nternatìonaT H E L A T E S T N E W S A N D V I E W S F R O M A R O U N D T H E W O R L D Japan Music TV Marked By Change MTV May Be Gone, But Competition From Others Heats Up BY STEVE McCLURE pand their client base. But TV is still But that didn't happen, and MTV's TOKYO -Music television in Japan is much less important as a promotional plans for Japan remain unclear. Roedy in a state of flux. The familiar MTV medium in Japan than in other mar- says, "After more than five years of logo disappeared from Japanese TV kets. That's mainly because of the collaboration, MTV and Music Chan- screens at the end of last year, and country's low cable -TV penetration nel mutually felt the time was right to other players have been joining the rate, plus the fact pursue independent business goals. fray. The Sony Music group launched that powerful ter- The key thing is that we will be re- its own music channel, Viewsic, last restrial broadcast- entering the Japanese market and are June, and MTV licensee former ers would rather exploring different options. Our Lady. Sony Music has acquired the worldwide recording rights to the Music Channel has reinvented itself concentrate on prov- "We're pursuing discussions with a French musical "Notre Dame De Paris," written by Luc Plamondon and Richard as Vibe. en winners, such as MUSIC TELEVISION ` of number entertainment -based com- Cocciante. The studio album of the show's music has already sold more than 3 And various specialty music chan- variety and game in panies that are strategic positions million copies worldwide on the Pomme label, which is distributed by Sony. All nels are coming onstream as Japan's shows, music than to partner with us to launch an MTV future sales will be through Sony labels. Pictured at the signing of the deal, from digital -TV broadcasters steadily ex- programming. that truly reflects the musical tastes left, are Sony Europe senior VP of business affairs Sylvia Coleman, Sony Europe And as one industry source notes, and attitudes of the Japanese youth, chairman Paul Russell, show producer Charles Talar, Cocciante, Sony U.K. chair- "It's so difficult to big get sponsors for and that includes eventually establish- man/CEO Paul Burger, Plamondon, Sony International president Bob Bowlin, music programs." ing an online presence." and Sony France president /CEO Paul -René Albertini. "Notre Dame" won two Since the expiration at the end of Roedy adds, "Japan is an important N.K. 's Removal Victoires Awards (see story, page 8). 1998 of the licensing agreement (Continued on page 73) between Tokyo-based Music Channel From Piracy Inc. and MTV Networks, Japan has been one of the few major music mar- Decried kets where MTV has no presence. list Music Channel, whose biggest single Venue Monopolization Charged In Berlin BY OWEN HUGHES shareholder (at 32.6 %) is hardware HONG KONG- Record company maker Pioneer Electronic Corp., had BY WOLFGANG SPAHR amounts to a monopolization of the four claim, "We want to protect the executives and retailers in Hong been MTV Networks' Japanese BERLIN -Four German concert concert market in the city, Lieberberg independence of the music industry in Kong have condemned the U.S.' licensee since 1992. promoters are warning that a dan- and three other German concert pro- this city, in the interests of artists and decision to remove the Special In announcing its decision to break gerous precedent has been set with a moters have established a joint -ven- concertgoers." Administrative Region (SAR) of with MTV Music Channel said it want- rival operator being allowed to take ture company based in Berlin, Ver - The target of their activity is Ber- China from a list of piracy hot ed to concentrate more on developing control of three of this city's leading anstalter GmbH (Billboardnullntin, lin promoter Peter Schwenkow, owner spots (Billboard, Feb. 27). local programming. Japanese media live venues. Feb. 23). of Deutsche Entertainment AG. Stuart Fraser, commercial reports claimed the main reason the Local authority the Berlin Senate Schwenkow discounts any claims of director of retail chain HMV says, two sides agreed to let the five -year has rented the Waldbuehne, Max - monopolization, saying that although "I think that it is the worst thing contract lapse without renewal was Schmeling Halle, and Velodrom `We want to protect Deutsche Entertainment AG operates they [U.S. trade officials] could that Music Channel was unwilling to venues exclusively to concert promot- Waldbuehne (22,000 seats), Max - have done," while Warner Music pay higher royalty fees allegedly er Deutsche Entertainment AG, the independence Schmeling -Halle (11,000), and Velo- Hong Kong managing director sought by MTV Networks. which is based in the city. As a result, drom (11,000), other major local Mark Lankester calls it "absurd." Commentators also pointed out that says Frankfurt -based promoter of the music venues -Wuhlheide (16,000), the U.S. Trade Representative about 90% of MTV Japan's program- Marek Lieberberg, "it is not possible industry in this city' Arena (7,000), and Columbia -Halle Charlene Barshefsky announced ming consisted of material assembled to book an event without this com- (3,000)-are managed by other oper- in Washington, D.C., that Hong in Japan. Last October, MTV Net- petitor taking part of the revenues ators. Kong was being removed from a works International president Bill either in the form of rental fees or The four companies are all head- Schwenkow adds that any artist or "watch list" of markets said to be Roedy said MTV would maintain its overall compensation." quartered in the former West Ger- promoter can rent the Deutsche rife with copyright infringements presence in Japan despite the end of Lieberberg warns, "This situation many. They are Munich -based Mama Entertainment AG- controlled venues because of efforts by officials to the deal with Music Channel (Bill- could also become a model for other Concerts & Rau, MCT (also in Mu- from the company. Artists Lieberberg crack down on the trade. board, Oct. 10). He said MTV was aim- cities in Germany. The one -sided allo- nich), Fritz Rau GmbH (in Bad Hom- will present this year in Berlin include Inclusion on the list means con- ing for a "seamless transition" in the cation of subsidized city venues to a burg), and Lieberberg. By setting up Alanis Morissette, R.E.M., Simply tinuous monitoring by U.S. officials territory, beginning broadcasts via a local concert organizer is as dubious a local office, they say they are re- Red, and Bryan Adams. (Continued on page 73) new, as- yet -unnamed Japanese part- as it is unique in a German city." sponding to a weakening of competi- However, he notes that "the artists ner Jan. 1. In response to what they claim tion in Berlin. In a joint statement, the (Continued on page 50)

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