Paul McCartney will be honored as MusiCares' 2012 Person of the Year

The Grammy Foundation will host “One Night Only: A Celebration of the Live Music Experience” at the 14th Annual Grammy Foundation Music Preservation Project on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012. The event takes place at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills and features historical footage from preservation archives as well as live performances from Robert Cray, Jonny Lang, Mavis Staples, Dave Koz, Ledisi, the Colburn Orchestra, A Fine Frenzy, Trombone Shorty, Tyrese and more artists to be announced. Television personality Sharon Osborne will host, and songwriter Darrell Brown will serve as the evening’s musical director. Tickets are $25.

On Feb. 10, the Recording Academy’s MusiCares arm will honor Paul McCartney as the 2012 Person of the Year at a sold-out tribute at the Los Angeles Convention Center’s West Hall. McCartney will perform at the gala, as well as artists yet to be announced. Guests include Recording Academy President Neil Portnow, MusiCares Foundation Board Chair Scott Pascucci, and MusiCares Board Chair Emeritus Paul Caine. Tribute co-chairs are John Eastman, Bob Iger, Sir George Martin and Lorne Michaels. Proceeds from the event will benefit MusiCares’ emergency financial assistance and addiction recovery programs.

These events are part of a busy Grammy Week leading into the 54th Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 12 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The awards telecast will be shown live on CBS starting at 7 PM/CT.

Entertainer unions the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) have reached a merger agreement reports the LA Times. AFTRA, which represents actors, broadcasters, disc jockeys, singers and dancers, maintains a Nashville office.

Leaders of the organizations have come to a deal following nine days holed up at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel. The negotiation process began two years ago, according to the article.

The organizations’ boards are expected to endorse the merger which would then go to member vote. Approval would be needed by at least 60% of those vote.

Combining the outfits would give them more leverage in contract negotiations with members’ employers and end feuding between the two groups.

AFTRA has about 70,000 members, and SAG represents about 125,000 actors, with at least 40,000 who are members of both unions.

Apple is partnering with Target to open mini-shops within select stores of the retail giant. According to the big-box chain, 25 stores will be home to these Apple outlets. If the venture is successful, the number could grow.

Target has long sold Apple iOS devices which includes iPods and iPads, but hasn’t offered Apple’s line of computers. It’s a keen way to give consumers who may not have had access to learn about or test-drive Apple computers the chance to do so, especially in smaller markets that can’t support a stand-alone store.

Similarly, Best Buy has hosted mini Apple stores inside its chain since 2007. After debuting with a small number of host stores, the partnership has expanded to include Apple shops inside about 700 locations, according to AllThingsD.

The move is part of Target’s larger strategy to bring in exclusive product lines via partnerships, such as the clothing and housewares designers who already offer merchandise there. Additionally, The Shops at Target will be an online storefront for short-term offerings by smaller, independent specialty boutiques.

McGraw's newest digital single "Halo."

Curb Records is promoting next week’s release of Tim McGraw’s Emotional Traffic album with a new digital single, and streaming music on NPR.org.

Today through the Jan. 24 release, NPR’s “First Listen Series” is offering the album in its entirety. The series is available online, via NPR member stations, and NPR mobile apps.

Emotional Traffic’s fourth digital single, “Halo,” is being made available as an iTunes exclusive download starting tomorrow (1/17). This follows the release of No. 1 hit “Felt Good On My Lips,” current chart climber “Better Than I Used To Be,” and last week’s release “One That Got Away.”

The 12-song collection will be McGraw’s last release via Curb. He re-teamed with longtime producer Byron Gallimore for the anticipated project—his first new album since 2009.