Arts and entertainment reports from The Times, national and international news services and the nation’s press.

POP/ROCK

Giuliani’s Grammy Dispute: An agitated New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani said Monday that if the annual Grammy Awards--which will be held in New York for the second straight year after alternating between the coasts in previous years--”want to go back to L.A., they can.” Giuliani’s comments came amid newspaper reports that the show might return to L.A., and after an argument with Grammy organizers. Just before this year’s nominations were announced on Jan. 7, National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences President Michael Greene reportedly upset Giuliani with the tone and manner in which he told a city hall staff member that Giuliani would be making only a cameo appearance; as a result, Giuliani skipped the event altogether. With the awards on Feb. 25, Giuliani told reporters Monday that he would have nothing to do with Greene or the Grammys because he would not accept anyone insulting a member of the mayoral staff. Asked whether he was concerned that New York might lose the Grammys and the $40 million it generates for the city to Los Angeles, Giuliani said: “I’m not worried about it at all. . . . We could replace the Grammys in about a day.” A NARAS spokeswoman said Greene was not immediately available for comment on Giuliani’s remarks.

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More Harmonious Grammy News: Composers David Foster and Diane Warren, singer Trisha Yearwood and the recording group All-4-One are among those scheduled to meet with 1,500 area high school students at USC today for the annual Grammy in the Schools event aimed at giving students an overview of career opportunities in music and the recording industry. Other participants include NARAS President Michael Greene, R&B; singer Kenny Lattimore, mariachi star Nydia Rojas and the regional Grammy High School Jazz Band & Choir. Students from 40 local schools will attend. In other Grammy news, meanwhile, the recording academy this month debuts Grammy Magazine--a music-oriented periodical that previously has been available only to music industry professionals--on public newsstands. The inaugural public issue features Kelsey Grammer, host of the upcoming Grammy Awards, on the cover.

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Fire Under Investigation: A fire at rap star Q-Tip’s New Jersey townhouse Saturday destroyed a library of songs stored in a computer and thousands of dollars worth of electronic equipment. The rapper, a member of A Tribe Called Quest, was home during the blaze, but escaped uninjured. The fire apparently started in a basement recording studio, authorities said. The cause was under investigation. Q-Tip said he was unsure if the fire would delay the release of his next album, due out in May.

TV & RADIO

KCAL Simulcast: Controversial KABC-AM (790) talk radio host Larry Elder has been added to KCAL-TV Channel 9’s new 3:30 p.m. weekday newscast, which will include a daily, 3- to 5-minute interactive simulcast from Elder’s radio show. The segment, which will be heard at roughly 3:50 p.m., will feature Elder and KCAL anchor Kerry Kilbride discussing topical issues; audiences of both the TV and radio shows will be able to call in to the program and be included in the simulcast. Elder’s KABC show was restored to the full 3-7 p.m. afternoon drive slot this week; under previous station management, he had lost the latter half of his show to another radio veteran, Ed Tyll, in November.

MOVIES

And the Presenter Is: Today’s nominations aren’t the only Oscar news: Madonna has been added to the presenters’ list for the 70th Academy Awards telecast, to be seen March 23 on ABC. Although she has appeared twice on previous Oscar telecasts to perform nominated songs, the Blond One has never before been a presenter. Other recently announced presenters include last year’s best actor and actress winners, Geoffrey Rush (“Shine”) and Frances McDormand (“Fargo”).

‘Worst’ of 1997: The caped-crusader sequel “Batman & Robin,” the snake-dominated “Anaconda,” Kevin Costner’s “The Postman,” Steven Seagal’s “Fire Down Below” and “Speed 2: Cruise Control” were nominated Monday for the dubious honor of the year’s “worst film” by the Golden Raspberry Foundation (a group of journalists and film professionals). Winners of the 18th annual “Razzie” awards will be announced March 22, the day before the Oscars.

QUICK TAKES

Dan Fogelberg, Bonnie Raitt with Little Feat and Joe Walsh have been added to the Nicolette Larson Memorial Concert taking place Feb. 20 and 21 at Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. In addition, Jimmy Buffett will appear at the Feb. 21 show only. . . . Farrah Fawcett’s boyfriend, director James Orr (the two worked together in “Man of the House”), has been charged with one count of misdemeanor battery for allegedly kicking Fawcett and slamming her head on a driveway after she turned down his marriage proposal last month. The couple have issued a joint statement calling the incident “two good friends [who] had a small misunderstanding.” . . . Oldies radio station KRLA-AM (1110) is providing three hours of Winter Olympics coverage nightly from 7 to 10.