ALBUM CHART: P.24 Opp-Rcn/Irfr 7Qf 1980
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SINGLES CHART: P.9: ALBUM CHART: P.24 opp-rcn/iRFR 7Qf 1980 RECORDS ■ TAPE ■ RETAILING VIDEO BROADCASTING ■ STUDIOS ■ PUBLISHING ST 21 ANNIVERSARY L FOUNDED A X. 1959 ^ Europe's Leading Music Business Paper A Morgan-Grompian Pubiication Stronger Mid-price LPs chart powers sought THE BPI charts committee is to make recommendations to the BPI Council today (17) for ways to out in force strengthen the chart code of conduct and to increase its powers THE INDUSTRY is looking as Ruby Winters and Desmond to sanction companies which increasingly to mid-price and Dekker. Charisma is planning breach it. further releases on its recently These proposals had been mooted budget albums to boost sales established Repeat Performance some time before the allegations of in the vital run-up to series which launched with fraudulent falsification of the chart Christmas. Hawkwind, Van Der Graaf contained in recent TV Following last week's Generator and a various artists programmes, stresses chart announcement that the Beatles are compilation. committee chairman Tony Morris. to be Icatured on the budget Music The RCA International series has Q The committee is also seeking ways for Pleasure label, comes news that now been expanded to some sixty A PA RT FROM any other well-publicised personal reasons for visiting London of increasing the size of the panel the Rolling Stones are to appear on a lilies. The Elvis Presley Christmas last week, Diana Ross also mined a considerable amount of precious metal in of chart return dealers, and is mid-price label for the first time. album in its original sleeve is the the form of a platinum disc for 20 Golden Greats, and silver discs for Upside urging panel members to adhere to A Rolling Stones compilation. latest addition to the pre-Christmas Down, My Old Piano and Diana. Looking pleased, but unable to equal Ms their own code of conduct. Solid Rock (TAB 1), is to head release schedule. Also upcoming is Ross's dazzling toothsome smile, is Motown International chief Peter Prince. Presentations to the BPI, BBC, Decca's new mid-price series. Tracks 20 Terrific Twangers from Duane and Music Week by companies include such hits as Satisfaction, I Eddy. competing for a new "industry Wanna Be Your Man, Not Fade CBS has revamped its CBS- chart" contract when the present Away, Get Off My Cloud, Jumpin' Embassy line and artists on WEA taking on staff contract with BMRB ends later this Jack Flash and Honky Tonk catalogue now include Donna year arc to be heard in the first Woman. Other albums in the TAB Summer, Chicken Shack, The Byrds week of October. series include titles by Tom Jones, and Dr. Hook along with older BMRB will be re-applying for the Vera Lynn, Jacques Loussier and material from Tony Bennett, Ray contract and other organisations Benny Goodman. Conniff and Percy Faith. for new sales team pitching for it will be RSGB, Decca is planning yet another Polydor has recently issued mid- ONLY EIGHT weeks after sacking selling. Until now, both functions Gallup and Record Business. mid-price launch for November price albums by the Bee Gees (The 100 staff, (MW, July 12-19) WEA is have been handled by the one team. • The code of conduct committee which will feature archive material Bee Gees First), The Hollies, Gloria planning a new tele-sales team and is "We were forced to make cut- enquiring into the allegations of from A1 Bowlly, Geraldo, Adelaide Gaynor, Roger Whiltaker, Oscar advertising for staff to run it. backs in our sales force because of fraudulent falsification of the chart Hall and various dance bands. Peterson and the Steve Gibbons The new operation will be based at the economic situation, but we don't met again last week but did not Phonogram, which has had past Band. WEA's distribution centre at want to cut back on our service to issue a press statement. successes with the Sonic and Philips Meanwhile, leading budget label Alperton and will number nine or dealers. PYE/PRT A & R director John International labels has introduced a Pickwick has announced an ten tele-sales canvassers under the House leaves the company this new mid-price outlet, Reflection extensive campaign for its autumn direction of Marion Green who "The new team will sell and Friday (19) and is the latest in a with the first three releases from releases which include albums by becomes telephone sales manager, promote to dealers all WEA product number of departures from the Rod Stewart, Dusty Springfield and Earth Wind & Fire, Buddy Holly, reporting to sales director Mike — new releases, back catalogue, company. Industry speculation Nana Mouskouri. Tammy Wynette, Lena Martell, The Heap. singles, albums and tapes and, later, suggests the future of PRT as a Creole is about to launch a new Faces, Barren Knights and Guys 'N' Heap told Music Week. "What video product. We will cover all fully-operational record mid-price label which will feature Dolls, (see full marketing details in we are doing is to split the two dealers, particularly those accounts company may be open to some 20-track compilations by such names page 2). operations of order-taking and not served in the field." doubt. Blood under fire on discounting ZOOT MONEY STRONG OBJECTIONS from an wholesaler or a retailer but not other things the Our Price policy of indie retailer in Newcastle, Staffs, to both." dropping £1.60 from their top LPs. \1 W \LBl M the retail pricing policies of His approaches to the record Taking Alexander's other points wholesaler Terry Blood (also based companies had, he went on, "only he added: "I am not in the habit of in Newcastle) have brought got the most negative of results". He dealing in imports. As for using my accusations of unfair competition added: "The only conclusions we position as a wholesaler to benefit against those who both wholesale can reach is that the albums on offer myself as a retailer, let's get this and retail records. are imports ... or that the product thing in perspective. If I was doing Clivc Alexander, of The Music is legitimate and has been sold to Mr this on a national basis then there Shop in Ironmarket, Newcastle Blood at a price allowing him to might be some justification for that referred to a series of advertisements make discounts bordering on the allegation; if I were an Our Price, in the Potteries local paper, The ridiculous." Virgin or HMV. You could as well Evening Sentinel, which have Blood made it clear that he as "Should a manufacturer be a regularly listed heavily discounted regarded his position as retailer?' Everyone in every titles available at the Blood retail unquestionably that of a business is trying to de-stock because shops in Hanley and Stoke. Single businessman fighting the effects of of the slump, so we must try and sell albums (from reasonably good trade slump. our records as attractively and catalogue titles to current or last "We have done these adverts to . cheaply as possible." albums from well-known artists) are increase trade. All our LPs arc sold Among comments from other offered for as little as 99p and £1.99 at what we term a competitive price indies near the Blood shops was that — although the majority listed are at — and that's not usually below of Mike Lloyd (at one time Blood's £2.99 or £3.99. During one offer dealer price. But some are at partner): "It's killing business Top 75 singles were offered for 79p specially low prices; these arc locally." and other ads offer them for 89p. overstocks, or have been chosen as Wynd-Up chief Colin Rcilly — Alexander complained: "The emotional levers to impress the who also owns three retail shops, majority of the albums are for sale public and make them come to us. and like Blood acts as a wholesaler at a price much below the dealer Unfortunately we have got into a for a national chain which bought price direct from the companies. I position where we are all selling our him out, said: "1 would not consider it wrong firstly that any new albums too cheaply — but for countenance any of my retail shops wholesaler should be directly each of us it's a case of 'if you don't undercutting local indies. On no IX LUNEl connected with retail outlets, selling do it your competitors will lake all occasion have we passed on our product obtained at below dealer the trade!' " Blood pointed to what discount advantage as wholesalers to MAGIC MOON RECORDS price because of their wholesale he termed "suicidal discounting" ail any of our shops. I don't believe in position. A dealer should be a over the country, quoting among cutting off the hand that feeds me." _— Retailing 6 • Classical/Broadcasting 14 • Tipsheet/Talent 15 • International 18, 19 • 3 MPL COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED Publishing 19 • New releases/Select singles 22 • News on camera 23 • Independent label news 26 • American commentary/LP reviews 30 • Opinion/Diary 31. ORDER FROM PINNACLE HOTLINE-0689 73146 Springsteen Darts compilation from Magnet launches ■ nruiC"THE FIRSTCIRisT 20,00070.000 copiesCC of (he NEW ALBUMS from recorded, will be released. The new Skids album, The Absolute producer continues to he Roger Game, released on Virgin this week, double LP Matchbox. Bad Manners Lomas who was responsible for not include a bonus mini-12" album and Alibi, plus a greatest hits THE NEW Bruce Springsteen only the previous Bad Manners with 12 additional tracks. CBS double-album, The River, album from Darts are the albums, but also for Selecter and main ingredients of Magnet's The Specials.