Week’s End Digest: Justin Timberlake, LCD Soundsystem, Beyoncé, GRAMMYs

Posted February 13, 2011 by J Matthew Cobb in Features

News you can really use. This ‘Week’s End Digest’ features reports on Justin Timberlake’s “no” to ‘Glee’, LCD Soundsystem’s rant on ticket scalpers, Beyonce’s big gig and 2011’s Grammy performers

So much can happen in a week. So we’ve decided to give you the rundown on the lowdown…in one digestible digest.

Justin Timberlake Says No to ‘Glee’

Move over Kings of Leon. You’ve got competition. Looks like ‘Glee’ isn’t happy with their most recent declined offer from a requested pop star. Justin Timberlake reportedly turned down the idea to have his songs featured on the hit FOX sitcom, according to Us Weekly. One “Glee” insider called the rejection a “slap in the face.”

LCD Soundsystem Infuriated with Ticket Scalpers, Plans New Shows

LCD Soundsystem is calling it quits this year, according to frontman James Murphy. And the last shows featuring the punk-dance band are destined to be some of the hottest seats of the year. The last show is slated to take place at New York’s Madison Square Garden on April 2. Murphy proclaimed his anger on Twitter over ticket scalpers selling the final show passes for $1500 dollars. “1500 [dollars] for a single ticket? F**k you, scalpers,” Murphy ranted on Feb. 9, the day pre-sale tickets were made available.

Later on, they ranted some more:

“You are parasites. I HATE you.” The group posted later, “NO MATTER WHAT WE DO, IT IS NOT WORTH THAT KIND OF MONEY TO SEE US! Ok… did ANYone get a ticket? shit. please tell me? Seriously–NO ONE? NO ONE on here?”

Apparently, the tickets were all sold out and made available on other sites for over-flatted prices; sending the band into an outrage. Anxious die-hard fans unfortunately weren’t fast enough to snag the hot tickets. To counterattack the evil ploy of the scalpers, it was announced that five shows have been added to their itinerary before their MSG bow out. The new shows will take place at New York’s Terminal 5 from March 28-31.

Beyoncé Headlines Glastonbury

A fourth album from Beyoncé is on the horizon in 2011, but she’s also enlisted to headline Glastonbury, according to Billboard.com. And she’s ecstatic. The major music festival, held in South West England, takes place June 22-26. “This really is the biggest festival in the world and I cannot wait to perform there. Everyone who attends is really appreciative of music and is in such a good mood that entire weekend,” says Beyoncé in a statement. “I’m pumped just thinking about that huge audience and soaking up their energy.” In 2008, her husband Jay-Z headline the festival. Expected to attract a crowd of 200,000, the festival also announced Muse, Gorillaz and Stevie Wonder as 2011 headliners.

GRAMMY Performances, Big Expectations

The big night of music is expected to be pack in some major performances and even some last-minute reunions and duets. Designed as a Valentines’ gesture as well as a “get-well” sentiment, the Academy has designed a special tribute to the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin, which will include performances from Christina Aguilera, Yolanda Adams, Jennifer Hudson, Martina McBride and Grammy nominee Florence Welch (of Florence + the Machine). A tribute to the R&B legend Solomon Burke, whom passed away in October 2010, is also expected during the “In Memoriam” segment and will feature Mick Jagger in his first-ever live performance on the Grammy stage alongside Raphael Saadiq. Burke once toured with the Rolling Stones, and the Stones – in return – have covered some of Burke’s finer hits, including “Cry to Me” and “Everybody Needs Somebody to Love.”

The other performances: Dr. Dre is slated to reunited with ten-time nominee Eminem, while Bob Dylan will perform with New Artist of the Year’ nominees Mumford & Sons and folk-country band Avett Brothers. Actress and future country star Gwyneth Paltrow will perform with Cee Lo Green on a probable clean version of “F**k You;” which is also nominated for Song of the Year.

During (pre) Grammy Week, the stars came out to experience live sets from a host of past Grammy winners (Prince, Stevie Wonder) and 2010’s biggest nominees including Arcade Fire and Bruno Mars. Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy affair at the Beverly Hilton Hotel featured performances from Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige and Cee Lo Green, while Usher’s (RED) affair at the Belvedere Launch Party- attracting celebs like Paris Hilton and Mark Ronson – was also the talk of the town.

The Grammy awards air on CBS Sunday at 8 pm EST.

FURTHER READING >>

Grammy Performers 2011: The Good, the Bad and the Puzzling – The Atlantic

WEEK’S END DIGEST is a weekly roundup of current events and headlines that involves the music industry. Although HiFi Magazine reports news throughout the week, the stories compiled for the Week’s End Digest column are usually deemed as being events “bubbling under the radar.”