MAY 25, 2002 Volume 20, Issue 22 £3.95 Music euros 6.5 Media®we tall to radio M&M chart toppers this week Eurochart Hot 100 Singles MTV poised to pounce on Viva SHAKIRA by Michael Lawton man subsidiaries of three majortime when other media stock has Whenever Wherever music companies, Universal Music,been falling, although the parties (Epic) COLOGNE - Music & Media hasEMI and Warner Music, were allinvolved in the discussions with European Top 100 Albums learned that music TV giant MTVfounder shareholders in the enter-MTV are currently not willing to CELINE DION has been approaching prise, as they saw Viva officially confirm the Viacom -owned A New Day Has Come keyshareholdersin as a corrective to thecompany'sapproach.An MTV positionspokesperson in London described (Columbia) the German music TV monopolistic company VivaMedia of MTV in the Ger-initialreportsofthetakeover European Radio Top 50 with a view to purchasing man market. Themoves, which appeared in the Ger- ANASTACIA their shares. And at least one of thethree majors currently hold 15% ofman trade magazine Der Kontak- One Day In Your Life major shareholders is understood toViva's shares each. Most of theter, as "total rubbish". Meanwhile, (Epic) be interested in selling. remaining shares are in privatetheofficiallinefrom Vivain Viva Media was founded in 1993 hands, save for 18% which areCologne is "no comment". European Dance Traxx by Cologne music entrepreneur andowned by four different investor Universal Music Germany tells SHAKEDOWN PopKomm founder Dieter Gorny, consortia. Over 24% of shares are in M&M that "nothing has been laid At Night and operates the Viva and Vivascattered ownership. before us, and no concrete offer has (Naive/Skint/Sony Music) Plus music TV channels in Ger- The development would explainbeen made." EMI declined to com- many, the latter in a joint venturewhy Viva shares have been gentlyment both in Germany and at its continued on page 21 Inside M&M this week with AOL Time Warner. The Ger-rising over the last quarter 'at a CHR HIT IN RAJAR There's work after Play for MobyMute's Miller CHR-formatted stations are hav- ing a difficult time of it in the UK by Adam Howorth explains thinking the moment, as evidenced by the official Rajar ratings figures for LONDON - Just how do you follow up on EMI deal the first quarter of 2002.Page 5 an album that has sold 10 million copies and gone platinum in 26 differ- by Emmanuel Legrand CLASSICAL CONSOLIDATION ent countries? & Gordon Masson M&M's Classical Spotlight takes a That is the task facing Moby and lookathowclassical his European label Mute with the LONDON - Ensuring the future of his labels are faring in the May 13 release of 18-the artist's label while still being able to retain era of record company eighth album and first since 1999's control over its operations was the key consolidation, and talks Play. element inthedecision by Mute to Classic FM managing The success of that album sur- founderandexecutivechairman director RogerLewis prised even the 36 year -old New Daniel Miller to sell his company to (pictured) on the occa- Yorker himself. But at Moby's Lon- EMI Recorded Music for £42 million sion of the UK station's don -based label Mute-purchased by (euros 67.4 million). tenth birthday. Pages 6-9 EMI last week (see facing story)- Millerhasrevealedthathe directorofinternationalDonna approached Virgin-with whom he ARMSTRONG'S SOUNDSCAPES Vergier says there were two key com- had already established a relationship Using the vocal talents of Bono and ponents to Play's success. "Moby is in continental Europe-two years ago David McAlmont, among others, one of the hardest working artists with the view to setting up a deal. Scottish composer Craig Armstrong I've ever met-he makes a personal "The Mute team put together the combines his cinematic and pop commitment to work hard and pro- structure of a deal that encompassed sensibilities to great effect on his mote all his records," she says. "In all the key elements that would make second solo outing As If To Nothing the case of Play, it was just the right the sale a positive move forward," he (MelankolicNirgin). Page 10 record and the right time, combined says. continued on page 21 continued on page 21 she lovesmenot PA ROACH she tow,ITO n The brand new single from the multi million selling band Papa Roach at radio now! Commercial release from June 03 2002 AmericanRadioHistory.Com FABRIZIO INTRA 3rd December 1952-12th May 2002 We mourn the passing of a genuine music man, a true colleague and a much loved friend. Sony Music Europe AmericanRadioHistory.Com NEWS Alain Levy) or EMI paid for these labels, the cost of Music Mute sounds pretty reasonable by any standards (after all, Warner Music paid its current chairman Roger Media. Upfront Ames some £140 million two years ago to acquire his by Emmanuel Legrand, Music & Media editor -in -chief label, London, which had just £6 million in assets!). Call M&M on: But what makes this deal distinctive is its perfor- tel (+44) 207 420 6005 fax (+44) 207 420 6016 When majors are not busy discussing mergers between mance -related aspect. Mute's fotuider Daniel Miller themselves, what do they do? They buy independent will be able to virtually double the initial cash price by For direct lines dial +44 207 420, labels... ensuring that his label continues to perform well. followed by the required extension The surprise is that there are still, at this stage, Which brings us to the second point-this is not a Editor -in -chief: Emmanuel Legrand (6155) some left to buy. Following the consolidation frenzy intraditional takeover. This is the story of one man, Director of operations: Kate Leech (6017) the '80s and '90s, most of the key independent labels- Daniel Miller, who has built a great label, and who still Editorial Island, A&M, Motown, Virgin, Geffen, Chrysalis, towants to be part of its future, instead of simply cashing Deputy editor: Jon Heasman (6167) in and going fishing for the rest of News editor: Gareth Thomas (6162) mention just a few-came under major -label control. Features/specials editor: Steve Adams Few of these labels then survived the kind of corporate his life. He is forging a relationship Music editor: Adam Howorth (6161) with a major that will ensure Reporter: Siri Stavenes Dove (6163) pressure that often follows expensive acquisitions. Clorts 8c reseororl Some-if not all-of these labels have lost theirMute's future and at the same time Charts editor: Raid Cairo (6156) autonomous status, while others have simply ceased to guaranteehisautonomy-two Chart production manages: Beverley Evans (6157) exist. things that majors have been noto- Charts researcher: Paul Pomfret (6165) However, in this week's case of EMI acquiring Mute, riously bad at. Production there are two factors that might help define a new If EMI's management succeed in Production & art co-ordinator: Mat Deaves (6110) era-one is the price and the pricing model; the otherthis project, they will have shaped a Correspondents is the nature of the deal. new type of relationship between Belgium: Marc Maes - (32) 3 568 8082 ClassicaUjazz: Terry Berne - (34) 91 474 4640 Compared to what PolyGram (run at that time bymajor and indie. Dance: Gary Smith - (33) 49172 4753 Denmark: Charles Ferro - (45) 3369 0701 Music & Media values its readers' opinions-you can e-mail the editor -in -chief at:[email protected] Finland: Jonathan Mander - (358) 503 527384 France: Joanna Shore - (33) 14735 7042 Germany: Gesa Birnkraut - (49) 4101 45930 Michael Lawton - (49) 172 241 2107 Greece: Maria Paravantes - (30) 932 665432 Operation Triunfo sparks Eurovision fever Ireland: Ann Scott - (353) 864 061 570 Italy: Mark Worden - (39) 02 4802 4127 Netherlands: Menno Visser - (31) 206 738 378 by Howell Llewllyn Lopez hasrecordedSpain'sProduct manager at Universal New Media: Juliana Korant,eng - (44) 208 891 3893 Eurovision entry, Europe's Living A Spain Federico Ortega says the Norway: Kai R. Lofthus - (47) 918 21 208 Spain: Howell Llewellyn - (34) 9 1593 2429 MADRID - Reversing 20 years ofCelebration, with all 15 co -contes-releasewas plannedbefore Sweden: Johan Lindstrom - (46) 8 470 3730 declining popularity, Eurovisiontants and will perform the song in Operation Triunfo, "because Euro- Soles and MorketIno Song Contest fever is hitting SpainTallin with five of them. vision was very much part of Span- International sales director: thanks to the success of Public TV networkish folklore 30 years ago." Spain Archie Carmichael - (44) 207 420 6154 Sales executives: Patrick Jansen (Benelux & TV talent show Oper- TVE 1, which broadcastwon the contest twice in the 1970s Scandinavia) - (31) 299 420274 acion Triunfo. Operation Triunfo andduring the Franco era. Francois Millet (France) - (33) 145 49 29 33 Lidia Bonguardo (Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal) Operation Triunfo will transmit Eurovi- . The music rights to Operation - (39) 031570056 winner Rosa Lopez (pic- sion live, is playing theTriunfo belong to small Barcelona tured)will represent song'svideoseveralindie label Vale Music, which is Sales & marketing co-ordinator: times a day as the coun-now releasing solo albums arising Claudia Engel (6159) thecountryatthis Marketing assistant: Miriam Hubner (6158) year'scontest, which try looks for a repeat offrom the project in joint ventures International circulation marketing itsEurovisionglorywith the majors. Vale managing director: Ben Eva (6010) takes place in Tallin, Group circulation manager: Estonia on May 25. years. director Narcis Rebollo says "Euro- Paul Brigden (6081) Dubbed "the rose of Capitalising on thevision had become naff, although Product manager: Stephanie Beames (6082) Spain", Lopez's debut renewedinterestinthe fever surrounding this year's Subscription rates: Europe: UK £175/ 290; Eurovision, Universaleventisnotentirelydueto USA/Canada/Rest of the world US $325 albumRosa (BMG- For subscription enquiries, e-mail: Vale), released earlier Music Spain hasOperation Triunfo.