WEEK IN PREVIEW:
TELEVISED IN THE U.S.A.!!!

There is currently an organic need in this country for songwriters who are able to get to the core of what everyday working-class people experience and feel as Americans. That is one of the reasons why Bruce Springsteen’s Columbia album The Rising will debut at #1 this week. "We need you now," is how one New Jersey working man put it to the Boss after Sept. 11.

Besides that, he sure did a helluva lot of TV. In a truly remarkable media blitz, it was Ted, David (twice) and The Today Show. Bruce wasn’t everywhere—but he was everywhere he should have been. Great marketing plan. Great results. God bless America.

Of course, lest we get too meaningful, those nutty kids are gobbling up enough remixed Linkin Park to place their Reprise project, Reanimation, on a steady course to debut at #2, along with probable Top Five Americans Nelly, Eminem and (apart from the South Africa-born front man) the Dave Matthews Band.

The other sparkling debut of the week belongs to Columbia’s Amerie (similar to "American," except there’s an "e" instead of the "ican," but it’s obviously close enough to be swept up in Bruce-mania. Thank you.). Her album should debut in, or near, the Top 10.

Over in Top 40 land, Curb’s LeAnn Rimes is getting the most love, as "Life Goes On" scores massive adds and spins. There’s also some gnarly JPEGs floating on the Internet, but that’s another story that should remain confined to HITS Editor in Chief Lenny Beer’s hard drive.

Meanwhile, the Post Modern crowd is loving Reprise’s Disturbed and RCA’s Strokes.

In a related story, Anna Nicole Smith is about to be named President of a major music label. Details to come.