Ar Was Far from Happy. 1992 Still Holds Highlights For

Home , Sleeping Satellite

one tomorrow... :ar was far from happy. 1992 still holds highlights for many yet, as Martin Aston finds out LAUNCH OF THE YEAR: JASMIN ARCHER old Motown fan and I think that SIMON FRITH andrecord respect. gave MotownI became back Polydor its stature MD at Chairman, Mercury Music Prize theproperly end of this last year year was but the starting best thing Arrested"My favourite Development's record this single year was People signedof the year to Polydor for me. as In an 1972,1 artist, was when I typeEveryday. of person, I've alwaysand I found been myselfa singles Inwas 1976,1 the bass started player working in Bilbo for Baggins. the onehaving a lot. to Ofgo alland those buy andrappy, listen dancey to that suchlabel aas vibe a regional to be back promotions running guy.the It's rightsounds, combination that was the of voicesone to andget the yearscompany ago." where I started all those rhythmsmost notable that eventworked. of theFor year me, thewas the JOHN DEACON involved.Mercury MusicIt restored Prize, my just faith by beingin the Chief executive, BPI stateme feel of optimistic." British pop music, and made favourite"As an avid release Sinatra of thecollector, year was my DIANA GRAHAM Sinatra — Music From The CBS Mini Managing director, tracksSeries byare Harry taken Connickfrom a TV Jnr. mini- As the Arista Records series,n, the but two-album it's totally s< unique because Clapton's"My favourite v recordin of Layla w i Eric from the the archives3 four of decades four different of masters record from wasUnplugged a brilliant album, adaptation which I of thought one of my companiessinger. The ofmost the notablework of thingone great that favourite songs. I like everything by Aof year Bradford. ago singer-songwriter That she has emerged Tasmin as Archera bright was new unknown hope for Britishoutside talent the confines is down, of in her no home small town part, happened to me this year has to be Arrestedand sound Development good, and have too good — they look to EMI which demonstrated its confidence by investing a sizeable budget in her promotional Awardreceiving — thethough British the Musickiss from Industry theproduction. last and Beingprobably top thesingles current label of 'Havecampaign. You Heard Appearing Of Tasmin three Archer?' weeks before teaser her was first designed single Sleeping to arouse Satellite, curiosity. the But company's the message novel Michael Levy ran it close." quarter was the highlight of the year, behind the Capital FM ads — which earlier this month won an Independent local Radio Advertising ofand the having year in the Snap top twoand sellingWhitney singles Award and included a voice shouting 'Buy If in the middle of Sleeping Satellite—was not so Artist,MARCELLA Shakespears DETROIT Sister Houston. It proves that if you have enigmatic. EMI's commitment has clearly paid off. Archer's debut single, Sleeping Satellite, "I don't really listen to that much willingthe right to record,buy singles, people it's ar self-pennedreached number debut one single in October since Maria — she McKee became in the1930 first — soloand Greatartist toExpectations top the singles continued chart with the trenda other music these days, because that." a few weeks later by entering the album chart at number eight. influenced,there's too muchbut I'd danger say that of beingPearl RICHARD HANDOVER Jam's Ten, like the Red Hot Chili Managing director. CORPORATE REBIRTH OF THE YEAR: BMG Peppers album last year, was probably Our Price Music Rhythm Is A Dancer—the year's two biggest mouldmy favourite. of what Both pop musicrecords is brokeabout the — "My favourite record was Ingenue by selling singles. For chairman John Preston, it rebelliousboth were verytoo. The successful most unbelievable but very KDI'd travel Lang, anywhere I'm afraid to I'm see a KDher. freak.From a sawwas ahim year appoint of sweeping new bosses restructuring for BMG whichClassics event this year was when Stay went to business point, my highlight was BERTELSMANN MUSIC GROUP and the Arista and RCA labels. They in turn there.number That one was in the pretty UK andmindblowing. stayed undoubtedlyI hope it has anthe effect Mercury in the Music long-term Prize. Going into 1393. BMG's staff have a whole lot companyinstigated is fundamental run. So far the changes most visible to the resultsway the AmericaPlus getting was into a monumental the Top Five in music,to establish and becomes building the credibility Booker ofin more to be optimistic about than they did a have been in the singles market, although achievement." managedmusic. From my afirst personal team chase,point of which view, I year ago. The company has seen a dramatic thanks to successful new albums from Annie TERRY FOSTER-KEY is four horses going hell for leather turnaround in its fortunes in the past 12 Lennox, Take That and Curtis Stigers, the Deputy managing director and over a cross country course. Put it this themonths, Christmas its new-found number onesuccess and — capped in Whitney with company's albums performance has steadily chief European financial officer, way, it was a somewhat edifying Houston's 1 Will Always love You and Snap's 1991.improved since the 4% low it hit at the end of EMI Music Publishing experience, but a new challenge met." "I'd like to pick Life Of Surprises by ManagingSTEVEN HOWARD director, Music Week award for Now 20, the memories. The best thing this year year.Prefab The Sprout lyrics as are my outstanding, album of the and Zomba Music Publishing bestexciting selling as I compilation have never acceptedfor 1991, was was12 counterfeit for the APU tape to havefactories. taken Tape out musicvery poignant, as well. Iand was it's elected very goodchairman year"The wasBest the Of Patsyrecord Cline I played reissue most, this but saysuch things an award in front before, of all and those I had people. to recession,piracy has soincreased we've concentrated during the on year,of the so MCPS I suppose at the that beginning would be of thethe Annieof new Lennox'srecords, myDiva. favourite It's a superb was Angusquite special. Deayton Becoming was there, pregnant that was was thingthis type to be of confronted piracy this byyear. a problem It's or ifmost one notablelooks at personal the industry event. in Perhapsthe long productionperformance coupled with a withflawless the fact its ' by Angus andyear another has been to exceptional. get results, andI hope this my formatsi, I'd gothat for will the hopefullylaunch of replacenew the Britishprobably album been inthe th most US insuccessful 1992 We life gr ti, better next year too!" oneexisting will succeedmarket forI don't cassettes. know —Which both theOutside space "re of abirth year, of what two sons stood within out for TIMDABINAnti-Piracy Co-ordinator, BP1 JIMMY DEVLIN possibly, but I have a hunch it will be me this year was Gazza's brilliant "It's a very recent record but Whitney Managing director, Polydor theDCC. format, The backwards as it was described compatibility to me, of comebackpassionate at about Wembley. football I just — it'sfeel a Houston'sthe one. I like 1 Will songs Always that Love affect You me, is gives u a hcuU start." Continues overleaf MUSIC WEEK 26 DECEMBER 1992 9