Active Rights

GAVIN ROCKS OCK ARTIST PROFILE Radioactive BY ROB FIEND WJJO, WRBR, WQLZ, WMMS, WBZX, TWO WAZU, WRIF, WKRK, WWBN, WKLQ, Active Rights WBUZ, KCMQ, KAZR, KXXR, KFMW, 'We sure showed them," says fact that many record companies KQWB, KQRC, KIBZ, WHMH, KZRK, WRCX-Chicago's PD Dave don't look at stations on a one-on- KEYJ, WCPR, KRAD, KTXQ, KEGL, Richards regarding the one basis is frustrating for many KISS, KTUX, KBAT, KLFX, KBPI, KILO, Active/Alternative Crossfire panel at Active Rock programmers. KNJY, KUFO, KROR, KRZR, KHOP, this year's GAVIN Seminar (I Honestly, you can't blame record promise, no more seminar men- labels for wanting to get their artists KUPD, KDOT, KRXQ, KIOZ, and KSJO tions after this issue). His comment airplay on any station they possibly 3 A C K G R O U N D The blueprint For may sound just a tad facetious, but can, regardless of format-that's the Two began in October 1995 with the the panel did reveal that the gig-but doesn't it make sense to selection of and collaboration with Alternative format is not nearly as stay loyal to the station that broke guitarist John Lowery and producer adventurous or supportive of bands the band first showing the station ABU. Nothing/Interscope in the long -run as Active Rock. It props for providing early support? Bob Marlette. In February 1996, a FROM Phoenix, Arizona may be selling more records than Say an Active station gives early chance meeting with Trent Reznor Active in certain markets, but the spins to an artist and it starts to take LATEST RELEASE: Voyeurs in New Orleans during Mardi Gras, general theory permeating the off. The request lines are eternally FIRST SINGLE: "I Am a Pig" music industry-that Alternative lit, the retail stores are screaming resulted in a recording deal with THE BAND IS ° Rob Halford, sells more than Active-is getting for copies, and the station gears up Reznor's Nothing label. With Reznor vocals; John Lowery, guitar; James as stale as HBO's Dennis Miller. for exclusive promotion rights with on board as Executive Producer and It's not surprising that Alternative the artists. Suddenly, the label goes Woolley, keyboards; Ray Marlette and Dave Ogilvie is perceived to be the almighty for- to the Alternative station across the Reandeau, bass; Sid Riggs, drums. mat, since this train of thought is street with the belief that it will lure producing, recording commenced in RADIO PROMOTION CONTACT: hatched way down on the college even more listeners when, in reali- October, 1996, in Vancouver, British Michael Papale, Rob Tarantino, level. With few exceptions, record ty, listenership probably decreases Columbia. By September 1997, labels' college alternative depart- once the pissed -off Active station Yigal Dakar Voyeurs was completed. "I created ments are allotted larger budgets drops the record. Unless the STATIONS ON THE SINGLE- than their hard rock counterparts, Alternative station can maintain the Two because I wanted to re -capture which is interesting, since hard rock level of momentum created by the WAAF, WCCC, WKPE, WGIR, WHEB, the tangible rush I experienced is responsible for breaking more Active station, the record will stiff. WRAT, WRCN, WIYY, WTPA, WQXA, when I first launched my career. bands. Where would Marilyn The only away to avoid being WAMX, WQKK, WNOR, WYSP, WZBH, When I started the writing process Manson, Metallica, Megadeth, screwed by the label is to get into Soundgarden, Tool, Life of bed with the band's management- WZMT, WRCQ, WRUF, WTPT, WMFS, for this release, I knew I was going Agony, Sevendust, or other suc- that's where the true power lies. WZTA, WJRR, WDRK, WTKX, WZAT, to have a markedly different sound cessful rock acts be without hard Maybe if record companies WXTB, WZNF, WRCX, WGBF, WLZR, to offer my fans." -Rob Halford. rock radio? You would eventually looked at stations individually find them on any adventurous instead of as a group, Active sta- Active Rock station, but it would be tions that are pulling in stronger iifficult for them to get there with- numbers than their Alternative ON THE ROAD out the initial push by the hard rock counterpart would receive better format. Unfortunately, this is a topic treatment. "Don't lump us all BOX OFFICE NUMBERS that was barely mentioned at this together," says WAAF-Boston's PD Judas Priest 2/13 State Theatre, Detroit, MI 1,851 tix/100% year's Active/Alternative Crossfire. Dave Douglas. "Treat each station Like most seminar panels, diplo- individually. Provide equal oppor- Tea Party (Creed/Cellophane) 2/13 Clutch Cargo's, Pontiac, MI 1,400 tix/100% macy and fear often prevent peo- tunity to all stations, regardless of Judas Priest (Spawn) ple from sharing their true feel- format, and let them duke it out. 2/15 Agora Theatre, Cleveland, OH 1,816 tix/100% ings, so many issues went virtually The scales will always tilt in favor Hed(pe) untouched. Several people, includ- of the station that is offered more (Stuck Mojo/Skinlab) 2/18 Roche Motel, Pocatello, ID 238 tix/88/% ing myself, bit their tongues to ammunition-i.e. promotions, avoid offending anyone. No one, access to artists, at show presents, Limp Bizkit (Clutch/Sevendust) 2/18 The Palladium, Worcester, MA 2,436 tix/100% for instance, mentioned that the at the expense of the other." hair follicles of most Alternative Labels can argue that, in order to Limp Bilzkit (Clutch/Sevendust) 2/19 The Sting, New Britain, CT 1,458 tix/100% people are much weaker than pave the way for future projects, those in Active, or how Alternative someone has to receive the short Matchbox 20 (Cool for August) 2/19 Bamhill Arena. Fayetteville. AR 6,327 tix/100% people have no concept of parallel end of the stick, but why must it Chicken Shack/Feeder) parking, or that Active people gen- usually be the Active stations? How Everclear (Jimmie's 2/26 Will Rogers Center, Oklahoma City. OK 850 tix/100% erally crap bigger than Alternative. is Active Rock supposed to flourish While some topics were avoided, when Alternative receives better UPCOMING DATES others were addressed straight -on, treatment? Rock out the competition. Life of Agony (Roadrunner) like record labels' double -standard "Healthy competition is a good 3/8/98 Idaho Centre, Boise, ID for Active and Alternative stations. thing," says KLBJ-Austin's PD 3/11/98 Roy Wilkins Auditorium, St. Paul, MN Because Alternative is perceived as Loris Lowe, "and when formats 3/11/98 Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, IL out-selling Active Rock, labels tend share so many artists, it may end 3/14/98 Hare Arena, Dayton, OH to cater to them even though the up being [programming and pro- 3/15/98 Toledo Sports Arena, Toledo, OH Active Rock station in the market motional] elements, rather than 3/17/98 Rhodes Arena, Akron, OH 3/18/98 Harro East, Rochester, NY might have supported the band music, that determine who wins. 3/19/98 Hersheypark Arena, Hershey, PA first. One can argue that ratings Factors such as strength of signal, 3/20/98 Central Maine Civic Center, Lewiston, ME promotions, jocks, and and sales figures prove that some entertaining 3/21/98 Hammerstein Ballroom, New York, NY Alternative stations have a stronger visibility all come into play." 3/23/98 Michael's 8th Avenue, Baltimore, MD listenership than Active, but that I couldn't have put it better varies from market to market. The myself. Information Courtesy of Polistar Magazine (www.pollstar.com)

52 GAVIN MARCH 6, 1998