Link-O-Rama …

BBC reprimanded, ordered to air an apology for cussing by performers during “Live Earth” concert broadcast – The Times Online U.K.

Minnesota senate gives preliminary approval to “Hannah Montana” bill that would ban automated software bots from buying tickets – WBKO

Original Firefall lineup reunite tonight for the first time since the ’70s – 9News.com

Lost Elvis photos heading to Graceland. The 100 or so pictures were taken during a Madison Square Garden appearance nearly 36 years ago – UPI

Norah Jones talks about her plunge into acting – “…I’m a musician – I’ve got a day job. What can I lose here?”” – Associated Press

Neil Diamond to play Boston’s Fenway Park in August – WPRI.com / Associated Press

Dates, Dates & More Dates …

Cher just announced her September and early October calendar for her residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace.

Eagles add two shows in Newark (May 24 & 25), two shows in New York (May 28 & 30), two in Boston (July 28 & 30) and one in Moncton, New Brunswick (August 2).

Sisqo updates today with new gigs for May, June, July and August. Shows include May 18 in Washington, DC, May 30 in Atlanta, GA, June 14 in Louisville, KY, July 12 in Nashville, TN, August 16 in Cleveland, OH, and August 23 in Kansas City, MO.

And Psychostick lines up a pretty extensive club tour stretching from May through the first week of July. Dates include May 14 (Odessa, TX), May 25 (Marietta, GA), June 1 (Melbourne, FL), June 8 (Harrison, VA) and Juyly 1 (Pueblo, CO).

During the past couple of hours we also updated the schedules for Rachael Sage, Nas, Jackson Taylor, Mark Wills, Amanda Shaw & The Cute Guys, Sebadoh, The Black Hollies, The Phenomenauts, The Road Hammers, The Larkins, Willy Porter and Yoshida Brothers.

And that’s what’s happening at the halfway mark as we head into Wednesday afternoon on the West Coast with pounds and pounds of new concert data yet to process. Stay on top of everything with Your Latest Update, scheduled for around 3 pm (PDT), from Pollstar.com!

This Day In Music History … (from Associated Press)

In 1976, folk singer and songwriter Phil Ochs hanged himself in the bathroom of his sister’s home in Far Rockaway, New York. His suicide came only two days after his last performance – at a benefit show for victims of Chile’s military junta.

In 1997, Soundgarden, one of the leading bands in the grunge movement, announced it was breaking up after five albums that sold 20 million copies.

Also on this date in 1997, Mae Boren Axton, who co-wrote the Elvis Presley hit “Heartbreak Hotel,”was found dead at her Tennessee home at 82. Axton’s songs were also recorded by Patsy Cline, Faron Young and Hank Snow. Her son was singer-songwriter Hoyt Axton.

In 1998, Lorrie Morgan, Dolly Parton, Randy Travis and Wynonna were among the performers at a memorial service for Tammy Wynette at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. Wynette had died three days earlier from a blood clot in her lungs. Morgan moved many in the audience to tears with her closing performance of Wynette’s signature tune, “Stand By Your Man.”

Also on this date in 1998, a Los Angeles jury ordered a man to pay Michael Jackson $2.7 million dollars for failing to prove the existence of a videotape that allegedly showed the singer having sex with a young boy. Jackson had sued for $100 million after Victor Gutierrez told the TV show “Hard Copy” that he had seen such a video. Jackson denied having sex with a minor.