Country Steve Wariner's MCA Career Flourishing Latest Product Displays Writer/Player Development

finer. He relies on the elements he hit record will do," he insists. BY EDWARD MORRIS has seen succeed for other artists, Wariner says that "One Good NASHVILLE Steve Wariner is an but seeks to avoid pitfalls of other Night Deserves Another," his first artist whose boyish good looks, flu- artists. He sides with Bowen, for ex- MCA album, "practically doubled" id vocal style and guitar wizardry ample, in being skeptical of music the sales of his last album for RCA. have had critics long predicting ma- videos: "They haven't proven that According to Light, "One Good jor success for him. But star status videos sell records, so why should Night" has sold over 100,000 copies, eluded Wariner until he left RCA, we do them ?" and he anticipates better numbers his label of eight years, and Nor does he want to do regular for the new album. switched to MCA last year. television without a great deal of Last year, Wariner did almost 150 Despite five top 10 country hits control. "We're not big fans of lip - dates at concert halls, fairs and and a No. 1 ( "All Roads Lead To synching," says Wariner. "If you're clubs, both as a main act and vari- You "), Wariner's career was in the going to do tv, I think you should ously packaged with Reba McEn- doldrums at RCA. But with MCA, really do the music -sing it-and tire, Lee Greenwood, Ronnie Mil - his first singles have routinely sped with your own band. You ought to sap, the Oak Ridge Boys, George up the charts: "What I Didn't Do" do it the way people would see you Jones, the Judds, Exile and Vince reached three, "Heart Trouble" hit out on the road." Gill. "In 1986," Light adds, "we eight, and his third effort, "Some Still, Wariner admits that his ap- want to play the same number of Fools Never Learn," scored a No. 1. pearances on such programs as the dates and achieve a better balance Wariner has newly released his "Barbara Mandrel! & the Mandrel! between clubs and concerts." second album for MCA, "Life's Sisters" show have made him "real Wariner is booked by Headline In- Highway," one in which half the comfortable" with tv: "I think it's ternational Talent at an average fee songs are his own co- compositions. just a matter of choosing the right of $4,500- $5,500 a date. Don Light says that when he took shows and trying to do them the He has also accumulated a series over Wariner's management, two of right way." of product endorsements, among his goals were to show his artist's While he acknowledges that them Converse Shoes, Takamine talent on guitar and to develop his "Some Fools Never Learn" was a Guitars, Peavey Electronics and writing. At RCA, Wariner was dis- "good, solid country record," Light Unicord. couraged from playing on his own points to the star -making power of "You Can Dream Of Me," War- sessions, but under MCA producers such crossovers as "Elvira" or "Is- iner's first single from "Life's High- Tony Brown and Jimmy Bowen, he lands In The Stream" as the sort of way," climbs to number 13 this picks on virtually every cut. transforming song Wariner needs. week. Light is conservative and cau- "There's nothing that will do for He will begin work on his third tious in his efforts to break War- your career what an honest-to-God MCA album in April.

New Firm Works on Changing Representation Image in N'ville lawyers Cite CD, Video, Promo Clauses for how long or whose indie promo- mised with a 50/50 split between la- Whether it was #1 for 20 BY KIP KIRBY tion will be used on its records. bel and artist in one situation, and in a the other, managed to establish a weeks or #200 for 1 week, you'll find it here - NASHVILLE Deal- making here "This provision became stan- has spawned a growing community dard part of its new contracts with- minimum of $2,500 to be spent by every album to ever hit Billboard's "Top Pop of entertainment law firms, one of in the past year," Leach explains, the label before indie promotion ex- Albums" charts. the newest being the recently noting that he was unable to alter penses can be charged back to the ARTIST SECTION lists each artist's SEPARATE SECTIONS cover Sound- formed partnership of Jim Harris, the clause in recent negotiations for act. charted albums with complete chart tracks, Originnl Casts, TV Shows, Charles Leach, Ralph Gordon, Tom two different acts with the record Harris and Leach say they and data - date first charted, peak posi- Various Artist Compilations, Aero- Martin and Rusty Jones. company. Instead, Leach compro- (Continued on page 41) tion, total weeks charted, plus all bics, Christmas, Children's, Comedy, The new group's clients include singles from an album to hit the Top Classical and more. Ronnie Milsap, Restless Heart, 10 on Billboard's "Hot 100" chart, Sweethearts of the Rodeo, Lee along with the highest position each Greenwood, Michael Johnson, Billy mountain Inn' TV Series single reached. Detailed artist and Chinnock, Alabama's manager Dale title trivia includes names of group n Morris, David Loggins and Don members, artist's or group's nation- Schlitz. Heading for Europe Mart ality/city of origin, birth /death With terms of major deals here dates, guest artists and much more. comparable to those in New York or Also indicated are Platinum /Gold P.O. Box 200 Los Angeles, attorney Leach says /multiple LPs, and spe- and double Menomonee Falls, there is a substantially heavier em- NASHVILLE "Rocky Mountain the inn, segments are shot at the types of albums live, greatest cial - WI 53051 in now on video, Inn," a joint Canadian and Ameri- Calgary Television Center and at instrumentals, phasis contracts hits, early recordings, Disc and cost can country music television series, various Nashville studios. reissues, soundtracks Compact promotional compilations, has completed its first year of pro- "Rocky Mountain Inn" is bar- and more. clauses. "I've seen video sections escalate duction and is being readied for dis- tered to stations on a three /three from a few short phrases to several tribution in Europe. The program is basis, with three minutes of adver- I ORDER THE AUTHORITY. pages," affirms Leach, adding that, carried on 49 stations in the U.S. tising time given to the station and Top Pop Albums 1955 -1985 $40.00 wherever possible, he attempts to and seven in Canada. three reserved for the distributor. Other Record Research Pop Books win mutual approval of song, pro- The 30- minute shows, hosted by The series is distributed in Canada Top 2000 1955 -1985 $25.00 ducer, director, video company, lo- Canadian -born Ronnie Prophet, by Calgary CFAC Television and in Top Pop Singles 1955 -1982 $40.00 cation and royalty rate on video pro- carefully balance use of talents America by Eagle Media of Nash- Pop Annual 1955 -1982 $40.00 jects-even for new acts. from both countries involved with ville. London's Thames Television Music Yearbook 1984 $25.00 "Your leverage depends on how production. Each program is com- distributes for Europe and the Music Yearbook 1983 $25.00 much the record company wants to prised of two stage performances French -speaking parts of Canada. Bubbling Under the Hot 100 1959 -1981 $25.00 his band, a music The show's creator and producer, $3.00 act," Leach points out, "but we also by Prophet and Postage & Handling try to negotiate a video account, video, an interview with an Ameri- YNG Inc. of Nashville, reports that Enclosed is my check or money order for $ Total - recording so there can country artist and a stage per- Thames is negotiating for the series (All Canadian orders must be paid in U.S. dollars.) separate from won't be cross -collateralization of formance by a Canadian artist-all in four European markets but de- Please charge my order to: MasterCard VISA monies." interspersed in a loose story line clines to specify which ones until To Chore. Your Credit Card # ardor By Phon., Cou Leach and partner Harris are con- about the characters who work in contracts are signed. YNG is head- 414- 251 -5408 Signature Exp. Date cerned about a new policy instituted the mythical inn that is the show's ed by Johnna Yurcic and Chuck Gla- ser. Latter also serves as talent co- Name by one major label where indepen- setting. dent promotion costs are charged Each of the first 24 episodes cost ordinator. Address back to acts. Compounding this, approximately $40,000 (American) The second round of programs Zip City State they claim, is that the label won't al- to produce. Although the entire will begin shooting in February. Mail to: Record Research Inc., P.O. Box 200, Menomonee Falls, WI 53051 low the act a say in when, where, show appears to take place inside EDWARD MORRIS

40 BILLBOARD JANUARY 18, 1986 www.americanradiohistory.com