A NIGHT TO REMEMBER Rompin' Ronnie Hawkins congratulates Michelle Wright after winning the Big Country Award for Female Vocalist. More photos page 16 Photos by Tom & Aline Sandler Volume 71 No. 8 June 26, 2000 $3.00 (S2.80 plus .20 GST) Publication Mail Registration No. 08141 distribution." Messier will become chairman and Seagram and Vivendi agree to US$34 billion merger chief executive officer of the merged group. The deal also calls for Vivendi to assume After much media speculation, the news was finally the 20 board seats. approximately S7 billion in Seagram debt. However, confirmed at ajoint Paris press conference on Edgar Bronfman Jr., who will become the new this debt is expected to be erased after Vivendi sells Tuesday morning (June 20) that French utilities and company's vice-chairman responsible for music and off Seagram's beverage business, which is valued media company Vivendi, along with its pay TV internet activities, said the new lirm "will be the at approximately $6-7 billion. subsidiary Canal Plus, was merging with Canadian- company best positioned to deliver to customers all The merger combines Seagram's vast based liquor and entertainment conglomerate the array of access and content which they will entertainment assets, including Universal Music Seagram Co. The straight stock swap is estimated require, which they will demand, and which they Group and Universal Studios, with Vivendi's various to be worth approximately US $34 billion. will pay for in the 21 century." distribution channels. The new company, to be called Vivendi Vivendi chairman Jean-Marie Messier added, "The Internet of tomorrow will not only be Universal, will have revenue of S55 billion and a "This is the first company to combine premier global MERGER continued on page 2 —) market capitalization of S100 billion. The deal sees and local content with next generation digital Vivendi valuing Seagram at $77.35 per share, an increase of 46% over the company's closing share SOCAN announces new board of directors price of $53 aweek ago. The Society of Composers, Authors and Music McLauchlan, Stan Meissner, Pierre-Daniel Rheault, Under the terms of the deal, Seagram Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) announced its new Gilles Valiquette and Jim Valiance; from the shareholders will receive Vivendi shares valued at board of directors and introduced its newly- publisher members, Mark Altman (Morning Music $77.35 in exchange for each common share on appointed CEO to its members at the group's 1Ith Ltd.), Rosaire Archambault (L'Industrie Musicale Seagram stock held. annual meeting in Montreal on June 14. Inc.), Pat Campbell (Warner/Chappell), Pierre The deal will leave the Bronfman family with The new SOCAN board includes, from the Gendron (Les Editions Tox), Michael McCarty (EMI an eight percent stock in the new company — the writer members, Francois Cousineau, Victor Davies, April Music), Holger Petersen (Stony Plain), Diane largest stake in the new conglomerate — and five of Bill Henderson, Alexina Louie, Murray Pinct (Editions Bloc-Notes), John Redmond (Universal Music Publishing) and Earl Rosen (De Sade Songs). Outgoing president Gilles Valiquette also introduced new chief executive officer Andre LeBel. Mr. LeBel joined SOCAN on May 15 and will replace general manager and CEO Michael Rock, who retires on April 31, 2001. Noted Valiquette, "Andre LeBel brings with him the vision and proven leadership ability that will allow our members to continue to be fairly recognized and rewarded for their work." LeBel added, "I am looking forward to leading SOCAN in atime when there is aconvergence of content in the entertainment, information technology and telecommunications industries. With this integration of industries, there will be agreater need to protect the rights of creators, and Ilook forward to this challenge." SOCAN's 1999 financial year was highlighted by an increase in amounts available for distribution CFAX CEO Mel Cooper receives International Volunteering Award from St John Ambulance from $92 million to S125 million. #1 ALBUM #1 HIT TRACK ALBUM PICK HIT PICK deep spears olips1111111 il EMINEM OOPS! ... IDID IT AGAIN B.B. KING & ERIC CLAPTON WAKE UP TO THE SUN The Marshall Mathers LP Britney Spears Riding With The King Limblifter Interscope -069490632-J Jive/Zomba-N Reprise -47612-P Limblifter Records-J 2 -RPM - Monday June 26. 2000 Obituary -Montrealer s' dedication set benchmark for RCA International never to be forgotten." Stan Kuhn, who recently retired as Chairman Andy Nagy succumbs to heart attack at 73 of Warner Music Canada and is now living in Mellanville, Alberta in the foothills of the Rockies, The industry was saddened to hear of the death of his dedication to the international division. remembers Mr. Nagy joining RCA in 1967 and in record industry veteran Andy Nagy, who died June Now retired and living in Oakville, Ontario, fact took over his position with RCA International 14 in Montreal. He was 73. Preston has many fond memories of time spent with as he was moving on to United Artists. "I lost adear Mr. Nagy had a very successful career with Mr. Nagy. "Andy was one beautiful human being, friend of more than 30 years. He was one of the RCA International from the '60s through the '80s, and Ithink Ican speak for all who worked with him truly good guys of the music business. He was really always maintaining his branch of operation in his and knew him. He was truly agreat guy. agentleman in the true sense of the word. hometown of Montreal. He was aconstant visitor to "When Ihear the term 'networking' these days, "Andy was avery positive individual and over Icredit it to Andy. He was the master. RCA all those years of being together, 1never heard him Internationally benefited greatly from Andy's speak ill of anyone. Marie and Iare going to miss worldwide contacts and in negotiations, he gained him terribly. We send Lilly and the family our the respect of everyone concerned. His handshake sincerest sympathies." on a deal was all that most clients needed as he Mr. Nagy is survived by his wife Lily Swaffield, always showed real compassion for the artists and daughter Lisa and son Drew, grandchildren Makela, the people he worked with. It was his reputation Tallia and Jessica and great grandchild Tatiana. that attracted many of the label owners to RCA Donations can be made in Mr. Nagy's name Canada for distribution and it was his instincts about to Cedars Cancer Fund of Montreal's Royal Victoria musical trends that amazed us all. He had great ears. Hospital or to the Cardio-Pulmonary Unit of either "He has left us with wonderful memories of the Montreal General Hospital or the Jewish General good times in the music business and afriendship Hospital. Carlin America acquires Golden Phoenix Music Corp. New York-based Carlin America Inc., one of the "In recent years, we've observed ahuge surge leading independent music publishers, has in the number of Canadian artists and songwriters announced the acquisition of Golden Phoenix Music breaking through and becoming successful in Toronto however where he consummated many of Corp (GPMC), in a deal approved by Heritage Canada and elsewhere, a trend we're certain will his international deals. Canada. continue," says Bienstock. "Part of our motivation Ed Preston, who was president of RCA Records Founded by industry veteran Freddy Bienstock, to affiliate with GPMC is to participate in and further Canada (now BMG Music Canada), during part of with offices through the US and Europe, Carlin will this growth." Mr. Nagy's tenure, remembers him well as amajor now have asignificant presence in Canada through Golden Phoenix was founded by former player in RCA's Canadian corporate structure and its purchase of majority shares in Golden Phoenix. Warner Chappell Canada president Jerry Renewych in September of 1997. During its two-and-a-half year MERGER continued from page 1 included the likes of Meyer Lansky, Frank Costello existence, Golden Phoenix has received ASCAP and something faster and beautiful," added Messier. "The and other infamous gangsters from the Roaring SOCAN Awards for the #1 country song 26 Cents, Internet of the future will have more practical Twenties. written by Steve Wilkinson and William Wallace and services and information, it will have more Bronfman eventually bought the Joseph E. recorded by The Wilkinsons. The group's debut entertainment and content. For the first time in Seagram & Sons Distillery, which gave his company album was certified gold in both Canada and the Europe, there is a communication group of asize its name, and later acquired such well-known name US. that will be able to rival all the American giants." brands as Chivas Regal scotch, Murnm champagne Golden Phoenix has acted as sub-publisher for Seagram stock rose to $92.40 (Canadian) on and Captain Morgan rum. Before his death in 1971, Nashville songwriter Rory Bourke, who has penned the Toronto Stock Exchange on Monday (June 19), Bronfman had extended the family holdings into oil, songs for the likes of Anne Murray, Charlie Rich, an increase of nearly $20 since the beginning of June. shipping and real estate. By the end of the 1960's, Jo Dee Messina, Tim McGraw and The Wilkinsons. The Financial Times of London reported that the the Bronfman family was the biggest private GPMC also represents Fred Ahlert Music, whose new company would be owned 59% by Vivendi, landowner in Canada. catalogue ranges from Nat King Cole and Frank 29% by Seagram shareholders and 12% by Canal Edgar Bronfman Jr., Sam Bronfman's Sinatra to Lauryn Hill. Plus shareholders. grandson, became Seagram president in 1989, and "It's been ajoy to work with such talented Seagram was built into amultinational business later replaced his father Edgar as CEO in 1994.