Cover/Contents

THE DEATH OF PRINT JOURNALISM, PART 3,706: You can't judge a magazine by its covers. For example, our most recent issue sports front and back covers featuring two super-hot artists—Capitol's Beck, whose second-week sales (following his Top 5 bow) indicate serious retail stamina, and Columbia's Pharrell, who landed a #2 bow with his G I R L. With these guys on the front, you might think you were holding a pretty cool mag. But alas, it's just the usual pile of HITS.

Our weekly Contents shout-out, meanwhile, goes to IDJ chief Steve Bartels, who's still celebrating the #1 album-chart bow for MMG/Def Jam/IDJ's hip-hop superstar Rick Ross. He could well be popping corks again next week, when YG contends for the sales crown. But appearing in our wack publication is probably making Steve's bubbly seem a little flat. (3/17p)