By Steve Kabelowsky Contributing Columnist Published Jan 24, 2014 at 3:28 AM

Get off my lawn.

Every music lover reaches a point where a certain era or genre defines what songs define them. Anything outside of that makes us become the grumpy old man telling the "kids" with new music to keep away from what we are trying to preserve.

What becomes part of the shuffle on our personalized soundtrack may actually change over time, but there will always be a core in the middle.

It is that core that drives the Grammy Awards.

Hosted by anchors Nancy O’Dell and Rob Marciano, "Entertainment Tonight" will be on TVGN on Sunday night for a star-studded live red carpet special before the Grammys.

The entertainment reporting world needs the music industry, just as strongly as those in music need the national and international exposure mainstream media can provide. The Grammy Awards has always been America’s crossroads event.

It will be interesting to see which songs of 2013 will make it as a key part of your musical landscape. The younger you are, the better the chance more of these songs will have staying power.

Growing up in the '80s music scene, I wait each year for something to come along and bump "Jump" by Van Halen. Something. Anything. Please.

Most of the people who follow current music – the pop scene especially – have no idea of who Van Halen even is. And I’m not saying that is a tragic thing. What I am saying is that the world of music and tastes change. It will always be in flux and cause drama between generations.

As an outside observer and the greater "place-in-history" journalist, I love this.

When taking a long view of what influences a society, and what has a generation take its place along our great timeline, I enjoy the cultural spark moments rather than the tragic situations.

War, strife, poverty, disease … those make defining moments, too. But it takes less of a toll on the soul when LL Cool J will announce the performance of Nine Inch Nails, Queens Of The Stone Age and Dave Grohl, joined by Lindsey Buckingham for a finale on the Grammy Awards airing on CBS.

The special on TVGN – the former TV Guide Network that once held the scrolling program guide on cable systems – will also feature special correspondent and music insider Elvis Duran straight from the 56th Annual Grammy Awards, starting around 4 p.m.

The presenters of the run-up show are billing it as the ultimate three-hour pre-show celebration that will feature presentations by Brooke Anderson, Rosci Diaz and fashion expert Jose Zee.

According to CBS, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, John Legend, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Kacey Musgraves, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Gary Clark Jr., Hunter Hayes, Lorde and Katy Perry will all perform from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Sara Bareilles will perform with 2014 MusiCares Person of the Year Carole King, and Metallica will perform with Grammy Cultural Ambassador to China, Lang Lang.

My friends at the RAMP newsletter put the other artists on the bill together really well:

"Nile Rodgers, Pharrell Williams and Stevie Wonder will team up with Daft Punk, while nominee Robin Thicke will join forces with legendary group Chicago.

"While you're at it, feel free to revel in the unique pairings of Kendrick Lamar & Imagine Dragons; P!nk and fun.'s Nate Ruess and a special performance by Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson and Blake Shelton."

Steve Kabelowsky Contributing Columnist

Media is bombarding us everywhere.

Instead of sheltering his brain from the onslaught, Steve embraces the news stories, entertainment, billboards, blogs, talk shows and everything in between.

The former writer, editor and producer in TV, radio, Web and newspapers, will be talking about what media does in our community and how it shapes who we are and what we do.