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THE INTERNATIONAL NEWSWEEKLY OF MUSIC, VIDEO, AND HOME ENTERTAINMENT REACHING 110 COUNTRIES MAY 16, 1998

MTV Europe, VPL ßIaekweII's Islandlife Resolve Years -Long licensing Dispute Has Wide-Ranging Goals BY JEFF CLARK -MEADS LONDON-Europe's collecting BY MELINDA NEWMAN Hooman Majd and Larry Mestel, pre- societies -in all fields -have NEW YORK -Forty years after viously executive VP/C00 at Island. been brought back from the launching Island Records, founder "We've spent the first few months brink of a precipice. The settle- Chris Blackwell is starting over with after leaving PolyGram getting our ment of a 6- year -old dispute Islandlife, a new umbrella company company structure organized and between MTV Europe and the for his various lifestyle and enter- working on getting our slate of music Buddy Guy Looks U.K.'s Video Performance Ltd. tainment concerns. and video releases to- (VPL) means that the prospect As the company con- gether," says Mestel. To Expand Audience of collective tinues to ramp up, "The key here for us, licensing Blackwell is already which we want to try to With Silvertone Set being out- actively making deals, get across to all of our lawed in the such as a potential employees, is that this BY CHRIS MORRIS European acquisition of Rykodisc is a company where LOS ANGELES -Buddy Guy's Union has (Billboard, May 9), and employees don't neces- new Silvertone album, "Heavy been re- negotiating with his sarily work for one divi- Love," set for release June 2, moved. former label, Island sion; they work for aims to secure a fresh foothold In June 1992, MTV claimed Records, to rerelease Islandlife. There are for the blues singer/guitarist that VPL, which licenses video the seminal 1992 Bob going to be people who among younger listeners and broadcasts on behalf of record Marley boxed set, BLAC KWELL use our hotel and resort R &B-oriented audiences. companies, was operating as an "Songs Of Freedom" business, and there will Guy's label and management (Continued on page 16) (see story, page 97). be times that business (Continued on page 96) Islandlife is the par- gives a boost to our ent company for a num- entertainment division. ber of entities, including It's a cross -pollination IFPI Meeting To Focus SFX Rapidly Becoming Palm Pictures, a DVD, of ideas between every Goliath CD, and film company; part of Islandlife." On Budget, New leader Entertainment Manga Entertainment, DUPE Many Islandlife and This story was prepared by Ray a Japanese animation Palm Pictures staffers, BY ADAM WHITE Waddell, a reporter for Amusement theatrical, DVD, CD- some of whom worked LONDON- Fighting the good fight Business. ROM, and home video release com- with Blackwell for years, say having all for the global record business is an pany, as well as a theatrical distrib- the companies under one roof-and one increasingly expensive task. Now, NASHVILLE -SFX Entertain- ution outlet for Palm Pictures; the owner -makes doing business easier. industry leaders must decide anew ment is rapidly bringing to the live music publishing company Blue "It feels almost like it was pre - how much money will be spent, entertainment industry what SFX Mountain Music; the licensing com- PolyGram," says Suzette Newman, where it will come from, and who will Broadcasting and other powerhouse pany Bob Marley Music; the World who heads Palm Pictures' London be held accountable. players helped spur in the radio busi- Wide Web site www.islandlife.com; office and who has worked with The debates and decisions will (Continued on page 105) and Island Outpost, the hotel and Blackwell for more than 20 years. (Continued on page 98) recording studio division. "There's a lot less of a middle layer. It Blackwell formed Islandlife earli- makes it easier to follow the vision. er this year, following his departure It's all about getting your hands dirty, from PolyGram in November 1997. and you couldn't do that when you He had sold Island Records and had a parent company, because IND! Island Pictures to PolyGram in 1989. everyone had a specific role they had THE BILLBOARD SPOTLIGHT Among the top executives at Island- to follow" Page 59 life are former Island executive VP (Continued on page 97) Follows Page 52