MAYBE, JUST MAYBE:
HOLIDAY CHEER IS HERE

It's been an astounding two-week period, as superstars and sensational moments have livened things up after a rather sluggish summer—and point to a year-end renewal for us all.

The pace quickened with the airing of Adele’s ratings-busting performance at the Griffith Observatory overlooking Los Angeles (an optimal vantage point for viewing a very bright star), coupled with her interview with Oprah in her spacious and magnificent Versailles garden. Any Adele sighting or release is a cultural event of global significance, and thanks to Jack Sussman, Ben Winston and the CBS television crew, this one did not disappoint. If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, then this beholder can tell you he saw beauty. And when the tallies are complete, Adele’s 30 (Columbia) will be the top-selling debut of the year.

Then came Taylor Swift’s phenomenal 10-minute performance of her reimagined “All Too Well” on Saturday Night Live. While the general feeling these days is that SNL’s career-launching and career-enhancing music interludes have clearly diminished, this was a powerful, show-stopping moment. Taylor delivered—she was emotional, provocative and (most amazingly) consistently compelling for 10 minutes, alone onstage with her guitar. The appearance shot her re-record to the top of DSP charts everywhere and led to a super-strong #1 debut for Red (Taylor’s Version).

Add to these highlights the stunning and beautiful Rock & Roll Hall of Fame show that just debuted on HBO. Kudos to Hall chief John Sykes and the top-notch production by all-time great Joel Gallen for crafting a show that’s must-see viewing—and reconnects us with the magic of this industry. Congrats as well to the nominating committee for inducting some of our great women artists. It doesn’t get better than Carole King as an opener, Tina Turner’s long-awaited induction as a solo artist and the sheer joy of seeing The Go-Go’s back together. Couple that with an amazing, lively speech by Clarence Avant calling out and teasing “Big” Jon Platt and making me smile. It was but one of many unforgettable moments, highlighted by President Obama hailing Jay-Z’s induction.

And now, as we await today’s Grammy nominations, I can only hope that these great moments will lead into a nominations list free of needless, petty slights, one that honors the best of our artists and our biz. And that we are led into a joyous and celebratory Thanksgiving and holiday season for one and all.

Mr. Mason, the ball is in your court.