Cover/Contents

THE DEATH OF PRINT JOURNALISM, PART 22,406: Interscope's U2 grace the cover of our latest print issue. The band got the whole biz talking when they delivered their new album, Songs of Innocence, to every iTunes user—free of charge as part of a huge Apple tie-in. Beyond the controversy, the band has turned in a highly appealing set led by punk-saluting single "The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)." Still, their HITS cover appearance is something they probably wish they could give away.

Meanwhile, our most recent Contents page VIP is none other than Sony Music ruler Doug Morris, whose reign remains strong. Morris celebrated another #1 bow by Columbia's Barbra Streisand and a #2 debut from RCA's Chris Brown last week, and has one of the biggest smashes of the year in "All About That Bass" by Epic's Meghan Trainor. Babs is showing signs of selling briskly through the holidays, and Morris has plenty of Q4 fireworks to come, including splashy releases from Columbia's One Direction and AC/DC, RCA's Aretha Franklin and the monster from Pearl/RCA Nashville's Garth Brooks that he made possible. But this HITS Contents shout-out will surely bring a cloud and rain on his parade. (9/29p)