74 General News

I nsidelrock According to insiders, Sony's launch of its Compact soon as the chain store giant is feted on its 20th birthday. Disc digital audio disk system within the next year will Tommy Schlesinger is rounding up the promotion. be unparalleled in consumer electronics history in terms A half century of industry prominence ended last of ad and promo mega bucks. ... Nabobs from Disco- week when 79- year -old Lawrence Welk hung up his ba- Vision, IBM and Universal Pioneer huddled in Universal ton. Track first enjoyed the affable Swiss at the Riverside City's MCA bailiwick last week over the future of the la- Theatre, Milwaukee, in 1934. Actually he started his first ser optical videodisk format, following the shuttering of band in 1928. Welk this coming September starts a rerun DiscoVision's disk manufacturing plant in nearby Car- syndicated tv series when his present show concludes. son. ... Boardwalk Records claims a hot January. Label He'll personally introduce each show with a nostalgic prexy Iry Biegel reports a $4 million month which topped look at the year during which the show was recorded. all others in its short history. Joan Jett, Richard "Dim- The entire show will then be replayed. Welk intends to ples" Fields and "First Family Rides Again" did the trick. keep his present 45- member aggregation together for Free Lunch: If you've noted that your branch manager, sporadic location and one -night concert stops. Welk's sales manager or salesperson isn't inviting you to dine as Ranwood Records, run by son Larry Jr., continues, as of yore, it's now out of his own pocket in most companies does his music publishing empire. Welk's break with live in the industry. The only street people who have not been tv concludes 32 continuous years on the tube, 27 of told to hold down expenses are radio promo folk.... If which were nationwide. Welk many years ago set up a you think Jean Pierre Rampal is merely a world class lucrative pension fund for his performers. flautist, you're wrong. "The Book Of Sushi" by Kinjiro The Glenn Miller orchestra under Larry O'Brien jets to TALKIN' JOANS -Joan Armatrading, right, chats with Joni Mitchell and pro- Omae carries a foreward by Rampal.... Things We Japan soon, where it will rerecord all of the World War II ducer Henry Lewy backstage at the Perkins Palace in Pasadena, Calif., where Never Knew Till Now: Jack Hurst is country music editor hits for a Nipponese label. ... Track erred. Diana Ross' Armatrading and her new band recently played two nights. of the Chicago Tribune, the only such full -timer we know "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" was certified both gold and on a U.S. daily. platinum simultaneously, a rather normal procedure vice Senior president Harold Childs and veep of sales now that the 60 -day delay after release is in effect... . PIONEER IS BUYER Dave Steffen at A &M solidly back the move to keep sin- RCA just plunked down $50,000 in a grant for a Frank gles at $1.69 list (Billboard, Jan. 30). Promotion pioneer Stanton professorship at Harvard's Center for Press, Pol- Childs sees the $ I.99 trend's most devastating influence itics and Public Policy of the John F. Kennedy School of Discovision as cutting down the number of starter retailers who Government. Sale handle breaking 45s. As a result, he sees radio with a The Bloomington, Ind. RCA plant, which makes its lesser universe to canvass to track early progress of the videodisk players and color tvs, closed Monday (1) for a

ultra important releases. A &M is introducing its break- week of "inventory adjustment." The label's longtime al- - Laid To Soft Mart ing artist albums at $6.98 with 120 -day billing (Bill- bum /single pressing plant in Indianapolis also laid off By JIM McCULLAUGH board, Jan. 16) and, additionally, is coming with a "Best 150 of its 1,000 employees indefinitely at the same time. Or compilation series at $6.98. George Benson, King Is LOS ANGELES -The task of Calif., the firm marketed industrial ... Dave Rothfeld's return to consultant status at Sam Crimson, Kim Cames, Nils Lofgren and the Ozark Mt. Goody a sign driving home the optical videodisk optical videodisk players made by of more stewardship from the Musicland Daredevils kick off the series. Both album price decreases (LaserVision) system fell more Japan's Universal -Pioneer. DVA Group in Minneapolis? The former Korvettes' record are hoped to offset the shrinking discretionary dollar honcho squarely on the shoulders of Pioneer also manufactured industrial and had been general manager of the Goody wing in supply. Both A &M brass said ad allowance bucks will Edison, N.J. last week as MCA and IBM decided consumer disks. U.S. Pioneer and He now works out of the 43rd and Third not be cut, but most likely increased on the to sell their side of a videodisk man- North American Philips' Maganvox breaking act Ave. store in Gotham City. ... The loser in the Valen- $6.98 packets. tine's Day (14) ufacturing venture last week to the continue to market consumer play- softball tiff between the Fleetwood Mac Erstwhile bassplayer Jim Guercio, who now operates All Stars Japanese giant. ers. and the Record Plant Reamers pays the City of the famed Caribou Ranch (Billboard, Feb. 3), tells Track Hope charity fund $500. MCA is not exiting the home DVA had scaled down considera- he and the Colorado Rockies' recording studio are very Warner Bros. Records handed out its second series of video business, however, as two bly in recent weeks and intended much in business. A blizzard cut phone lines to the pink slips in recent months last Friday (29), with insiders existing units of the entertainment closing its nearby Carson, Calif., ranch, thus causing the intercept we reported. The one- offering the now familiar spectre of a sluggish economy conglomerate -MCA Videodisc and software manufacturing facility at time personal manager has installed an 800- number as the culprit. Estimates range from 15 to 20 employees MCA Videocassette -will continue the end of the month (Billboard, (525 -0503) to take the overflow from the studio's regular cut, with progressive and black music promotion among to be programmers. MCA also re- Feb. 6). The remaining 250 employ- number. Carl Wilson, Eddie Rabbit and Sheena Easton the areas hit. Meanwhile, label has yet to rebuild its adult tains its optical videodisk patents. ees (down from 800) are expected to have booked time there in the near future, among others. contemporary promo team, virtually eliminated in be laid off shortly in the wake of the the Jim Fiedler, president of MCA ... Look for a mammoth salute to the record /tape /ac- last streamlining late in '81. Videodisc, says: will new development. "We continue cessories departments of the K -mart stores in the U.S. Edited by JOHN SIPPEL to produce and distribute program- An' existing Pioneer plant in Kofu, ming for the optical format." Japan, will now assume respon- The joint venture -known as Dis- sibility for all of DVA's existing con- tracts. A new Pioneer coVision Associates -was formed in software plant Rogers Is Top HARM Nominee 1979. Headquartered in Costa Mesa, is being targeted for California next year but not at the Carson site since Continued from page 4 Full Moon /Epic; "Working Class Dog," Rick est Hits," Ronnie Milsap, RCA; "Greatest Hits," Springfield, RCA. the physical assets of DVA are not Diamond's smash hit "The Jazz Willie Nelson, Columbia; "I Am What I Am," included in the buy. Singer" is passed over in the same Best Selling Album By A Female Artist: "Bella George Jones, Epic; "Step By Step," Eddie Bab- New Offices U.S. Pioneer had formed a Pio- category, though it is, as expected, Donna," Stevie Nicks, Modern; "Mistaken Iden- bitt, Elektra. neer Video arm last year responsible up for best -selling soundtrack. tity," Kim Carnes, EMI America; "Physical," Best Selling Country Album By A Female Art- for selling optical players, while an- Besides voting in the 17 categories Olivia Newton-John, MCA; "Precious Time," Pat ist: "Evangeline," Emmylou Harris, Warner; For Boardwalk Benatar, Chrysalis. other wing, Pioneer Artists, contin- listed below, retailers, rack jobbers "Greatest Hits," Anne Murray, Capitol; "Juice," Best Selling Black Music Album By A Group: Juice Newton, Capitol; "Live," Barbara Man- LOS ANGELES -New of- ues to develop entertainment pro- and one -stop operators are asked to "In The Pocket," Commodores, Motown; drel!, MCA; "Nine To Five," Dolly Parton, RCA; fices housing the Boardwalk gramming. Pioneer, supply write -in votes for best -selling of course, still "Raise," Earth, Wind & Fire, ARC /Columbia; "Seven Year Ache," Roseanne Cash, Columbia. Entertainment Co. here were has a in classical album and best -selling gos- powerful ally Philips (co -de- "Something Special," Kool & the Gang, De -Lite. Best Selling Jazz Album: "Breakin' Away," Al opened Feb. 1 at 8255 Sunset pel /spiritual album. The winners veloper of the optical videodisk Best Selling Black Music Album By A Male Jarreau, Warner; "Free Time," Spyro Gyra, MCA; Blvd. Telephone is (213) 656- will be announced at the annual technology), still very much com- Artist: "Being With You," Smokey Robinson, "The [hide," Quincy Jones, A &M; "Winelight," NARM convention at the Century 2840. mitted to worldwide marketing of Tamla; "Controversy," Prince, Warner; "It's Grover Washington Jr., Elektra. The move follows the trans- LaserVision. Plaza Hotel here March 26 -30. Time For Love," Teddy Pendergrass, Phila- Best Selling Comedy Album: "A Place For My fer of several company de- But Pioneer's optical videodisk The complete list of nominations: delphia International; "Never Too Much," Stuff," George Carlin, Atlantic; "Greatest Hits," Best Selling Single: "Bette Davis Eyes," Kim partments to New York and job is not expected to be an easy one. Luther Vandross, Epic; "Street Songs," Rick Cheech & Chong, Warner; "No Respect," Rod- Carnes, EMI America; "Celebration," Kool & the extends the restructuring plan Sales of both industrial and con- James, Gordy; "The Many Facets Of Roger," ney Dangerfield, Casablanca; "Rev. Durita," begun last fall. Promotion sumer players in the U.S. and Japan Gang, De -Lite; ' Elvira," Oak Ridge Boys, MCA; Warner. , Richard Pryor, Laff; "Steven Martin Brothers," "Endless Love," Diana Ross & Lionel Richie, Mo- and business affairs wings have been sluggish. And Pioneer Best Selling Black Music Album By A Female Stevie Martin, Warner. town; "Physical," Olivia Newton -John, MCA. now are in Manhattan. continues to combat a depressed hi fi Artist: "It Must Be Magic," Teena Marie, Gordy; Best Selling Children's Album: "Fox And The Best Selling Album: "Escape," Journey, Co- market. "My Melody," Deniece Williams, ARC /Columbia; Hound," Disneyland; "In Harmony II," Colum- lumbia; "4," Foreigner, Atlantic; "Greatest "Stephanie," Stephanie Mills, 20th Century; bia; "Mickey Mouse Disco," Disneyland; Hits," Kenny Rogers, Liberty; "Hi Infidelity," "What Cha Gonna Do For Me," Chaka Khan, "Strawberry Shortcake And Her Friends," Kid - REO Speedwagon, Epic; "Tattoo You," Rolling Warner; "Why Do Fools Fall In Love," Diana stuff; "Urban Chipmunk," RCA. Stones, Rolling Stones. Ross, RCA. Best Selling Soundtrack Album: "Arthur," Best Selling Album By A New Artist: "Beauty Best Selling Country Album By A group: Warner; "Endless Love," Mercury; "Fame," And The Beat," Go -Go's, I.R.S.; "Bella Donna," "Fancy Free," Oak Ridge Boys, MCA; "Feels So RSO; "Heavy Metal," Full Moon /Asylum; "The Stevie Nicks, Modern; "Blizzard Of Ozz," Ozzy Right," Alabama, RCA; "Year Ago," Statler Jazz Singer," Capitol. Osbourne, Jet; "Don't Say No," Billy Squier, Brothers, Mercury. Best Selling Original Cast Album: "A Chorus Capitol; "Face Value," Phil Atlantic; Collins, Best Selling Country Album By A Male Artist: Line," Columbia; "Annie," Columbia; "Evita," "Juice," Juice Newton, Capitol; "Loverboy," Co- "Greatest Hits," Kenny Rogers, Liberty; "Great- MCA; "Sophisticated Ladies," RCA. lumbia; "Never Too Much," Luther Vandross, Epic; "Quarterflash," Geffen; "Sheena Easton," EMI America; "Working Class Dog," Rick Springfield, RCA. WEFM: New Owners Best Selling Album By A Group: "Back In CHICAGO -WEFM -FM became First Media, which operates FM Black," AC /DC, Atlantic; "Escape," Journey, Co- "U.S. 99" here last week following a stations in several major markets in- lumbia; "4," Foreigner, Atlantic; "Hi Infidelity," change of ownership and format cluding Atlanta, Washington and REO Speedwagon, Epic; "Paradise Theatre," switch to Houston, will seek a change call Styx, A&M; "Tattoo You," Rolling Stones, Rolling contemporary slanted of Stones. country music. The station, which letters to WUSN, general manager BROADWAY SOUNDTRACK -Stephen Sondheim, left, composer /lyricist of Best Selling Album By A Male Artist: "Don't had been airing Schulke II fore- Chuck Artigue said. The country the Broadway musical "Merrily We Roll Along" discusses a musical matter Say No," Billy Squier, Capitol; "Double Fan- ground beautiful music under Gen- format was scheduled to be intro- with Thomas Z. Shepard, division vice president of RCA's Red Seal label and tasy;" John Lennon, Geffen; "Face Value;" Phil eral Cinema Corp. ownership, was duced Saturday (6) following a five - r producer of the show's original cast album being recorded at RCA's Studio A Collins, Atlantic; "Greatest Hits," Kenny Rogers, sold to First Media Corp. of Illinois day off -air period for technical up- in New York. The audiophile LP is being readied for release in March. Liberty; "The Innocent Age," Dan Fogelberg, for $9.2 million. grading and remodeling.

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