BMG - AUTUMN PRODUCT PREVIEW Revamped BMG ready to compete BMG is banking on new artists and popular comebacks to bolster its position in the run up to Christmas. By Tracey Snell

There can be little doubt that the arrival in the most popular track on European radio February of Richard Griffiths as BMG's SINGLES CHART SCORES during the first six months of the year, according to MW sister magazine fono. UK chairman represented the start of a No Top Top Top new era at the major. is lOs 20s 40s Five's eponymously -titled debut Griffiths, whose brief extends into other RCA 0 5 2 2 has sold 1m worldwide and went straight to European territories, has revamped the Northwestside1 1 1 2 the top of the UK chart. , group's two main labels, hiring Harry Delirious 0 0 2 0 meanwhile, debuted at number one in the Magee from the now -defunct A&M to run Deconstruction0 0 2 5 singles chart in August with their second RCA and consolidating A&R resources at Arista 1 0 2 5 single , which has been a hit in a new -look Arista, headed by music 0 1 0 0 more than 10 countries. division president Jeremy Marsh. He has Figures cover releases' highest chart positions in BMG shrugs off the fact that it has also restructured BMG's approach to the 35 weeks to w/e 29/8/98. BMG's market scored fewer number one records in the selling UK product overseas and share in the half year was 8.1%, making it the year to date than most of its major international releases in the UK, while the fourth biggest singles corporate group. competitors, including Warner, Sony, Virgin company has pruned its artist roster to Source: MW and BMG and PolyGram. "Chart positions are focus on those acts it believes have serious important but album sales are more so. international potential. Natalie, for example, has been in the charts While the prospect of change may have CHART SCORES all year," says Marsh, adding that the strike initially appeared unsettling, with the new rate of domestic talent is another yardstick No Top Top Top structure now firmly in place, BMG enters by which success should be measured. is lOs 20s40s He points out that BMG has scored hits the crucial final quarter with renewed RCA 1 0 0 4 confidence. This was certainly the mood at Global TV (3)*(12)*1(1) 1 with more domestic artists than during the Brighton's Grand Hotel earlier this month Deconstruction0 1 0 1 company's 1992-95 peak when its big when BMG returned to the summer Figures cover releases' highest chart positions in names included Annie Lennox, Lisa conference circuit. the 35 weeks to w/e 29/8/98 (compilation chart Stansfield, Take That and M People. "The feeling at the conference was that figures in brackets). BMG's market share in the Alongside its younger artists, new albums since BMG was the first company to half year was 8.3%, making it the sixth largest are also in the pipeline for next year from Lennox and Stansfield, while former Take That restructure itself, it had first -mover corporate group. advantage," says Marsh. "Everyone came members Gary Barlow and Mark Owen are Five (top) and M People * includes joint ventures Source: MW and BMG away feeling re -energised, focused and expected to deliver new material next Easter positive." excellent second album. This will be a the release schedule below, its market and summer respectively. Sleeper frontwoman Priority albums for BMG this autumn return to form. It reminds me of a Christmas share will increase by at least two points to Louise Wener has also demoed five new include a best of from M People, a release when we had Annie Lennox and Take That," 10% during the Christmas period. tracks with a single and album expected from Whitney Houston, the debut by singles he says. Looking back over the past nine months, around summer, adding to speculation that chart toppers Another Level and 's BMG is already making sales predictions Marsh says the highlights for him have been she has left to pursue a solo career. second album. After a "pretty tough" few about some of its key album releases. For the international successes of Natalie In the meantime, BMG is looking forward years, Marsh says the schedule marks a example, it is forecasting Another Level will Imbruglia, Five and Another Level. Imbruglia's to unleashing its strongest autumn release revival for the group. sell 500,000 units by Christmas and is debut album, Left Of The Middle, has now schedule for several years. Says Marsh, "My "It's a strong release schedule across all hoping Republica will surpass gold. "M sold 1m copies in the UK, 2m in the US and motto is: if you don't have the records at the labels. It's full of new artists such as People could be the biggest seller this 2m elsewhere. It remains in the UK Top 40, Christmas you can't compete. And we have Another Level, while Republica have an Christmas," adds Marsh. BMG believes with 43 weeks after its release, while Torn was the records." AUTUMNRELEASE SCHEDULE Natalie Imbruglia: Smoke - RCA (Oct 5). The fourth week still in the Top 30 after 17 weeks and during the band's Ladies and Gentlemen We single to be taken from her double -platinum was a US number one for 13 weeks. The Are Floating In Space tour. Marketing will be selling album, Left Of The Middle, which album is preceded on October 5 by a third predominately review -led, supported by remains in the Top 40 after 43 weeks. single from the album, the Diana Ross - nationwide fly posting, indie retail play -backs Imbruglia, winner of the best new artist sampling First Night, while a fourth, Street plus in-store promotion and cooperative honour at this year's MTV Video Music Symphony, is planned for release at the end campaigns. Awards, is due to go on tour before of November. Swing! The Ultimate Big Band Album -BMG Conifer Christmas. Another Level: Another Level - Northwestside (Oct (Nov 2). Classic big band from the likes of Sarah McLachlan: Surfacing - Arista (Oct 5). 26). Debut album from an act Northwestside Glenn Miller, Louis Armstrong and Ella Surfacing, her fourth album, has sold 4m is confidently predicting will emerge as the Fitzgerald. TV, radio and press advertising copies in North America since its release biggest new UK artists of 1998. It includes will support the release. last year and went straight in at number two the number one single, Freak Me, plus the M People: The Best of M People -N People (Nov 2). on the Billboard chart. Her appearance at Top 10 hit , which have This greatest hits package features 17 last week's Lilith Fair in , plus a sold 420,000 and 200,000 copies tracks, including the hits Moving On Up, radio ad campaign supporting the album's respectively. A new single, Guess I Was A and How Can I Love release will help raise her UK profile. Fool, is released on October 12 and has You More. The album also includes three Another Level: debut album hopes Various Artists: The Female Touch - Global TV (Oct just been B -listed by Radio One. A UK tour brand new tracks - Dreaming, a cover of the was Garrett's first album for BMG Conifer 5). A joint -venture project between WEA and is planned for early next year. Doobie Brothers hit and has sold more than 100,000 copies in BMG, this includes tracks by Natalie Faith Evans: Keep The Faith - Arista (Oct 26). The and Testify, which will be released as a the UK alone. A video will be released on Imbruglia, The Corrs, Billie Myers, Sarah follow-up to her debut album Faith, Keep single on October 12. It will be supported the same day, sharing 75% of the album's McLachlan, Fleetwood Mac, Catatonia and The Faith was originally expected last year. by a hefty marketing campaign, including a tracklisting. Garrett will be starring in her Republica. Marketing will include Channel 4 It will be preceded on October 19 by the £500,000 TV ad spend. The band kick-off a own four-part TV series starting in TV advertising. strong first single Love Like This, which UK arena tour in November in Dublin. November and is the subject of a Republica: Speed Ballads - Deconstruction (Oct 5). samples Chic. Evans will be attending TLC: Fan Mail - Arista (Nov 9). Arista staff were forthcoming South Bank Show. The follow-up to their platinum - next month's Mobos and performing due to hear seven tracks from the follow-up Aretha Franklin's Greatest Hits - Global TV (Nov 9). selling eponymously titled debut, a live date, details of which have to the seminal Crazy Sexy Cool last Hits covering her time at both Arista and which peaked at number four on yet to be confirmed. Thursday. Details of the album have yet to Atlantic including Respect, I Say A Little the album chart and spawned More Monty - BMG Conifer (Oct 26). be confirmed, though one of its Dallas Prayer and Sisters Are Doin' It For two hit singles - Ready To Go Follow-up to The Full Monty, Austin -produced tracks is understood to Themselves. Supported by national TV and and Drop Dead Gorgeous. It the best-selling soundtrack have drum & bass influences. heavyweight radio advertising campaigns. has been preceded by the of last year which is now Five: Until The Time Is Through - RCA (Nov 16). The Whitney Houston: TBC - Arista (Nov 16). One of single From Rush Hour With approaching triple -platinum fifth single to be taken from their self -titled BMG's key priorities, this album includes Love, which was A -listed by status. It features music from debut album, it will be preceded by a long - the Prince of Egypt single Houston has Radio One four weeks prior to the film not included on the form video on November 9 featuring promos recorded with Columbia artist Mariah Carey release last Monday. original such as Je T'Aime plus to all the band's singles plus unreleased which is also featured on the soundtrack to Monica: The Boy Is Mine - Arista (Oct classic disco. Massive TV, radio, footage. Five will be appearing at the MTV the DreamWorks movie. 12). Includes the singles For press and poster campaign Music Europe awards in Milan on November Funky Divas 2 - Global TV (Nov 23). Follow-up to

You I Will and The Boy Is will support its launch. 12. RCA is planning further TV advertising one of last year's biggest surprise Mine. The former is Spiritualized: Spiritualized Live of the album in the run-up to Christmas successes with sales now in excess of featured in the film At The Royal Albert Hall - together with retail support. 250,000 units. Features tracks by Toni Spacejam while the Dedicated/Deconstruction (Oct Lesley Garrett: Lesley Garrett - BMG Conifer (Nov 2). Braxton, M People, Sweetbox, Brandy, latter, a duet with 26). Features 15 tracks The follow-up to last year's number one Monica, Donna Summer, Mousse T and The Brandy, was last recorded live last year classical smash A Soprano Inspired, which Tamperer.

MUSIC WEEK 3 OCTOBER 1998 7