nfernationaT H E L A T E S T NEWS A N D V I E W S FROM A R O U N D T H E W O R L D Parallel Imports Rollbach Proposed Zomba -Affiliated Studio Australian Labour Party Offers Plan In Advance Of Election BY CHRISTIE ELIEZER the Copyright Act, record companies control imports would assist greatly in A nnounces Its Closure SYDNEY-The parallel imports here have released high- priority prod- reducing piracy in Australia." debate has been triggered here again ucts simultaneously with overseas ARIA's approach since 1998 has BY KAI R. LOFTHUS boardBidletin, Aug. 28). by the country's major opposition schedules, often with value -added been to bow to pragmatism, work with STOCKHOLM- Rediscovering the However, before wrapping up the party, the Australian Labour Party tracks. the new rules, and work with the gov- entrepreneurial ambitions of its '80s highly successful business venture and (ALP). The thrust toward freeing the mar- ernment on various issues, including heyday has persuaded the Stockholm - launching three new separate produc- That organization announced Aug. ket was led starting in the late 1980s legislation governing digital copyright. based production house Cheiron Stu- tion companies on Jan. 1, 2001, Che- 24 that if it wins the national elections, by professor Alan Fels, chairman of All is not necessarily forgiven. dios to abandon its trademark and pre- iron's producers are working in high set for next year, it would partly repeal the Prices Surveillance Authority "Are we still upset? Yes we're pare for the closure of its 4-year -old gear to finalize Christmas releases the present government's July 1998 (PSA), now the Australian Consumer upset," says Denis Handlin, chairman/ joint production and publishing ven- from Backstreet Boys (Jive /Zomba) lifting of parallel import restrictions. and Competition Commission (ACCC). (Continued on page 61) ture with the Zomba Group (Bill- and Westlife (BMG), as well as upcom- The ALP says it will implement a 30- Fels argued that the move would widen ing albums from Steps and Jessica day "use it or lose consumer choices and lower CD prices. Folcker (both on Jive/Zomba). it" policy. The impact of parallel imports While both Zomba and Cheiron In a joint state - always rested on the premise that the claim their working relationship will ment, ALP arts Australian dollar would return to its continue, Billboard understands that spokesman Duncan early -'90s U.S. equivalent of 70 cents. the new constellations pave the way for Kerr and shadow But in the last two years, the weak- the producers to have more control over Industry Minister ened Australian dollar has hovered their own copyrights and to cultivate Bob McMullan said between 56 and 64 cents. their creative capacities independently CANDI that the monthlong However, opening the market to out- from both each other and Zomba. deadline "will pro- side forces created a piracy problem Songs published under the expir- vide security to copyright holders and that, according to ARIA, has doubled in ing deal will continue to be adminis- give Australian consumers access to Australia in the last two years and now tered by Zomba Music. No new pub- the most up -to -date music, books, accounts for about 7% of the market. lishing deal has yet been signed. [and] computer, software, and video ARIA's executive director, The respective companies, whose games." Emmanuel Candi, says, "The `use it Sweet Deal. EMI Music Publishing has entered an exclusive worldwide deal with names haven't yet been determined, The 30-day rule has been in place in or lose was it' rule recommended as British teen trio Sugababes. The band's latest single, "Overload," is playlisted on will be headed by Tom Talomaa and the book industry since 1996. policy an acceptable alternative by major stations around Europe and is due for release Monday (4) on London Max Martin, Kristian Lundin and The initiative ALP's has received the PSA in 1990. The rule is not as Records. Sugababes' 16- year-old members, Mutya Buena, Keisha Buchanan, Jake, and David Kreuger and Per approval from the Australian Record strong as the parallel import rights and Siobhan Donaghy, are now working on their debut album, which is due out Magnusson. The remaining produc- Industry Assn. (ARIA), the Aus- afforded to copyright owners in later this year. EMI Music Publishing has also inked an overall deal with manage- ers, Alexander Kronlund, Alexan- tralasian Performing Rights Assn. Europe and America. It is, howev- ment and production company Metamorphosis Music, which represents the Sug- dra, Andreas Carlsson, Jörgen Elof- (APRA), and Music in line the Australian er, with the relevant policy ababes as well as various other writers' interests. Says Sally Perryman, senior VP sson, and Rami, will be hired on a Retailers Assn. (AMRA). of those trading nations. The New of A &R and creative at EMI Music Publishing, "The Sugababes are a breath of project basis by the individual com- The "use it or lose it" policy will Zealand government has pledged to fresh air in a very manufactured market. We see them at the forefront of a new panies. Talomas, who handles busi- pressure local license -holders to issue reintroduce parallel import laws as wave of talent and are very excited about our involvement with them and Meta- ness affairs for Cheiron, takes on their product within weeks of its inter- well." morphosis." Shown, from left, are Buena, Perryman, Buchanan, and Donaghy. similar responsibilities, including national release. Since the change in Candi adds, "Having the ability to being an adviser, for all companies. As for studios, Lundin and Jake are understood to be remaining in Che- iron's adjoining offices with Jive/Zomba at Kungsholmen in Stock- EEG Sets Up `Secondary' Music Plus label In Hong Nang holm, while the others will be setting up separate studios elsewhere. CEO Frankie Lee Says Label Plans To Shake Up Music Scene & Target Wide Audience Base With these moves, the company- formed in 1993 under a deal with BY WINNIE CHUNG external causes such as piracy or Also signed to the new label is vet- everything from investment and real BMG Ariola in Munich-discontin- HONG KONG-Despite the piracy MP3. We have to ask ourselves, `Is eran singer Roman Tam, who is cur- estate to restaurant franchises. ues its formal affiliation with other gloom shrouding the music industry there a problem with our art and rently recording a jazz album in New Lee says EEG initially will invest music companies and will operate on in Asia, the Emperor Entertainment creativity?' " York for Music Plus. about $10 million in the new label, an independent basis. Group (EEG) has announced the The first artist to sign to Music The Music Plus marketing team which he says is preparing itself for A prepared statement from Talo- launch of a new label called Music Plus is Eason Chan, previously with will be headed by Lisa Kan, previ- the Greater China market. "In that maa and Martin, who co -owns Che- Plus. Capital Artists. Chan, known for his ously with Universal Music, where respect, Mr. Yeung's vision and mine iron with Zomba, and the estate of Music Plus will be a "secondary" AC style, is expected to release his she looked after artists such as Jacky are the same. We both feel that this Dag "Denniz PoP" Volle says, label to the group's EEG label, whose first album on Music Plus at the end Cheung. A &R activities will be over- is a good time to be investing our "Cheiron was created with the inten- roster includes idols such as Nicholas of September. seen by EEG A &R chief Tony Kiang. resources, so that when Greater tion of having fun, making a few hits, Tse and Joey Yung. Overseeing Mu- "With Eason, I think there is a lot Also on Lee's management team are China opens up, we will be ready to and not getting too serious about it. sic Plus' operations will be EEG of untapped potential that is waiting senior VP of international affairs take on the challenge," he adds. At the end of this year, we have ful- director/CEO Frankie Lee. An artist to be revealed," Lee says. "And we Sam Ho, previously a VP at Rock "One of our advantages is that we filled our commitments and are able management and record industry have promised him that we will cap- Records, and managing director Gor- are Chinese, so we understand the to do as we please. We feel that the veteran, Lee is credited with orches- italize on that to develop his full don Cheng, formerly GM of Warner Chinese market better," Lee notes. hype of Cheiron has become bigger trating the highly successful careers potential as a singer." Music Hong Kong. "Our team has got more than 20 than itself, and it's time to quit while of stars Leon Lai and Sammi Cheng. Music Plus is expected to concen- EEG is part of the Emperor Group years experience working in Hong we're ahead. Denniz made all the Using the slogan "Play different," trate on AC repertoire, although Lee presided over by chairman Albert Kong, Taiwan, and China, and we incredible success we have experi- Music Plus aims to shake some life does not rule out younger acts. "We Yeung Sau- shing. The Emperor fully understand that this is an art- enced possible, and we want Cheiron into the Hong Kong music scene, will be tailoring our repertoire for a Group -which now has four publicly ist-oriented business.