I NTERNATIONAL '78 `Explosive Growth' Cited At Polygram Canada Cony. regional by Kirk LaPointe strengths. We have recently added personnel in Vancouver, Calgary, Win- MONTREAL - Polygram Canada recently nipeg, Montreal and Toronto." held its National Sales and Promotion Con- Harrold feels that a lot can be learned vention in the Laurentian Mountains, just from the approach taken by RSO and north of Montreal. Casablanca, in selling records through film The gathering, entitled "Polygram Puts It releases. "I think that both of those com- Together," was the site for meetings bet- panies have proven beyond a shadow of a ween international Polygram represen- doubt, that if you get to the people, they will tatives and leading U.S. record executives, buy your records. Essentially, in 'Grease,' who were on hand to discuss the progress 'Saturday Night Fever' and 'Thank God It's made by the firm in Canada over the past Friday,' we have a videodisc before the year. videodisc. Radio play, album sales and Among those in attendance were Dr. movie popularity all are interrelated, and all Werner Vogelsang, president of Polydor In- thrive off now." each other EAGLES ARE BACK - After an absence from the stage for over a year, the Eagles stor- ternational and vice president of Polygram Harrold estimates that Polygram will cor- med the Edmonton Coliseum for a recent appearance which also marked the debut of worldwide; Al Coury, president, RSO; Mitch ner 20 percent of the record market this bassist/vocalist Timothy Schmit as a new member of Eagles in a performance capacity. Huffman, national sales manager, RSO; year in Canada. "We've been careful to Pictured (l -r) standing are: Don Henley, Roger Desjardins (WEA); Stuart Harnell (E/A, Mauri Lathower, international vice presi- adhere to the fundamentals in this game," U.K.): Joe Walsh; Glen Frey; and Don Felder.Kneeling are: Mick O'Keeffe (WEA); and dent, Casablanca Records and FilmWorks he says. "We want to make sure that the hits Schmit. Inc.; Bill Levy, director of creative services, get sold, that the catalogue gets worked Polydor, New York; Harry Losk, vice presi- and that acts get broken." dent, national sales, Phonogram, Chicago; Al Coury, president of RSO, expressed Increased Import LP Duties and Russ Regan, president, Parachute his admiration for the Canadian operation Records. in helping to establish acts like the Bee MayCatapultClassical Prices In his opening address to the delegates, Gees, Andy Gibb and Eric Clapton as solid Polygram president Tim Harrold cited the artists in this country. Coury cited his label's by Kirk LaPointe Harrold and other industry leaders in first half of 1978 as the company's most approach of maintaining a small roster and OTTAWA - Classical music lovers in Canada are deeply concerned about the "explosive growth period" in its ten-year maximizing potential. He stated, however, Ganda have voiced concern about a recent possibilities of retail "undercutting" by history. Harrold later told Cash Box, "We that in spite of the phenomenal successes federal government policy decision, which retailers who venture to the United States to experienced a phenomenal 300 percent of individual releases, a company should effectively increased imported record duty buy the discs cheaply, then sell them at a sales increase, and doubled a planned never lose sight of its "bread and butter," its assessment levels, thus driving up the retail competitive price in Canada. budget. While all Polygram countries have catalogue. prices of German discs in this country. Halted imported experienced this enormous growth rate in Coury introduced to those in attendance In April of this year, the Canadian At present, Polygram has halted imports sales, we plan to expand our network in this a sampling of RSO fall releases, among government increased duty revenues on (continued on page 47) country wisely, so as not to outgrow our- them a track from the forthcoming Bee German records to the level of their "home selves." Gees' album, the new Player album market value," which it is felt will inevitably WEA Combines Promo The label has placed itself "a solid num- ("Danger Zone"), as well as comments lift the cost of such albums from the present And Sales Jobs In UK ber three," says Harrold, due to several hit about two new RSO signings, Jim Capaldi suggested list price of $9.98 to a level ex- albums on the RSO label ("Saturday Night (ex- Traffic) and Marcy Levy (vocalist in Eric ceeding $15. LONDON - Aiming to boost radio playlist Fever," "Grease" and Eric Clapton's Clapton's band). Coury also said that Clap - In the past, Canadian subsidiaries and action on new records, WEA UK is forming "Slowhand" album among them), in addi- ton was readying work on his new studio wholesalers bought in massive quantities a special sales promotion team which links tion to success with releases on the album. from German dealers. With the recent the singles sales force and the promotion Casablanca, Capricorn and Polydor labels. The Polydor New York presentation was reappraisal of custom duties, record com- team. Harrold expressed satisfaction with the handled by Bill Levy, who announced the panies in Canada are faced with a 200 per- "The regular sales team continues to ser- company's performance this year. "We signing of 10cc to the label, and spotlighted cent increase in the duty assessed to a disc. vice all our accounts," says Mike Heap, were getting to the point where we had too releases from its new disc, "Bloody Extreme Dissatisfaction national sales promotion manager of WEA, many executives passing decisions up. Tourists," as well as tracks from the new Already Polygram Canada Ltd., the "And they will do the regular marketing releases. However, Now, a lot of the responsibility has been Steve Gibbons album and a fourth largest importer of German records, has campagins and new af- delegated, and people are putting out for recording from Ottawa native Pat Travers. expressed extreme dissatisfaction with the ter that, my new team comes into action in areas where is their salaries. We are a firm believer in es- Mauri Lathower, with the assistance of new government policy. Polygram Canada there preliminary indepen- tablishing strong regional representation Christy Hill, showcased a video presenta- president Tim Harrold said, "Classical dent radio coverage. In those areas where across the country, and developing tion of some Casablanca acts. Announced music lovers are up in arms over the new records are getting airplay, they will com- at the convention was the fall release of four price hikes, as are we. The Deutsche Gram- bine the jobs of plugging the radio stations solo albums by the members of Kiss and a mophon line (with Telefunken, the two af- and selling to the dealers." double live Donna Summer disc. Lathower fected labels) is a huge source of revenue Charly Goes For Gusto announced that the two Village People for us. Last year, classical import sales albums had just surpassed gold status in made up 20 percent of our business in LONDON - Charly Records has secured a Canada. Canada." licensing deal with the Gusto Record Cor- Parachute Records president Russ Harrold has met with the Minister of poration of Nashville. The agreement gives Regan at the convention Department of National Revenue, Joseph Charly access to the King-Federal-Starday /,m.. expressed thanks for the work done with Stonebolt, a Van- Guay, and has pleaded with him to amend catalogue which was formed in the mid - Pictured (l-r) at the convention held recen- couver band signed internationally by the policy through Section 37 of the Cana- '40s by Syd Nathan. tly are: Mitch Huffman, national sales Parachute. It was later announced that the dian Customs Act, which allows the respon- The catalogue includes over 70,000 manager for RSO; Al Coury, president of label had signed Tony Green, a Canadian sible minister to change the act "under ex- masters, with which Charly intends to RSO; and Tim Harrold, president of artist showcased at the convention. ceptional circumstances." launch a 15 album series collectively en- Polygram Canada. INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLERS titled, "Kings Of Rhythm And Blues." France Great Britain Canada TOP TEN 45s TOP TEN 45s TOP TEN 45s 1 Miss You - Rolling Stones - Pathe Marconi 1 You're The One That I Want - John Travolta/Olivia Newton - 1 Grease - Frankie Valli - RSO 2 Let's All Chant - Michael Zager Band - Sonopresse John - RSO 2 You're The One That I Want - John Travolta/Olivia Newton - 3 Bubble Star - Laurent Voulzy - RCA 2 Substitute - Clout - Carrere-EMI John - RSO 4 En Chantant - Michel Sardou - Trema/RCA 3 Boogie Oogie Oogle -A Taste Of Honey - (Tower) - Capitol 3 Three Times A Lady - Commodores - Motown 5 Una Lacrima Sul Viso - Bobby Solo - lbach Disques 4 Smurf Song - Father Abraham - Decca 4 Two Out Of Three - Meat Loaf - Epic 6 Comme Avant - Mort Shuman - Phonogram 5 Three Times A Lady - Commodores - Motown 5 It's A Heartache - Bonnie Tyler - RCA 7 Femme, Femme, Femme - Serge Lama - Phonogram 6 Rivers Of Babylon/Brown Girls In The Ring - Boney M - 6 Baker Street - Gerry Rafferty - UA 8 Tu - Umberto Tozzi - CBS Atlantic/Hansa 7 Copacabana - Barry Manilow - Arista 9 Solitude - Syvie Vartan - RCA 7 Forever Autumn - Justin Hayward - CBS 8 Miss You - Rolling Stones - WEA 10 You Light My Fire - Sheila & B. Devotion - Carrere 8 Dancing In The City - Marshall Hain - Harvest 9 Shadow Dancing - Andy Gibb - RSO TOP TEN LP's 9 If The Kids Are United - Sham 69 - Polydor 10 Break It To Them Gently - Burton Cummings - Port 1 Got The Feeling - Patrick Juvet - Barclay 10 Wild West Hero Electric Light Orchestra - Jet TOP TEN LPs 2 Saturday Night Fever - Various Artists - Polydor TOP TEN LPs 1 Grease - Various - ROS 3 City To City - Gerry Rafferty - Sonopresse 1 Saturday Night Fever - Various - RSO 2 Bat Out Of Hell - Meat Loaf - Epic 4 Elle M'Oublie - Johnny Hallyday - Phonogram 2 20 Golden Greats - The Hollies - EMI 3 Saturday Night Fever - Various - RSO 5 Lilas - Gerard Lenorman - Carrere 3 20 Giant Hits - Nolan Sisters - Target 4 Some Girls - Rolling Stones - RSR 6 Thank God It's Friday - Various Artists - Vogue 4 Nlghtflight To Venus - Boney M - Atlantic 5 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club - Various - A&M 7 Jaloux - Julien Clerc - Pathe Marconi 5 Street -Legal - Bob Dylan - CBS 6 The Stranger - Billy Joel - CBS 8 Nobody Knows - Claude Nougaro - Barclay 6 Live And Dangerous - Thin Lizzy - Vertigo 7 City To City - Gerry Rafferty - UA 9 I Believe - Marion Williams - RCA 7 The Kick Inside - Kate Bush - EMI 8 Pyramid - Alan Parsons Project - Arista 10 Approved By The Motors - Motors - Polydor 8 Grease - Original Soundtrack - RSO 9 Dream Of A Child - Burton Cummings - Port Europe 1 9 Handsworth Revolution - Steel Pulse - Island 10 It's A Heartache - Bonnie Tyler - RCA CRIA 10 War Of The Worlds - Jeff Wayne's Musical Version - CBS

46 Cash Box/August 26. 1978 www.americanradiohistory.com