HITS LIST: SUMMER ENDS UP SURPRISINGLY SHADY

Well, we made it through another summer, so let’s celebrate the end of the dog days by enacting the annual ritual. That, of course, involves firing up the grill and shooting the shit about what’s been going on in the biz. Let’s start with Eminem's surprise drop, Taylor Swift’s next move, Sony’s all but unprecedented willingness to share its bounty with artists and Republic’s marketshare offensive as Monte’s cavalry gallops into contention.