THE MOST TRUSTED NAME IN RADIO SINCE THE BIRTH Of ROCK & ROIL ISSUE 2206 ` MAY I your imagination brian wilson gidflr p www.GiantRecords.com LI l t produced and arranged by brian wilson and joe thoras Ibum in stores june 16, 1998 your imagination Major Early Airplay: WXPN WLIT WXRV WXRT KOST KVIL WLTE WMMX WTFM WTCB KUWR WDEN A/C and AAA Impact Date: May 18 9Ñ[ 1B www.GiantRecords.com produced and arranged by brian wilson and joe thomas THE MOST TRUSTED NAME IN RADIO SINCE SIMON AND GAR:UNKEL WERE TOM AND JERRY ISSUE 2206 MAY 15 1998 Summer of '98 Who Owns the Music? 1J!1;, The Seven Faces of J (13' jj±±'_ pií' r - rrpIPIrsl r''l1rl rIJf f r r,1(IlfrJ J novaheather London rain (nothing heals me like you do) THE FIRST TRACK FROM HEATHER NOVA'S SECOND RECORD, "SIREN,' IN STORES JUNE 2ND IMPACTING MAY 19TH AT ALTERNATIVE AND ADULT ALTERNATIVE APPEARING ON THE THISLILITH FAIRSUMMER TOUR Produced by Jon Kelly i , '- WI( ENTEAiAIMMENT Mixed by Andy Wallace )1998 SONY NM ENTERTAINMENT INC Written by Heather Nova y/9 x1 TP//WWW. WOAAGAONPNET.COM FIRSTPERSON NEWSBRIEFS AS TOLD TO REED BUNZEL Behind the Tapscan Deal John Martin Arbitron has found a way to redefine its own Maximi$er Critical Mass Media software program by turning it into a "mod- The seeds of change are new to some people, ule" or part of the Tapscan software. but consolidation is presenting us with a Although there was no direct talk of a phase- wonderful opportunity. We have to ask our- I aQSca out, Arbitron execs discussed the deal as a selves how we capitalize on our new market clusters, new programming and mar- way to deliver Maximi$er data "inside" Tapscan software. our keting capabilities, and the new clout we now enjoy in the radio medium. We have considerably more influence and greater coverage than ever before, and this is a very Throwìng Stones at Radio exciting time for the radio medium. Citing such conglomerates as Jacor Communications and Now, in certain formats it's incumbent upon the CBS as culprits in a monopolistic game, Rolling Stone jour- and markets, some groups industry's research and may have acquired their marketing firms to really nalist Eric Boehlert recently attacked the current state of competitors and effective- look at clusters in new and commercial radio. But a glimmer of hope is found in the ly reduced the unique ways. It competitive would be silly same article, a top ten list of "Stations That Don't Suck." environment. for a cluster But this doesn't manager or cor- mean that porate manager there's less of not to capitalize an emphasis on the natural It a Village on what sta- synergies of all Takes tions put out the group's sta- "As much as Lilith [Fair] is its own entity, it's over the air, or how they tions in the market. There's still about the talent," says Marty Diamond of market themselves to their no need to have six differ- listeners. In fact, most ent companies going into a Little Big Man Booking. "You can't assume programmers and general marketplace screening for the public will just buy anything. Our managers still want to six different radio stations business often is guilty of that. But you know what's important to and not capturing data on their listeners. They real- the sister stations, or lever- can only fool the public with ize that having great rat- aging that knowledge in mediocrity once." ings will always be impor- new and innovative ways. tant. Being a market At Critical Mass Media leader, being tops in the we're seeing a whole new rankers, will always con- shift in the way radio sta- Contents tribute greatly to the rates tions are operating. There News Spotlight: Triple A they can charge and to are tremendous opportu- Polygram, Seagram Talking 5 Lilith Fair: Village of Music 36 their overall cash flow. nities for today's program Lucent Sets Its Own DAB Course 10 Owning Versus Sharing Artists 42 In most cases, there are directors and general man- Labels Fume Over Box Set Price 10 Triple A Checklist 45 wonderful synergies that agers to play the game Early 54 Natalie Merchant's Music can be achieved by market more intelligently, to get RadioSLarge CHARTS: TRIPLE A 48 Radio Taps Into Interactive Lines 12 ALTERNATIVE 56 players, driving true sav- more information on their Arbitron Buys Majority of Tapscan 13 COLLEGE 58 ings to the bottom line, listening audience, to get ACTIVE ROCK 59 while at the same time more information on their The New Mainstream delivering a superior prod- advertisers. And ultimate- Radio and Concert Promotion 14 Nashville uct. We're seeing a lot of ly, this higher- level think- Don Kelly: What Color Is Urban? 15 New Directions 60 Bigger Picture: What Cost Loyalty? 17 Change Is 'On the Air' 61 new products coming out ing will get us into the CHARTS: TOP 40 18 CHARTS: COUNTRY 62 of "multi-opoly" relation- major retailers who may HOT A/C 20 AMERICANA 64 ships and marketplaces, have historically been 22 A/C really have to spending the vast majority URBAN 24 Jazz & Smooth and people HIP -HOP 25 Matsui's Crossover Dreams 65 view all this from the pos- of their dollars in televi- CHARTS: SMOOTH JAZZ 68 itive perspective and sion and newspapers. The New Rock Zone JAZZ 69 understand the opportuni- And that makes each of Gavin Summit IV Announced 28 ties we have today. us a winner in this era of Soul Asylum Survives the Game 28 Parting Shots 70 'No Compelling Radio'? 30 ShowBiz 70 What this means is that change. May 15, 1998 GAV I N 5 RINGO STARR WeeK :,e otáeease` " MU.IC FIRST . S Storytellers Pecial AiringA9 FIRSTWURUS GAVIN N EWS Just the Fax Hey, guess what? GAVIN is Seagram, Polytram Deal "Near Certainty"; ..1 understand fill] going daily. No kidding. But before we're all deaf- wars, but I don't ened by the collective cry Both Companies Are "Eyeing" Each Other believe a program- of "not something more mer, in their heart I've got to read," let me While Wall Street considers exchange of debt or stock to offer apparently was turned explain that we're not talk- the Seagram-PolyGram deal finance the deal, however, down by Seagram CEO of hearts, really ing about some weighty a "near certainty," both com- PolyGram is examining Sea - Cornelis Boonstra, and ana- panies appear to be doing gram's books just as closely lysts expect this one to be believes a listener tome thudding through due diligence before any as Seagram is studying Poly - rebuffed as well unless Levy only listens to one your mail slot. This is a papers are signed. Gram's. One sticking point: gets the backing of a major concise daily fax pared Many analysts believe the value of PolyGram's film media player. radio station." down to headline news Canadian -based Seagram is production company and In 1997, PolyGram's 1997 David Einstein. on library, which currently con- music revenues totalled $4.7 - focusing primarily very close to consummating Verrury Records a deal for Philips Electronics' tains some 1500 titles. billion; Seagram's music rev- .ccl, page 42 music programming. Called 75 percent stake in Poly - Meanwhile, PolyGram enues were $1.5 billion. gmail, it is effectively a a Alain Levy is said Gram, at price estimated Chairman daily GAVIN report tailored to be around $10 billion. to be rounding up financing for music programmers, Valued at 30 times profit, to make his own indepen- and pro- PolyGram is considered dent buyout bid once Kitchin Named COO consultants, the worth $12.6 billion. Because Seagram's deal is on the motion community. the deal would include an table. A similar, previous Just when everyone At Premiere Networks seems to be caught up in Arbitron to Redefine Sacramento Premiere Radio Networks has the heady world of high named Kraig Kitchin to the new finance, we're pointing in The four subscribing radio finition "makes a lot of position of Chief Operating Officer. a different direction. sense, certainly more than He will report to Steve Lehman, owners in the Sacramento Takeovers, stock splits, market have asked Arbitron [the redefinition oft Boston." President and CEO of Premiere cash flow multiples, FCC to redefine their metro sur- Arbitron says Sacramento's Radio Networks, Inc. vey area. The move will net sample target will increase Kitchin will oversee all aspects of rulings are all important out to a gain of about 18,100 by 1.3 percent, effective company operations in his new stuff. But what does any persons 12+ by eliminating with the Fall 1998 survey. position, and also will continue his of it have to do with the two county splits Placer Arbitron's Thom Mocar- role as Director of Sales. day-to-day operational with 12+ per- GAVIN Sa- "It is pleasure that I announce (East) 9,100 sky told that with eminent regard and pressures of programming sons and El Dorado (East) cramento is the last market Kraig Kitchin's promotion to Chief Operating Officer," Lehman a radio station? Mel with 34,100-and adding to be redefined for the Fall said. "Kraig's combination of pride, involvement, commitment, county split Nevada (West), survey. There still are 23 and diligence have helped shape Premiere into the fastest Karmazin, Tom Hicks, which has a 12+ population other markets that are can- growing, most admired radio network on the planet." Lowry Mays, and Randy of 61,300.