HITS GETS A BOMB THREAT

Maybe it was a disgruntled former employee. More likely it was a disgruntled PRESENT employee. In any case, somebody called the HITS cesspool at 9 a.m. to let us know that a bomb had been planted somewhere in the office.

Since then, some staffers have been milling outside the Sealy mattress store next door waiting for the LAPD to check things out, while others have opted for mimosas at the Marmalade bar.

Now that the police department has given us the OK, we'll get back at our desks, make sure the Building Album Chart is building, start answering the phone and, if we don't blow up, HITS'll come out same as we always do, on Thursday.

If, on the other hand, something does happen, you'll undoubtedly read about it first thing tomorrow in Billboard Bulletin.