Link-O-Rama …

Bono and Bob Geldof challenge president of France to increase aid to Africa – Reuters

Saying they don’t pay artists enough, Kid Rock boycotts iTunes. Meanwhile, Steve Jobs says, “Kid … who?” – BBC

Psych tests ordered for Britney Spears. No word yet as to whether the tests will be essay or multiple choice – Los Angeles Times (registration may be required)

Branson musicians face economic uncertainty as more venues in the “Live Entertainment Capital of the World” switch to recorded tracks – Post-Bulletin / McClatchy Newspapers

He may be rich and successful, but Boyzone’s Brian McFadden says he’d give it all up to play pro soccer. Instead, he’s co-hosting an Australian soccer reality show – The Age

Self-proclaimed psychic Uri Geller and two partners lose federal lawsuit against former owners of house Elvis Presley once lived in. Gosh, don’t you think Uri should have seen this coming? – Associated Press

Dates, Dates & More Dates …

Avril Lavigne goes to Japan in September. Stops include two nights in Tokyo – September 13 & 14 at Yoyogi Gym an done night in Osaka on September 21 at Intex.

Conor Oberst And The Mystic Valley Band will be all over the U.S.A. in July and August, and then it’s off to Europe. U.S. dates include two nights in San Francisco at Bottom Of The Hill (August 1 & 2), one night in West Hollywood at the Troubadour (August 5) and one night in Philly at the Troc (August 11). Euro dates include London (August 27), Amsterdam (September 2), Zurich (September 5) and Paris (September 13).

Jason Mraz plays Japan in late July and South Korea during the first week of August. Japan dates include July 29 in Tokyo, July 30 in Osaka and July 31 in Hiroshima. The South Korea stops take place in Seoul at the Melon Ax Hall on August 1 & 2.

And Matt Costa updates today with new show listings for Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine, Ontario and Ohio. Stops include Philadelphia on July 27, Rochester, NY, on July 29, Boston on July 30, Cleveland on August 7 and Montauk, NY, on August 9.

During the last few hours we also updated the schedules for Marianne Dissard, MercyMe, Love X, Kessler, Kip Winger, L’ame Immortelle, Jerry Joseph, Indigenous, Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen, O.A.R., Oasis, Terri Hendrix, The Offspring and Weezer.

And that’s our story at the midway break, as we move into Wednesday afternoon on the Fresno coast. Don’t miss Your Latest Update, coming up around 3 pm (PDT), from Pollstar.com!

This Day In Music History … (from Associated Press)

In 1915, A.P. Carter and Sara Dougherty married in Virginia. Together with Maybelle Addington, who married A.P.’s brother, they formed the Carter Family, one of country music’s most influential groups. Their biggest seller was 1928’s “Wildwood Flower.”

In 1966, “River Deep and Mountain High” by Ike and Tina Turner entered the British charts, getting as high as number three. But the record did so poorly in the U-S that the disgusted producer, Phil Spector, temporarily retired from the music business. He did not make another record for three years.

In 1977, Sex Pistol Johnny Rotten was slashed on his face and hands by knife-wielding youths on a London street. They objected to the Pistols’ anti-monarchist song “God Save the Queen.” The next day, another member of the Pistols, Paul Cook, was beaten by a gang armed with iron pipes.

In 1993, A&M Records chairman Jerry Moss and vice-chairman Herb Alpert announced they were leaving the company they founded more than 30 years earlier. They had sold A&M in 1990 to Polygram for about $500 million dollars.