Artists Wear Fave Causes (Continued from page 100) TRNÁ On Their (Album) Sleeves BY LARRY FLICK free number incorporated into the New York -based concert /recording producers, are put- far. liner notes for Madonna's "Like A ting on the Songwriters Hall of Fame's 21st anniversary NEW YORK -An increasing num- Prayer" and Kiss' "Hot In The awards show May 30 at the Hilton Hotel in New York. FAR EAST STONES: Taking their "Steel Wheels" tour ber of recording artists are promot- Shade," says she had no prior eastward, the Rolling Stones have sold out nine concerts ing their favorite charities and polit- knowledge of either announcement. A LABEL GROWS IN NEW YORK: Although Virgin next month at the 45,000 -seat Tokyo Dome, the band's ical causes in the liner notes of their "The number is a matter of public Records officials have yet to formally acknowledge the first performances in Japan. The shows were announced albums. record, so there's little need for di- revival of the Charisma label, it doesn't mean they by Hiroshi Akiyama, board director of Korakuen, which What was once a space reserved rect contact with our office," she haven't been busy. Track hears that Charisma, which is is promoting the shows along with the BCL Group. primarily for performing credits says. "We're quite appreciative of headed by Phil Quartararo, will open an office at 1790 and personal acknowledgments has anyone who feels compelled to Broadway in New York within the next two weeks. And OFF THE BEATEN TRACK: The Soundscreen label become a forum for artists to offer spread the word that help is avail- when the staff, which thus far has been operating out of was set up in New York last year to market soundtrack information on such issues as ani- able." Virgin's New York office, arrives for their first day at albums. But label president Ron Eyre says he couldn't mal rights, homelessness, and How many people respond to work at the new digs, they will have something to do- pass up non -'track albums by jazz guitarist Larry Cc ryell AIDS. such endorsements? Most of the or- getting albums out by the Charisma artists, many of and opera star Wilhelmina Fernandez. Coryell's album, "It's a wonderful way to get your ganization representatives inter- whom were formerly with Virgin. The Charisma roster in- "Visions In Blue," contains works by Ravel and Gersh- message across in a nonconfronta- viewed reported that monitoring the cludes Sam Phillips, Maxi Priest, In Tua Nua, Frazier win, while Fernandez sings an all -Gershwin program. The tional way," says Dan Mathews, di- origin of letters and contributions is Chorus, Something Happens, When In Rome, Propa- label has previously marketed the soundtracks of such rector of special projects at People often secondary to the actual inter- ganda, T'Pau, Age Of Chance, Slice, and Brent Bour- films as "A Fish Called Wanda," "Pelle The Conqueror," For The Ethical Treatment Of Ani- est generated. geois, formerly of Bourgeois Tagg. and "The Little Thief." mals, an organization currently list- "When people call us, it's usually ed on the jackets of new releases by because they're in trouble," HALL OF FAME AT 5: "It's written in rock'n'roll that GOOD TIMING: Veteran PR man Mort Wax is set to ap- MCA's Belinda Carlisle and Epic's Humphries says. "It's not always 'all you need is love,' " singer Bono of U2 told the crowd pear at MIDEM, where he'll scout new business and an- Indigo Girls. Each sleeve includes a possible for us to find out how at the fifth annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction nounce the formation of a foreign -language recording de- personal vote of support to PETA they've heard about us." dinner Jan. 17 in New York. "You also need good manage- partment for his New York -based firm. Wax is also the from the artists, as well as encour- "Getting the message of what ment, good agents, and good songs. But much more than distributor, via his MD Wax/Courier Films, of a Hungar- agement to contact the group for we're doing is the real priority." that," said Bono, concluding his induction of the Who, ian film, "A Hungarian Fairy Tale," that has been playing further information. says Keith Summa, advocacy direc- "you need a great nose." Pete Townshend followed his in the U.S. for the past half year. Mathews estimates that the expo- tor of the Coalition For The Home- notable nose onstage with band mates Roger Daltrey and sure has introduced PETA to a less. "Whether people are interest- John Entwistle as the final group to be honored at the TWO VETERAN EXECS at Zomba are getting "senior" group of people it does not ordinari- ed in lending a hand because of a banquet. Earlier, the hall of fame honored three musi- VP stripes. Rachelle Greenblatt is senior VP of music ly reach. "Particularly with Belinda, singer's involvement isn't as impor- cians whose work paved the way for rock with inductions publishing, while Paul Katz is senior VP of business af- the response has been phenomenal tant as the fact that they want to of Ma Rainey by Bonnie Raitt, Louis Armstrong by fairs. Greenblatt has spent a decade at Zomba, while Katz with younger crowds who have nev- help." Summa adds that one of his Rickie Lee Jones, and electric guitarist Charlie Chris- has been there for five years. er heard of us, and are not com- most recent staff additions original- tian by Vernon Reid and George Benson. The songwrit- pletely aware of what's going on," ly contacted the coalition via the In- ing teams of Gerry Goffin & Carole King and Motown's EXIT: Bill Burks, Capitol Records' VP of artist develop- he says. "The support from these digo Girls announcement. Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, & Eddie Holland were ment, has left the label. Burks, a seven -year label veteran, artists has been invaluable. If you Why artists are opting for such a inducted, respectively, by Ben E. King and Diana Ross. is a current Grammy nominee for his special packaging have a record that goes gold or plat- subtle means of soapboxing is un- R &B star Hank Ballard was inducted by Boz Scaggs; the concept on the Tina Turner album "Passport." inum, as both of these artists have, clear, though one label representa- late Bobby Darin by Paul Anka; the Four Seasons by the number of people you can reach tive noted that "anything more producer Bob Crewe; the Four Tops by fellow Motown -er MUSIC LESSONS: Northeastern Univ.'s department of is astonishing." overt, like writing a song about a Stevie Wonder; the Kinks by Graham Nash; the Platters music has created a program leading to either a Bachelor. Other organizations that have cause, might create the image of a by Phil Spector; and Simon & Garfunkel by James Tay- of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in music, with a con- benefited from similar endorse- 'political artist.' And being a politi- lor. centration in music industry matters. The music major is ments include the Coalition For The cal artist is not very desirable to said to be the first undergraduate, degree-granting mu- Homeless (Indigo Girls), AIDS Coa- someone who wants to have No. 1 CAPTAIN EO LIVE: Walt Disney World draws numer- sic-industry program in Boston. For more info, contact liton To Unleash Power (Jimmy pop records, because teenagers ous out-of -town stations to several mega -live broadcasts Jess Perry at 617 -437-2440. Sommerville), the Earth Communi- make No. 1 records, and teenagers each year, but the opening of its Star Tours attraction will cations Office (Barbra Streisand, don't usually buy political records. probably have special meaning for WHTZ (Z100) New BOWIE'S BEST: David Bowie will hold a press confer- Quincy Jones, Carlisle), Amnesty It makes sense to deliver your mes- York PD Steve Kingston, Z100 MD Frankie Blue, and ence in London Tuesday (23) to announce a major retro- International (Indigo Girls, Peter sage in a roundabout way. It's more WMJQ Buffalo, N.Y., APD Josh Moon. The three were spective tour coinciding with the compact disk release of Gabriel), the National AIDS Hotline effective than hitting someone over joined in the hot tub at Disney's Grand Floridian hotel by his back catalog in North America by Rykodisc. The (Madonna, Kiss, Sam Kinison), and the head." Michael Jackson, who chatted with them for about an small Salem, Mass., label beat out larger companies for the United Nations Environmental Regardless of the motivation, hour about the Jackson 5 and the 6-7 new songs on his the Bowie catalog rights and the first three releases in the Program (Olivia Newton- John). there is little question that it is ef- upcoming greatest-hits album, among other things. Rykodisc series, "Hunky Dory," "Space Oddity," and Although Carlisle and the Indigo fective. After Olivia Newton-John "The Man Who Sold The World," are due out Jan. 30. Girls coordinated their endorse- printed 10 suggestions for improv- A THANK -YOU: Jean White, widow of Ron White, one "We're very gratified to see how interested David is in ments with PETA, other artists ing the environment, a source at the of the U.K.'s leading music industry figures, who died last promoting the catalog," says Rykodisc director of market- have acted without directly contact- U.N. Environmental Program re- September after a long career at EMI label and music ing John Hammond. Bowie is expected to play European ing beneficiary groups. Carol veals that the group received nearly publishing units, thanks all who made donations in memo- dates before sweeping through U.S. venues in the spring Humphries, director of the National 2,000 letters offering support, as ry of her husband to the Royal Marsden Hospital in En- and summer. AIDS Hotline, which has its toll- well as additional suggestions. gland. Some $11,500 has been donated to the charity so

CASSETTE SINGLE SURVEY RESULTS ALTERNATIVE ROCK (Continued from page 6) (Continued from page 96) sponded affirmatively. cannibalizing albums." In con- case with new artists, even when of cassette singles on album sales. "The first [major label] record sells Overall, 17% of the respondents trast, Jim Caparro, senior VP of 45s and LPs ruled the roost. "I "You have a danger where you maybe 100,000, the second 200,000. said they were interested in buy- sales and branch distribution for don't think anyone has to tell me give people the chance to cherry - Just the last one put them over the ing cassette singles and 83% said PolyGram, states that the evidence that before I buy an album by a pick a cut and not have to buy an top. That's the best you can hope to they were not. Of the latter group, in the Soundata study "could be in- new artist, I have to hear two or album, and give them too low a do with a classical alternative act." 36% wanted more music than is on terpreted in a couple of different three songs [by that act]. I don't price [on the cassette single]," he a single; 31% just did not want to ways, but it reflected in general think it was any different with 7- says. A JUSTIFIABLE EXPENSE? own singles; 19% viewed cassette what our assumptions were." inch vinyl." The major labels raised their Not everyone shares this vi e w. At singles as a poor value; and 14% Caparro's chief assumption, The same exec also points out prices on cassette singles last fall least one alternative mark eting made their own tapes at home. which he first stated last summer that such newly minted hit acts as from $2.49 to $2.99, and some sug- staffer at a major label muses aloud Most record company executives (Billboard, Aug. 12), is that a cer- the B -52's, Paula Abdul, and Milli gested that one reason for the hike that the companies may ultin ately interviewed for this article do not tain amount of album sales are be- Vanilli have all enjoyed big album was to make them less attractive be deluding themselves -th at the believe the survey's results are ing lost on some titles that are ac- sales concurrently with hefty sales compared with albums. While it is ultimate potential of alter n ative conclusive, and Shalett notes, "It's companied by hot cassette singles. of cassette singles. not clear whether the raise -which bands may not justify the expense. not something one should jump at Asked whether the study supports On the other hand, Mike was largely unopposed by retail- "They put a big costly pu sh be- on a one -time basis. It's going to this hypothesis, the PolyGram ex- Omansky, president of Worldwide ers -had the desired effect, hind them," the staffer says. "Did be with us for a while, and the la- ecutive responds, "With a new re- Entertainment Marketing (and, Omansky cautions that labels they really do their homework ? Are bels are thinking about looking at cord by an unfamiliar artist, on the until recently, VP of marketing for should not offer a cassette single they sowing the seeds of thei own it on a long -term basis." first single, definitely; on the sec- RCA Records), cites Columbia's in a situation "where it's perceived demise ?" Nevertheless, some distinct ond single, possibly; and on the decision to pull Martika's "Toy Sol- as a better pro rata value than the But Geffen's Kates cous >ters, viewpoints on the study have third single, negligibly." diers" cassette single at its peak album." He adds that this caveat "The way I look at it is, we're t he fu- bands have Chari: ma. I emerged. A WEA spokesman, for But another label executive, (Billboard, Sept. 30) as evidence "affects the nonsuperstar more" ture ... Our g cul- instance, says that "there seems to who asks not to be identified, that the labels are concerned than established acts. think we're part of a changin be no evidence that singles are notes that this has always been the about the possible negative impact ture." 98 BILLBOARD JANUARY 27, 1990