Posted by Mary Dooe

For Marketplace Morning Report, Wed., Nov. 2, 2011

The job placement firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas said this morning that the number of planned layoffs at U.S. companies hit a four month low last month. What is the future of the solar industry in the wake of Solyndra and Beacon Power? The TV show “X Factor” is hoping to boost ratings via Twitter. And elementary school students are scoring better on math tests these days, but reading scores are still sub par.

And here are the songs we played today:

• Acá Entera – Javiera MenaBuy

• Kush – Dr. DreBuy

• Point Blank – A Sign of the TimesBuy

• Take the D Train – Pete RockBuy

• Undisclosed Desires – MuseBuy