Link-O-Rama …

Aussie music sales down 10 percent last year – The Australian

Sony BMG exec wants Germany to ban illegal downloaders from the Internet – Monsters And Critics

Sandisk offering miscroSD cards preloaded with 50 unprotected tracks in “Sansa Sessions” promotion – Wired News / Listening Post

Life is good for Harry Connick Jr. – The Sydney Morning Herald

James Blunt talks about his critics – Belfast Telegraph

Dates, Dates & More Dates …

Chris Isaak updates today with several summer additions. Look for Mr. Isaak and his band to play a three-night stand in Saratoga, CA, in July. Other new dates include Woodinville, WA (July 24), Pendleton, OR (July 27) and Reno, NV (August 1).

Cowboy Junkies add to their May and June routing with new shows for the U.S. southwest. New listings include Flagstaff (May 29), Tucson (May 30), Taos (May 31) and Santa Fe (June 1).

Fairport Acoustic Convention has a very extensive United Kingdom run in May. Dates include Shrewsbury (May 1), Chesham (May 6), Edinburgh (May 19) and Southampton (May 29).

Finally, Blue Highway fills in its summer routing with gigs in places like Williamsburg, KY (June 6), Lancaster, PA (June 22) and Portland, OR (July 23).

During the past couple of hours we also updated the schedules for Chad & Jeremy, Angel Band, David Bromberg, Dan Deacon, Dr. John, Fairfield Four, Gregor Samsa, Huey Lewis And The News, Hot Rize, Guy Clark, JGB Feat. Melvin Seals, Martin Sexton, Peter Rowan, The Doobie Brothers, The Tony Rice Unit and Valient Thorr.

And that’s the way it is at the halfway mark. More concert info coming up in Your Latest Update, scheduled for sometime around 3 pm (PDT), from Pollstar.com!