Normally, we all know there is nothing better than the Grammys. Nothing has shown to be a more enlightened barometer for musical talent, and were this any other year, the Grammys would be a erudite celebration of timeless, limitless genius. Unfortunately, this year will be different. 

It seems that the WGA strike domino effect stretches all the way to "music's biggest night." The evening was originally planned to be extra-magical: It's a super-special fifty-year celebration, meant to distract from the industry's 15 percent drop in album sales. Last year's ceremony gave labels a minor shot in the arm with an 18 percent jump in ratings and the Dixie Chicks scoring the biggest Grammy-related top-ten bump in the show's history. They're even selling Grammy Nominee compilations on my favorite label, "Sony BMG Strategic Marketing." 

Yet some are predicting that big names sympathetic to the Writers Guild strike -- especially those who are members of the WGA-bound Screen Actors Guild -- will reduce star power to a dangerous level. While most people scheduled to perform are not directly affected by union obligations, it seems that enough big wigs may be absent to cause others to bow out.

For now, the awards will go on as planned on February 10. Whether or not there will be an embarrassing amount of room in the audience remains to be seen. Don't lose too much sleep though: The Foo Fighters are still scheduled to appear.