1351 No. Registration Mail GST1 .20 plus f$2.80 7996 29, - 3.00 July 24 No. 63 $Volume 2 - RPM - Monday July 29, 1996 Concert findastry suffers first-half 996 slump year ago, according to Pollstar stats. The early 1996 stats show that many musical CONCERT continued from page 2 A recent article in concert industry trade journal year totaled approximately $239 million, a 26% veterans have dominated concert sales. Rod Pollstar indicates that concert revenues are down drop from the $322 million in the same period in bandslike U2, the Stones or Pink Flo, Stewart was the top concert money -winner, feels that the concert business c significantly in 1996 compared to the same period 1995. bringing in $29 million thus far, with another in '95. The Dead alone did $29 million in concert balancing effect - if people are sper. seasoned veteran, Bob Seger, second on the list. It one Eagles show, they may not sper The magazine attributed much of the business during the initial six months of 1995. The was also felt that a rash of veteran bands on tour - downturn to the absence of perennial top concert Eagles, meanwhile, who took in $61 million during smaller tours. Styx, Chicago, Foreigner, Kansas- have "In this business, it's difficult t draw The Grateful Dead, which dissolved following the first half of '95, have earned just $10 million cannibalized each other, making for another factor the death of Jerry Garcia a year ago. Another factor so far this year (albeit in just 10 shows). much is enough. For example, had the in the declining revenues. major tours like there were in 1994 considered was the wind-up of the enormously Only 19 individual shows have brought in According to Martin Onrot, president of MCA lucrative Eagles tour. more than $1 million in revenue this year, Concerts Canada, concert revenues aren't down as Revenues for the top 25 tours in the US this compared to 69 shows during the same period a significantly in Canada as they are in the US 990s radio from the "I think it's still healthy in Canada, I don't Lower -than -expected first quarter results for EMI it's dipped as severely. I think in general the by Warren Cosford With the much -rumoured spin-off of its music "I haven't talked to anybody for a long, long business is down, as far as revenue generation is People have been calling to congratul business set to take place in late August, Thorn time, and I don't see any sign of anything concerned, from last year. Perhaps the money has ratings. The BBM says that AM 800 Cl EMI announced that its combined group results happening." shifted around a little bit more, and gone to more from a 7.6 in the fall to a 13.2 in th were below expected levels after the first quarter Rumoured buyers for the EMI Group has parties and more players. But it is pretty close to not often that something like that I of 1996. included the Walt Disney Co., Time Warner, last year's numbers, it's not off a great deal." market with 55 other radio stations. Pre-tax profits for the conglomerate during Viacom,Sony,andtherecently -created One of the thoughts echoed by some in regards But the more things change, th the first quarter (which ended June 30) rose 13% Dreamworks company, founded by Steven to the Canadian concert business is that business remain the same. to 68 million British pounds ($105 million US), Spielberg, David Geffen and former Disney may be down somewhat due to the absence of that Thirty-three years ago I wante< on slightly higher revenues of 1.11 billion pounds president Jeffrey Katzenberg. one monster tour that everyone wants to see, from radio at a station that played rock and ($1.72 billion US). However the pre-tax profits The splintering off of the EMI Group is CONCERT continued on page 3 What I got was a job playing Beethov were below the 70-75 million pound level that most scheduled to begin following a Thorn EMI Sinatra records. It was the best thin shareholder's meeting set for August 16. experts had predicted. have happened to me. For seven years The EMI Music division itself saw profits rise First-half revenues slow for PollyGram world-IA/de just four percent to 41 million pounds ($63 million Hootie & Thelowf US). A light first-half schedule, lower carryover sales increased by 17%. According to Thorn EMI chairman Sir Colin from '95 releases, and a generally sluggish retail In his report to shareholders, PolyGram Henry Neuman, the original manager Southgate, the soft first-quarter results for the environment have all contributed to what has been president Alain Levy noted, "Our major roll -out winning Atlantic/Warner artist He music arm were likely the result of a somewhat deemed 'modest growth' at PolyGram International of new albums began in the second quarter with Blowfish, has sued the South Carolin sluggish music environment in general throughout in the first half of 1996. releases from artists such as Bryan Adams, the $150 million, alleging he was inten many major markets. Net sales for PolyGram International in the Cranberries, Def Leppard, Lionel Richie, out of the millions the band ear -no "Music markets were softish in the first first six months of 1996 are up just 7% from the Metallica, Soundgarden and Sting. We expect sales massive major label debut success, C quarterbutthat doesn't mean anything for the year same period a year ago, with net income up just from these albums to carry over into the second View. as a whole." 1%. Disseminating the numbers geographically, half of the year. 1995 albums which have continued The band, which won the bes EMI did score one hit, on an international North American revenues were up 9%, while to sell well this year included releases by Elton Grammy earlier this year, has sold n basis, with the Virgin/EMI release of George revenues in Europe were up just 6%. John, Joan Osborne and Shania Twain." million copies worldwide of Cracker Michael's Older, which sold more than three In the far east, sales were up 10% in local Levy also noted that "the classical music The group has also now sold more million units in the marketplace covered by Virgin. currencies. Sales were strong in Japan, but Hong market continues to experience soft conditions, million copies of their latest effort, The album is handled by Dreamworks/MCA in Kong and other Chinese -language markets were particularly with catalogue sales." Johnson. North America. slower due to continued piracy. In the rest of the He went on to point out the continued The lawsuit cited breach o The entire EMI Group, which will be spun - world, sales were up 39%, fuelled largely by a development of the company's music publishing fraudulentmisrepresentation, off at summer's end, will include the EMI, Virgin strong performance in Latin America. division, "with strong performances from artists inducement and negligent misrepresen and Capitol record labels, as well as the HMV In terms of actual music sales, PolyGram such as Bon Jovi, the Cranberries, U2, and new causes of the action. record and Dillons book retail businesses. The International saw a growth of 4% in the first-half British acts such as Pulp and Cast." Named as defendants, along IN entire group is expected to be valued at of '96. The PolyGram Group worldwide enjoyed For the second half of 1996, PolyGram is members of the band (Darius Rucker, approximately 5.9 billion pounds ($9.1 billion US). 15 albums with sales of more than one million expecting strong numbers from new releases from Mark Bryan and James Sonefeld) Southgate, however, denied that the EMI units, compared with 12 in the first half of 1995. artists such as Sheryl Crow, Amy Grant, Montell manager Rusty Harmon, and atton Group was being targetted by large media Overall pop sales increased by 2%, while sales of Jordan,JohnMellencamp, U2 and Vanessa companies for a potential takeover bid. classical and jazz units was flat. Other music sales Williams. TRACY CHAPMAN YOU LEARN New Beginning Alanis Morissette Patty Loveless was recently presented with for When Fallen Angels Fly by Sony Canada Elektra - 610850-P Maverick Scott Siman and Allen Butler of Sony Nash Records. Tower at session celebration. the in join Nashville Sony of Butler Allen and Siman Scott autograph in-store an did Monkees the Tour,.. Reunion Anniversary 30th their for Toronto Deeley. Dave Product Country Manager Canada Sony by Fly Angels Fallen When for in While Monkees. The there's hey hey street Queen down walking come they Here Nashville, in award, platinum Canadian a with presented recently was Loveless Patty PICK HIT Vanessa and U2 Mellencamp, in Montell Grant, Amy Crow, Sheryl is Cherney. Ed by produced was album The Goodrum. full. in up paid be would album) Kootchypop Richard attorney and Harmon, Rusty manager from releases new from numbers ong Randy and Thomas Ian Arden, Jann by written the from royalties sales and touring (off Newman current are Sonefeld) James and Bryan Mark songs a money is PolyGram 1996, of half second and Neville Aaron with duet features to owed all that promising band, the Felber, Dean Rucker, (Darius band the of members as years contract to get to as Cast." and Pulp ;uch also three in album studio first Murray's with his undo Neuman attempted four the with along defendants, Named new (APL).