CAN 550 MUSIC DELIVER ON ITS ROCK PROMISE? (Continued from page 1) establish themselves. Dion, they were established acts that like Honky Toast and Dangerman." including having an active presence on As it prepares to enter its seventh moved from Epic Records to 550 550 Music Has fared "Shakin' And A Bakin' " -Honky the band's official Web site (wwwgor- year in October, Sony Music Enter- Music. Many of 550 Music's other rock Toast's first single from its debut donmusic.com). tainment's 550 Music is in the chal- acts -including Dangerman, Bolt Better With Pop And ROB album, "Whatcha Gonna Do Guitarist Jeff Phillips says, "We lenging position of attempting to devel- Upright, Flight 16, Old Pike, and Get- Honky ? " -peaked at No. 29 on the brought laptop computers out on the op breakthrough rock artists in the away Cruiser-have released their NEW YORK-While none of 550 Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in the road with us and kept in touch with U.S. market at a time when the genre major -label debut albums on 550 Music Music's rock acts has yet had an April 10 issue. The hard rock band's fans by E -mail. Even when we're not is experiencing a resurgence in Amer- within the last 18 months, but none of album that's reached 1 million in album has sold 38,000 copies to date, on the road, we still E -mail our fans." ica (Billboard, March 6). these artists' 550 Music albums has yet U.S. sales, the is far- according to SoundScan. Verbow lead singer Jason Narducy Although 550 Music has experi- reached sales of 5,000 units in the U.S., ing much better with its pop and The rock duo Dangerman's self - says that taking a proactive stance on enced enviable platinum success in the according to SoundScan. R &B acts. titled album spawned a first single, the Internet will result in a greater pop and R &B fields-and has a huge "Maybe some of the 550 Music 550 Music's best -selling artist, "Let's Make A Deal," which reached awareness of his band: "We didn't act in the top -selling (see staffers have too much on their plate," Celine Dion, bowed on the label with No. 20 on the Modern Rock Tracks have a Web site for our previous story, this page) -the majority of adds Monroe, "because they've had to 1993's "" chart in the April 24 issue. According record [1997's "Chronicles "], and artists on 550 Music's roster are rock take on added responsibilities that album, after Dion (who was already to SoundScan, Dangerman's album now we do [www.verbowcom]. We're acts, and none of those has had an used to be handled by people at [other a platinum artist) had moved from has sold 3,800 copies to date. going to really use E -mail to get the album that has reached sales of 1 mil- Sony labels]. There are incredibly ded- Epic Records' roster. According to Meanwhile, the label finds itself con- word out." lion copies in the U.S., according to icated people at 550 Music, but when it SoundScan, Dion's albums on 550 tending with a market perception Verbow also has worked to build SoundScan. comes to introducing new rock acts at Music have sold 25.8 million records fueled by industry observers who say itself a dedicated fan base in the Mid- Some critically praised 550 Music 550, I think there's a little of bit of this in the U.S. to date. In addition to that 550 Music will experience a major west, and observers expect this strong- rock bands, including Gordon and Ver- mentality of, `Let's throw the spaghet- "The Colour Of My Love" (4.1 mil- downsizing or possible shutdown in the hold to be a jumping-off point to nation- bow (see profiles, page 107), as well as ti against the wall, and let's see what lion), Dion's albums on 550 Music so near future. Epic Records Group al recognition. will stick.' " far are 1996's "Falling Into You" chairman Dave Glew tells Billboard in K's Choice, meanwhile, has raised `I been 550 Music/Work Group senior VP of (10.1 million), 1997's "Let's Talk a prepared statement: "At this time, its profile via treks with the Lilith think what's promotion Hilary Shaev dismisses any About Love" (8.8 million), and the there are no further changes that are Fair tour; the band also had a track happening with 550 notion that 550 Music's roster is too 1998 Christmas album "These Are going to be made at the label." on the Arista album "Lilith Fair: A large or that the label's staff may be Special Times" (2.8 million). Yet, according to one informed Celebration Of Women In Music, Music is that it has overworked. 550 Music has also been riding industry source who wished to remain Volumes 2 & 3." "We've done a great job of spacing high on the charts with R &B anonymous, `A lot of the 550 Music too many artists on things out so that albums that sound singer Ginuwine, whose 1996 staff must know their days are num- 550'S GREAT ROCK HOPES? similar to each other weren't released debut album "Ginuwine ... The bered. It shows in their attitude and Many industry observers believe the roster' close together," Shaev says. "The con- Bachelor" has sold 1.6 million what I see as less dedication to their that North Carolina-based Ben Folds solidation has actually been great for copies in the U.S., while his cur- newer acts, compared with how other Five trio that incorporates a dis- - KIM MONROE - -a us, because now we've got our team rent album, "100% Ginuwine" (No. labels work for their acts." tinct piano sound in its music -is the completely unified and more focused." 32 on The Billboard 200 this issue), 550 Music /Epic president Polly 550 Music rock band that stands the acts such as Ben Folds Five with more Ben Folds Five manager Alan Wol- has sold 914,000 copies to date, Anthony was unavailable for comment. best chance of career longevity. than one album in release, have the mark of New York -based CEC Man- according to SoundScan. Debates about label politics aside, a Radio programmer Monroe notes, potential to become career rock acts agement has some concerns. "More Another best -selling R &B act number of 550 Music's developing "Ben Folds Five seems to have the for the label. Whether 550 Music, consolidation can only hurt the devel- on the label is Jon B., whose Yab artists continue to focus on their music most staying power [of 550 Music rock which is part of the Epic Records opment of acts in the long run," he Yum /550 Music albums- 1995's and are embracing efforts to reach out acts] because the band's been around Group, can take these still- developing says. "Yes, I think the staff at 550 "Bonafide" and 1997's "Cool to fans on their own and in conjunction a lot longer ... [They have] a solid fan acts to a superstar level will likely Music is overworked, but they're doing Relax" -have sold, respectively, with 550 staff. base, and they're different." prove a telling gauge of the label's long- the best they can." 371,000 copies and 1.1 million, G. Love & Special Sauce is one such Before signing with 550 Music, Ben term ability to produce rock acts with As for the size of 550 Music's roster, according to SoundScan. band. The Philadelphia hip- hop -influ- Folds Five released a self-titled album consistent gold or platinum sales. Shaev says, "Success breeds success. R &B/pop singer Des'ree was enced rock group's current Okeh/550 on Caroline Records in 1995 (Billboard, Industry observers point to some At a certain point when a label 550 Music's first new artist to go Music album, "Philadelphonic," June 17, 1995). The band developed a challenges behind fulfilling that bright becomes successful, it likes to sign platinum. Her debut album, 1995's debuted at No. 1 on the Heatseekers growing fan base through touring and promise. When the Epic Records more artists." "I Ain't Movin'," sold 1 million chart in the Aug. 21 issue. The band's word -of- mouth. Group consolidated its promotion But given the slew of rock acts on copies in the U.S. However, the fol- previous albums had been released on Band manager Wolmark explains, duties (Billboard, Aug. 15, 1998), many the label, how much success is being low-up album- 1998's "Supernat- Okeh/Epic. "We went with 550 Music because of 550 Music staffers became responsible cultivated -and sustained? How are ural"- failed to match that suc- "Before the [ "Philadelphonic "] the commitment from Polly Anthony for acts on sister label the Work Group the non -debut rock artists faring with cess on the American charts, album was released," says lead singer all the way down through the ranks. while maintaining duties for 550 Music their follow -up releases? having sold only 65,000 copies in G. Love, "we really concentrated on They understood that we wanted the acts. Some believe that these added 550 Music's best -selling rock act is the U.S., according to SoundScan. our mailing list and reached out to the band to be in a developmental situa- responsibilities -and a larger 550 Ben Folds Five, whose 1997 break- people on it. We have a street-market- tion where they had room to flourish Music roster-have left the 550 Music through, "Whatever And Ever Amen," ing campaign that's helped bring us to as a touring and press -worthy band staff overworked. has sold 856,000 copies in the U.S., peaked at No. 28 on the Modern Rock where we are. We brought in intense- before radio came into the picture." Others contend that the label's fol- according to SoundScan. The follow - Tracks chart. The previous album's hit, ly dedicated fans who volunteered to Following close behind Ben Folds low- through on its new and developing up album, "The Unauthorized Biogra- "Not An Addict," reached No. 5 on that distribute stickers and fliers, and by Five as a 550 Music hit rock act is bands has sometimes been lacking and phy Of Reinhold Messner," released chart. doing that they feel like they're Fuel. The hard -edged alternative has hurt these acts, many of whom April 27, has sold 163,000 copies to "I think radio was more open to K's involved with the band on a more inti- rock band was formed in 1989 in Ten- have become more active in drumming date, according to SoundScan. Choice's sound back [in 1997]," says mate level." nessee, and it established a notice- up grass -roots support on their own. "I've never been a believer of having 550 Music associate director of mar- 550 Music senior director of product able fan base when it relocated to Kim Monroe, music director for the next record pick up where the last keting Ricky Riker. marketing Scott Carter says, `A big Harrisburg, Pa., where the group is modern rock station KNDD Seattle, is record left off," says band manager Some observers contend that the part of the album's launch was that G. now based. Prior to signing with 550 one of many who think 550 Music's bal- Wolmark. "Every creative piece of inability of some 550 rock acts to match Love did things he's never really done Music in 1997, Fuel had self-released looning artist roster is affecting cru- work has its place in the market. I their debut success on follow -up before, or hadn't done in a while." its own recordings. cial attention given to the artists. think the sales and promotion for the albums or to secure hit second and Of the band's move from Epic to 550 "Sunburn," Fuel's major-label debut "When 550 Music started, it seemed [ "Biography "] album are on target." third singles from first sets -both Music, G. Love says, "We know we album, was released last year. It yield- like they had a small enough roster "550 Music did a nice setup for the admittedly tough tasks for labels and have hardcore fans at Epic, but they ed the hit "Shimmer," which peaked at that they could handle," Monroe says. current Ben Folds Five record," says acts in an unforgiving radio and retail couldn't break the band the way we No. 2 on the Modern Rock Tracks "I think what's been happening with Neil Landow, music buyer/marketing climate- reflects a lack of persever- wanted. I think Polly Anthony brought chart and No. 11 on the Mainstream 550 Music now is that it has too many manager for St. Louis -based chain ance on the label's part. us over to 550 Music to get a fresh Rock Tracks chart. Fuel has been artists on the roster." Sound Disk -Tributors, "but the "The problem with 550 Music work- start. Scott Carter and the rest of the steadily touring behind the album, 550 Music began its first year with album's not selling up to expectations." ing their rock acts," says a veteran team are finally doing what we need which has sold 643,000 copies to date. fewer than 10 artists on its roster, Another 550 Music act that so far industry tastemaker who asked not to and getting us what we want, which is Says Shaev, "We're proud of what including Deep Forest, proven plat- hasn't matched sales of a previous be identified, "is that the label tends to to work this band on a grass -roots we've achieved with bands like Fuel. inum chanteuse Dion, Eve's Plum, release is Belgian rock band K's give up too easily with a lot of their new level." We helped take them from nothing to Flop, Funky Poets, Clive Griffin, and Choice. The group hit in 1997 with the acts. The new [550 Music] acts are "Philadelphonic" -which has sold something." Culture Beat. Most of those acts have song "Not An Addict" from the album given an unrealistic window of time to 24,000 copies to date, according to But while no one debates that since parted ways with the label. 550 "Paradise In Me," which sold 287,000 get a number of [radio] adds or sell a SoundScan-stands this issue at No. 7 achievement, there is also the belief Music now has more than 35 acts on its units in the U.S., according to Sound - certain amount of records. When the on the Heatseekers chart. "Rodeo that the true hallmark of any label is roster, with approximately 20 in the Scan. goals inevitably fall short, the staff Clowns," the first single," has been its ability to take a completely rock genre. The next album, 1998's "Cocoon moves on to the next project." racking up airplay at several modern unknown act to the coveted break- Some of the acts are familiar names, Crash," has sold 43,000 copies to date. 550 Music promotion chief Shaev rock stations, including KLYY Los through level that most affects the bot- such as the Allman Brothers Band, The only track from "Cocoon Crash" disputes that view, saying, "People Angeles and XTRA San Diego. tom line: platinum and beyond. Gregg Allman, and former Living to make a Billboard chart impact was always forget that we've had some of Rock band Gordon is another 550 On that count, the jury remains out Colour guitarist Vernon Reid. Like 1998's "Everything For Free," which our new bands do very well at radio, Music act taking a hands -on approach, on 550's rock efforts.

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