Out of all clients registered with the Secretary of State, the healthcare industry topped Beacon Hill lobbying expenditures in 2018. The Massachusetts Association of Health Plans spent the most money on lobbying altogether — $1.14 million, according to online public records.

About a week after performing at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, last March, two Boston area bands each received an interesting email. One was addressed to the members of Dirty Bangs,...