Billboard 1971-01-02
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f JANUARY 2, 1971 $1.25 ÚÇ L NOV 7t FÑCRÁÌSDTUDÁÁZO b SEVENTY -SEVENTH YEAR TTUDDR SANDS OINT The International PRT WASHGTN NY 11050 Music- RecordTape Newsweekly CARTRIDGE TV PAGE 14 HOT 100 PAGE 44 Bill TOP LP's PAGES 38, 39 Rock Oratorio Makes Tape Crystal Ball for '71: Debut in New Picture By. MIKE Recovery, $ Rise GROSS Rebound, By BRUCE WEBER NEW YORK - The "film "reek symphony," "rock ballet" rock oratorio" is rock music's and "rock musical." LOS ANGELES -What can strong recovery prospects in the many companies are planning latest step into the arts. It fol- The "film rock oratorio" is a the tape industry look forward year ahead. major merchandising programs lows rock music's move into conception of movie producer - to in 1971? In brief, many see a possible earlier than usual. diverse culture areas with such director Jack O'Connell, who has To many, the seemingly end- profit rebound of about 20 to The tide of corporate costs designations as "rock opera," made rock an integral part of less stream of poor earnings 30 percent in 1971. (See sep- cutting is continuing into 1971 his new film, "Christa," by re- reports adds up to strong rea- arate story in music section.) even though economists are cording the album first and then sons for being ultra- cautious. Accordingly, tape companies, cautiously predicting better extracting it for the film score. To them, a draggy economy, both hardware and software, times. 'Dupe Giants Manfred Mann produced the al- tightfisted consumers, and over- are building programs after A dump of prerecorded bum and Derek Wadsworth was production are some of the "speculating on the renewed 8 -track and cassettes distorted the arranger. The music is by problems that have cast a sha- strength of the consumer seg- the retail inventory picture and Mose Henry, a former member dow over the tape industry. ment of the U.S. economy." offset substantial year -end sales Hurt Trade' of the vocal group, the High- However, a growing number Interest is percolating again, gains anticipated by record waymen; Manfred Mann, and of industry spokesmen argue and the consensus is that vol- companies and tape duplica- NEW YORK - Tape-dupli- Melanie. Melanie is represented that the time is ripe for forget- ume will exceed 1970 levels by tors /marketers. cating conglomerates are helping with "Beautiful People," the ting 1970, and to the potentially wide margins. On that theory, Part of the dump may be at- to hurt the prerecorded tape in- rights to which cost O'Connell tributable to the generally slug- dustry by swallowing up indepen- $1,500. gish pace of sales, but, in the dent duplicators and constricting O'Connell is looking for a main, it was caused by over- the growth of healthy competi- distribution deal for the film. He Power Failure in England eager companies who overman - tion. is offering the I5- number rock ufactured mainline product. The charge comes from Gene album plus 50 percent of the Instead of tape cutouts (de- Liposki, head of Cassette Tech publishing rights in a package Short- Circuits Production (Continued on page 10) deal with the distribution rights. Corp., who feels that indepen- By BRIAN ELEVEN dents should band into a united O'Connell is also considering a front to frustrate takeover at- disk -only alternative whereby LONDON - The electric Knowles reported a delay at EL Stations tempts by affluent combines. he'll turn over the rights to the power cuts of the past 10 days Pye in manufacturing matrixes have par- Liposki feels that indenpen- album to a record manufac- in the U.K. brought and other metal parts because havoc to the Making Hits dent companies have allowed turer for release before a dis- titular production of the low voltage of current tribution deal on the film is end of the record business, at a NEW YORK More and themselves to be stampeded into available for electrolysis. It is - made. time when business is at a sea- more singles are being broken mergers and sellouts because of further understood that sleeve he said, con- sonal peak. So, too, have labor by easy listening stations and, a faltering economy and the "The LP," "was manufacturers Garrod and Loft - disputes embodied in the nation- in many markets, aggressive relative umbrella of security of- ceived in accordance with the house were adversely affected mood of the film, then the wide one -dap strike of Dec. 8. easy listening stations have taken fered by the conglomerates. He by the Dec. 8 printers' strike. praises companies like Scepter scoring of the film was made Some firms have been fortunate the play away from Top 40 At es Mitchum facto ry, and Motown for refusing to bow up from the finished album in not having any releases pI' stations as key exposure medium the power cuts, fluctuating volt - to panic, remaining solvent and product." It's a reversal of the scheduled just before Christ- for new product. The reasons agreasedand oil shortages have in- ( Continubd on page 14) (Continued on page 46) mas. But others, like Island are multiple. In some markets, with product by If, Free and creased the time required to Top 40 stations drew the reins King Crimson, have been make matrixes and also caused tighter and tighter on exposing several rejects. forced to delay release, because new product; then, as the play - Reco'44irror Named Official of holdups in pressing and sleeve (Continued on page 40) (Continued an page 21) manufacture. in The Island albums, for ex- Organ of CMA England ample, were to have been re- Project Rolling to Produce ,ÿ' By MIKE HENNESSEY leased Dec. 11 but were de- layed by five days. A one -day 1st LONDON >Becord Mirror, the Griffin Catering Co., was strike by hourly -paid personnel Magazine in CTV Form Billboard - owned British con- elected chairman in place of re- at the EMI factory at Hayes By RADCLIFFE JOE sumer publication, has been tiring chairman Mervyn Conn, Compound, with electricity NEW YORK - Plans are of the magazine, as well as mimed- the official organ of the Robert Kingston of Southern shortages at E.I. Day, manufac- under way to produce the establish a distribution outlet Country 'Music Association of Music was elected vice chair- turers of sleeves for Island, dis- world's first magazine in car- for its circulation. Great. Britain. The announce- man, and Nick Kanaar was re- tridge rupting the traffic flow. TV format. Initial product of the - ment -was made at the associa- elected treasurer. full Liberty- United Artists has Optronics Libraries is under- color magazine is expected to tion's annual meeting here Dec. Electe4 to the Council were been working on product by writing the venture which was be 15. available in cartridge form RCA, Ian Grant, Murray Kash, Creedence Clearwater Revival conceived and developed by by the early spring of next Beginning this year, Record Tony Barrow, Burlington Music, and Ike and Tina Turner, as John Reilly and Rudi Stern of year. The contents will be es- Mirror will carry more regular Mervyn Conn, Acuff -Rose, Pat well as to build up stocks of the Global Village, an under- sentially youth oriented, and news of the country music Campbell and Billboard. back catalog. This has necessi- ground video theater. Optronics early issues will be aimed at scene, and will inaugurate a First meeting of the Council tated use of pressing facilities in a special arrangement with student bodies on the nation's special monthly country music will be on Jan. 13 in the offices other than EMI, but Liberty Philips of Holland, will also college campuses. section beginning with the Jan. of marketing Dennis provide hardware for,.playback Southern Music. manager According to Reilly, 23 issue. subjects will span the spectrum of Backed by the full internation- topics of interest to today's un- al resources of Billboard -which Markets' Net Seen Up 12% in '71 der 30 population. "It will be has always been a powerful a sort of New York mix," ob- supporter of country music - NEW YORK - The equip- Most significant increases are single counterpart will draw served Irving Stimler, president Record Mirror will give full ment and software markets of expected to come from 8 -track only $170 million as compared of Optronics. coverage of the country music the recording industry are ex- and cassette equipment and with $175 million in 1970. The magazine will span an scene in the U.S.A., U.K. and pected to continue upward software, with 8 -track getting The sale of U.S. manufactured estimated one hour of viewing Europe, and will publish regular throughout 1971, despite the the edge in overall dollar vol- phonographs will surge $560 time, and will be available for country music charts and news economic slowdown that hit the ume of both hardware and soft- million over last year's figures rental with an option to buy. of country music events and nation in 1970. ware. of $542.9 million. The im- club activities. Figures researched and com- Sharp drops will be experi- ported product will show only a Working title of the maga- As announced previously Rec- piled by Billboard's Corporate enced in the overall sales of slight increase of $390,000 over zine will be Global Village, and ord Mirror will also join with Market Research Division show open reel and 4-track equip- 1970 sales of $8,460,000. Reilly, Stern and Slimier are its American sister publication that the industry will net in ex- ment, and 4 -track prerecorded The sale of 8 -track equipment actively involved in soliciting in presenting national and inter- cess of $3.5 billion in the new tapes.