THE DEATH OF PRINT JOURNALISM, PART 34,217

The cover of our most recent print edition features Capitol rookie phenom Sam Smith, who won three of the top four Grammys plus a Pop Album honor. The big night reignited the extraordinary young British singer/songwriter’s album, while various singles continue to captivate radio and retail. We think Smith’s just going to keep growing all year and well beyond, though appearing on the cover of this rag will likely inspire his saddest song yet.

Capitol Chairman Steve Barnett had a magnificent Grammy night, as his young superstar Sam Smith took Best New Artist, Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Pop Vocal Album, rock trailblazer Beck staged an upset with Album of the Year and Rock Album (becoming the most significant U.S. signing of Barnett’s regime), and Blue Note’s Rosanne Cash earned an Americana triple crown. This cache of Grammy gold marked a new peak in Barnett’s remarkable reign—which was quickly followed by the low point of this HITS Contents Shout-Out.