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Home , American Gramaphone, Crunk Juice, Lil Jon, TVT Records

STEVE GOTTLIEB 'rv'rilimiih KEN ANTONELLI i i Ink BOB FRANK K(mh Hords

1. TVT Records, founder , is one of the top -selling tem, Red Ink also has enjoyed chart success all prise almost 5% of the label's revenue. As for STEVL uu EB, PRESIDENT products of the Christmas season year after year. its own. "We'll find a young entrepreneurial ex- the other 95 %, Koch has a diverse crop of acts, Web site: tvtrecords.com In the chart recaps for this report, American ecutive who we feel has an A &R vision that from rapper C- Murder (now known as C- Miller) Distributor: Self-distributed Gramaphone ranks No. r on the Top Pop Cata- works within our system," Red Ink senior to kid -music sensation the Wiggles -who scored Indie recaps it tops: Top Independent La- log Labels and Top New Age Labels charts. VP/GM Howie Gabriel says. "Instead of them the No. I on the Top Kid Audio chart. bels, Hot roo Labels, Top R &B /Hip-Hop Album Yet American Gramaphone, which Davis hiring a staff, we'll be the staff." While Koch has a strong hip -hop roster, in- Labels, Top R &B /Hip -Hop Singles & Tracks La- founded in 1984, is no longer content to sell In the indie chart recaps for this report, Red cluding such acts as the Diplomats and the bels, Hot Rap Labels records for just one holiday. In recent years the Ink ranks No. I on the Hot AC Labels list, thanks Alchemist, the label is expanding its rock of- Midwestern label has released with to the success of Simply Red's "Home," released ferings, having recently picked up ex -Stone TVT was Billboard's top independent label of themes related to Halloween, the Fourth of July on the act's own label. Roses frontman Ian Brown and funk -inspired 2004, thanks largely to the runaway sensation and Valentine's Day. "That was a great example of a virtual record Southern California act (hed) P.E. of and the movement. In the chart "We like to joke that it took Chip 20 years to company," Gabriel says. "We coordinated all of "We've dabbled with rock in the past, but we recaps for this report, TVT ranked once again as the No. r company on the Top Independent Labels chart, as well as the No. I independent "We give our artists the attention of an label in the recaps for Hot Too Labels, R &B /Hip- Hop Albums, R &B /Hip -Hop Singles & Tracks indie with the resources of a major. and Hot Rap Labels. When last year's "" debuted at We stay focused on developing and No. 3 The Billboard 20o, TVT not only proved on LEACH, TVT that Lil Jon's party rap was more than just a fad, creating stars." it showed that an independent label could re- peatedly achieve what was traditionally major - figure out there's another holiday besides Christ- the radio , hired the staff and did all the don't want to bite off more than we can chew," label -level success. mas," COO Brian Ackley says. "We realized coordination for radio." Frank says. "We can't look to a parent company The success of the 20- year-old label -which there were seasonal opportunities above and Red Ink has much more than Simply Red, to fund us if we lose $3o million." has released albums from such acts as Nine beyond Christmas." however, as its labels range from hard- rock -ori- So far, Frank says, 2005 sales are besting Inch Nails and -goes far deeper than Indeed, five of the top to releases on Bill- ented Trustkill to Steve Vai's Favored Nations. those of 2004 by roo %, and releases from Scar - Lil Jon and his protégés the . board's year -end Top New Age Albums tally be- Additionally, Red Ink is not shy about help- face, Master P and the Wiggles are on the way. TVT has also succeeded with Latin rapper Pit - longed to American Gramaphone, and only one ing out parent Sony B M G and is currently work- "We fill a niche that very few companies fill," bull and hip -hop supergroup 213, featuring was a Christmas -centered release. The label, ing adult pop act Aqualung. Gabriel says Red Frank says. "There's not many companies our , and Nate D. which Ackley says is "taking a good look at Ink will provide services to albums from RCA size that are independent. We're not a small lit- "We're a throwback label," TVT VP of A &R DualDisc and [Super Audio CD] options," has and Jive in the near . tle indie that can bring a record home, and we're Bryan Leach says. "We're a throwback to the also been extremely adept at establishing the "It's my job to take these young labels and not a big monolithic corporation. We fill that days when you had majors, independents and brand. Via its Web site these young bands and develop them," Gabriel mid -zone. " -TM mini -majors. We're probably the only label of and direct-mail catalogs, the label sells a num- says. "That's why we're here. At RED Distribu- our kind, and we give our artists the attention ber of Mannheim Steamroller- branded food tion, we've always thought of ourselves as a mar- 5. Equity Music Group, Nashville of an indie with the resources of a major. We products, including barbecue sauces, dried fruit keting company. We need to be able to put the MIKE KRASKI, PRESIDENT stay focused with what's important to us, which and the popular cinnamon hot chocolate. records into the store and get the records out Web site: equitymusicgroup.com is developing and creating stars." The label sells direct to a number of its largest of the stores. " -TM Distributor: Navarre On tap is a new album from the Ying Yang retail accounts, and Ackley says the company's Indie recaps it tops: Top Country Album Labels Twins; a rock'n'crunk album from Lil Jon fea- size and leadership are built to adapt to a con- 4. Koch Records, New York turing Mötley Crue and Good Charlotte, among stantly changing marketplace. "The fact that we're BOB FRANK, PRESIDENT Equity Music Group launched in 2003 with an others; and '6os- influenced rockers the Blue Van. artist- owned, that gives us a tremendous latitude Web site: kochentertainment.com artist -friendly business model, promising acts TVT is also home to a thriving soundtrack divi- to move quickly and respond to changes in the Distributor: Koch Entertainment that reached a predetermined sales level an sion, having recently issued companions to "Be marketplace," Ackley says. "We're able to con- Indie recaps it tops: Hot Digital Labels, Top equity stake in the company. Its principals are Cool" and "Open Water."-TODD MARTENS centrate on artists, and because the decision path Kid Audio Labels president Mike Kraski; flagship artist and found- is pretty small, when an idea presents itself, we ing partner Clint Black; Black's manager, Jim 2. American Gramaphone, move on it quickly and decisively." -TM Koch Records president Bob Frank is not em- Morey; and business manager Charles Suss- Omaha, Neb. barrassed about topping the Billboard Hot Dig- man. The company employs a staff of tr. CHIP DAVIS, FOUNDER 3. Red Ink, New York ital Tracks chart with novelty artist William Hung. In the indie chart recaps for this report, Eq- Web site: amgram.com KEN ANTONELLI, PRESIDENT "If you take yourself too seriously," Frank uity ranked No. r on the Top Country Album Distributors: various Web site: redmusic.com /redink says, "you may as well be working for an in- Labels list. Indie recaps it tops: Top Pop Catalog La- Distributor: RED Distribution surance company." "In relation to the majors, we are unique in bels, Top New Age Labels Indie recaps it tops: Hot AC Labels In the indie chart recaps for this report, Koch our relationship with our artists," Kraski says. ranks No. I on the Hot Digital Labels and Top "We allow the artists to be true to their creative The new -age classical music of Mannheim Steam- Established to provide marketing services to Kid Audio Labels charts. vision instead of creating one for them. Our roller, the brainchild of American Gramaphone small labels within the RED Distribution sys- Frank says online and ringtone sales corn- business model is part- continues on »p32

30 I MAY 7, 2005

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