Record Crowds At 7th Billboard Latin Confab Fox Music Reorganizes Industry Health Evident In Upbeat Mood, Performances Publishing BY JOHN LANNERT Prior to the kickoff of the confer- not take enough interest to produce Int'l Rights ence-the longest- running confab of statistics for the U.S. Latin market," BY IRV LICHTMAN is now represented by peermusic. MIAMI- Though many Latino record its kind -many industry players said Peer. "I'm told that progress is be- Back on the Continent, Fox has executives have been fretting lately voiced their concern that the continued ing made on this front, and it is wel- NEW YORK -In a move it says made a deal for representation in about uncertain conditions in the U.S. expansion of the U.S. Latino record comed." adopts the regionalized licensing Spain and Portugal with indepen- Latino record market, the mood at market would be shunted by the shaky Peer also observed that the infra- philosophy of its sister film and dent Clippers Edicionas Musicales. Billboard's seventh annual Interna- economic health of U.S. retail chains. structure of the publishing industry home entertain- However, in Italy, where there is a tional Latin Music Conference, held Other executives, however, were needs to be upgraded, saying, "The ment units, Fox particularly strong demand for film April 29 -May 1 at the Hotel Inter -con- heartened by the fact that acts were be- first improvement we need in our in- Music Publishing and TV music, Fox is setting up its tinental here, was upbeat. ing broken. Indeed, several of the con- frastructure is enforcement of existing has made broad own operation. The conclave, which drew a record ference's showcase performers, includ- piracy and copyright laws." changes in its While recognizing that Fox is 500 attendees, featured performances ing Bobby Pulido, Shakira, DLG, and Peer also called for a resolution of an global represen- "bucking the trend" toward single - by 23 signed and unsigned acts, three Soraya, are upstart artists who have ongoing imbroglio in Mexico caused by tation. company worldwide licensing deals industry panels, and a keynote address achieved significant chart success. the suspension of performance rights Fox has had li- in music publishing, Mary Jo Men - by Ralph Peer II, CEO/chairman of Another positive development, said payments to Mexican publishers by censing arrange- nella, -based VP /GM, music publisher peermusic. some industryites, was the possibility Mexican authors rights society SACM. ments with EMI MENNELLA says that in following the regional- The conference ended with Bill- that the Recording Industry Assn. of Saying that he expects the Latino Music Publishing ized philosophy of its sister units, board's third annual Latin Music America would form a committee that record industry to increase in size, in most major markets since 1990, Fox has achieved a "desirable mix of Awards, hosted by actor Michael de will oversee the publication of official Peer added that vital fuel for this am- and EMI Music retains rights for having the two largest music pub- Lorenzo. More than 1,200 spectators sales data of the U.S. Latin market. plified market would come from "rock Northern Europe, including the lishers represent us, as well as were on hand at the Gusman Center The timely divulgence of official en español" bands. "We see [rock en U.K./Ireland, Scandinavia, France, strong independents." for the Performing Arts to see Gloria record -sales information in the U.S. español] as ... a way to connect with Germany, and the Benelux, while Under the with EMI Estefan, Jose Feliciano, and Juan was a topic that Peer addressed during new generations," said Peer. the rights shift to Warner/Chappell Music, she adds, a "more direct line Gabriel receive special awards during his keynote speech. The three industry panels sported Music in Southeast Asia and Latin of communication has been estab- the 2' /z -hour program. "It is shameful that the RIAA does (Continued on page 93) America. In Japan, the licensee is lished." now Fujipacific, while the licensee in In addition to the roster of licens- Australia is Festival Music, one of ing changes, Fox Music has renewed the properties owned by Fox parent its global licensing arrangement Pete Astudillo News Corp., which is headed by Ru- with Warner Bros. Publications, the pert Murdoch. In South Africa, Fox (Continued on page 92) Leads BMI Latin Music Awards ` There's Nothin' Like The Reel Thing' BY RAMIRO BURR

Billboard Launches Soundtrack Column , Texas -Singer/ Pete Astudillo emerged as NEW YORK -Billboard is launch- versity and was editor of Creem the big winner of BMI's third annual ing a biweekly column dedicated to from 1987 -1988. Latin Music Awards held here April 25 covering the rapidly growing market "David Sprague is a talented and at the Plaza San Antonio Hotel. The for soundtracks and film scores. The resourceful entertainment- industry ceremony honored top Latin songwrit- column, "Nothin' Like The Reel reporter," says Billboard editor in ers and music publishers. Thing: Sound- chief Timothy White, "and his role in Astudillo co-wrote BMI's Latin song track & Film this dramatic expansion of our of the year, "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom," with Waltzes With Love. Violinist André Rieu and Mercury Holland executives Score News," is soundtrack coverage is a key one. the late Quintanilla -Pérez, bet- stopped by the New York office of PolyGram Classics & Jazz to celebrate the by Bill- His love of film and music, as well as ter known as Tejano /pop superstar Se- edited U.S. release of his "From Holland With Love, Waltzes I've Saved For You." board contributor his great curiosity about the explod- lena. In addition, Astudillo, who A crossover success in Europe, the album spent 52 weeks atop the charts in the David ing overlap of two records for EMI Latin, was named Sprague these creative Netherlands. Pictured, from left, are Jan Corduwener, managing director, debuts this fields, will ensure that Billboard's songwriter of the and Mercury Holland; Rieu; Stuart Pressman, director of marketing, PolyGram week on page 55. readers have an exciting edge infor- year, along with Classics & Jazz; and Marcel Gelderblom, manager of international development, is a mationwise." Juan Luis Guerra. Sprague Mercury Holland. In front is Suzanne Ford, manager of publicity and promotion, SPRAGUE They New York -based The soundtrack column will ex- Philips Classics. earned three freelancer who plore activity in the burgeoning ar- awards apiece to tie regularly contributes to Billboard, eas of film and theatrical scores and for the honor. , Request, and Inter- soundtracks, with news on upcoming Among Astudillo's view. He also serves as deputy editor releases and unique marketing CSN &Y Sued By Former Drummer award -winning of the "Trouser Press Guide To '90s strategies. songs were "" and "Amor Rock." Sprague will continue to write for Claims $200,000 In Back Royalties Prohibido," the latter of which earned Sprague holds a bachelor's degree Billboard and other publications on a a Latin Music Award and a BMI Pop in journalism from New York Uni- freelance basis. BY EILEEN FITZPATRICK quired under the agreement." Music Award in 1994. "They were peeved at some of the The award for Latin publisher of the LOS ANGELES- Former Crosby, accounts in the book," says Taylor's at- year went to peermusic, which notched Stills, Nash & Young drummer Dallas torney, Mark A. O'Brien, "and some four winning songs. It was the third Edel America Uses Soundtracks Taylor has filed a lawsuit against his felt they were portrayed in an unflat- time the Los Angeles -based publisher former bandmates, claiming they owe tering light." received the accolade. As On Ramp Into U.S. Market him at least $200,000 in back royalties. Taylor, who now works as a sub- BMI president/CEO Frances W. The lawsuit, filed April 23 in Los stance abuse counselor, is writing a Preston hosted the program at which BY DOUGLAS REECE file," says First. Angeles Superior Court, says Taylor screenplay based on "Prisoner Of citations of achievement were given to "Instead of pouring money into a entered into an oral agreement with Woodstock." He has suffered various writers and publishers of the 55 songs Neophyte label Edel America Re- baby band and marketing from David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Graham health problems as a result of his drug most performed on U.S. radio and TV cords, which released soundtracks for scratch," he adds, "we're able to work Nash, and Neil Young for songwriting and alcohol addictions, and, like for- in 1995. A special citation was present- "The Birdcage," "Diabolique," "A with a built -in promotional budget and and performance services in 1969. mer bandmate Crosby, underwent a ed to the family of Selena in honor of Family Thing," and "Mulholland get in the game right off the bat." Although Taylor has received a por- liver transplant in 1990. In order to her contributions to the popularity of Falls" in April, is hoping these pro- First says that the label's directive tion of his royalties, the payments raise funds for the operation, CSN &Y . jects will become building blocks for to license and sign U.S. acts for world- stopped on or about the time of the played a benefit concert for Taylor. Following are the winning songwrit- future endeavors outside the sound- wide distribution will be enhanced by publication in 1994 of his tell -all book The lawsuit claims that CSN &Y ers and publishers at the BMI 1996 track business. promoting those acts on soundtracks. "Prisoner Of Woodstock," the lawsuit took advantage of Taylor's health and Latin Awards: The label, which is the newest divi- Edel America also holds interest in claims. financial problems to avoid paying "A Pesar De Todo "-Nelson Ned; Irmaos Vitale SA., Multitune Inc. sion of Hamburg -based independent Curb Edel Entertainment, a In the book, Taylor offers what he royalties. It also says that his business "Amor Perdóname " -Javier Galván, label edel co., was established in Sep- Nashville -based joint venture between called an insider's look at the band and financial manager mishandled José Rosario; Pig Haus, Sony Latin. tember 1995 and is based in New York. Curb Records and Edel America, members' -as well as his own -al- tens of thousands of dollars from the "Amor Probibido" -Pete Astudillo, A.B chief of Edel Ameri- which has released in the U.S. leged drug and alcohol abuse during musician. Quintanilla III; AQ Three, EMI -Blackwood, Jonathan First, Peace Rock. ca, says the company went the sound- from such acts as Fun Factory. his tenure with the group in the late The lawsuit claims that because of "Anoche Soñe Contigo" -Mateo Camar- track route to establish itself in the First says edel co.'s solid interna- '60s and '70s. "the music defendants' awareness of go; peermusic. recording community with minimal tional reputation and its ownership of The lawsuit claims that Crosby, Taylor's problems and incompetence "Bidi Bidi Born Born"-Pete Astudillo, make it an at- Stills, Nash, and Young have taken of- to handle his own affairs, [they] elect- Selena Quintanilla -Pérez; Fat And Funky, risk. manufacturing plants Peace Rock. "We thought targeting some of the tractive business partner for studios fense at their portrayal in the book and ed not to continue paying Taylor." "Cariñito De Mi Vida "- Héctor Z. As- bigger- budgeted Hollywood films looking for quick payment and turn - "have elected and decided not to con- Taylor has songwriting and perfor- camilla; Betito Music. would be a great way to build our pro- (Continued on page 93) tinue paying Taylor the amounts re- (Continued on page 91) (Continued on page 68)

4 BILLBOARD MAY 18. 1996 www.americanradiohistory.com