Link-O-Rama …

Did you hear about Gracenote, the online database that fills in the artist, CD and track information whenever you play a CD on your computer? Sony bought it. – Forbes

New Orleans to get “world class” jazz museum – The Times-Picayune

NME U.S. Awards recap – Los Angeles Times / Extended Play (registration may be required)

The spiritual side of Carlos Santana – The Tampa Tribune

Hey kids! Check out this NPR interview with Drive-By Truckers! – NPR / World Cafe

RZA’s “secret life” – The Independent U.K.

Dates, Dates & More Dates …

Former Heather Mills’ spouse who lived to tell the tale, Paul McCartney, has one new date, and it’s a big one – June 14 in Kiev, Ukraine, where Macca will give the locals a free outdoor concert. Called the “Independence Concert,”, presenters will broadcast the show across the country.

British Sea Power has lined up some October dates in, well, Britain. And Scotland. The tour includes gigs in Brighton (October2), Cambridge (October 5), Glasgow (October 11), Leeds (October 13) and London (October 17).

Goo Goo Dolls update today with new shoes shows on both sides of the Atlantic. Look for the band in the U.K. in July playing locales like Sheffield (July 7), Nottingham (July 8), Newcastle (July 10) and Liverpool (July 11). On the U.S. side, the band schedules new dates for Indianapolis (July 26), Syracuse (August 22) and Salt Lake City (October 25).

Some new Andrew Bird dates landed on our loading dock this morning. Like July 18 (Aspen, CO), July 21 (Boise, ID), July 22 (Spokane, WA), July 23 (Seattle, WA) and September 3 (Chicago, IL).

During the past couple of hours we also updated the schedules for Atmosphere, Alfie Boe, Brother Ali, Damon & Naomi, Deep Purple, David Benoit, Emilie-Claire Barlow, Firehouse, Joe Ely, Howard Jones, Marty Willson-Piper, Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers, Otis Taylor Band, The Almost and Wynonna.

And that’s the first half of our Thursday. See how the second half is going in Your Latest Update, scheduled for around 3 pm (PDT), from Pollstar.com!

This Day In Music History … (from Associated Press)

In 1957, the first Ricky Nelson single, “‘I’m Walkin'” backed with “A Teenager’s Romance,” was released. It sold a million copies.

In 1959, James Brown made his debut at the Apollo Theatre in New York.

In 1970, rock singer Grace Slick was invited to a White House tea party by Tricia Nixon, the daughter of the president. Slick tried to bring Yippie Abbie Hoffman, who was turned away at the gate.

In 1974, David Bowie released his Diamond Dogs L-P with a censored cover design. The original had portrayed Bowie as a dog – and displayed his genitalia.

In 1991, Garth Brooks dominated the Academy of Country Music Awards with a record six trophies, including entertainer of the year and top male vocalist.

Also on this date in 1992, David Bowie married supermodel Iman in Lausanne, Switzerland.

In 1996, Canadian Shania Twain won the top album trophy for The Woman in Me and was named best new female singer at the annual Academy of Country Music Awards.