4 RecessionMenzies' interims bites 6 Reich man MW Datable Welsh wizard paint a grim picture US minimalist with this12-page week's digest charts of Profile of iiusic week The Business Magazine for the Music Industry 16 FEBRUARY 1991 £2.25 Rough Trade seeks cash aid beRough negotiating Trade is aunderstood substantial to The planned deal follows a a veryGroup big managingfinancial deal."director resolveOne theirindependent, difficulties." believed fromthe withdrawalits distribution of Revolvernetwork loanis in financialamid speculation difficulties. that it dentseries group of blows and for adds the toindepen- uncer- tails,Geoff Travisarguing refuses the deal to give is still de- creditors,to be one confirmsof Rough the Trade's com- ex-employeesand vandalism over by thedisgruntled last two details,The company but it is refuses believed to givethe taintyManaging about directorit's future. of its dis- labelsunder havediscussion. been incredibly"All our ing.pany is in no danger of collaps- months.Since Kimpton-Howe joined ousloan cash-flow is needed problems, to resolve which seri- Kimpton-Howetribution arm admits Georgehe has supportive,"Leading independent he says. label moneyHe says;to the "They bank anddon't I can'towe yearfrom ago,arch Roughrival PinnacleTrade has a several labels. pastreceived week several asking calls whether over the RoughMute, whichTrade, is issueddistributed a state- by jorremember company the called last timein the a ma-re- frombeen accusedits indie ofroots. moving Teething away admittedLate last ityear had Rough been Trade in companyHe says: is in"We receivership. are not in thatment Roughsaying: Trade "We arehave aware had ceiversRough in thatTrade situation." has been whentroubles it movedplagued to the a newcompany com- discussionsUS company with was Geffen. refusing The currentlydanger of goingwaiting under. to finaliseWe are seriouswe are committedfinancial problems to help them and recentplagued months, with problemsculminating over in puterisedLondon last warehouse summer. in north Elton and Lisa: true Brits lndiesvoteforfu'!timCT Elton John, Lisa Stansfield O'Connor: brellaIndependent is to open association a full-time Um- of- willThe be office'smet by anrunning increase costs in andBritish The music Cure — are and the that's best of-in MirhnelBest International Hutchence: Best In- increasefice next itsmonth support in an for effort labels to yearmembership and from fees a toMCPS/Um- £50 per ficial.The names of the award- Bestternational International Group Newcomer— 1NXS: andA distributors.temporary office has been scheme,brella/BPI which import is duty still stamps being winners140 member chosen companies by the BPTswere —^-MC-Hammer;track — Twin Peaks;Best Sound- . Best nual Umbrella seminar, but finalised.It was also decided that a heldunveiled last atnight the Brits(Sunday) Awards at PavarottiClasskaLLP Domingo — Ift-ffiSByt. Carreras; manentthis year focal there point will befor a inde-per- seminar,new venue London's will be usedULU. for the TheLondon's ceremony Dominion is due toTheatre. be tele- BeautifulBes(._Videp South;— A Littleand Time.Out- pendents needing information. creaseUmbrella the council also plans from tosix in-to throughoutvised on BBC1 the worldtonight in andthe Stansfield: best female standingBritish MusicContribution Industry to the— t last week's AGM. eight representatives. comingAll three weeks. of the top award year'sCure Bestwon Britishlast year's Group BestThe StatusThe Quo.Best Single result, fore.winners Best have Male won Elton Brits John be- VideoThe otheraward awards for Lullaby. were:_£iest One,:hosen by listeners to Radio standingwas recognised contribution for histo Brit-out- Listen-Without-RrejudiceAlbum-By-a^Brilish Artist Vol — press• The Music Week Awards — inish music1986. jointlyik*sl_I''emale„Liaa with Wham! ish1, GeorgeProducer Michael; — Chris Best Thomas; Brit- ceremonythe industry's — takes own placeawards on StansfieldBritish Newcomer, was last year'swhile Bestthis Best—BritishB.etty_Boo; Best - Newcomer International — GrosvenorFebruary House25 at Hotel. London's Should I stay.or should I Weather freezes up sales 8 ordSnow trade storms all overhave thehit countrythe rec- butmitted most a fewwere people in by werethe after- late, says:Daranjo, "We of are Sam having Goody problems stores, closewith earlymany by storesthe bad forcedweather. to livenoon. outside MCA said:London "People have whohad theanyway Gulf with war. the This recession has justand VirginOne earlyMegastore casually in London'swas the perproblems, cent present." but we are about 80 aboutOur finishedPrice, whichus off." has 300 earlyOxford on ThursdayStreet, which and Friday. shut however.Retailers Andy'swere suffering,Records storesits shops across were the not country, badly affect- says Sixallow trading staff to hours get home, were but lost the to earlychain onin ThursdayEast Anglia as soclosed few edBut by theMidlands conditions. chain the Mu- storemal by hoped today to (Monday). be back to nor- peopleThe weresevere visiting weather the stores, over tomerssic Junction had saidforced a lackit to of close cus- theBy worst Friday, weather which of thesuffered week, atmost the of worst the country possible has time come for earlyEven at Gallupthe end fellof lastvictim week. to fifthrecord of staffcompanies were absent. reported WEA a lowretailers, due towith the salesrecession already and wentthe freeze down when briefly its oncomputer Friday 7.12.CD.NIC RELEASED: 18thFEB quiet,and EMI while said Phonogram the day wasad- Christmasthe traditionally period. quiet Prankpost- didmorning not affect due tothe a chart.powercut. It JUST KEEP WALKING THE LOVED ONE STAY YOUNG THE ONE THING SPY OF LOVE DON'T CHANGE ORIGINAL SIN I SEND A MESSAGE BURN FOR YOU MELTING IN THE SUN (LOVE IS) WHAT I SAY DANCING ON THE JETTY ALL THE VOICES WHAT YOU NEED THIS TIME KISS THE DIRT LISTEN LIKE THIEVES NEED YOU TONIGHT MEDIATE DEVIL INSIDE NEW SENSATION GUNS IN THE SKY NEVER TEAR US APART SUICIDE BLONDE GREATEST VIDEO HITS (1980-1990) RELEASE DATE: MONDAY 18th FEBRUARY CAT. NO: CFM 2572 (RUNNING TIME: 120 MINS!) • CAMPAIGN FROM WEEK OF RELEASE INCLUDES - • MAJOR TV ADVERTISING (FOR 2 WEEKS FROM 25/2/91) • EXTENSIVE CONSUMER MUSIC PRESS ADVERTISING • NATIONAL DISPLAY & MASSIVE PR CAMPAIGNS - - INCLUDING "INXS WEEK" ON RADIO 1 HOW TO ORDER - (OTHER THAN WITH YOUR REGULAR SUPPLIER) • THRU' YOUR POLYGRAM REP - CALL POLYGRAM ON 081-590 7790 OR DIRECT TO POLYGRAM VIDEO ON 081-994 9899 /S DESK: 071-583 9199 NEWS COMMENT BCM halves staff to stay afloat Dance label BCM is slash- it had only recently opened an the UK, but across Eur- chart act. Twenty 4 Seven, pering itscent staff in bya bidmore to thanremain 50 has been very unstable Rothwell comments; "We are RothwellUK label says managerthe company Ruth — along the way. le acts hangingment, but on itto couldthem changeat the mo- at Donnawhich hadAllen's hits Joylast Andyear Painwith '91"We by alsonot sholosl g up.Midem Obvi-" ' anyBCM time." will now become in- forfaced a cash a February injection. To1 deadline meet it, and Mixmasters' Grand Piano ously we owe sc volved in manufacturing in BCM decided to cut staff num- —by isdropping trying toacts spread and itscutting costs ofmake money, sure but th; v thePreviously UK for the the first company time. im- berstions, in including all its European in Paris opera-where She says: "We have had sue- On the future of BCM' ported all its product from Europe. Roughbeen theTrade easiest has neverof R1 albums animalsIt challenged to understand. industry orthodoxybeginning whenright fromit started the as playlist Big names seek a co-operative. hasFor stood more more than or a lessdecade at the it imminent vanguard of that peculiarly Radio One will reveal details independentBritish success music. story — justof its anew-look few weeks, playlist says within the CIN charts deal apedWlule or joinedmany ofthe its ranks rivals of station's head of music Chris number of ways of generating insistedthe majors, on goingRough its Trade own way. thatDespite discussions claims surroundinglast week asidemore incomefrom straight from the licensing charts affectionInevitably for its worker idiosyncratic stillthe albums-basedat an early stage, playlist Lycett are aimduring is tothe make next the month. chart Thepay companiesto various aroundpublications the world. and democracytraditionally in run an byindustry strong "emerge"says the soon.new format will forBut itself. chief executive Adrian forA the chart industry information and media hotline is withindividuals its bigger found brothers. Uttle favour in Singlesthe playlist, will still he play adds, a partbut pedWistreich about iswho staying is likely tight-lip- to put being planned. This will independentsThe arrogance who of claim the a highlighting album tracks will up the financial backing that supply1S a full0 range of facts and monopoly of virtue is clearly andgive producerslisteners morebetter freedom pro- towill the bring music thousands industry. of pounds 0898CIN premium also plansTa rate telephoneseries of continuedidiotic, but to Rough show Trade that it hasis grammes,"Given thehe adds.evidence of the are believed to include banks, ersinformation who feature services. the numbersPublish- otherpossible than to thehave bottom priorities line market it makes sense that we confectioners and cosmetics i alongside their charts will be and yet still produce hit waysshould of investigate reflecting theand shifting devise companies.ant Coca-Cola But is softthought chinks to