HITS HIGH 5: WHY WE'RE ALWAYS BATTING NINTH

We’re looking forward to the baseball playoffs by rehearsing “Take Me Out the Ballgame," tapping old kegs of Lucky, Schaefer and Falstaff, and arguing over how to pronounce “Swoboda.” As many ask the baseball gods for a Yankees-Dodgers World Series, we give you our version of a grand slam, the HITS High 5.

The first-round Grammy ballots are out and we have a few observations, chiefly eligibility rules for Best New Artist will undoubtedly be among the first agenda items for review. Taylor Swift is proving she’s a savvy Grammy strategist. And we’re not sure why, but a bunch of artists were willing to answer our questions.

Jennifer Lopez and Shakira will co-headline the Super Bowl halftime extravaganza in Miami.

I.B. Bad notes there’s a growing misperception that “traditional media,” aka radio and TV, aren’t moving the needle when it comes to selling music.

Ken Ehrlich discussed-at length-his 40 years producing the Grammy Awards telecast.

Next year’s Global Citizen Festival will be expanded into five concerts on five continents. Central Park and Lagos are already getting booked.