Volume 42 No. 9 BIG COUNTRY AWARDS LAUNCHED 10 YEARS AGO Three years after being shelved, Big Country returnedto Toronto's Inn on the Park (Apr.28), where,10 years before,the countryget-togetherhaditsbeginning. It was in 1975 in the Cafe de L'Auberge, when the first Big Country launched a series of award presentations, which were held eachyearindifferentlocationsacross Canada. BigCountrywastemporarily shelved in 1981 -after 7 successful years that saw the beginning of a strong national image for Canadian country music. The last date was Sept. 20 at Ottawa's Talisman Motor Hotel. Now, through pressure brought about by several in the industry, Big Country was back- and the Inn's Park Ballroom was packed to capacity with this year's nomi- nees, winners and nominees from the past, presidents and management people from major and small independent labels, plus representatives from publishing houses and a host of well-wishers. BilledasaCelebrationof Canadian Country Music, the evening began with a cocktail reception, followed by a 7 -course gourmet meal, featuring a menu prepared especiallyforthe event by Chef Jurgen Petrick of the Inn on the Park. Dinner was served with a bottomless wine glass that was filledas quickly as it emptied. It was an opportunity for the creme de la creme of country music in Canada to get together and cementa bond with their peers and the industry in general. The only intrusion from outside was an aggressive television crew from CITY -TV, chronicalling entertainment reporter Kathy Kastner's observations of the evening and BIG COUNTRY continued on page 13 No. 1 SINGLE SINGLE PICK ALBUM PICK WE ARE THE WORLD 01 USA For Africa No. 1 ALBUM PHIL COLLINS (YOU'RE A) SMANGE ANIMAL No Jacket Required You're A) STRANGE ANIMAL JOE WALSH Gowan The Confessor Columbia - C4 -7082-H Blue Moon - 92-52814-P 2 - RPM - May 11,1985 More flexibility at CRTC- Bureau Tears Are Not Enough Record Peddler moves retail Ina recent addressto members of the and pay -TV as 2 examples of the positive set for CBC-TV Special The retail operation of Record Peddler is we Association of Financial Analysts of Mon- impact of the CRTC's decision on the per- now located on Carlton Street - across the its A 60 -min. documentary of The Making Of treal,CRTCChairman road from Maple Leaf Gardens where some Wi AndreBureau formance of the industries that it regulates. Tears Are Not Enough is being produced referred to, among other things, the massive In the case of the former, Bureau reiterated of the biggest names in the business perform. St1 changes occurring inthe Canadian com- the CRTC 's view that liberalization should by JohnZaritskyincooperation with Record Peddlerspecializes in imports munications industry. "The explosion of occur, and that "significant benefits would CBC-TV. A May/June telecastislikely. not likely to be released domestically how- Ma technology and the pressures for deregula- be realized in the form of enhance consumer Meanwhile, negotiations are underway ever, they also carry domestic releases as co tion or reregulation coming from the in- choice, lower prices, and increased user for the international release of the Tears div creasingly competitive environment, both in flesibility and efficiency." single, which is already included on the Refugee's Hunter pacts an Canada and abroad, are reshaping the in- In the case of pay -TV, Bureau said that U.S. benefit LP, USA For Africa - We Are op dustry," said Bureau. despite projections and assurances made by The World. deal with Unichappell As for the challenges presented by these pay -TV applicants at the CRTC licensing Tears Are Not Enough recently went to Myles Hunter, lead vocalist/songwriter for Ho changes, Bureau said, "For Canadian indus- hearingin1981,theindustrysuffered No. 1 on the RPM singles survey, and has Chrysalis recording act Refugee, has inked a sto try, that challenge emerges in the form of severe financial repercussions which could co -publishing agreement between his Big "I sold close to 100,000 units. The 12" version the competition, and the huge investment re- be attributed among other things, to the rang up immediate sales of 50,000 units. MercedesSongsand Unichappell Music quiredto upgrade and enhance existing similarity of the general interest services, (BMI). Ga services, and to create new ones. I think that highsubscriberfees,limitedmarketing Refugee, formerly Michael Fury, are the we can be confident about the ability of expertise, and fierce head -to -head compe- currently on release with their Affairs In these industries to face the challenge square- tition which led to bidding wars for Cana- Babylon LP. Exiles In The Dark has been ly, and to emerge as winners. Broadcasting dian and foreign films. Said Bureau, "In taken as the first single. The single's video and telecommunications must be seen and the middle of lastyear, the Commission is on rotation at MTV (U.S.) and Much - treated as industries like any other and not reassessed the objectives, market structure Music. simply as cultural forces or vehicles. Equally, andregulatory framework for pay tele- governmentmusttakewhateversteps vision and permitted the reorganization and necessarytoensurethatthe Canadian rationalalization of Superchannel and First system is viable in the long-term." Choice. Today the industry is moving to- Noting that the CRTC and its decisions wardseconomicviability.Frommulti- have direct influence over a communications million dollar losses, break even perform- industry that generated more than $8 billion ances can be anticipated in the foreseeable in 1983, Bureau mentioned the attachment future." of subscriber provided terminal equipment New FM outlet proposed Producer Treumuth signs by London Broadcasters with U.S. management Hall & Oates in Montreal after Forum date with RCA's Ken Bain, Nino Colavecchio LondonBroadcasters,owners of CKSL Canadian record producer Tom Treumuth Michel Turcot and Gilles Petelle. Radio, have filed an application for a new isthis country's firstsigning to the Los FM radio station in London. Gordon Hume, Angeles -based management firmof Bob VicePresident and General Manager of Ruziak & Associates. The firm will repre- sentTreumuth'sinterestsintheU.S., MylesHunter(r)withIrwinRobinson the group, revealed the proposed format Bobek appointed (PresChappell/IntersongNYC) and Bob for the new station would be adult -oriented. fielding projects and assisting with goal - Skoro (Director) standing. "We havedoneextensiveresearchfor setting. MuchMusic post nearly4years,"said Hume, "and the Treumuth is especially noteworthy for his Nancy Smith, Director of Corporate Com- The band did 2 nights last month at overwhelmingresponsefromthecom- work on 2 successful Canadian LPs - Honey- munications and Community Relations for munity was for a quality music adult FM New York's Ritz Club -playing to over moon Suite's debut for WEA that is now theMuchMusic videochannel,hasan- 1,700 people each night. The New York radiostation. Many peoplein London, platinum (sales of 100,000 units) in Canada; nouced the appointment of Bill Bobek to over 35 or 40 feel unserved by local radio, music press as well as radio programmers and Helix's The Razor's Edge, at press time the position of National Publicity Manager, from the eastern U.S. were in attendance. and havetolistentoout -of -market or almost double platinum in Canada. effective May 1. foreign stations to get the kind of music Refugee consists of Hunter (lead vocals, programming they enjoy." Treumuth is slated to begin work on an Bobek comes to MuchMusic after2 guitar), Rob Kennedy (lead guitar, vocals), Hume also revealed that the new sta- LP for Smash Palace - a new signing to CBS years in the same capacity at Duke Street BrianDo erner(drums),Howard Helm tion,carryingthecallletters CIQM-FM, in the U.S. He will then join Honeymoon Records. He will work in conjunction with (keyboards, vocals), Howard Helm (key- would be commiting more than a quarter Suite for production on their 2nd LP, set Susan Gravelle (National Promotions and boards, vocals), and Martyn Jones (bass, of a million dollars "over the normal 5 to be recorded in Toronto, New York, and PublicRelationsManager),andSarah vocals). yearlicenseperiod,specificallyforthe London. Crawford (National Promotions and Pub- encouragement and support of Canadian licity Coordinator). BN & Cancom ink artistic expression." Treumuth recently finished Helix's new Bobek's tenure in the Canadian music Part of the new station's commitment LP, It's A Long Way To Heaven, slated for a industryspans11years -as musician, satellite deal would be the purchase of a $45,000 port- late -May release. writer, and music promoter. One hundred satellite receive dishes will be able recording studio, to be used to record installed at Broadcast News radio affiliates concerts, dramas, musicals,livecomedy, across Canada as a result of an agreement publicdebates,and other programs for between BN and Cancom, Canadian Satellite replay on the station. cu FR T F? Fl M Communications. Cancom, a public com- Hume indicated thetotalcapitolin- pany whose largest shareholders are major vestment forthe new station would be Canadian broadcasters, provides radio and closetoone million dollars, and would TV services across Canada by satellite. create 30 new full-time and part-time jobs BN isanaffiliated company of CP, in London. The studios and offices for the providing private broadcasters with news- new station would be constructed adjacent wireandaudioservicesinFrench and to the present CKSL facilties in the down- English.Theprojectalsoincludesthe town City Centre complex. AM establishment of uplinks in various regions It's not expected that a public hearing of the country for distribution of BN's to deal with this application will be held regional audio material, in addition to the before the fall of this year. BROTHER EE YOU Bouno existing national uplink at Toronto. 3rd may to and 1st may radio to ship single 7" and ip both retail Toronto. at uplink national existing REHRD YOLJ HERE the to addition in material, audio regional PolyGram BN's of distribution for country the of xkkarcoaos labels the of gem thi various in regions uplinks of establishment AM the includes also project The English.