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POP • ROCK • R&B • RAP • DANCE • COUNTRY • LATIN • CLASSICAL • JAZZ • PRO AUDIO MCA's Strait Box Flies From Mitchell Does Rare Live New, Aggressive Stores In Record Numbers Ska Returns To • BY DON JEFFREY Show At New York Club Modern Rock • BY JIM BESSMAN NEW YORK-Defying early retailer BILLBOARD EXCLUSIVE • BY CRAIG ROSEN skepticism, George Strait's four NEW YORK-Joni Mitchell's sur record retrospective, "Strait Out Of prise Nov. 6 performance at Green at the Beacon Theatre had been at LOS ANGELES-N O\V that modern The Box," is shaping up as the fastest wich Village club the Fez-her first tended by Mitchell. rock radio has taken grunge and neo selling country boxed set in history. gig before a paying audience here in Mitchell was in New York at the punk to the masses, MCNNashville says it has shipped well over a decade-proved as mem request of People for the American is the format ready nearly 350,000 units of the set, which orable as it was historic. Particularly Way, whose Nov. 5 benefit honoring for ska again? was released Sept. 12, and expects it because she'd been privately contem cartoonist Garry Trudeau at the Wal The fast-paced \Vill receive platinum certification by plating bo\ving dorf-Astoria featured a short predecessor to reg the Recording Industry Assn. of out of live music Mitchell set. There, and at the Fez, gae enjoyed mod- America this month. altogether. she was accompanied solely by RANCID erate success in the The RIAA certifies a four-CD set as The show, Daniel Lanois/Joshua Redman early '80s, as U.K. platinum after net shipments reach \Vhich was only drummer Brian Blade, whom she had acts such as the Specials, Madness, 250,000 units. A trade group spokes firmed up that first seen at last spring's Ne\v Or and the English Beat scored radio hits woman says no other country boxed morning and pro leans Jazz & Heritage Festival. \vith "Ghost Tov.n," set has gone platinum. MCNN ashville moted via a single The New Orleans event was the "Madness," and has shipped more than 510,000 units of announcement on most recent concert appearance by "Save It For Lat the four-CD Jimmy Buffett boxed set, triple-A station MITCHELL Mitchell, \Vhose performances have er," respectively. "Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads," but WFUV, over- become fe\v and far bet\veen. Now, 15 years af that was released in May 1992 and filled the intimate 200-person capaci One likely reason for her absence, ter that uprising, many do not consider it a country title. ty room. Rapt fans included Carly Si as she pointed out during the Fez set, vvhich was linked to Another MCA box, "The Patsy Cline mon, Eric Andersen, Victoria is that she employs 30-50 guitar tun the U.K. 2-Tone la Collection," released in 1991, has been Williams, Natalie Merchant, and ings for her complex repertoire, DANCE HALL bel, a more aggres certified gold. Marc Cohn, not to mention a loudly necessitating "endless retunings plus CRASHERS sive version of ska SoundScan, which records sales at enthusiastic Chrissie Hynde ("Thank an army of extra guitars I had to is back on modern rock radio. retail, says the Strait set has sold you for staying \vith us, J oni!" she bring on the road in \Vhat had become Rancid's Clash-like, punky reggae 125,000 units as of Nov. 5. shouted out at one point), whose Nov. a truly exhausting process." "Time Bomb," from the Epitaph al The recording is No. 72 on The Bill 4 acoustic show \Vith the Pretenders (Continued on page 119) bum " ... And Out Come The Wolves," ( Continued on page 26) (Continued on page 24) Florence Greenberg, 82, Dies Chapman's Mainstream 'Heart' Scepter Head Mentored R&B Artists Sparrow Flies To AC, Country Radio • BY IRV LICHTMAN \vTiter. • BY DEBORAH EVANS PRICE songwriter award for seven consecutive Greenberg discovered or nurtured years. NEW YORK-In its '60s heyday, Flo such talents as the NASHVILLE-In an effmt to broaden "I obviously am rence Greenberg's independent label Shirelles (brought Steven Curtis Chapman's base beyond excited any time I Scepter Records, v\ith hit after hit, re to her attention by the Christian market, Sparrow Records get the opportunity flected the mainstreaming of black her daughter, a released the single "Christmas Is In to build the plat artists and their musical heritage on the classmate of the The Heart" to mainstream AC and form a little bit pop chmts. singing quartet), mainstream country radio Nov. 6. \vider, a little bit Seeking Heat. Arista's new R&B diva, Greenberg, who died Nov. 2 at 82, B.J. Thomas, the In recent years, Chapman has domi deeper, to go into Deborah Cox, celebrates her self-titled was a rarity then as a woman \:vho pon Kingsmen, Maxine nated the contemporary Christian mar some new areas," debut album hitting the top of the ket in tem1s of retail sales and Christian says Chapman. "My dered a career outside her role as a Brown, Chuck Heatseekers chart for the week ending GREENBERG Jackson, Ronnie radio airplay. A three-time Grammy CHAPMAN songs come from housewife in New Jersey. In addition to Nov. 4 and again this week with her real-life experi her skills as an entrepreneur, Green Milsap, the Isley Heatseekers No. 1 T-shirt. (Photo: winner and the Gospel Music Assn.'s reigning mtist and male vocalist of the ences, trying to bring together my life berg \vas blessed \\ith creative musical Brothers, James Cleveland, and Shirley Chuck Pulin) instincts, including those of a song- (Continued on page 113) year, Chapman has \von the GMA's top (Continued on page 110)
BILLBOARD NOVEMBER 18, 1995 15 RETAIL CHAIN TAKES ON RECORD CLUBS (Continued from page 1) offers drive down the perceived value of club at this point, or you'll be paying a lot Bicksler says he won't see any re sonal use of our club members . .. The ny Lane's offer and says there has been CDs. more." sponse to Penny Lane's offer for at least BMG family of labels and our distribu no discussion of the policy with the Retailers have also griped about the Penny Lane owner Steve Bicksler six to eight weeks, which is the usual ful tion company believe that we have record club's legal counsel. discrepancy between their costs and calls his chain's offer a "symbolic act" fillment period for record-club offers. rights which are being infringed upon, "Obviously, we're not pleased by it," those of record clubs. Retail accounts and says it will run for the next several Asked if consumers will view the Pen and we will aggressively pursue all legal Reiss says. "But basically, the offer that can pay up to $10 per unit wholesale, months. ny Lane offer as a vehicle to protest the remedies available to us. they've cited is not our offer. Our club while record-club unit costs are believed Bicksler says, ''We're not doing this so clubs, Bicksler says, "They would maybe "Furthermore, there would appear to membership generally requires our to be $4-$5. much to make money on it. We're really look at it and possibly take advantage of be issues relating to California state tax members, in return for their introducto Some major labels have recently be trying to make a statement. it. They go, 'Well, jeez, I can make my laws and other codes that the California ry records, to commit to buy a minimum gun to react to the retail outcry: Last "It's an effort on our part to increase self maybe 40 or 50 bucks here.' " authorities will undoubtedly be interest number of additional recordings at full month, MCA Records and Geffen the perceived value of CDs, which we Regarding any possible fallout from ed in pursuing.'' price in order to fulfill their obligation. Records announced that they were feel has been severely decreased by the chain's offer, Bicksler says he hopes Bicksler responds, "I would challenge ''We'd only urge, as a result of the ad, pulling out of the clubs (Billboard, Nov. these record clubs." the clubs would be "lighthearted" in BMG to quote the California state tax that consumers look carefully at the ad 4). This past spring, Virgin Records said Bicksler says that while the policy on their response. law that we are in violation of. If there's and at their obligations and not expose it would not renew its record-club con the resale of record club product has not "I think they realize too that we're not any evidence of illegal activity, turn it in. themselves by trying to terminate an tracts (Billboard, April23). been finalized, Penny Lane will proba going to put a dent in [record-club busi "Furthermore, extortion is still obligation prematurely.'' The new policy established by Penny bly sell the albums for $10.99. The chain ness]," he adds. against the law in the state of California, Regarding Penny Lane's implied shot Lane Records, Tapes And Compact usually sells $15.98list titles for $12.97. BMG Music Service responded to and we don't want to be threatened for at record-club policies in general, Reiss Discs, which operates four stores in the "We will sell it as new record-club word of Penny Lane's offer with a state them to gain an advantage. There's real says, "This is something that's been de Los Angeles area and one in Sacramen product," Bicksler says. ''We will not try ment indicating its displeasure. ly nothing specific in this very, very bated for the 40 years we've been in to, Calif., represents the first explicit to deceive anybody, as far as customers. "BMG Music Service makes every ef stern notice that I can see.'' business. Obviously, it's really two dif swipe at the clubs by a retailer. We will give them the option: When they fort to make sure its record-club product Barry Reiss, senior VP of business ferent businesses ... The whole industry Penny Lane unveiled its cash offer on bring a CD up to the counter, we'll say, does not appear in retail stores, either and consumer affairs at Columbia is in a bit of a downturn right now, or a the back cover of the November issue of 'Would you like a couple of dollars off? deliberately or inadvertently," the state House, the record club jointly operated flat turn, if you will. Clubs are some its free in-house magazine, Monthly Mu We can give you a sealed record-club ment says. "Our club product is not in by Sony Music and Warner Music times a scapegoat for these kinds of sic Guide. The chain distributes 30,000 copy.' It's their choice.'' tended for any use other than the per- Group, takes a more benign view of Pen- things.'' copies of the magazine each month; in December, the press run will be in creased to 40,000, with 20,000 ear SONY MUSIC ENTERS DEAL WITH MICHAEL JACKSON, ATV CATALOG marked for insertion in the local free al (Continuedfrom page 10) ternative paper The L.A Weekly. Penny Lane's offer cites a typical CBS's publishing lost a signifi tance of copyrights and the role record-club introductory deal of 10 CDs cant catalog in the late '70s, when they play in the introduction of new for the price of one. McCartney made a deal to perform technologies," Sony Corp. of Amer "You've seen the ads," the Monthly as a solo artist on then CBS-owned ica president/CEO Michael Schul Music Guide offer reads. "They're hard Columbia Records. One of the terms hof said in a prepared statement to miss. Though the selection is very lim of his deal was that CBS turn over released Nov. 7. "Today, Sony Mu ited, the prices are more than 85% less the Frank Music catalog-once sic takes its rightful place once than the wholesale cost that music re owned by legendary songwriter again as a major force in music pub tailers pay, even though we buy much J:rank Loesser-to McCartney's lishing." larger quantities. That got us thinking publishing organization. Sony Music Publishing president we need a new wholesaler-YOU! And In 1986, new Sony Music chief Richard Rowe says that the transac at these prices, you'll reap an extraordi Tommy Mottola, a professional tion will "serve as the best possible narily large return for your invest manager at Chappell Music early in foundation for growing our music ment!" his career, decided to rebuild the publishing companies worldwide." Michael Jackson and Sony executives sign the agreement forming Sony/A TV Penny Lane suggests that its cus company's fortunes in music pub Rowe notes that ATV Music also Music Publishing. Pictured, from left, are Jody Graham Dunitz, executive VP, tomers join a record club, selecting titles lishing. A key acquisition in 1989 holds works by Little Richard and Sony/ATV Music Publishing; Michelle Anthony, executive VP, Sony Music that can be found in the top 50 of its in was Tree Music, the country music Lloyd Price, among others. Entertainment; Michael P. Schulhof, president/CEO, Sony Corp. of America; house chart. The chain says it will pay $6 publisher that Sony Music bought Sony's publishing relationships Jackson; Thomas D. Mottola, president/COO, Sony Music Entertainment; and for each factory-sealed CD. for $20 million. include ties with such artist/writers Richard Rowe, president, Sony/ATV Music Publishing. The ad continues, "That's it! Your in Michael Jackson acquired ATV as Bob Dylan, Nile Rodgers, Mariah vestment at nwst is $16.98 (before ship Music in 1984 from the late Aus Carey, Alice In Chains, Leonard ping and handling) for 10 CDs that Pen tralian businessman Robert Holmes Cohen, Neil Diamond, Barry Mann ny Lane will give you $60.00 for. Of A'Court for about $70 million. & Cynthia Weil, and Conway Twit COMPUSERVE, PUBLISHERS REACH DEAL course, you should probably quit the "Michael understands the impor- ty. (Continuedfrom page 9) Fox Agency permitting the upload mance right groups seeking to li MITCHELL DOES RARE LIVE SHOW AT NEW YORK CLUB and download of recordings of cense the services. (Continued from page 15) member publishers' songs. "In our view, the commercial on The license rate will be based on line services are responsible for At the Fez, though, she brought out all my tunings of all my songs, and that level of delight again. Working in the new mechanical rate that goes performances of copyrighted musi one forest-green solid-body electric what the audience basically heard at this duo form with a drummer as tal into effect Jan. 1, Murphy says, cal works which are presented by guitar that plugs into an electronic tun the Fez show was an impromptu first ented and melodic as Brian is a brand which is 6.95 cents per transaction means of transmissions on their ing device, allowing instant retuning live rehearsal jam between Brian and new musical romance for me, and one (or "download," in online parlance). services and should be licensed," and negating the need for additional in me. Happily, it turned out to be one of like a very few I've had in my career, so The Harry Fox Agency will issue li says Bennett Lincoff, director of le struments. the highlights of my entire career, not we're aiming to do more club appear censes electronically, collect royal gal affairs for AS CAP. Her pairing with Blade proved including," she added with a laugh, ances fairly soon in places like the Fez ties under the license, and distrib "Every day that there is no uniquely effective. The two instrumen "some of the wild experiences I may and the Viper Room in L.A. ute them to publishers. agreement with major commercial talists, despite their newness together, have slept through or blotted out from "I almost canceled the Fez show just CompuServe itself is not being li online services is another day that interplayed with a knovving sense of in the '60s.'' hours before I went on, maybe fearing censed. This was a key point of con ASCAP's members are not receiv tuition. Mitchell delivered five songs-about it wouldn't work out. But happily there tention among commercial online ing their royalties, which they are "The truth is it had been my inten a third of the set-from her current were no boos when I plugged in my services, which have asserted that due for the use of their music by tion to quit music right about the time Reprise album, "Turbulent Indigo"; a electric guitar instead of playing an they are the online equivalent of these services," Lincoff says. I appeared last April at the New Or new tune tentatively titled "Love Puts acoustic. Actually, the Roland brain electronic bookstores or news ASCAP has already issued sever leans Jazz & Heritage Festival," On a New Face"; and such quintessen provides a sound beautifully suited to stands and not responsible for their al dozen online licenses to a variety Mitchell told Billboard in an exclusive tial Mitchell classics as "Hejira.'' each song-like, for instance, the ny content-providers' content. But the of individual Web sites, Lincoff interview two days after the show. In return, she was serenaded with lon-string tonality people are used to settlement agreement includes a says, but has not yet entered into an "That appearance was to be my swan "Happy Birthday" by a crowd cog on certain things. You also hear a guarantee by CompuServe for the agreement with any of the large song, until two things conspired to nizant of her birthday Nov. 7. freshness and distinctiveness that's al obligations of its forum managers commercial services. keep me in the business. First, I heard "I won't have to say I'm 51 1/z any most orchestral it's so rich. I wanted to to pay royalties under the mechani The online licensing activity can about Brian, this great drummer from more!" joked Mitchell, looking blow chords up in size the way Georgia cal licenses issued, according to be expected to quicken as the Shreveport, La., who wanted to play nowhere near that age. But by the O'Keefe blew up the flowers in her NMPA counsel Alan Shulman. stakes involved rise along with the with me, and then Fred Walecki at show's end, much of the house was vis paintings, and now that's possible.'' CompuServe spokesman Russ number of consumers going online Westwood Music in Los Angeles built ibly moved by the rare and unexpected Mitchell added that she's writing Robinson characterizes the agree and the number of sites they can me a prototype of this modified Strata experience, which was a harbinger, new songs and has a host of surprises ment as "good for everybody." find offering music to sample. caster that hooks up to a digital Roland perhaps, of Mitchell's renewed empha planned between now and the end of "We are the first service that has "There is the potential for this to VG8 unit. The VG8 is basically a com sis on live performance. 1996. But she noted that her next Man entered into this kind of licensing develop into a very significant rev puterized brain with foot pedals into "It's a whole new ballgame now for hattan appearance will not be until agreement, so that's pretty signifi enue source," says NMPA's Mur which are programmed a whole palette me," Mitchell told Billboard, "but it Dec. 6, when she attends the Billboard cant for us," Robinson says. phy, "and we intend to continue to of sounds plus more than 30 songs' had to be, because I couldn't have gone Music Awards telecast at the New The major commercial online ensure that copyright holders get worth of intricate tunings for the night on, considering the difficulties I was York Coliseum to accept the Century services, which include America their just dues from the use of mu at the Fez. facing in getting the right quality of Award, Billboard's highest honor for Online and Prodigy, are also being sic in this new arena." "This device has the capacity to hold sound and presentation-! needed distinguished creative achievement. aggressively courted by perfor-
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