Top 5 tease

EVERYONE LOVES A WINNER (EVEN LOSERS LIKE US): "Every decision we make is a creative leap of faith." Who said it? The answer to this question (and many others) is contained in the latest issue of HITS magazine, which you can actually hold in your hands and flip through, because it's printed on paper, boys and girls! The occasion: The Top Five Labels of 2013, an inside look at their winning strategies as elucidated by the execs running the show. That's right, these big shots actually deigned to speak with us. And that's not all, folks. This Friday, on this very website, industry insider I.B. Bad will give his takes on the winning labels, leading to long-form Q&As with each label head—the interview sessions on which we've based the stories in the mag, posting one by one next week from Monday through Friday. If that sounds like it took a lot of work, you're right on the money. The task also required the vaping of copious amounts of indica. So if you'll excuse us, we need to lie down for a while. (12/4a)