BILLBOARD: SOUND & VISION

Billboard.com put together this dope article on the top 10 producers controlling the music business and airwaves.

Read it here

"Songwriter Carole Bayer Sager told Time that Martin "brings one of the most extraordinary pop sensibilities to come along in a very long time." Likewise, Simon Cowell told the magazine, "If you've got Max Martin, you have a better chance of having a worldwide hit than with anyone else."

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When Warner declined to sign Lady Antebellum, Paul Worley left the label and produced the act's self-titled 2008 debut album, which included "I Run to You," the No. 1 country song of 2009 and Grammy winner for best country performance by a duo or group. Worley then produced Lady A's second album, 2010's "Need You Now." It cleaned up at the 2011 Grammys, winning best country album, while its title track-which he co-wrote with the group-took record of the year, song of the year and best country song.

Whoever the A&R is who turned down Lady Antebellum must be suicidal...

JUST DANCE HITS #1

Its uber rare that you see a song by a US artist become a huge hit around the world more than two months before it becomes a hit in its country of origin but Lady Gaga's "Just Dance" has done just that, this week finally topping the Billboard Hot Digital Songs after 27 weeks on the chart. Expect Gaga to knock Beyonce's "Single Ladies" out of its #1 Hot100 position next week.

From Paul Grien's Chart Watch

"Just Dance" by Lady GaGa featuring Colby O'Donis sold 419,000 downloads in the last week of 2008. Only one other song has ever sold that many downloads in a one-week period. "Low" by Flo Rida featuring T-Pain sold 467,000 copies one year ago this week.

"Just Dance" debuted atop the Australian ARIA Charts on September 15, 2008 and sold in excess of 140,000. Coincidentally, Gaga's "Poker Face" is currently holding the #1 position on the aforementioned chart. Australia hearts Gaga.

More $$$ for Akon :)

AND THE BIGGEST SONG OF THE YEAR IS ...

Flo Rida feat. T-Pain, “Low” (Poe Boy/Atlantic)

The biggest album of the year, Carter III right? essentially, but technically wrong! The Billboard year-end chart runs from Dec-Nov, so Weezy misses out to Alicia Keys by technicality.

Alicia Keys - As I Am (As I Am has been certified triple platinum by the RIAA) ... The album was also ranked #4 on Billboard's 2007 end of year list. Carter III has sold 2.4 million so far in the US.

Here's a portion of the end of year Billboard facts courtesy of the always on point Idolator:

Chris Brown owned '08 with four appearances in the Top 20 songs of the year.

6. “No Air” (Jordin Sparks with Chris Brown)
9. “With You”
10. “Forever”
19. “Kiss Kiss” (Chris Brown feat. T-Pain)

Rihanna also had a massive year with three songs appearing in the Top 20.

12. “Take a Bow”
16. “Disturbia”
17. “Don't Stop the Music”

Lil Wayne only had one song ("Lollipop") in the Top 20 but a dominant TWELVE appearances in the Top 100 Hip-Hop/R&B songs of the year. As Idolator point out, it sure seemed like Weezy owned '08 but on a pop level the year belonged to Chris Brown and Rihanna.

Read the Idolator run-down

I'm gonna go one step further than Idolator and provide you with the Producers and Songwriters who dominated the Billboard year-end chart.

Stargate & Ne-Yo (-2) had an insanely successful year with 7 songs in the Top 100 year-end chart:

9. "With You", 12. "Take A Bow", 17. "Don't Stop The Music" (Note: Written by Frankie Storm), 20. "Closer", 30. "Tattoo" (Note: Written by Amanda Ghost/Ian Dench), 57. "Miss Independent", 62. "Hate That I Love You"

Christopher 'Tricky' Stewart and The-Dream managed a surprising 5 in the Top 100:

22. "Touch My Body", 28. "Leavin", 64. "Suffocate", 75. "I Love Your Girl", 82. "Just Fine"

T-Pain had yet another great year lending hooks to 8 songs on the list, Nathan Chapman (Taylor Swift, Gavin Degraw) produced 4, Will.I.Am wrote/produced 3, Ryan Tedder wrote/produced 3, Timbaland produced 3, J.R. produced 3, Max Martin/Dr Luke wrote/produced 3, John Fields (Miley Cyrus, Jonas Brothers) produced 3 and Polow Da Don & Jim Jonsin both had 2 of the years biggest songs.

Its crazy to me that once you add up all the songs by the 15 songwriters/producers above, it amounts to around 50% of the entire Top 100 year-end chart.

You can read Billboard's list of 2008's hottest producers here and the rest of their 2008 year-end charts here

T.I. TAKES #1 & 2

T.I now holds down the #1 & #2 spots on the Billboard Top 100. T.I's second single "Live Your Life" featuring Rihanna has made another record breaking jump from #80 to #1. The track sold 335,000 downloads this week in the United States. T.I had previously set the record for the biggest jump to #1 ever with his first single "Whatever You Like" six weeks ago. The song moved from #71-1. It now sits at #2.

An amazing achievement by T.I, not to mention this is Just Blaze's first #1 single! Congrats.