Working For The Weekend …

Your weekend will go much better if you take the time to read the following items scheduled to post between now and Monday morning:

Will Daughtry Make The Show? – That is, will Daughtry make the Grammys?

Waddya Mean, Music Can’t Change The World? – Neil Young explains it all to you.

Shea Stadium’s “Last Play” – Billy Joel plays the stadium’s final music gig.

U2’s Manager Speaks Out About Internet Piracy – The title says it all.

Here & There …

Leonard Cohen to perform at Glastonbury – The Times Online

Amy Winehouse gets visa, but still plans on performing on the Grammys via satellite – Detroit Free Press / Associated Press

Justice Department questioning labels about “Total Music” – Associated Press

Grammy nominee Raheem DeVaughn on his sudden stardom “But anybody who is an artist who tells you they’d rather have 50,000 fans versus 50 million is a liar” – The Washington Post

Looks as if Leona Lewis is this year’s anointed one. Clive Davis has chosen her to perform at his annual pre-Grammy party – PR Newswire / press release

Want to invest in music? Maybe even snag an “executive producer” credit? ArtistShare can make it happen – Los Angeles Times / The Envelope

Dates, Dates & More Dates …

The first flock of Kanye West dates are emerging. Right now we’re looking at April 19 in San Jose, April 27 in Denver, May 1 in Dallas, May 2 in The Woodlands (outside Houston), May 22 in Auburn Hills (nrth of Detroit), May 27 in Saskatoon (north of everything), and May 30 in Calgary (ditto).

Before Bob Dylan heads to South America, he’ll play a three-night stand at Dallas’ House Of Blues. The H.O.B. dates are February 21, 22 & 23.

Lots of new Pieces Of A Dream April dates to close out the week. Cities include Washington, DC, Houston, Jacksonville and Las Vegas.

During the day we also updated the schedules for Al Green, Alex Skolnick Trio, Antigone Rising, Arturo Sandoval, Authority Zero, Average White Band, Backyard Tire Fire, Benevento Russo Duo, Boz Scaggs, Bret Michaels, Caroline Herring, Creedence Clearwater Revisited, Dr. John, Eric Burdon & War, Etta James & The Roots Band, Gipsy Kings, Gladys Knight, Iron & Wine, Jimmy Thackery & The Drivers, Joe Bonamassa, John Pizzarelli, Johnny Mathis, Kenny G, Matt Pond PA, Michael Feinstein, Michael McDonald, Neil Sedaka, Pat Benatar, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, The Neville Brothers, The Radiators, VAST, Willie Nelson, plus more artists and bands than you’ll see on this year’s Grammy Awards.

And that’s the big finish for this week. Have a great weekend, and if you want to make a bet on The Grammys, the person you want to speak to is Vito. He’s the guy with the Jonas Brothers tattoos stitched across his forehead, hanging around outside of the Staples Center. Good luck!