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Beaver County Times, Pa., Scott Tady column: A good year for singles
(Beaver County Times (Beaver, PA) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Jan. 4--Singles soared; albums suffered and digital music sewed up 32 percent of all music sold last year.
And despite a dreary economy, music sales increased by 10 percent, according to the year-end trend report from Nielsen SoundScan.
The sales spikes are courtesy of Apple iTunes and Amazon.com, as sales of digital singles grew by 27 percent in 2008. Clearly, people just want the hits, not any filler, as total album sales dropped 14 percent, with even Internet album sales falling by 8.5 percent.
Surprisingly, sales of vinyl LPs --remember vinyl? -- went up by a whopping 89 percent, with 1.8 million of those retro, round platters sold in 2008, the largest amount since Nielsen began calculating music sales in 1991.
Every music genre saw a drop in album sales, with heavy-metal taking the softest hit, with just a 4 percent decline.
Classical music fared the worst with a 26 percent drop, trailed by country music with a decline of 24 percent. And that's factoring in Taylor Swift, the teenage country star whose two albums sold 4 million units, topping everyone in 2008.
So what were the top-10 songs of 2008?
According to digital single sales:
1. "Bleeding Love," Leona Lewis.
2. "Lollipop," Lil Wayne featuring Static Major.
3. "Low" Flo Rida featuring T-Pain.
4. "I Kissed a Girl," Katy Perry.
5. "Viva La Vida," Coldplay.
6. "Disturbia," Rihanna.
7. "Whatever You Like," T.I.
8. "I'm Yours," Jason Mraz.
9. "No Air," Jordin Sparks with Chris Brown.
10. "So What," Pink.
ENOUGH WITH '08
You got a new 2009 calendar, right?
Decorate it by scribbling circles around the dates of these can't-miss events:
--Jan. 10 -- "Picasso: A One-Day-Only Exhibition of Original Works," at Inspirosity in Beaver.
Expecting big crowds, gallery owner John Paul has set special hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. as he showcases pieces from one of the 20th century's most legendary artists.
--Jan. 26 -- Frightened Rabbit at Rangos Ballroom on the Carnegie-Mellon University campus.
Scottish indie-rock band Frightened Rabbit had the best album of 2008 according to at least two people -- me and WYEP-FM morning jock Cindy Howes.
Don't fret about the CMU location; this show is open to the general public.
*Feb. 18 -- Andy Friedman and the Other Failures at Thursday's in Bridgewater.
This art-country Brooklyn band returns to the Bridgewater bar where they gave one of last year's best performances.
--Feb. 19 -- Eagles of Death Metal at Mr. Small's Theatre, Millvale.
Don't let the name scare you, this rock band is a hoot.
--March 17 -- Forget all that predictable Irish music, spend St. Patrick's Day with British pop star Morrissey.
The former singer for the Smiths will perform in the cozy Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland.
Or at least that's what he's scheduled to do.
The last time Morrissey was booked in Pittsburgh, nearly a decade ago, he canceled just a few hours before show time.
PISTOL'S JAM
Pistol's Last Chance Saloon -- the local bar with the coolest name -- has added a third weekly jam night.
Each Saturday from 10 p.m. 'til closing, musicians can show up at the Baden bar and strut their stuff.
"All amplifiers, PA system and Tama drum set are provided -- these are plug and play sessions," said Saturday's jam-night host, Jeff Cox from the band Cryer. "Guitarists and bassists should bring their guitars and drummers their own sticks. That's it."
Pistol's also will continue offering its Wednesday and Friday night jams that were launched a few years ago.
"Full bands are welcome and encouraged to stop by and play," Cox said. "Magic happens at these jam sessions. Some of the best free music in the county is played by many local talented musicians."
A woman scorned
Which idiot at ABC made Taylor Swift stand next to the Jonas Brothers as the seconds ticked down to midnight on "Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year's Eve"?
Swift was dumped a few months ago by Joe Jonas, which would have explained the sour look on the normally sweet Swift's face.
Don't worry: Swift will get her revenge when she writes a song about it for her third album.
TIDBITS
--"Law & Order" star-turned-Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson is launching a syndicated radio talk show that in many markets will replace Bill O'Reilly's radio show, which is ceasing Feb. 27.
"We will take a look at Fred Thompson's show, but have made no decisions yet," said Michael Young, senior vice president for KDKA-AM, which airs the O'Reilly program at 10 p.m. weeknights.
--You'll soon be seeing commercials for "My Bloody Valentine 3-D," a horror film shot in Pittsburgh and Kittanning, and due in theaters on Jan. 16.
A remake of a 1981 flick, "My Bloody Valentine 3-D" stars Jensen Ackles from the CW's "Supernatural," and Jaime King from such films as "Sin City" and the currently playing "The Spirit."
--You've got until noon Saturday to nominate your favorite artist for the Pittsburgh Hip-Hop Awards.
New Brighton rapper A-Jaxx is among those rallying his street team for support.
The third annual awards show takes place Feb. 8 at the Pittsburgh Hilton. For details, visit www.pittsburghhiphopawards.com.
--There's already been a Tavares and a Mendoza Line; now comes another band that shares a name -- or in this case lifts one -- from a 1970s Pittsburgh Pirate.
That would be the Blylevens, a power-pop group from Latrobe who were booked last night at Mr. Small's Theatre in Millvale.
Who's next, the Candelarias?
Scott Tady can be reached online at stady@timesonline.com
To see more of Beaver County Times, Pa., or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.timesonline.com.
Copyright (c) 2009, Beaver County Times, Pa.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
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