Not since Hitler annexed the Sudetenland has jazz been this popular.Thanks to Ken Burns’ 19-hour PBS documentary, “Jazz,” 16 of the 25 spots on the January 27 Billboard magazine Top Jazz Albums chart have borne the Ken Burns imprint. Topping the list is “The Best of Ken Burns Jazz” and the five-CD box “The Story of America’s Music,” according to Sonicnet.According to Victor Smith, jazz buyer for Tower Records in Boston, everything associated with the documentary is doing well.”In terms of catalog, we are seeing sales by some artists — Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington being the main ones,” Smith said. “But it’s kind of too soon to see the full impact of the show.”Sales of jazz were 20 percent higher during the opening week of the documentary while total CD sales were down 6 percent overall, according to Michael Kauffman, senior vice president of sales and catalog for the Verve Music Group, the company that issued 24 releases associated with Burns joint venture with Columbia Legacy in November. “We’re even seeing sales in Middle America,” Kauffman said. “We’re connecting in places that don’t usually see jazz sales, in places like warehouse-type clubs where people buy a year’s supply of toilet paper.”

‘Buffy’ star gives ultimatum on move“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” has recently been rumored to be moving to Fox or ABC, but the potential move has been taken out of the hands of the big boys by the show’s star.Sara Michelle Gellar recently said in an E!Online interview that if “Buffy” leaves the WB, she is taking a hike.”I will stay on ‘Buffy’ if, and only if, ‘Buffy’ stays on the WB,” Gellar told E! Online TV columnist Wanda. “And you know what? Print that. My bosses are going to kill me, but print that. I want them to know.”The shows production company, 20th Century Fox, has been looking to make more from the hit show for some time now. Industry rumors have been circulating for months that ABC and Fox were the likely networks to pick up the show in spite of WB execs willingness to give up more more money to keep the show. Jamie Kellner, WB chief executive, recently said at a Television Critics Association meeting that he was willing to give 20th Century Fox “every penny” the WB makes from “Buffy” just to keep it in the network’s lineup.”We will take all the revenue we can generate with Buffy, and we’ll give it to you in a giant wheelbarrow,” he said. “And if that’s not enough, then take it to somebody else. You’ve demonstrated you’re not the kind of partner we should be doing business with.”But Gellar said she won’t be going anywhere. The star said the WB has been a good working environment and one she is not willing to leave. “The WB has been so supportive, such a great network over the past four years. It feels like home. I don’t want the show to move, because I feel that we belong on the WB. It’s where our fans are,” she said. “If Buffy leaves the WB, I’m out.”Ironically, another source inside “Buffy” has said the reason for discussing the move at all could be due to the show’s $1 million cost per episode and gargantuan cast salaries the WB cannot afford or is unwilling to cough up. Since the WB is owned by AOL Time Warner, the world’s largest media conglomerate, few tears have been shed over their cost worries.According to Fox TV boss Sandy Grushnow, 20th Century Fox would like to keep “Buffy” on the WB if at all possible.”After all,” he said. “They don’t have wheelbarrows at the WB … they have Mercedes.”