In a previous blog I mentioned that the striking writers guild agreed that its members would not picket next month’s Grammy Awards. Now, there’s even more good news for the awards show that honors the country’s top musicians. Yesterday Writers Guild of America directors decided to grant an interim agreement for the February 10th ceremony.
This means the Grammys will escape the blow that befell this month’s Golden Globe Awards. It also means that the stars will be out in full force and fans will be treated to a complete red carpet fashion show as celebs make their way into the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Last night the president of the Recording Academy called the guild’s Grammy decision “gratifying” and promised a 50th anniversary show “with an amazing lineup of artists and performances.”
Of course, this is the same guy who vowed to stage a full-scale show with or without the writers.
So why the change of heart? According to a statement made by WGA officials, the agreement allowing guild-covered writing for the Grammys is in support of union musicians and also will help advance writers’ own quest for “a fair contract.”
“Professional musicians face many of the same issues that we do concerning fair compensation for the use of their work in new media,” the president of the guild’s West Coast branch, said in the statement.
For those of you who have not been following the now nearly 3-month-old strike, payment for projects distributed via the Internet is a central issue in the contract dispute between the writers union and the group that represents studios.
BRITNEY SPEAKS WITH KIDS
She can’t see or touch her two young sons, but a judge has allowed the derailed mother of 2-year-old Sean Preston and 1-year-old Jayden James to speak with them on the phone.
According to court documents released yesterday, “(Britney Spears) is to have telephonic contact with the minor children.” However, she can’t go near them.
It’s been more than 3 weeks since the 26-year-old singer has seen her sons. The last time she hugged either of them was on January 3rd right before her bizarre behavior initiated a custody standoff, which resulted in Spears’ involuntary stay at a Los Angeles hospital.
Despite two subsequent attempts by her lawyers to regain her visitation rights, a judge ruled Spears is forbidden to see her kids “indefinitely.”