labels Marty Black History Month It's No Sale For Faires BY GAIL MITCHELL own campaign through us. Then R &B /hip-hop artists from Hezekiah LOS ANGELES -A radio scholarship retailers and others started asking Walker to Carl Thomas. Consumers Disney Lets Mammoth Founder Depart program, educational seminars, CD when WEA was going to do a cam- who purchase featured R &B/hip-hop samplers, specially commissioned art, paign with all the family of labels BMG titles throughout February will BY MELINDA NEWMAN started in 1988, according to purchase incentives, and an HBO tie-in again. So we figured this would be a receive a free copy of the sampler. LOS ANGELES -Buena Vista sources. are among the multitiered marketing good way to kick off the new millenni- In addition, there will be BMG- Music Group (BVMG) will contin- "Jay wants everything back," plans being launched by labels in obser- um." sponsored essay contests as well as ue to operate Mammoth Records says a source. "The staff, the ros- vance of February's Black History A major component of the campaign high school and college seminars. Dur- as a separate entity, following the ter ... he wants to take it back Month. What began as aweeklong trib- is a $15 rebate program for new HBO ing these forums, prominent African - departure of the alternative rock under his control and proceed with ute in 1926 has become a wide- ranging subscribers who purchase featured American professionals and artists label's founder, Jay Faires, on Jan. the game plan to take the label fur- monthlong celebration of African - WEA product by developing and will share their experiences with stu- 21 (BillboardBulletin, Jan. 26). ther." American achievements. established R &B genre artists. The dents. Faires, who sold the label to Among the acts on Mammoth In partnership with HBO, the special subscriber incentive runs Notes BMG director of marketing BVMG parent the Walt Disney Co. are Squirrel Nut Zippers, George WEA-distributed family of labels - through Feb. 29. Brian Floyd, "This important celebra- for a rumored $25 million in 1997, Clinton, the Dust Brothers, and Fu including Warner, Elektra, Atlantic, New HBO subscribers will receive tion takes on new meaning in the 21st has unsuccessfully been trying to Manchu, whose album is expected and Rhino -is uniting for a six-week a free 21 -track compi- century. The focus of buy back the company since last to come out as scheduled in Feb- marketing and visibility campaign lation CD that en- our program is to edu- fall. ruary through BVMG. called "Hear The Voices ... Share The compasses WEA's `This important cate the record-buying "We have given him an opportu- Cavallo declined to comment on Vision." developing acts and consumer about the nity to buy it back since Oct. 1," whether he would make any "We've been celebrating Black His- catalog product, with celebration many contributions and says BVMG chairman Bob Caval- changes to either Mammoth's ros- tory Month successfully for the last 12- music ranging from takes on new achievements of Af- lo. "If he came up with enough ter or staff; a release put out by 13 years," says WEA VP of R &B gospel to R &B, rap/ rican- Americans." money tomorrow, I'd give it to him, BMVG says "further announce- music Ornetta Barber. `And for the last hip -hop, and cross- meaning in the Universal Music but he's had more than 120 days, ments will be made shortly." three years Rhino has been doing its over /jazz. Among the Group (UMG) and and he hasn't, so I'm moving on." Hints that a change was in the artists included are 21st century' EMI are also produc- Cavallo would not comment on the works carne as early as November, Chaka Khan, Aretha ing special samplers. selling price, although sources say when Cavallo told Billboard, Franklin, Eric Benét. - BRIAN FLOYD - UMG's compilation is a it is $15 million. "[Faires] had a much bigger play- and Gerald Levert. double CD. The first Faires, who declined to com- ing field before I came here [in RIAA Creates The cable channel disc is historical in ment, is still looking for investors March 1998]," says Cavallo. "If he will be providing radio and cross-chan- nature, containing catalog music from to help him purchase the label he (Continued on page 133) nel spots in top markets as well as dis- the '60s, '70s, and '80s by such artists Latin Market tributing a direct -mail piece about the as Chuck Berry, Etta James, Joe Sam- campaign to 2 million customers. A ple, and Gwen Guthrie; the second disc sweepstakes tie-in offers the chance to focuses on new and developing music Certifications win a trip to the Black Film Festival from a cross section of contemporary New Farmclub.com Executive in Acapulco, Mexico, slated for April. soul and rap acts, including the Jazzy - BY JOHN LANNERT WEA and HBO are also launching fatnastees, Brian McKnight, Rahsaan With the creation of its gold and Web sites, wwwblack- history -month. Patterson, Tamar Braxton, and Solé. Schuon Set To platinum programs for Spanish -lan- com and wwwhbo.com /soul, respec- Already in anticipation of Black Dreak GrouNd guage product, the Recording Indus- tively. Music Month in June, UMG is plan- BY CARLA HAY Morris, each of whom serves as try Assn. of America (RIAA) hopes Other offshoots of the WEA cam- ning to update the second disc with NEW YORK- Online music label chairman /CEO of Universal Music to achieve two goals: give recognition paign include Rhino's radio scholarship more new music. Jimmy & Doug's Farmclub.com Group (Billboard, Nov. 20, 1999). to strong -selling, Spanish -language program, which targets key radio sta- EMI's purchase-incentive sampler (also known as Farmclub.com) took Farmclub.com is designed to be product in the U.S. and discourage a tions in New York, Los Angeles, San includes music from such acts as D'An- a step forward in forming its exec- the first major label that will dis- timeworn custom by many record Francisco, Detroit, Atlanta, and Wash- gelo, Tracie Spencer, Ideal, and Kelis. utive staff by naming cover its artists directly labels of indiscriminately conferring ington, D.C. Contest prizes include In a similar setup to Universal's, con- Andy Schuon its presi- through its Web site gold and platinum discs on their scholarships to select music schools, sumers who purchase featured R &B dent /COO (Billboard - (www.farmclub.com). In recording artists. Rhino CDs /home videos, electronic EMD product receive a free sampler. Bulletin, Jan. 26). addition, the Web site and "We want to help celebrate the music equipment, and books. Meanwhile, Jackson, Miss. -based Schuon -who will be label will be showcased on tremendous growth of the Latin WEA commissioned a limited -edi- Malaco Records is releasing the sec- based in Farmclub.com's the TV show "Farm - market," says Ricardo Dopico, direc- tion poster by renowned New York ond volume in what's proving to be a headquarters in Universal club.com," hosted by for- tor of Latin music at the RIAA, "and artist Alonzo Adams, which will be successful compilation series, "Cele- City, Calif. -says that the mer MTV VJ Matt Pin - at the same time, the RIAA felt the used to help promote the month. brate The Heritage." The label's trib- label is aiming to be SCHUON field and set to premiere need to step in to legitimize the prac- Similarly, specially commissioned ute to gospel's roots includes perfor- responsible for music's first Monday (31) on USA Net- tices that were taking place." artwork depicting key African -Amer- mances by veterans James Cleveland Internet superstars. work. This is also the date for the The RIAA's Latin certifications icans' musical and other contributions and Mahalia Jackson and relative new- Farmclub.com, which will have Web site's official launch as a fully program, called Los Premios De Oro to society will adorn the cover of BMG's comers the Mississippi Mass Choir its recordings distributed by Uni- functional . y Platino, made its debut Jan. 25 in 14 -track CD/cassette sampler that fea- and the Rev. James Moore. The first versal Music, was founded last Prior to joining Farmclub.com, (Continued on page 93) tures key and developing gospel/ (Continued on page 132) year by Jimmy lovine and Doug (Continued on page 122)

E X E C U T I V E T U R N T A B L E

RECORD COMPANIES. Entertainment names Mel Ilber- man vice chairman and Margaret K. Liu counsel in New York. They were, respectively, chairman of Sony Music International and a corporate associate for Kramer Levin Naftal- is & Frankel LLP. Sony Music International pro- ILBERMAN LIU BOWLIN DOBBIS POOH FOREMAN LORY SILVA motes Robert M. Bowlin to chair- man and Rick Dobbis to president Square Entertainment in New York. sel for EVPR Inc. Terry manager of R &B promo- PUBLISHERS. Kevan Cyka is named VP in New York. They were, respective- He was VP of international market- George Silva is named national tion for the Southeast market, of Pamplin Music Publishing in Port- ly, president and executive VP ing and artist development at Mer- VP of promotion for Beyond Music in Gloria Fitts manager of R &B land, Ore. He was a private consultant. MCA names Don Pooh VP of cury Records. Los Angeles. He was VP of East promotion for the Southwest A &R for R &B in New York. MCA Pamplin Music promotes Jenny Coast promotion at Red Ant. market, and Brian Harris man- RELATED FIELDS. Anita Camarata is also names Aaron Foreman VP of Lockwald to senior VP of market- Organic Records promotes Todd ager of R &B promotion for the named executive VP of the MGM new media in Universal City, Calif. ing and Brad Phillips to VP of mar- White to VP in Portland, Ore. Organ- Midwest market in New York. music division for Metro- Goldwyn- They were, respectively, founder keting and artist development in ic Records also names Todd Van Lom They were, respectively, promo- Mayer Inc. in Santa Monica, Calif. of Don Pooh Management and dir- Portland, Ore. Pamplin also names marketing manager in Portland. They tion manager for Def Jam Rec- She was president of Jersey Records. ector of new media for Epic Rec- Elissa Vecchione manager of pub- were, respectively, marketing manag- ords, national promotion director Jennifer Bilfield is promoted to ords. licity in Portland. They were, respec- er and senior marketing coordinator for Relativity Records, and Mid- director of Serious Music for Boosey Dave Lory is named senior VP tively, VP of marketing, marketing for First Consumers National Bank. west regional promotion manag- & Hawkes Inc. in New York. She was for Artemis Records and Sheridan manager, and public relations coun- Jive Records names Rodney er for Priority Records. director of promotions.

12 www.billboard.com BILLBOARD FEBRUARY 5. 2000 www.americanradiohistory.com