DREAMWORKS BRINGS THREE PRINCES' TO MARKET (Continued from page 1) ture "." sion, helping discover new ways to On Nov 17, retailers will receive a market film music and inspired -by soundtrack of original film songs. Provident Takes `Prince' To Christian Market music," Stroud adds. "And one of the written by Academy Award winner things that has happened is the music Stephen Schwartz, performed by the BY DEBORAH EVANS PRICE distributing ... I think there are 14 planning some pretty major pro - has ended up a little stronger than actors providing the film's voices and NASHVILLE -"The Prince Of books on there, and then all three motions surrounding that whole what we thought would happen alternate versions of those songs by Egypt" soundtrack and its two ac- of the [ "Prince Of Egypt "] record- event," says Wilson, "and I really because the film division has become pop artists including Whitney Hous- companying "inspired by" albums ings ... are also on this display. We anticipate some pretty good sell - such a motivator. The line of commu- ton & Mariah Carey and Amy Grant will be distributed to the Christ- partnered together in the cost, through on all the product." nication has been completely open." along with portions of the Hans Zim- ian retail market by Provident making the displays free to retail. There are plans to release sin- McEntire says the opportunity to mer score. In addition, the label Music Distribution, Zomba's The agreement with the stores is gles to contemporary Christian be a part of an epic motion picture will release two "inspired by" Nashville -based Christian music that the `Prince Of Egypt' center radio in the AC and top 40 sub -for- and a Bible story is a refreshing albums, one featuring primarily new distributor. will be in the first one -third of the mats. (The singles have yet to be change of pace. "The DreamWorks country music "Obviously, this is being worked stores' [floor space]." determined.) There will also be sin- team is educating all of us, and I'm titled "The Prince from a lot of different angles According to Mitchell, Tommy gles released to gospel radio. Addi- so proud to be a part of those people's Of Egypt -Nash- through DreamWorks, and we are Nelson will also have endcaps for tionally, Provident will distribute a foresight," she says. ville," and the administering the marketing for the books, and Provident will have radio special to the top 100 Christ- "When DreamWorks asked me to other a collection DreamWorks as part of our distri- endcaps and point -of- purchase ian radio stations. be part of the project, I said we can't of new gospel, bution arrangement [for this pro- materials for the albums in the Among the other key components commit until we have the right song. contemporary ject]," says Brian Mitchell, director retailers' music sections. The mate- in Provident's marketing campaign And when I listened to the song, it Christian, and of marketing for Provident. rials will be sent to stores at the end are interactive displays at retail, was just meant to be," she adds, STROUD R &B songs titled Mitchell adds that Provident is of October in preparation for the al- Internet promotions, teaser post- referring to "Please Be The One," "The Prince Of partnering with Tommy Nelson, bums' Nov 17 street date. "[Con- cards mailed to consumers, church which describes Moses' arduous walk Egypt-Inspirational." the children's division of Thomas sumers] won't be able to miss the youth group promotions, and con- through the desert. The genesis of the threesome Nelson Publishers, to promote the message that there are products sumer and trade print ads. The inspirational album, hehned by was a decision by DreamWorks release to the Christian Booksellers connected with this major animat- Provident is also issuing edu- DreamWorks writing /production SKG co- founder Jeffrey Katzen- Assn. market. ed film out," notes Mitchell. cation kits to 1,500 retailers. "It's team Buster & Shavoni, is perhaps the berg to bypass the commercial "There are nearly 2,000 floor dis- Becky Wilson, children's buyer called `Clerk Perks,' and it most mixed of the three collections. It trappings of burning bush night plays going into Christian retail for Lifeway Christian Resources includes release books, as well as contains the Boyz II Men track, plus lights, Red Sea shower curtains, or stores," he says. "That's the `Prince (formerly Baptist Bookstores), an pre- release copies of music, entries from Take 6, dc Talk, Carman, Moses burgers. Of Egypt' center. That center in- 80- store Nashville -based chain, video, shirts, hats, and other free and CeCe Winans, among others. "Because of the film's subject mat- cludes all the books from Tommy says she thinks the "Prince Of items to get front -line retailers "We had a vision to put together a ter, DreamWorks Nelson, Thomas Nelson, and Pen- Egypt" project will be successful at excited about the product," project that crossed the boundaries, to was very careful guin- Putnam Books, which they are Christian retail. "Our stores are Mitchell says. introduce Shirley Caesar to a Boyz II not to do things Men audience, Kirk F ranidin to a Take that were overtly 6 audience," says Shavoni. "That's what commercial," says bum, Alison Krauss' "I Give You To not all merchants are cheering the she says. "For people to whom the the story of Moses represents. It DreamWorks His Heart," hit bluegrass and Chris- prospect of trying to sell three pieces Bible really matters, it's a great feel- speaks to all demographics, and all of Records principal tian country stations in secondary of "Prince Of Egypt" music. "There's ing that they got the facts straight, those people have a fan base Dream- Michael Ostin. markets Oct 19. The Carey/Houston no reason to have three soundtracks because then you can relax. This is Works was interested in reaching." TENENBAUM "Since the music collaboration, "Prince Of Egypt to anything take up that much space part of all of our histories." "It couldn't be a more perfect pro- in the film was so ()," will drop at pop, in the fourth quarter. It's a little gra- Grant adds that although she ject for me to be involved in," says powerful and there was an opportu- rhythm- crossover, and R &B stations tuitous and just a way for them to get hopes the soundtrack will broaden Winans, whose Buster & Shavoni- nity to show the film to artists and Wednesday (28), followed by Wynon - a lot of space in the store and trum- the audience for her music and that penned "The River" speaks to the have them be inspired, we felt the na's "Freedom," from the Nashville pet their release," says John Artale, of the other contributors, she feels emotions of Moses' mother when she music could be the voice for the film." album, which will ship to country and purchasing manager at National she is a cog in a much larger wheel. "I sets her son afloat in a basket. "It was Given the sweeping nature of the Christian country outlets Nov 9. Record Mart. "Obviously the album feel like a little flea on the back of the yes really before I saw the movie, but movie, the label decided more than a Boyz II Men's "I Will Get There" with the Mariah/Whitney duet is the big dog," she says. "I hope when all definitely it was yes after I saw the year ago that the music needed to - written by Diane Warren and pro- one. As for the others, why couldn't said and done, people are so impacted movie because it was important for speak to as broad a demographic as duced by Jimmy Jam and Terry they have taken the best of the rest by the movie they will go out and buy me that it was done right." possible. "We realized we still had Lewis and the only song to appear on and go for a double -CD ?" the soundtrack, and anyone's song is Winans says the film music "is this tremendous going to give us a chance to be heard film to market, V by people who don't normally listen and we suggested to gospel or gospel artists, and for multiple genres so people who do listen to us, it is going we weren't limit- to be really great to be a part of a ing it to just one major movie." segment of the With such a diverse assortment of population," says music on his plate, Jheryl Busby, OSTIN Bruce Tenen- DreamWorks' head of urban music, baum, a Dream- says he plans to let the record speak Works Records senior executive who to a variety of musical communities. oversees marketing. "It starts with the music. There is a A decision also was made early on common thread here -a biblical to release the albums well in advance story that pays tribute to a higher of the film's Dec. 18 opening. Says source -but we are not going to go Tenenbaum, "These albums will be out preachy on this," he says. in stores a month before the film two albums (the main soundtrack Other retailers are eagerly antici- just a reminder of the movie." To establish credibility in the non- opens because we have albums that and the inspirational set) -ships to pating heavy foot traffic. "It ought to The inspired -by albums are also secular community, DreamWorks stand on their own and will help mar- pop, AC, R &B, and rhythm- crossover be the biggest soundtrack project of more closely tied to the film than enlisted gospel label Verity to help ket the film." outlets Nov 24. No commercial sin- the year, and we are certainly going have been many other such projects. create a five -song sampler specifi- The albums will gles will be released. to treat it as such," says Lew Garrett, Every , producer, and art- cally for gospel and Christian radio. get an additional At retail, Tenenbaum says, Dream- VP of purchasing at Camelot Music. ist involved saw the movie at least The sampler includes an exclusive promotional push Works is seeking whenever possible to He adds that Camelot is planning once. James Stroud, head of Dream- version of the Boyz II Men track that Dec. 13 courtesy keep continuity among the three titles. promotions around the albums. Works Nashville and producer of the opens a cappella and concludes with of NBC, which "The No. 1 message we had to deliver "What we hope happens is there is a country album, says he saw the film full production. bought the exclu- was that there are three different real fanatic following for the movie, 45 times in various incarnations and In addition, Provident will distrib- sive first rights to albums from this movie and we would and people want to pick up anything notes the importance of the album ute the "Prince Of Egypt" albums for BUSBY air both "The do everything we could to merchan- and everything related to it." representing the Nashville commu- DreamWorks in the Christian retail Prince Of Egypt" dise these albums together," he says. For Grant, who covers "River Lul- nity. "We wanted to make sure it was market (see story, this page). and "Antz," DreamWorks' other new "When you walk into a store, you will laby" for the soundtrack, the accura- not just a country album, but an al- "The sampler has contemporary animated release. NBC will air a spe- see all three albums in the same spot." cy of the film in telling the story of bum from Nashville," he says. Christian, as well as gospel, as well cial about the music from and Additionally, all TV, radio, and Moses will draw various audiences to "The Prince Of Egypt- Nashville" as more urban artists," says Tenen- inspired by the film that will include print ads will feature all three sets. "The Prince Of Egypt." includes contributions from Reba baum. "The attempt is to broaden live performances and interviews To help assuage any confusion at "I was one of those kids who was McEntire, Clint Black, Wynonna, and everyone. They will have the artist with artists. retail, DreamWorks screened the raised to be at church three times per Vince Gill, as well as from Steven that fits their audience and also oth- The radio blitz has already begun. film for several merchants and out- week, so when I was little, I knew Curtis Chapman and Krauss. "We ers that may only be half a step The first single from the Nashville al- lined its marketing plans. However, every detail of the story of Moses," are directly linked with the film divi- away."

BILLBOARD OCTOBER 31, 1998 87 www.americanradiohistory.com