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We have come
to the final SubModern Report of 2008. It’s been an interesting and varied year
in the specialty world, with plenty of much-hyped new bands ruling the roost
throughout the year (Vampire Weekend, MGMT, The Ting Tings,
Black Kids, Glasvegas, etc.) alongside old friends like Death
Cab For Cutie, Bloc Party and My Morning Jacket, just to name
a few. Sadly, as with many other sectors of the industry, there have been
cutbacks as a handful of specialty shows have fallen by the wayside throughout
the year. But we are still standing and going along strong here at the SubModern
Report. Now, without further ado, the 2008 SubModern Leaders!
Kings Of Leon saw their profile explode in America in 2008, with “Sex On Fire” giving
the band their biggest hit ever Stateside. Thusly, Only By The Night
received plenty of specialty love and was a big hit among all of you, as it was
voted in as SubModern Album of the Year. The Gaslight Anthem had a
breakthrough year in 2008, and the title track from The ’59 Sound got
a ton of specialty show spins. Which is why it was named SubModern Single of
the Year. The Ting Tings’ also broke through in 2008, thanks to an
inescapable iPod ad and an arsenal of hooky, danceable singles. They are your
2008 Best New Artist.
Mase at WKZQ/Myrtle Beach, SC wins as Host of the Year, for his
diligence and dedication to “The Flight Test.” The combined releases of the
Capitol Music Group (including Astralwerks and Virgin) earn
the label the title of 2008 SubModern Label of the Year. Capitol et al had hits
this year from The Kooks, We Are Scientists, The B-52’s,
Hot Chip, The Decemberists, some little band called Coldplay
and many more.
Mike Newman at The Grill Marketing is the 2008 SubModern Promotion Executive
of the Year, after working hard on a wide variety of projects this year. Newman
was involved with everyone from Portishead to the Stereophonics,
Duffy to Radiohead, Glen Campbell to Supersuckers,
and yes, even Katy Perry.
This year I was also able to include something new in our Year End Report: the
top ten most spun singles and albums of the year. This is going by pure spin
counts for the entire year (so music that came out earlier in the year obviously
had more opportunity for more spins). Vampire Weekend’s self-titled debut
was the most played album of 2008, while “Idle Hands” from The Gutter Twins
was the most played single of the year.
One more panel note for the year, Donna and Nick have left WHHZ/Gainesville,
FL and are currently hoping to resurrect “The Independent” in the New Year.
P.S. - Attention label folks: booking for the first SubModern sampler of 2009 has officially begun. The deadline is January 15 and we're aiming for a February 6 release date. Get a head start on 2009 NOW and contact myself or Mike Bacon about track placement.
Congratulations to all our winners! Have a safe and happy holiday season
and we’ll be back with the first SubModern charts of 2009 on Wednesday, January
8.
~ Joey Odorisio
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2008
Artist Leaders
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Album
Of The Year:
Kings Of Leon
Only By The Night
(RCA)
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Single Of The Year:
The Gaslight Anthem
“The ’59 Sound”
(Side One Dummy)
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Best New Artist:
The Ting Tings
(Columbia) |
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Radio Leaders |
Host Of The Year:
Mase
(“The Flight Test” – WKZQ/Myrtle Beach, SC) |
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Label Leaders |
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Label Of The Year:
Capitol Music Group
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Promotion
Executive Of The Year:
Mike Newman
(The Grill Marketing) |
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Updated: 12.10.08
Updated: 12.10.08