January is by now well under way, and this is historically the month in which the entertainment industry sloughs off its sketchiest products - the excess deemed unworthy for mainstream release during the summer, fall and award season schedules.

The movie industry - although knee-deep in award show hysteria - is most famous for proliferating this exercise. Tomorrow, we get a remake of the 1986, lame-even-then, horror “The Hitcher.” Yes, it’s produced by Michael Bay (”Pearl Harbor” and “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” remake), which guarantees it can’t be very good. Things promise to get worse in February.

But for now, we get “Miss Potter,” the story of Beatrix Potter starring Renee Zellwegger. No doubt the industry hopes it will garner the same good will Johnny Depp and “Finding Neverland” did a couple years ago. “The Last King of Scotland,” fresh off its Golden Globe win for Forrest Whittaker, is also seeing wide release.

The music industry looks similarly conflicted. The industry holds the biggest names for release in March, April and May, and saves a few goodies for September and October, usually. January and July are typically the worst time to decide you want to hear new music.

Already, the industry has scrapped hit Christian band Switchfoot’s new album, “Oh Gravity,” to an early January release. It’s garnering so-so reviews. Norah (who cares?) Jones’ new album drops on Jan. 30, which doesn’t bode well for future clout in the industry.

But, on a positive note, music corporations are handing us The Shins’ “Wincing the Night Away” next week. Early leaks of the album prove it continues the band’s upward trajectory and adds a few new colors to their pallette. It’s a great album. We’re also going to see the release of The Good, the Bad and the Queen’s debut. The supergroup is a conglomerate of members of The Clash, The Verve, Fela Kuti and - most importantly - Damon Albarn of Blur. Either it will be brilliant (the Gorillaz are good, but Albarn could use another melodic hit record) or the effect of too many cooks - and egos - in the kitchen.

The terrifyingly bizarre Liverpudlian band Clinic also drop their newest album “Visitations” on U.S. audiences this month. If the idea of a British band playing whacked-out surf music while dressed in blood-spattered surgical uniforms intrigues you, you’re in for a treat. Clinic are one of the few true originals working, even if they do only have a couple different shades they work with.

What new releases are you looking forward to seeing or hearing this year? Spiderman 3 isn’t too far away now.