts island mayor plot still front and center. Sports Business: Joshua Kushner and Bob Iger’s reported $12.5B Lakers purchase is being framed by some as a major tax strategy, not just a sports move. Local Community: Steelers training camp hosted groups through Casey Cares and Survivor Outreach Services, spotlighting community programming through football. Food & Pop Culture: A viral Italian spritz—Sarti Rosa—keeps popping up in U.S. liquor stores, with Boston-area fans claiming they found it. Baseball Injury Watch: Nolan Arenado left a loss to the Braves with left trunk discomfort and is headed to Boston for an MRI.

Sports & Boston Headlines: The Red Sox kept rolling in Pittsburgh, shutting out the Pirates 4-0 as Sonny Gray struck out seven and Wilyer Abreu homered early; Boston also saw closer Aroldis Chapman’s 2027 vesting option kick in after the win. WNBA Spotlight: Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever head into a big matchup stretch, with Fever vs. Atlanta Dream set for Aug. 16 and a tough road run ahead. Basketball Hall of Fame (Massachusetts): Candace Parker and Amar’e Stoudemire were among the 2026 Naismith Hall of Fame class enshrined at Symphony Hall in Springfield, with Doc Rivers and Mike D’Antoni also honored. Local Community & Arts: Hundreds swam at Castle Island for Swim Across America Boston, raising over $500,000 for cancer research and care. Fashion & Culture: Kids Around opened its first Manila store at Greenbelt 5, bringing designer kidswear brands to a new audience. Global Sports Business: Liverpool agreed to sell a 30% minority stake to 1892 Holdings, led by Amit Bhatia with Jeff Bezos and Eduardo Saverin among investors. Entertainment Picks: International Irish singer Gabriel Donohue headlines a one-night performance Aug. 20 at 727 Ocean Sunset Bar in Smuggler’s Cove Inn.

Boston Sports & Culture: The Red Sox are consolidating off-field operations, leasing the top three floors of a Boylston Street building and vacating Fenway Park offices as part of a broader Fenway Corners plan. Hall of Fame Spotlight: Doc Rivers is set for formal Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame induction in Springfield, Mass., with his speech focused on the people who helped him get there. WNBA Buzz: Caitlin Clark powered the Indiana Fever to a 98-87 win over the Dallas Wings, hitting a major career milestone with 29 points and 10 assists, while Aliyah Boston defended coach Stephanie White after a booing controversy. Music & Entertainment: WWE Sunday Night’s Main Event is officially booked for Sept. 6, with Cody Rhodes set to face Randy Orton at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. Fashion Pick: Julia Roberts is drawing attention to a classic Birkenstock Gizeh sandal style, a comfortable throwback with a silver update. Film Spotlight: HBO is revisiting the Louise Woodward case in the limited series The Trial of Louise Woodward, with the story returning to public view.

Country Music: Little Big Town drops “Closing Time,” a new duet with Kelsea Ballerini, ahead of their album It’s A Dying Art (Aug. 28). Rock & Metal: Skillet announces the EP After The Storm (Oct. 9) and shares “Lift Me Up,” with a Boston stop at MGM Music Hall at Fenway (Oct. 7). Fundraising & Local Sports Media: WEEI-FM and NESN team up for the 24th annual Jimmy Fund “Strike out Cancer” Radio-Telethon at Fenway Park (Aug. 17-18), featuring on-field moments with Dana-Farber patients and coverage across both stations. Punk Rock: Rise Against releases two new singles, “Katy Bar The Door” and “Living Undercover.” Basketball (Mass. ties): Mark Few recounts the call that he’s headed to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame class of 2026. Soccer/Business: Fenway Sports Group confirms a minority Liverpool stake deal involving Jeff Bezos’ consortium. WNBA: Caitlin Clark powers the Fever past the Wings 98-87, despite an ankle scare. Local Community: Cape Cod pickleball players must use quieter balls in Mashpee after neighbor complaints. Fashion/Arts: A new look at vintage decor shows what grandparents decorated with—and what designers are now bringing back.

Boxing Spotlight (Massachusetts): Milton pro boxer Jenn Perella, 43, returns to the ring Aug. 29 at Encore Boston Harbor for “Boston Harbor Fight Night 2,” aiming for a bigger bout after a 2025 win over Brittany Dukes. Sports & Local Culture: Fans and media are still buzzing after NBC Sports’ “PFT Live” co-host Michael Holley fainted on air during a Friday broadcast, with the show saying he’s fine. Baseball Nostalgia: Beloved Mets slugger Butch Huskey has died at 54, remembered for his power and for being among the last players to wear Jackie Robinson’s No. 42. Arts & Entertainment (Massachusetts): “Tony,” the A24 film about a young Anthony Bourdain, is drawing attention for its take on the chef’s early, messy years. Community & Youth: Northampton schools are rolling out an “undercover” anti-bullying peer-support approach designed to discreetly help students and shift behavior without relying only on punishment.

South Asian Arts: The South Asian American Theater Festival (SAATh) lands Sept. 18-20 at the Mosesian Center for the Arts in Watertown, with multilingual performances, English supertitles, and community conversations from Off-Kendrik. North Shore Dining: Matsunori, a Japanese handroll spot built on “more fish than rice,” is opening its first suburban location in Lynnfield next month, with handrolls starting at $7 and a family-friendly menu. Arts & Development: Pawtucket’s Dexter Street Commons ribbon-cutting celebrates a $55M mixed-use hub with 150 all-electric apartments and middle-income units, tying creative placemaking to real estate momentum. Music Spotlight: Beastie Boys co-founder Mike D previews his upcoming solo album Thank You with the single “Crypto,” a satirical take on greed and excess. Sports & Entertainment: WWE SmackDown hits TD Garden tonight with multiple title matches, while Bridgewater’s Little League team is one win from the Little League World Series after advancing in the New England regional. Community Culture: Hyde Square Task Force wrapped a Puerto Rico immersion trip focused on Afro-Puerto Rican music and youth cultural identity.

WNBA Spotlight: The Connecticut Sun host the Atlanta Dream tonight, and the betting angle is all about a low-scoring game with Brittney Griner listed questionable. Local Sports Buzz: Doc Rivers talked up his nerves and relief after learning he’s headed to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Boston Pro Basketball: The Celtics’ 2026-27 schedule is out, and the NBA’s full slate is packed with big dates, including Christmas Day showdowns. Women’s Basketball Drama: Fever All-Stars Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell said they were “disappointed” by boos aimed at coach Stephanie White, after a tense home-game moment. Massachusetts Arts & Film: Matt Johnson’s “Tony,” a Provincetown-set Anthony Bourdain biopic, is reviewed for its focused slice of the chef’s life. Music: Steve Lacy announced his “Oh Yeah? Tour,” with a Boston stop at MGM Music Hall at Fenway on Oct. 13. Community & Culture: Winchester is updating downtown wayfinding signs to better guide visitors and match the town’s historic look.

Local Arts & Culture: A Boston-based composer for opera and ballet, Mary Bichner, wrote “Nossa Senhora,” inspired by Gloucester’s Our Lady of Good Voyage Catholic Church, and it’ll debut at the church’s carillon concert series Sept. 4. Community Events: Worcester Common hosts the free inaugural “Latin American Rhythm” Aug. 15, with live music, dance lessons, and performances from eight groups. Sports Calendar: Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association fall sports practice begins Aug. 24, with football games starting Sept. 10 and field hockey games Sept. 6. Music & Film: Rainshadow Recording in Port Townsend books Kyoto guitarist Hiroya Tsukamoto for a Sept. 4-style concert series stop (tickets $25 online/$30 at door), while Romania-shot found-footage horror “Transylvania Tapes” lands a local premiere Aug. 16 at Biertan’s Full Moon Horror and Fantasy Film Festival. Big Sports Business: The Los Angeles Lakers are set to be sold for a record $12.5B to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger, a deal that could ripple through NBA expansion talk.

Local Nonprofit & Literacy: Boston teen author Marleigh Brown is turning her debut picture book, Perri’s Pencil Problem, into a national kindness movement, launching Say Something Sweet, Inc. to help kids talk about bias and choose empathy. Boston TV Reality: NBC’s The Traitors: New Blood returns this September with civilians, and Boston pilot Tomica Adams is one of the 22 contestants. AI Music Business: Cambridge-based Suno struck a new deal with BMG, with the label agreeing not to pursue certain copyright claims while Suno compensates participating artists. Entrepreneurship in Boston: Lawyers for Civil Rights is opening BizGrow Central, a downtown hub at 141 Tremont St., offering free legal training, co-working, and support for underserved small business owners. Massachusetts Courtroom Drama: The Lindsay Clancy murder trial continues in Plymouth as her defense pursues an insanity defense tied to postpartum psychosis. Sports Business Shock: The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly being sold for a record $12.5B to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger.

NBA Spotlight: Giannis Antetokounmpo, now with the Miami Heat, made a bold Christmas Day prediction after the Celtics’ holiday reveal—he says he’ll “put on a show” and bring home the win. WNBA Buzz: Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell powered the Indiana Fever past the New York Liberty 106-92, with Clark’s 22 points and 10 assists turning the game into a statement. Boston Sports: The Red Sox head into their next matchup with the Blue Jays after a rough stretch, while MLB’s latest scoreboard highlights include a Rays rout powered by six homers. Streaming & Horror: Ryan Murphy’s Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story drops a first teaser ahead of its Netflix premiere on Sept. 17, bringing Massachusetts history to full-on horror mode. Local Arts & Community: Fitchburg State’s ALFA adult ed program is adding classes like podcasting, birding, musical theater, and a rock walk. Music in the Bay State: North Shore hip-hop standout Token is gearing up for his fourth album release party in Salem. Massachusetts Culture Calendar: The 9th Annual Boston Pizza Festival returns Sept. 19-20 at Boston City Hall Plaza with live entertainment and dozens of New England and Italian pizzerias.

Broadway & Sports Crossover: Ex-Met Jose Iglesias is set for a Broadway debut in “Buena Vista Social Club,” bringing his Cuba-rooted music to the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre starting Aug. 27. Music: Carly Simon’s first album in 18+ years, “Comes in Waves,” lands Friday, recorded largely at her Martha’s Vineyard home. Pro Wrestling: Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods (Austin Creed) will appear on Chris Jericho’s Rock n’ Wrestling Rager at Sea cruise in November. Boston Arts & Culture: Fenway Sports Group is launching a pro women’s golf team for Boston, adding to the city’s growing sports-and-entertainment mix. Local Spotlight (MA): Radiant Laser MD opened a second Boston location near BU and Fenway, expanding physician-led laser hair removal. Sports (MA ties): LeBron James will make his 76ers debut against the Knicks on Oct. 20, with the Celtics-Pistons opener set for a Tuesday afternoon. Weather/Outdoors: A partial solar eclipse is expected to be best viewed across much of New England, with cloudier conditions possible elsewhere.

NBA Legal Drama: Kawhi Leonard’s alleged Clippers salary-cap “no-show” sponsorship workaround is back in the spotlight, with fresh claims tied to the Intuit Dome jumbotron deal raising the stakes for the league’s investigation. Massachusetts Outdoors: Want a hands-on fall vibe early? Several MA farms are opening sunflower-picking fields, including Cider Hill Farm in Amesbury with festival weekends and cut-flower options. Local Media Business: The Boston Globe is leaning harder into local news, politics and sports investment to boost subscriptions, including bundling plans across Globe brands. Cycling & Tourism: The Lloyds Tour of Britain Men is adding major stops in Lincoln and Boston, plus a return to Hull and Beverley, with organizers touting big local economic impact. Music Spotlight: Citizen’s new album Halcyon Blues lands as a culmination of their emo-to-alt-rock evolution, while Role Model drops Chuck Timely & The Hourglass and Kehlani readies a Fenway show. Sports (Boston): The Red Sox head into a Blue Jays matchup looking to snap a skid, with pitching matchups featuring Patrick Sandoval vs. Dylan Cease. Arts in Fall River: Diman Regional Voc-Tech is opening a new $240M building designed for collaborative, tech-forward training for 1,500 students. Pop Culture: John Cena joins Middle East Film & Comic Con 2026 in Abu Dhabi, and the Spaceballs cast is teasing a sequel.

Local Arts Auditions: The Southeastern Massachusetts Festival Chorus is holding open auditions for its holiday “The Christmas Collection” in Raynham, seeking tenor and bass singers 16+ for Aug. 24 and Aug. 31 rehearsals at First Congregational (Stone) Church. Pop Culture in Massachusetts: “Lord of the Rings” stars Sean Astin, Dominic Monaghan, Billy Boyd and Elijah Wood reunited for a dinner stop at La Royal in Cambridge during Fan Expo Boston. Sports Business & Women’s Golf: Fenway Sports Group is launching a Boston Common Golf women’s pro team with TMRW Sports, bringing Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s group into the New England scene. Boston Sports Legacy: NBA Hall of Fame coach and Celtics champion Don Nelson has died at 86, remembered for “Nellie Ball” and five titles as a player in Boston. Massachusetts Cost-of-Living Talk: A Boston.com poll finds 66% of respondents say taxes and/or high living costs have made them consider leaving the state. Pro Soccer Transfer News: Liverpool completed a season-long loan signing of Barcelona defender Ronald Araújo, with a reported €55M option to buy next summer. MLB Roster Moves: The Toronto Blue Jays optioned Davis Schneider and Lazaro Estrada to Triple-A ahead of a Red Sox series, reshaping the lineup. Entertainment & Media: Beasley Media Group postponed its Q2 2026 earnings release to finalize tax accounting tied to refinancing and debt restructuring, with results expected on or before Aug. 14.

Basketball Legacy: Don Nelson, the Hall of Fame coach and five-time Celtics champion as a player, died at 86, leaving behind “Nellie Ball” up-tempo tactics and a coaching record of 1,335 wins. Local Sports Buzz: The Red Sox open a Monday night series at Toronto with Sonny Gray on the mound as Boston looks to keep rolling after a recent road surge. Film & Pop Culture: Chris Evans teased a “brutal” Steve Rogers return in Avengers: Doomsday during a Fan Expo Boston stop. AI & Media Literacy: A new take argues the era of easy-to-spot AI fakes is fading, with convincing deepfakes and generated media now harder to detect. Community & Culture: Boston-area indie-rock fans can catch Preston Lydotes at Smith’s Olde Bar for an intimate folk/rock storytelling night.

NBA & Boston Sports: Hall of Famer and Celtics champion Don Nelson died at 86, remembered for “Nellie Ball,” the point-forward idea, and a coaching career that made him the NBA’s second-winningest coach. Local Arts & Culture: Massachusetts lawmakers advanced a “Dark Skies” bill to curb light pollution by setting rules for municipally owned streetlights and changing how towns are billed for lighting. Boston-Area Community: A 7-year-old was hit by a car in Lynn; police say the driver allegedly left the scene but was later located and cited. Sports Spotlight: In MLB, the Athletics edged the Red Sox 4-3 in the rubber game, snapping Boston’s nine-game winning streak. Entertainment & Media: Streaming costs keep climbing as fans look for ways to watch teams without paying more and more.