INSIDE Singleschart, 6-7;Album chart,17; New Singles, 18; NewAlbums, 13; Airplay guide, 14-15; lndpendent Labels, 8; Retailing 5. June 28, 1982 VOLUME FIVE Number 12 65p RCA sets price Industry puts brave rises on both face on plunging LPs & singles RCAis implementing itsfirst wide- ranging increase in prices since January Summer disc sales 1981. Then its new 77p dealer price for singles sparked trade controversy but ALL THE efforts of the record industryfor the £s that records appear to be old the rest of the industry followed in due to hold down prices and generate excite-hat. People who are renting a VCR are course. ment in recorded music are meeting amaking monthly payment equivalent to With the new prices coming into stubbornly flat market. purchasing one LP a week," he said. effect on July 1, RCA claims now to be Brave faces are being worn around the Among the major companies howev- merely coming into line with other major companies but itis becominger, there is steadfast resistance to gloom. companies. clear that the business is in the middle of Paul Russell, md of CBS, puts the New dealer price for singles will be an even worse early Summer depressionproblem down to weak releases and is 85p (ex VAT) with 12 -inch releases than that of 1981. happy to be having success with Joan costing £1.49, a rise of 16p. On tapes The volume of sales mentioned by theJett, The Clash, Neil Diamond andWHETHER IT likes it or not, Polydorand albums the 3000 series goes from RB chart department shows a decline ofAltered Images with the prospect of bigis now heavy metal outfit Samson's£2.76 to £2.95, the 6000 series from between 20 and 30 percent over the samereleases from Judas Priest and REOrecord company. A few gentle words in£3.04 - £3.25, and the 9000 series from period last year. Speedwagon this Summer. a &r man Alan Sizer's ear, plus a£3.34 - £3.50. The International mid - Further evidence of the slump is He feelsthatitis imperative forcouple of lengths of industrial chain,price line remains at £1.82. furnished by the number of gold andsingles prices to be kept as low aswere enouth to convince the powers - silver discs registered by the BPI in thepossible so that young people can affordthat -be that it was wiser to sign the first six months of 1982 against the sameto make that all-important first invest-contract and pray for mercy. Pictured period last year. 1981 saw 47 silvers, 17ment in records. above (looking worried) is a chained - Music industry golds and one platinum single with 1982 Cliff Busby, head of EMI, cannotup Sizer along with Pete Jupp, Nicky South Atlantic weighing in with 39 silvers, 11 golds andoffer any more bigreleasesbeforeMoore and Paul Samson from the one platinum. In 1981 the BPI awardedSeptember but this is not a policy - justband. Bassist Chris Aylmer was too Appeal 54 silver LPs, 35 golds and 17 platinum. TURN TO P2squeamish to get involved. The same half year in 1982 has yielded IN ASSOCIATION with a number 42 silvers, 47 golds and 12 platinums. of individuals in record companies Seasonal problems like the sunny and music publishing houses, RE- June weather have this year been exacer-RAVRO gets new chairman, CORD BUSINESS is pleased to bated by the rival sporting attractions of lend its support to an unofficial the World Cup, Wimbledon, Ascot,pledges membership drive fund-raising effort on behalf of the plus The Falklands, the Pope's visit,FOLLOWING THE retirementofHotel, Birmingham. appeal for dependants of service- and the royal birth. On top of this there isHarry Tipple, chairman of RAVRO, "We want to hear from anybody who men killed in the Falklands. The the spectre of unemployment, againaftera 23 -year association with thehas a problem or is interested in the appeal, to be known as the Music above three million and just added to byrecorddealers'tradebody,a newfuture of the industry," commented Industries South Atlantic Appeal is 100,000 school leavers who would nor-attemptisto be made to improvegeneral secretary Arthur Spencer-Bol- being organised with the full know- mally be prime record buying targets.membership of the organisation. land. "From these two meetings we shall ledge of the Ministry of Defence. Even the usually solid budget market Under the new chairmanship of Alanformulate our future policy and collate Organisers wish to remain anony- has taken a downturn this year andDavison of Tudor Records, London,information tobe presentedtothe mous and have requested that che- Monty Lewis, md of Pickwick Records,RAVRO will be calling two open meet-record manufacturers when we meet ques -only be sent to the appeal feels that the industry needs a newings of record and video dealers. Thethem in late -Summer." fund, c/o Record Business, Hyde musical trendlike'Saturday Nightfirstwill take place at 7pm at the With Davison now moving up to House, 13 Langley Street, London Fever'. Bloomsbury Hotel, London, on July 14,becomechairman,DavidFox,of WC2. All donations will be acknow- "Disposable income has not increasedfollowed by a second meeting at the ledged in later editions of the paper. but there are so many products fightingsame time on July 15 at the Midland TURN TO P2 POSITIVE NOISE ipoolves 'WAITING FOR THE 7th b/w 'END IN TEARS' IN BOTH 7" AND SPECIALLY REMIXED CHANGE OF HEART 12" VERSION ALSO AVAILABLE ON CASS STAT C 604 FEATURING EXTRA REMIXES OF 'FEEL THE FEAR' and 'POSITIVE NEGATI ON TOUR WITH TOYAH FOR THE SAME PRICE AS THE ALBUM AVAi GH BACKED BY FULL ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN STAGE ONE AND STORE PROMOTION 0428.4001/53953 IIEWS Compact discs from Trade takes to MfP's Fame FAME, EMI's new mid -price labelPurple, Whitesnake and Hawk - being marketed in a trendsettingwind. Nimbus by mid -1983 move through the Music for Plea- "We have been pleasantly sur- NIMBUS RECORDS of Monmouthfacturing and that is what we intend to sure sales force, is proving to be aprised with consumer reaction and will be the first company in the UK tosupply," he added. winner as far as the retail trade issome of the titles are now being manufacture compact discs - only the Reynolds did not see CD as an concerned. re -pressed to meet demand," said fourth company in Europe to gain aovernight revolution but he is convinced "We have enjoyed an excellentHarris. licence. that it is the system for the future. response and co-operation from MfP is now in the middle of a Nimbus willhave themastering "It is very much easier to use and both multiples and independents,"strong promotion campaign includ- capacity within 12 -months and copies ofrelatively damage -proof. To us as pro- commented MfP and Ted Harris.ing the use of commercial radio for the disc will begin to be produced byducers of high quality classical record- "This is a quiet time in the storesthe first time. Although the industry mid -1983. Within three years the capac-ings it is the sound improvement which and we have given the dealersis not convinced that ILR advertis- ity will be a million units annually butis most exciting. There is no reason why something which is selling and theying generates sales, Harris felt that the plant is being set up with a 10 millionthe replay sound should not be equal to have got behind it." MfP's campaign appeared to be ceiling in mind. the mastertape," he said. Of the 30 albums in the firstworking based on the increase in The company is unique in having a Initally players of the CD will cost release, Cliff Richard's I'm Nearlyorders after the first week on air. recordingcompany,manufacturingaround £400 but Reynolds predicted Famous has predictably turned outHowever, therewillbe further plant and research and developmentthat this would fall with mass produc- to be the best-seller to date, withresearch in-store to evaluate the team in one place and is known for itstion. In addition the CD player can be American Pie by Don McLean alsoimpact of the commercials. high quality record pressings. adapted for in -car and portable use, proving to be in high demand. But A second release of Fame is Over the next three years it intends torendering the cassette obsolete. the surprise area for big sales hasplanned for September and sche- invest around £2 million in the machin- Meanwhile Nimbus is concentrating been the consumer interest shownduling of next year's titles in under ery to make the Philips compact disc, amuch of its efforts on improving ana- in the reissues intheir originalway. "We are here to stay," said facility which will require the buildinglogue quality. It recently introduced the sleeves of albums by the BritishHarris. "Fame is not a flash in the of an extra factory at the plant. first 45 rpm classical recordings and has HM brigade; Motorhead, Deeppan." "As a company we are dedicated toundertaken several special high -quality improving sound quality and we havepressing commissions for such com- made major improvements in analoguepanies as A&M, Chrysalis, Arista andPrince Charles to attend BPI cutting techniques. We are also lookingDecca. to the future and are convinced that Nimbus presses about two millionall-star charity rock concert digital home replay is inevitable," saidrecords each year for a wide range ofDAVID BOWIE, Pete Townsend, Phil The Prince of Wales will be in the technicaldirectorandco-founderclients, from Rough Trade to Chandos,Collins and Madness have all confirmedaudience, which will largely consist of Gerald Reynolds. and feels the established disc market canthey will playatacharity concertyoung people who have benefitted from Nimbus decided that the form mostbe maintained by keeping manufactur-organised by the BPI.