INTERNATIONAL

MCA, CBS Sign Licensing Agreement INTERNATIONAL DATELINE For U.K. Distribution, Manufacture into the studio soon to cut their second England album for Quality Records' Skyline label .. LONDON MCA Records-U.K. has signed have a high regard for Maurice Oberstein - LONDON Despite the exodus from Lon- Quality, in spite of some lost artists through a licensing agreement with CBS-U.K. for and his team, and the excellent facilities of- - don this week of much of the U.K. music in- new licensing agreements are doing quite distribution and manufacturing of its MCA fered by CBS will provide a strong base tor dustry to Midem, two major events took well with Japan and Bandit, two products and Infinity Records product. MCA's our future objectives." place with large turnouts. United Artists on the Ariola label current licensing agreement with EMI ex- held an elegant party to celebrate Shirley A new production company has pires July 1, so from that date on all new Bassey's 25 years in show biz. at London's emerged to promote concerts at the MCA product and the MCA catalog will be RCA To Handle newest trendy nite-spot Regine's. Flocks of Kingsway Theatre in Toronto, calling itself available through CBS. guest stars and artists from the film, theatre Titan Productions. The firm's first show is a Ron Alexenburg's New York based In- Salsoul Abroad and music industries were in attendance, Streetheart/Bob Segarini twinbill, Jan. 28 finity Records was launched in th9 U.K. last NEW YORK - RCA Records International paying homage to Bassey. Among those ... David McCluskey is doing exceedingly week with a first single, "You Can Do It" and has signed an agreement with Salsoul present were Britt Ekland, Susan George, well with his debut, "A Long Time Coming," album, "Midnight Diamond" by Dobie Gray. Record Corp. whereby RCA will manufac- Malcolm Roberts, Erik Morcambe, Ernie having sold well over halfway to gold cer- Current and future Infinity product is ture and distribute Salsoul recordings in Wise, Ahmet Ertegun, Wayne Sleep tification. The album will not, as planned, be available through CBS, effective im- Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the and Jack Nicholson, among others. released on Janus in the U.S. GRT Cor- mediately. Further Infinity U.K. releases in- Benelux countries, Scandinavia, Spain and An is for next poration is looking for another deal for the clude product from Marva Hicks, Orleans, Portugal. U.K. tour set the Jacksons an 11 disc. kirk T.K.O., Spyro Gyra and New England. The agreement includes RCA distribu- month, who will undertake -city circuit lapointe . Also, the first U.K. in for Commenting on the new operation, tion of the Gold Mind and Tom N' Jerry tour two years Urlah Heep is scheduled in March . .. To which will entail expansion in all areas of the labels. France coincide with the by company, Roy Featherstone, managing Salsoul recordings are already in de- current tour U.F.O. PARIS After her first concerts in Europe, Chrysalis Records is mounting an exten- - director of MCA-U.K. said: "We have en- mand overseas for First Choice's "Hold last April, Joan Armatrading will be tour- sive marketing campaign around the joyed a very friendly and successful Your Horses," Charo's "Ole, Ole," Instant ing again this coming spring in 22 Euro- release of new U.F.O. double live album relationship with EMI over the past few Funk's "I Got My Mind Made Up," the pean cities including Paris, Amsterdam, "Strangers In The Night" Capitol artist years and are naturally sorry to end our Salsoul Orchestra and Gaz, according to ... Berlin, Vienna and Stockholm ending with Moon Martin will be heading back to in association. But since 1976, when we he company. U.K. nine British concerts, three of which will be February for a five -date concert tour became responsible for our own marketing The international agreement with Salsoul ... at London's Wembley Stadium. Ar- And following their recent signing to and promotion, our turnover has increased follows a previous pact signed last June for matrading's fourth album is "To The Limit." Capitol, members Roger by 150% and with the addition of Infinity exclusive RCA distribution of Salsoul exByrds It has been rated by European critics as one McGuinn, Gene Clark and Chris Hillman Records we feel the time is now right to product in the U.S. and Canada. of the top albums of the year. are planning a U.K. visit for three nights at develop an independent company. We 'Positive Attitude' The Kings of Hearts are back in a big way London's Venue Club on Feb. 15, 16 and Commenting on the impact of domestic at the top of the French charts with their lat- 17. Japan Duo distribution deals on RCA's worldwide nick underwood est single on Capitol, which should bring on Boosts Chart Success operation, Arthur Martinez, division vice heavy sales furthered by an impressive president, international, for RCA, said that promotion campaign including TV ap- TOKYO - Victor recording group Pink he has noticed a very "positive attitude" Canada pearances. Maxime Schmitt, manager of Lady, Japan's top selling recording duo, among the international affiliates of the TORONTO - Certainly, the time has come the Capitol label in France, said that the re- continued its Japanese chart success with company. "While there are no immediate for North Americans alike to sing the turn of the group on the charts in France its latest single, "Chameleon Army," which benefits to many of them in terms of praises of Murray McLauchlan. His new might be followed by international success has been number one for the past five product flow," he noted, "it tells them album, "Whispering Rain," is arguably his since all Capitol licencees of the world are weeks. something about how exciting RCA has best work. From start to finish, very excited about the group's last album. "Chameleon Army," is Pink Lady's 10th become, and the fact that we're increasing MacLauchlan's album is as polished and as Also on Schmitt's credits is the success of single to sell more than a million copies. our stature in the industry. In certain of moving as anything he's ever done ... The Kraftwerk, whose last album "The Man The group's last single, "Invisible Man," these agreements, they know we're in there Madcats, with a release due on Bud- Machine" is now gold, as are the first two sold more than 1.5 million units. looking for foreign rights as well." dah/Arista next month, are scheduled to go (continued on page 51)

INFINITY LAUNCHES EUROPEAN OPERATIONS - Nearly 1,000 international record Alexenburg; Maurice Oberstein, CBS-U.K. chairman; Mrs. Edna Albert, George Albert, industry figures and guests recently attended a reception at the Regent Hall at the London president and publisher of Cash Box; Mr. and Mrs. Alexenburg. In the bottom row (l -r) are: Zoo, as Infinity Records formally launched its European operations with dinner and a disco Al Bergamo, president of MCA Distributing Corp; Mrs. Bergamo; Bette Hisiger, executive party hosted by Infinity president Ron Alexenburg. The reception came on the heels of the assistant to the president; Mr. and Mrs. Alexenburg; Bud O'Shea, Infinity vice president announcement that the MCA labels in the U.K. will become independent with CBS U.K. and general manager; Mrs. O'Shea; Alexenburg; and Roy Featherstone, managing direc- providing distribution and manufacturing services when MCA's current agreement with tor, MCA-U.K. Also attending the elaborate reception were artists Dobie Gray and Errol EMI expires. Pictured (l -r) in the top row are: Gary Davison, Infinity U.K. label coordinator; Brown.

50 Cash Box/February 3, 1979 www.americanradiohistory.com