WGA says it won't picket the Grammys

The board of the Writers Guild of America West has decided that the WGA will not picket the 50th Annual Grammy Awards, set for Feb. 10 in Los Angeles. The decision means that the handful of musicians who also carry Screen Actors Guild cards will be able to attend the ceremony without the fear of crossing picket lines.

In response, Recording Academy president/CEO Neil Portnow issued a statement saying, "We are pleased with the decision made by the WGA today. In light of this, we are gratified that the 50th Annual Grammy Awards will focus solely on the great music, artists and charitable work resulting from our show. We look forward to unveiling the exciting lineup of artists who will give our worldwide audience one of the most memorable Grammy shows ever." For its part, CBS, which airs the Grammys, said in statement that, "This is very welcome news. We appreciate the WGA's consideration in this matter. The Recording Academy has put tremendous effort and planning into this 50th anniversary event. It's a big night of entertainment for television audiences, and an important event for music artists and everyone in the music business."

Meanwhile, the WGA has not yet ruled on the Recording Academy's request for an interim agreement, which would allow the Grammys to hire writers to help script the show, although the festivities could go on without writers if the WGA plays hardball on that front.