Canadian Songsmiths Offer NEWSLINE... And Accept Outside Assistance The U.K. record industry registered a 4.2% drop in the value of shipments dur- BY LARRY LeBLANC Capek, Marc Jordan, Dean McTaggart, stars 2, and backed by the Canadian ing third -quarter 2001, ending a run of 10 successive periods of growth, TORONTO -"Canada is known for Dave Martin, Stephan Moccio, Thom- Music Publishers Assn. (CMPA). according to the latest figures from the British Phonographic Industry creating character artists, but hit as Salter, Ron Irving, James Collins, The CMPA hosted a wrap party for (BPI). The sector recorded its largest quarterly slump since the end songs come from Canada, too." Jim Huff, Chin Injeti, Rupert Gayle, the sessions Oct 25, which brought of 1996, shrinking 1.7% year -on -year in value to £207.4 million ($292.6 So says Robert Ott, GM of BMG John Acosta, Ben Dunk, Kim Stock - out a strong music industry contin- million) and 2% in volume to 43.1 million units. The CD album format, Music Publishing Canada, and his wood, Dave Pickell, Stan Meissner, gent to hear some of the 33 songs however, registered a slight rise during the period. Shipments of singles view is shared by a growing number and Anthony Vanderburgh, as well as written and recorded as demos dur- continue to plummet, down 20.9% in value to £24.5 million ($34.6 mil- of Canadian -based publishers and the Philosopher King members ing the event. Ott says, "The summit lion), compared with the previous year. Likewise, shipments of singles fell songwriters. Underlining the current James McCollum, Jon Levine, and was unique in that it was directly 16.6% in volume to 13.4 million units. Yet BPI research director Chris strength of Canadian songwriting is . related to a project." Green suggests the critical fourth quarter is looking "fairly" good. "Judg- the fact that Canadian recording acts "There's been more of a demand "That summit was a turning ing from the charts data, sales so far seem to be going very well. Over -the- are increasingly seeking songs from for some of these writers, because point in this country," McCarty counter sales seem to have done very well in October." LARS BRANDLE outside writers in their homeland- agrees. "Songwriters put their egos and co- writing with them. and expectations aside and realized Sunny Luna, the new Madrid -based, Latin- leaning imprint created by Span- Although there is still resistance by there were other talented people ish music group Gran Via Musical (GVM), Sony Music Entertainment, some signed artists toward collabo- around and that they could make and Emilio Estefan Jr.'s Miami -based Crescent Moon label (Billboard, rating with outside writers, song - magic together." June 30), will issue its first album in February 2002 in Spain. The label's writing with a second party -and Popstars 2 is the second Canadian first three releases are all by Crescent Moon acts: Puerto Rico's Shalim in writing collaborations among more edition of the international hit TV February, Peruvian singer /songwriter Gian Marco in March, and Texan than two nonperforming songwrit- reality show that tracks the making rock group Vallejo in April. Domingo García, currently label manager of ers-is far more common in Canada of a pop act. It has launched several GVM's MuXXIc label group, will take over in that role at Sunny Luna today than even two years ago. recording careers in the countries when it launches officially in the new year. Sunny Luna acts are signed Ott notes that "there are guys like where versions of the show have by a GVM/Sony /Crescent Moon committee, and their output will debut in Dan Hill out there blazing a trail." been produced. Spain ahead of other territories. HOWELL LLEWELLYN Best -known for the 1978 interna- Earlier this year, Sugar Jones was tional hit "Sometimes When We the product of the first 13 -week Sony Music Entertainment Australia is taking over distribution Down Under of Touch" co- written with Barry Mann, series, Popstars. The band's epony- the Roadshow Music label, home to the now-defunct Savage Garden, effec- Canadian singer/songwriter Hill is mous album recently reached Cana- tive Nov. 12. The label was distributed until Nov. 5 by Warner Music Aus- on a remarkable songwriting streak. they have been working for years and dian platinum status (100,000 tralia. Savage Garden's catalog is licensed to Roadshow through a deal with In the past five years -following the are well -known," says Gary Furniss, units). Popstars 2, airing in January Australian imprint JWM Records and is handled by Sony internationally. release of 13 of his own -he creative director of Sony/ATV Music 2002, will bring together a new five - Roadshow's other main act is pop duo Aneki. Estimates put Roadshow's sales has co- written songs that have been Publishing Canada. Accord between member band. last year at $3 million Australian ($1.5 million); the company is owned by recorded by Britney Spears ( "When songwriters was underscored by a It can be difficult for an act to local entertainment conglomerate Village Roadshow. Commenting on the I Found You" on the international four -day summit Oct. 21 -24 at admit that its material doesn't deal, Roadshow managing director Chris Chard says, "I have been particularly version of her current album, Brit- Toronto's Metalworks Recording & measure up as radio -based hits, impressed by Sony's results with Savage Garden at an international level." ney), , 98 °, Mark Wills, Mastering Studio. The summit drew notes Jodie Ferneyhough, creative CHRISIIE ELIEZER and Sammy Kershaw. 21 songwriters from Canada, the director of Universal Music Pub- "Canada has finally awakened to U.S., and the U.K. to collaborate on lishing Canada. "Many feel they are The U.K's Performing Right Society (PRS) is to be the music the concept of collaboration," says songs for the Popstars 2 TV /music not true artists if they don't write industry partner for a new nine -day showcase festival to be Hill, who works at home and project being produced by Lone everything," he says. "In some cases, held in venues May 3 -11 next year throughout central abroad with other songwriters. Eagle Entertainment and Global they have talent but might need Aberdeen and northeast Scotland. Tilled goNorth, the event "Pop was once looked upon with Television. The event was organized stronger songs to propel them into will primarily showcase Scottish talent. It will also incor- scorn in Canada," he adds, "but by Gray, executive producer of Pop- the world market." porate an educational element, featuring workshops con- [with its current popularity] we are ducted by industry professionals for those new to the music business. Among now seeing a change in attitude the bodies to have offered sponsorship or other support to goNorth are the toward collaboration." BBC, the Scottish Arts Council, and the Musicians Union. PRS will run a President of EMI Music Publish- IFPI To Develop Global series of master classes during the free event, offering an overview of music ing Canada Michael McCarty agrees. publishing and insights into music use in the media. TOM FERGUSON "There's the beginning of an attitude Market-Share Information shift. People had been loathe to col- Shoji Doyama has rejoined BMG Funhouse as executive VP and a member of laborate because of wanting to do BY ADAM WHITE member says of the new move. the board, effective Nov. 1, following his resignation as interim president of everything themselves." LONDON-A new initiative by the Another board member says the MTV Japan (Billboard Bulletin, Nov. 1). Doyama was VP of corporate devel- Ott adds, "The ascension of pop International Federation of the initiative came through the federa- opment and planning, online, and sales at BMG Funhouse until April 2000, music helped boost co- writing, be- Phonographic Industry (IFPI) to devel- tion's market-research unit. It is also when he left the label to become president/CEO of @JapanMedia, which part- cause it is a hit-driven format." The op global market-share information thought that the issue has been given nered with MTV Networks International in the MTV Japan joint venture. success in the '90s of Canadian super- for the record industry was approved fresh impetus by Universal Music Doyama will report to BMG Funhouse president Hidehiko Tashiro. star Dion, as well as the more recent during the trade group's main board Group's (UMG) most recent share STEVE McCLURE emergence of Canada's first made -for- meeting Nov. 13 in Lon- claims. No one doubts TV pop group Sugar Jones and a don. It is believed that the UMG's dominance, this French indie distributor/label Naïve is taking over dis- string of such pop -styled Canadian goal is to compile and executive says, but the tribution of U.K. indie imprint Bella Union in acts as SoulDecision, , Edwin, publish such information actual worldwide figures France, Benelux, Spain, and Switzerland in a three - Liz Rodriquez, 3 Deep, Wave, and Ser- for calendar 2001 based remain contentious. year deal that takes effect immediately. West Lon- ial Joe has tipped the balance, so that on manufacturers' net By one account, the don -based Bella Union was set up during summer artists are now more receptive to sales to the trade. criteria being developed 1997 by ex- Cocteau Twins members Simon Ray- working with hit -styled Canadian Industry- approved global market- at the IFPI would assign owned and monde and Robin Guthrie; U.K. distribution is via songwriters and songwriters collabo- share data has been conspicuous by licensed repertoire to a record compa- Pinnacle. Previously, the Bella Union catalog was rating together on projects. its absence as the record business ny for share purposes but not distrib- distributed by either Virgin or Play It Again Sam in "In three years, I have had 60 songs has matured, although some territo- uted product. Market -share data for the territories covered by the new deal. Naïve man- recorded," prominent producer/song- ries-such as the U.S., the U.K., and 2000 is also being prepared to enable aging director Patrick Zelnik says, "I like Bella Union's artistic approach. It writer Justin Gray notes. "Out of those Germany-have access to sophisti- viable comparison if and when the is not a specialized or alternative label. It is very open and even mainstream 60 songs, I wrote maybe 5% myself." cated, retail- driven information of 2001 information is published. but always tasteful and delicate." The Bella Union catalog includes albums by There is now an imposing body of this kind. An earlier effort to develop An IFPI spokesman confirms that an Australian trio the Dirty Three, highly rated U.S. indie alternative rockers hit -styled songwriters living in Cana- acceptable criteria through the IFPI agreement in principle to proceed with the Czars and Lift to Experience, and French chanteuse Françoiz Breut. da and often working abroad. These foundered in the mid -'90s. "This is the proposal was reached at the Nov. 13 TOM FERGUSON include Hill, Gray, Aldo Nova, John the industry growing up," one board conclave but declines to elaborate.

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