cash box,- news Breaking Nickey Barclay Key To Lasker's Philosophy by David Budge LOS ANGELES - Jay Lasker, president That 20% is in direct personnel costs, of Ariola America Records more than not in advertising and other promotional agreeing with last week's Cash Box expenses. We've weighted the company editorial (Breaking New Acts - Key to to having an 80% promotion expense by The Future); is doing something about it. design. The record business is not a Lasker and his partner, Howard Stark sales or merchandising business. It's a founded Ariola on the premise that they promotion business." would succeed primarily on building the Whether established or just starting careers of new artists rather than spend- out, an artist cannot make it without ing their money on 'established' acts. heavy promotion. Obviously, in the case Lasker told Cash Box, "I'd never buy of new talent, the more promotion the an artist for Ariola. The philosophy in better. Said Lasker, "All the in-store dis- establishing this company has been to plays in the world don't mean a thing un- SHEER GOLD ATTACK - While in Boston to kick off Queen's 1976 world tour, develop new artists. You can't make any less a person has heard a record on the Elektra/Asylum chairman Joe Smith presented Queen with a gold record for money buying up artists." In pursuit of radio. The breaking of new artists is their third Elektra album, "Sheer Heart Attack." Pictured above are to r.): bassist his goal, Lasker has already achieved absolutely critical. The public has to (I. John Deacon; Mel Posner, Elektra/Asylum president; drummer Roger Taylor; Queen's some chart success with Fox, the Atlanta have different and new kinds of enter- manager John Reid; Connie Pappas from John Reid Enterprises; Joe Smith; lead Disco Band, John Paul Young, The Sons tainment. Ariola is going to have three or singer Freddie Mercury; and guitarist Brian May. of Champlin and, hopefully, Nicole four new acts exciting the public Barclay. Nickey, as her friends call her, is simultaneously." a well traveled veteran, having most Top 20 Radio notably been the creative force behind Lasker faced up to the enormity of his RCA, Labels, Issue Fanny. and all of the record industry's task in Another Mama Cass? breaking new acts via radio when he Lasker said of Barclay, "Nickey re- pointed out, "You're restricted in how 31 LP March Release minds me a lot of the way Mama Cass much you can promote today. In the last NEW YORK Thirty-one albums com- Debut acts on RCA and affiliated labels was when I first met her - she was ten years, top 40 radio has become top prise the March release from RCA included the Memphis Horns, Kelly Gar- always a star. I think Nickey is one of the 20 radio. Radio is formated much tighter Records and its affiliated labels. rett, Rosie, Terry Melcher, Randy Sharp, most exciting talents around today. I today. It started getting that way after the Included is product from Silver Conven- Charles Drain, the Brothers and Mike know that sounds prejudiced, but I 1959 payola scandals. Let's face it, the tion, David Cassidy, Waylon Jennings, Wofford. believe it. She could be Ariola's first single is still the most vital promotional Lonnie Liston Smith, Phil Woods, and the Additionally the label is stressing the superstar. She has incredible talent." tool we have. 99% of all artists are de- Memphis Horns with a new recording of catalog items of Flying Dutchman Rec- Nicole Barclay and her Good News veloped by having a hit single rather Handel's "Messiah" - in time for Easter ords' organ player Lonnie Liston Smith. Band are showcasing at L.A.'s Roxy than by having a hit LP. Despite what sales - on Red Seal plus three rare Other March releases are by Carolyn nightclub this week (9) and she told CB anyone says, you must have a hit single albums, one (Beethoven Sonatas by Franklin, Hank and Jimmy Snow, Choice that Ariola has made a total commitment to break an act." German pianist, Artur Schnabel) never Four, Cedar Walton, Billy Walker, Floyd to breaking her LP, "Diamond In A Whether Nickey Barclay has that before released. Cramer and the National Youth Jazz Junkyard." "The label (Ariola) is really necessary hit single, remains to be seen. Orchestra. behind me on this LP and it's a great feel- Cash Box FM analysis reveals that as War's Lee Oskar The label is also releasing the sound- ing. Bobby Applegate started a promo- many as six cuts are receiving initial re- track of the "Space 1999" TV series. tion in Denver involving the two top FM action and Ariola will make a single stations. They're sponsoring the choice this week or early next. Barclay, Solos For UA 'Diamond In A Junkyard' contest. concerned though she is with having a LOS ANGELES - War member Lee Seven New Jazz LPs They're going to hide little diamond cov- hit, is concentrating on the Roxy gig and Oskar will be the first of the group to do a ered boxes in a river bed that's become an impressive string of one -niters con- solo album when his debut album is re- Due For Warner Bros. sort of a garbage dump. The contest will templated for early spring. Her Good leased by United Artists Records. Far LOS ANGELES - Warner Bros. Rec- be a cleanup program too since all the News Band features Bugs Pemberton Out Productions' Jerry Goldstein will ords' plans for March release albums by participants will be asked to carry away a (formerly with Britain's Undertakers) on produce the concept album chronicling seven contemporary jazz artists, includ- little of the garbage from the river bed. drums, Ray McCarty on lead guitar, Billy Oskar's life in Europe, his subsequent ing Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Alice Coltrane, That's just an example of the kind of pro- Schwartz on keyboard and former John move to the states and his ultimate meet- David "Fathead" Newman, Miroslav motion Ariola's involved with for my Phillips session man Jeff Eyrich on bass. ing with Goldstein, Eric Burdon and War. Vitous. George Benson and Pat Martino album. I love it." Both Nickey and Ariola hope that it's a The album features Oskar's harmoica and Antonio Carlos Jobim. 80% For Promotion sound and guest appearances by several Of the seven albums, two - Rahsaan Lasker, for his part, put the question of continued on pg. 53 other members of War. Roland Kirk's "Return Of the 5.000 Lb. breaking a new act on the line whin he Man" and David "Fathead" Newman's said, "The structure of our comp' ny is "Mr. Fathead" - were produced in New such that 80% of our overhead is F yrol I York by Joel Dorn. Alice Coltrane's LP. to promotion people. At other r. cord "Eternity." was produced by Ed Michel companies. the figure is closer to 20%. and contains Ms. Coltrane's interpreta- tion of "Spring Rounds" from Stravin- sky's "Rite Of Spring." while guitarist Miroslav Vitous worked on his new "Magical Shepherd" set with producer David Rubinson. An important part of the March jazz re- lease is the first Warners album by Do'M guitarist George Benson; both Benson's guitar and voice are featured on "Breezin'." which was recorded in California and Germany by Claus Ogerman and Warners staff producer Tommy LiPuma. Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Urubu" represents a return to Warners for the Brazilian guitarist, and *Oa signals the Warners "Starbright" debut of 11. jazz guitarist Pat Martino. who recorded ATLANTIC'S FIREFALL - Atlantic Records has signed Firefall, the Colorado -based his LP in New York with Ed Freeman pro- band. to a long-term exclusive contract with the label. "Firefall," the debut album from ducing. the group, is set for release on Atlantic in late March. Produced at Criteria Studios in DüA Miami by Jim Mason (of Poco fame), the LP consists entirely of original material. The group. performing together since late -'74, includes: Rick Roberts on acoustic rhythm guitar and lead vocals (ex -Flying Burrito Brothers, Steve Stills and Chris Hillman 2nd LP Gold For bands, with two solo albums to his credit), Jock Bartley on lead guitar and vocals (ex - Gram Parsons and Chris Hillman bands, and Colorado's Zephyr), Mark Andes on bass Capt. & Tennìlle and vocals (ex -original Spirit and Jo Jo Gunne), drummer Michael Clarke (of the LOS ANGELES - "Song Of Joy." the original Byrds and Flying Burrito Brothers), and Washington, D.C.'s Larry Burnett on second album by the Grammy -winning rhythm guitar and lead vocals. Shown above in Boulder are (I. to r.): Burnett. Bartley, A&M recording duo. the Captain and 9- Roberts (seated), Clarke, and Andes. Tennille. has been shipped gold. 14 March 13. 1976 www.americanradiohistory.com.