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»>EMI SETTLES PAY -FOR -PLAY On June 15, EMI became the fourth and final major label to settle with the state of New York over alleged radio pay -for- play violations, investigated by New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer. Under terms of the agreement, EMI will pay a $3.75 million fine (in the form of a charitable donation to New York State not - for- profit music =; BY RAY WADDELL education and TOURIN,; appreciation programs) and agree to a sweeping list of reforms to its radio Streisand's Return promotion practices. Her First Tour In More Than A Decade -But Will She Fare Well? >BUSH SIGNS » One of Barbra Streisand's most popular songs is called Garden, billed as her "farewell," were $2,500, $1,275, DECENCY ACT "Evergreen." It's a term that could apply to her tour- $375 and $150, according to Billboard Boxscore. Mil- President George W. Bush signed the ing fortunes as well. The singer's first tour in years, lennium sellouts at the MGM Grand Garden Arena Decency which begins Oct. 4 in Philadelphia, is destined for in Las Vegas also saw tickets top out at $2,500. She al- Enforcement Act into huge grosses, given ticket prices that top out at $750 ways sells every ticket. law June 15. The act and the singer's enduring popularity. Streisand has been credited with shattering the glass boosts fines against Industry talk puts her per -show guarantee as high ceiling on concert prices with 22 dates in 1993 -94 that broadcast licensees as $3.3 million for a minimum of 20 shows, which sold out with tickets as high as $350. Prior to that, it tenfold, the "per would be among the highest ever for a tour. was very rare to see a ticket price cross even the $100 incident" maximum Tour producer Michael Cohl would not confirm that range. That tour grossed nearly $60 million; this tour jumping from figure. "I don't think the money's relevant," he says. could double that. $32,500 to "The only is Barbra out In a remarkable shifting of gears, Cohl will move $325,000. Bush said thing that's relevant Streisand the stiffer penalties doing probably her most ambitious American tour from the Rolling Stones' Bigger Bang tour- poten- "will ensure that perhaps ever, but at least in the longest time." tially the top grosser of all time-to Streisand. broadcasters take Streisand has pledged millions of dollars in proceeds No problem, Cohl says. "It's what I do, just like it's seriously their duty from the tour, to various causes through her own what she does, it's what Mick [Jagger] does," he says. to keep the public Streisand Foundation. Il Divo is the tour's special guest. "This is the most substantial female act that I could airwaves free of Streisand's manager Marty Erlichman, who has ever work with, haven't worked with, love the oppor- obscene, profane and worked with the singer since 1961, says there is always tunity, love the challenge." indecent material. interest from promoters and fans in Streisand tour- Although Cohl and Erlichman have never worked American families ing, but she hasn't hit the road since 1993 -94. together, the latter describes negotiations as "not dif- expect and deserve "The motivated her finally was she wants ficult at all. you've been around as long as nothing less." thing that When to give money to her foundation, she has lots of causes both of us have you can talk shorthand." » >FEDS LAUNCH that she wants to participate in," Erlichman says. "I Erlichman says that while it's not yet negoti- APPLE PROBE don't know why today rather than yesterday or tomor- ated the possibility exists for a DVD, CD and /or The U.S. International row. The timing just seemed to come together, she TV special from the tour. "We're talking about Trade Commission has said, 'OK, I'll do it.' " it," he says. "And if Barbra and Il Divo can find launched a probe into Ticket prices range from $100 to $750. "I think $750 a song that they both like, they'll record it. whether Apple is reasonable," Cohl says. "The Super Bowl's in that They're both on the same label, so that makes Computer's iPod same [price] range. The only difference is you can see life a little simpler." Both record for Colum- infringes on a Creative the Super Bowl every year, you can only see Barbra bia Records. Il Divo is on Columbia through Technology patent, the latter company Streisand every decade or so." Simon Cowell's Syco imprint. says. Creative filed a VIP ticket prices are likely to cost well into four fig- Multiple dates could be added in some mar- complaint alleging ures. "Because it's only 20 shows, we're trying to make kets if the public on -sale, which begins June 19, Apple imported into it accessible to people, so there are packages that in- warrants. "I'm optimistic it's going to be the home the United States and clude travel and airfare and hotels, and other packages run of all time and away we go," Cohl says. sold iPod devices that that include dinner and souvenir gifts," Cohl says. "It's Meanwhile, the Stones resume playing European infringe on Creative's a huge range." Cohl adds that VIP packages will take stadiums July 11 in Milan and have dates booked until "Zen" patent. Creative up no more than 1,200 tickets per show, with most Sept. 3 in Horsens, Denmark. But 10 dates that were asked the ITC to issue shows ranging around 18,000 in total capacity. postponed due to Keith Richards' recent head injury a permanent exclusion Despite one source claiming that a presale through still have to be rebooked, which begs the question, order and a American Express telling barometer of a show's mo- where will Cohl, who has missed only two Stones dates permanent cease - -a and- desist order mentum before public on -sale -was less than stellar, since 1989, be on Oct. 4? against Apple. Cold says he was "completely satisfied" with the presale. "Philadelphia," he replies, without hesitation. Representatives for "Sales are absolutely on course for what we ex- "You can count on that. I'm gonna be there on Oct. Apple were not pected," he says. 2, 3 and 5." available for History shows that Streisand fans have not previ- comment. BARBRA STREISAND kicks off her tour Oct. 4 in ously balked at high ticket prices. Tickets for the artist's Philadelphia. She has pledged millions of its continued on »p6 Sept. 27 -28, 2000, shows at New York's Madison Square proceeds to her charity the Streisand Foundation.

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