Kross, Missy Elliott, The German record industry released a deluge of new impressive list of guest artists -Kris The first single, "Throw this autumn in an attempt to reverse the negative Wyclef Jean and Janet Jackson. (Yo Yo Get Funky The Sequel)," features sales trend of this year's first three quarters. The latest eco- Your Hands Up in a concoction of funky basslines, nomic data suggests that the industry has now bottomed from Chicago hooklines. The is out and consumers are spending more money on music driving beats and sample -based Turkey, Holland, Belgium, again. getting released in Greece, France, Italy, The fourth quarter in , as elsewhere, brings the Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Africa, Australia, Hong strongest slate of releases from major and independent Denmark, Finland, Norway, South U.S. release is pending. record companies. Following is a sample of the priority Kong and Taiwan. A its on the six -piece German - releases planned for the end of the year, including titles tar- Koch Music has set sights Paldauer, whose album geted at the international market. language pop /schlager band Die "Pures Glück" (Pure Happiness) was released in mid - founded in 1969, has EMI Electrola has unveiled a spectacular project -an September. The band, originally while still maintaining eight -CD anthology covering five decades of German pop undergone several lineup changes its following. Eleven gold albums and one platinum disc music. It is based on the 1 2-part TV series "Pop 2000: 50 popularity. Constantly on Years Of Pop Music And Young People's Culture In are proof of the band's ongoing tour of Germany, Germany." Singer/songwriter Herbert Grönemeyer's label the road, the group is on a 49 -city and Austria through the middle of this month, Groenland (Greenland) is releasing this boxed set as well Switzerland major TV appearances. The album is getting as a compilation of 17 acts performing the songs of other RONEY T. including four through radio and TV pro- German artists. This CD of cover ver- exposure motion, a massive print- advertising sions has met with a very favorable and in -store marketing, as public response. "The entire project is campaign Selb, managing director at very refreshing and clearly demon- well. Franz Music, says, "Die Paldauer are strates the enormous hit potential CH Koch TITLES TJ waT thoroughbred pros who perform live which German pop music has," says on stage every day as if it were a case EMI GSA president Heinz Canibol. "It h GERM N LaltieLS aRE teStiN the wateRS with ig fouRth- life or death. They believe in the helps to encourage greater identifica- of QIJaRTeR RELeaSeS they hope WILL Re- IgNlte SaLeS. is down -to- tion with German history and music they make -which honest music for a broad audi- enhances the appeal of German pop earth, BY WOLFGANG SPAHR and ELLIE WEINERT not just for some exotic crowd. music." The featured artists include the ence, This is pop music in the true sense of No. 1 hip -hop group in Germany, the word, and it is the group's utmost Echt, as well as Udo Lindenberg, Das to have their fans leave their Auge Gottes, Jan Delay, Absolute include the title track, a vocal interpretation of the theme goal happy, content and in a Beginner, Guano Apes, Nina Hagen, music to "Dances With Wolves," a new version of "The concerts good mood." Peter Maffay, Xavier Naidoo, BAP fea- First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," a duet with Colombian director Boris turing frontman Wolfgang Nie- singer Soraya on "What Are You Waiting For" and Mercury managing has announced the second decken, Can, Die Toten Hosen, "Adesso Tu" from the musical "Casanova." Six major TV Loehe project, which Herbert Grönemeyer and Westbam. appearances have been lined up, most notably a perfor- album in the Rhapsody internationally famed stars of BMG Ariola Entertainment GSA mance of the title track with a 60 -piece orchestra at the features Dec. rap and world music. "Hip -Hop is putting its marketing muscle be- Brandenburg Gate at five minutes to midnight on includes such artists as hind "20th Century Hits" by Boney M. 31, as part of a millennium celebration show televised by Meets World" Ismael Lo (Senegal), Rap legend 2000 (MCI /BMG Berlin Musik). This SAT I. Erkan Aki is also dueting with Patricia Kaas for the Scorpio, rai superstar Khaled, Benin - album, released in multiple interna- ZDF TV series "Sturmzeit." "The guy not only has the voice Angelique Kidjo and top rap- tional markets in early November, in- but also the stunning looks. We believe in his internation- born ERKRN RKI per MC Lyte. Mercury also managed cludes Boney M.'s greatest hits, sung HERBERT GRONEIIIEYER al success, because Erkan Aki is a modern young man, to secure the services of three of the by the original members of the group, lives in Zurich, records in London and Madrid, sings in leading German new arrange- English, French and Italian and definitely doesn't look like with producers for the ments, rap inter- one of these singing sumo wrestlers. A guy like that has Rhapsody proj- ludes and remix- got to have international potential," says Brem. ect: Peter Hoff by top DJs Independent label EAMS is banking on "Level 6," the es from Benztown in such as Horny long- awaited sixth album by the successful Swiss Stuttgart, Candy - United and Mobi DJ /artist /producer DJ Bobo, which was released in October. "This is his most sophisticated album yet as it station from Bre- T. "Disco classics merhaven and of the '70s have presents dance meeting pop, with diverse musical ele- Gena B. Good proven their qual- ments, in a positive mood," says Helmut Oswald, nation- al and international A &R/marketing manager at EAMS. A Wernik from Ber- ity, and we are lin. "Everyone taking them into boost in sales is expected from a November /December took his or her new millenni- tour of 19 cities in Germany, co- presented by the German the own approach, um with a new mu- music channel Viva and regional radio stations in each city. The single "Together," released in September, has hit linking a wide sical outfit," says variety of beat, producer Frank OJ BOBO the top 30 on the German charts. EAMS is also aiming for SCOOTER Europeanwide sales. Says Oswald, "We feel that this album, which was produced with the help of Jonas to Farian. In the '70s, Boney M. sold Berggren [Ace Of Base] and Andreas Lutschounig [Lou rap and harmonic structures more than 60 million units world- Bega], is diverse in style and meets international stan- form modern and globally appeal- says Loehe. The Rhap- wide. "Magic Of Boney M.," a best - dards." ing songs," of album released a decade ago, Edel has launched the sixth album by dance group sody project proves that good has sold 10 million copies to date. Scooter, titled "Back To The Heavyweight Jam." The three music transcends borders and "We believe in the success of this Hamburg natives-Scooter H.P. Baxxter, Rick Jordan and nationalism and that there are album, because worldwide hits Axel Coon -assisted by co- producer Jens Thele, have cre- strong networks of musicians of music. such as 'Daddy Cool' and 'Ma ated another album with high pan- European chart poten- across all types "World Baker' are timeless songs which tial. Scooter has been achieving gold and platinum records music and hip -hop are mutually each fans all over the world still remem- all over Europe for many years with such hits as "Hyper inspiring, complementing potential is other and creating a universal lan- YRNR KRIS LI. P ber," says Christian Wolff, manag- Hyper." Another edel release with chart- topping ing director at BMG Berlin Musik. teen star Blümchen's live album, "Blümchen Live In Berlin," guage," says Loehe. "Hip -Hop 12 songs BMG Berlin has launched the released in late November. In addition to her hits Meets World" features the album includes including the singles "A Child Is Born" and "Change For A new album, "O- Ton," from Olí. P with the single "Boomerang" and "Herz And Herz," will remain Better Day" "Flugzeuge Im Bauch." The artist won the Echo Award in new songs and proves that this young singer Universal will be launching a new album this month by Germany in 1998 for most successful national single and one of the top sellers in Germany. DJ top European act Loona, titled "Entre Dos Aguas," follow- previously has gone platinum in Germany and gold in managing director Jorg Hacker cites fourth ing the success of her single "Salvador Dali." The disc was Austria and Switzerland following the release of his debut Jason Nevins as a worldwide Epic priority for the of the 1997 hit "It's Like That produced by DJ Sammy and Carisma aka Marie -Jose van album, "Mein Tag." Oli. P will stage his first tour of quarter. Following the success Nevins and der Kolk from the Netherlands, who also sings the title Germany in February and March. (And That's The Way It Is!)," featuring Jason the track under the pseudonym Loona. Loona's first album, managing director Martin Brem Run -D.M.C., which sold 900,000 copies in Germany, test with his debut solo "Life Is Just A Game," sold over 200,000 units and was a believes in the potential of Erkan Aki, a young, Swiss -based young DJ is putting his talent to the album offers great success in Europe and Mexico. She cracked the U.S. tenor of Turkish descent, whose debut album, "Here's To album, "Uni- vs -Al," released in October. The typical hip -house market last year with the single "Mamboleo." According to The Heroes," produced by Nigel Wright, presents a blend a diversified mix, above and beyond the includes an Continued on page 78 of contemporary pop music with classical elements. Songs style of his previous singles. The disc also

1999 72 BILLBOARD SPOTLIGHT BILLBOARD DECEMBER 11. www.americanradiohistory.com