`N SYNC'S INDIRECT PATH TO THE TOP (Continued from page 6) (responsible for producing Spears) less where a record was produced, many." million albums sold worldwide are in haven't. We've just had to spend a lot with Kristian Lundin under the within the industry BMG Ariola BMG Ariola's head of internation- the U.S., according to BMG. The of time in the U.S." supervision of BMG A &R exec Munich is the first to admit that in al, Susie Armstrong, says that the group has been busy satisfying U.S. The band's agenda for this year Andreas von Oertzen in Munich. The 1997, a German- produced American climate changed over the time that demand, which has resulted in the will concentrate on the U.S. The label and creative team was a simi- boy band was not necessarily on top 'N Sync was being developed. BMG U.K. label Northwestside hav- group will play arenas there from lar constellation to what led to the of every affiliate's wish list, and it "Five years ago, I would not have ing to wait until May to release the March to May, then visit the U.K. to Backstreet Boys' European success. encountered resistance among col- had a fighting chance with this act" album. launch the album there. June sees The album was originally released leagues. However, the attitudes of key "We've had difficulty bringing the act recording, then a third set of in May 1997: That version has sold For Thomas M. Stein, BMG's executives in the U.S. changed. them back to Europe," acknowl- tour dates takes up most of August. some 820,000 units, according to GSA/Eastern Europe president, the Among those responsible for bring- edges Armstrong. The group mem- September and October will feature BMG, mostly in the GSA and East- American success is a vindication of ing the group to U.S. audiences are bers too are keen to return to the a possible tour in Brazil and the al- ern Europe regions. The U.S. album, his personal efforts to see German RCA Records director of interna- place where their career started: A bum's release. out in March 1998, contained extra companies export more acts. "Ten tional A &R Vince DeGiorgio, who promo trip in late January and early Work is already under way on the tracks recorded in the U.S. with co- years ago nobody would have worked on the U.S. version of the February took them back, though new set, which, says Fatone, "will ordination from RCA Records direc- thought this possible," he notes, that album, and Dave Novik, senior VP touring will keep them in the U.S. have a worldwide release date so tor of international A &R Vince "an American band signed to a Ger- of international A&R at RCA. BMG for the foreseeable future. Says that nobody will have it before any- DeGiorgio. This second version has man label could sell more than 8.5 Canada international product man- Fatone, "Until [then], we'd been body else." The next album "will be been rereleased in international ter- million units. It proves once more the ager Shelley Snell was also an early away from Europe for about nine coordinated in that way, unlike our ritories and is being re- promoted in high standard of creativity and mu- believer, according to Armstrong. months. People in Germany feel debut, which came out nearly two some European territories. In addi- sic production coming out of Ger- To date, some 6.4 million of the 7.4 we've abandoned them. But we years ago in Germany." tion, the U.S. has sold some 1.8 mil- lion copies of the group's "Christmas Album," according to BMG. Outside DION DOMINATES CANADA'S JUNOS the U.S., BMG issued "The Winter (Continued from page 8) Album," a hybrid of the act's releas- es, which has sold 159,000 units. by the end of the year. New group: Johnny Favourite Wish," Deborah Cox (Arista). the Tragically Hip (Universal). `N Sync member Joey Fatone Jr. With six nominations, Dion led this Swing Orchestra (Universal). Rap recording: "Northern Songwriter. Bryan Adams. says he believes the act's writing and year's pack of nominees. She was Country group or duo: Leahy Touch," Rascals Featuring Choclair, Producer. Colin James. production team has given the group shut ait in two nominated categories (Virgin). Kardinal Offishall, Thrust & Check- Video: "Forestfire," David Usher, the edge. "We liked the sound that by Barenaked Ladies The Reprise Country female vocalist: Shania mate (Figure IV/ViK). directed by Javier Aguilera (EMI producers like act's "One Week" beat out "My Heart Twain (Mercury). Alternative album: "Rufus Wain- Music). Denniz Pop and Will Go On" for top single, and Country male vocalist: Paul wright," Rufus Wainwright (Dream - Walt Grealis Special Achiev- Max Martin were "Stunt" beat "Let's Talk About Love" Brandt (Reprise). Works). ment Award: Allan Waters. doing," he says. for top pop album Barenaked Ladies R &B /soul recording: "One Rock album: "Phantom Power," Hall of Fame: Luc Plamondon. "They had worked provided another upset this year in with Ace Of Base, beating out the Tragically Hip as top Robyn, and Five. group. COMPANY LAUNCHES SERVICE MEASURING ONLINE TRANSACTIONS have orig- In other surprises, internationally They an (Continued from page 6) sTEIN final sound ... a known Canadian acts the Moffatts very full, upbeat and the Wilkinsons lost to Johnny Bernstein's partner in the venture ceased product." "Everyone is trying to find a Swedish pop sound that we like." Favourite Swing Orchestra for top is Steven H. Ambers, formally an ex- The monthly report can be as de- standard to make sure everyone Adds Wright, "The European new group, and Leahy beat out both ecutive at royalty audit firm Moss tailed as the client desires, figuring gets paid," says Bernstein, "and producers were creating something the Wilkinsons and perennial fa- Adams LLP. The company is based royalty rates for all or a few parties what we're offering is a way to mea- fresh and new And Americans sup- vorites Prairie Oyster for top coun- in Los Angeles. involved. sure intellectual properties distrib- ported it. It was a clean-cut sound. try group. Royalty Review Council got its RoyaltyConsultants.com, though, uted over the Internet that has And the act supported that. Parents In other country categories, as feet wet in the E- commerce world will not distribute payments. integrity" liked it, too. So the sound took off expected, Twain won as top female when it determined valuations of here, too. In Europe, it wasn't a new vocalist and Paul Brandt as top male royalty streams for "Bowie Bonds" sound, it was just pop music." vocalist. (Billboard, April 25, 1998). `N Sync's success in Germany was In other key categories, Blue The RoyaltyLoad code is embed- to a great degree due to the group's Rodeo front man Jim Cuddy was ded in the secured credit card func- Soiiy Discos To Close Warehouse nationality, argues Bolz. "We could named top male singer, Melanie tion of a site, and each time a con- not have done this with a German Doane was named top new solo artist, sumer clicks through to complete an BY JOHN LANNERT with outside companies. band. Americans are great enter- "One Wish" by Arista's Deborah Cox order it registers with RoyaltyCon- Citing a desire to improve ser- "We will do our best to relocate tainers." was named top R&B/soul recording, sultants. If the credit card is reject- vice to its retail clients, Sony Dis- the warehouse staff and those we Wright also notes that the group's Rufus Wainwright's self -titled ed, the system does not record the cos is switching its distribution to will not be able to relocate we will singing and dancing ability allowed it DreamWorks set won as top alterna- sale. Sony Music beginning June 1. take care of financially," says to stand out. "Many of the big teen tive album, and "Phantom Power" by The company provides a monthly The last of the self- distributed Welter. "We have been very good acts at the time in Germany were not the Tragically Hip won in the fan- audit report to its clients, which can Latino imprints, Sony Discos also to each other for the past 20 years, singing live," he says. "They were all voted best rock album category. include artists, business managers, is scheduled to phase out its and we're going to stay that way lip- syncing. And `N Sync wasn't. Produced by Lynn Harvey and publishers, record or film companies, Miami warehouse by June 1. The right up to the end." They can sing. So they would always directed by Ron Meraska, this year's or the E- commerce site itself. Re- warehouse was opened in 1979, Welzer says bonus incentives sing songs a cappella, as well as with 21/2-hour ceremony was smartly host- ports are generated each month for a when Sony Discos was founded. have been offered to warehouse music. It was important that they not ed by deadpan Canadian TV talk - fee that is calculated on a per -con - Sony Discos president Oscar workers who remain with the come across as another one of those show host Mike Bullard. Among the tract basis. Llord says Sony Music's four company until June 1. They also manufactured poster boy acts." performance highlights were those Although Bernstein and Moss say "state of the art" distribution cen- will receive undisclosed severance by Dion, Philosopher Kings, Pelletier, most of their initial feedback is com- ters in California, Illinois, New payments. SHORTER WAIT Sloan, Colin James & the Little Big ing from their former colleagues in Jersey and Georgia will enable the Llord also lauds the perfor- While the Backstreet Boys had to Band, and Barenaked Ladies, who the music industry the company will label "to have greater reach and mance of the warehouse person- sell more than 7 million albums and performed a calypso- styled rendition also market the service to non- enter- much faster delivery service than nel. But he points out that the wait almost four years before they of "One Week" via satellite from tainment accounts. we had with one warehouse in company's continued expansion were considered as a marketable sunny Australia. "This can calculate sales from all Miami. We now will be able to finally forced a distribution prospect by the U.S. industry, the Juno Awards were presented in 38 types of industries, no matter what overnight our product to any change, which he says "had been market's renewed appetite for categories. Following is a partial list the format is," says Adams. "It's not account on the West Coast." heavily debated throughout the youthful pop in the late '90s saw `N of winners. solely for the record industry" While Sony Music's facilities years." Sync translate its European sales to Best -selling album (foreign or To date, Bernstein says, four com- will handle picking, packing, and Describing the distribution America relatively quickly. domestic): "Let's Talk About Love," panies have signed up for the plan, shipping services, Sony Discos switch as "a major step in the `N Sync began to have an impact Celine Dion (Columbia) including Atomic Pop, the online la- will continue to oversee sales, right direction for our continued on the German charts in early 1997 Album: "Let's Talk About Love," bel recently created by former MCA retail marketing, and customer growth," Llord adds that "it is with the first single "I Want You Celine Dion (Columbia). chief Al Teller. service using its existing staff going to take a little doing to get Back." By December 1998, that sin- Single: "One Week," Barenaked Bernstein and Ambers stress that Frank Welzer, president of used to working with four facili- gle had won best dance clip and best Ladies (Reprise). the system will be marketed to sites Latin America for Sony Music ties and to manage inventories, new artist at the Billboard Music Group: Barenaked Ladies (Re- that legally sell product over the International and former presi- and that will be the initial chal- Awards. "We had much more time to prise). Internet. dent of Sony Discos, says the 33 lenge for us. But we've got some develop the Backstreet Boys," says Female: Celine Dion (Columbia). "There are plenty of new search people employed at the label's pretty good people, and I think Bolz. "With `N Sync we had a year Male: Jim Cuddy (WEA). engines that find illegal product," warehouse are being assisted with they will meet the challenge and a half." New solo artist: Melanie Doane says Bernstein. "We want to work securing jobs within Sony and quickly" While most fans could not care (Columbia). with people who are dealing with li- 84 BILLBOARD MARCH 20, 1999 www.americanradiohistory.com