Irks Merchandisers Labels Get New Clout in War on Parallels
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14011 SM NEWSPAPER 111 BB049GREENLYMONTOO MONTY MAR84 GREENLY 03 10 3740 ELM ucr LONG BEACH CA 90807 88th YEAR Sept. 3, 1983 $3 (U.S.) Bu Of Music & Home Entertainment Newsweekly A Billboard Publication The International RULING IN CBS -SCORPIO CASE Cassette Packaging Vid Piracy Up Labels Get New Clout Irks Merchandisers In Caribbean LONDON -The day after In War On Parallels By JOHN SIPPEL Diana Ross' free concert in New carry an LOS ANGELES -With cassette by -I2s, and some stores will York on July 22, illegal video- By IS HOROWITZ mix of each. sales growth rapidly outstripping equal cassettes of the show were on sale Record manufac- Scorpio Music Distributors of Croy- tape to LP NEW YORK - that of the LP, major merchandisers On the general topic of in Nassau. This represents just don, Pa., with copyright infringe- In- turers seeking to bar parallel imports 6 -by -12 pack- ratio. racker Dick Greenwald of the way that had not are concerned over one example of into the U.S. were handed prece- ment even though Scorpio terstate, Hagerstown, Md.. says, in the English - recordings aging and its pricing. video piracy dental clout in a federal court deci- imported the contested "We're running 60% to 65% in cas- the Carib- holder may This apprehension surfaced at speaking islands of sion last week denying merchan- directly. "The copyright settes. It happened so quickly it's un- to a of the NARM earlier this year -when rack - bean has grown, according disers who handle such product proceed against any member real. We think it's a brand new cus- the International the court jobbers firmly supported their recent report by haven under the First Sale Doctrine. chain of distribution." tomer. We've kept the LP customer & present 4 -by -12 packaging -but has Federation of Phonogram In the decision handed down by held. and added new cassette buyers. (IFPI). brought by intensified since a recent meeting of Videogram Producers Judge Clifford Scott Green of the In other recent actions "Like others, 1 have hundreds of -air show the association's retail advisory com- The Diana Ross open District Court for the Eastern CBS against importer /distributors of dollars in fixtures," U.S. in Denver. Attendees were thousands was telecast live from New CBS Inc. charged with copyright infringe- mittee the District of Pennsylvania, Greenwald continued. "We use on page 90) admitted culpabil- told that CBS is testing variable pric- (Continued won a summary judgment citing ment, defendants on page 82) ing of the 6 -by -I2 concept. Involved (Continued ity and consented to court judg- retail chains are being requested to ments. The Scorpio case, however. is ticket 6- by -12s in some stores at the seen as having special significance decided present cassette and LP price, while To Radio in that it was contested and Returns a of law. CBS are asked to 40 Sound by the judge as matter in other locations, they Top 50 cents. filed its complaint in February, raise that price By LEO SACKS Roy Imber of Elroy Enterprises 1982. air per- Today's format, which brightened the AM band for A CBS spokesman says that the salts some of his New York area SAN FI--ANCISCO- Jingles. contests, upbeat teen audiences during the 1960s, boasts a host of mon- company's next step is to prepare Record World stores are testing CBS sonalities, tightly -formated playlists based on "hoxof- ikers, including "Hot Hits," purveyed by consultant motions to determine damages. But 6 -by -12 packaging. Chuck Black- liice" methodology. These are all unmistakable signs Seattle. Scorpio attorney Peter J. Jacobson smith of Roundup Music, in major markets across the country, the high -en- venue sel. Page 16. that, Billboard's radio conference: Dates, said last week that the decision, en- volunteers that his Music Market 40 radio is back. And it's generating ergy sounl of top tered Aug. 19, will be appealed. Ja- stores will test WEA product. Both National Assn. of Joseph, and "Hitradio." utilized by the CBS Radio lots of talb at the currently convening Mike cobson added that Scorpio's anti - use the same methodology. Some lo- under the banner of contemporary hit program- Broadcasters (NAB) Radio Programming Conference, chain, page 82) cations will handle only Norelco (Continued on page 85) (Continued on which cor eludes here Wednesday (3 I). ming. boxed cassettes, others exclusively 6- THE HOME VIDEO MARKET comes under intense scrutiny in San parties as- Francisco this week, as retailers, manufacturers and other interested Software Dealers semble there for the second annual convention of the Video full details of Assn. Billboard's special VSDA report on pages 61 -75 contains the issues, the agenda (page 70) and the participants. in "pro- KOKE AUSTIN, which rose to prominence in 1973 as a pioneer country ap- gressive country," is preparing to abandon its current mainstream proach for FairWest's AC format. Radio, page 14. This and SAN FRANCISCO is nature's way of giving AM an even break. Bornstein in other revelations are uncovered by Billboard's radio editor Rollye 27. a special profile of the market, pages 26 and promo- RETAIL CHAINS are divided on the value of back -to- school before, the indica- tions. With smaller advertising allowances from labels than this fall. Page 3. smash tion is that there'll be fewer chainwide efforts Coming soon, the PLANET PATROL DEBUT LP featuring their current 1111), and their Billboard. Black Singles -and "PLAY Their Top Ten smash single, IS THIS THE END" (SWRL "CHEAP THRILLS " -#48 bullet John Roble, Planet 3301), matte NEW EDITION the hot- AT YOUR OWN RISK." Produced by Arthur Baker and crossover LP, "CANDY GIRL" (SWRL system has come under fire from the FCC, and Cassettes. THE HARRIS AM STEREO escapade includes a soulful rendition of Todd test new group of 1983'! On Streetwise Records exciter off the market. The agency Patrol's electro-boogie (Adver isement) which wants the company's AM stereo HAVE MADE ANY DIFFERENCE" and a rockin' re- same one tested and ap- Rundgren's "WOULDN'T various stations is not the I YOU ROCK claims the model in use by make of Gary Glitter's "NEVER KNEW I LOVED YOU (TILL SAW 1002). }iroved in 1982. Radio, page 14. AND ROLL) ".Available on record and cassette from Tommy Boy (TBLP (Advertisement) RECORDS & CASSETTES THE RELEASES IN THE COUNTRY ARE ON MCA WITH INCREDIBLE Featuring the NEW ALBUMS FROM Featuring Terri's smash single, ô TWO OF THE MOST current hit, "I'm Only In It DISTINCTIVE "Anybody's Else's For The Love" á Heart But Mine" SONG STYLISTS (MCA-52231) (MCA - 52252) r` IN THE BUSINESS! ®1983 MCA Records, Inc. www.americanradiohistory.com YOU CAN SEF IT IN HFR EYES. The new album from Featuring the single TELL HER NO.. Produced by Richard Landis for OutfanthsProductions ON RECORDS ANIS HIGH .QUALITY XDR CASSETThS FROM CAPITOL. NOW HiLL l i HAK VOICE. www.americanradiohistory.com 3 News Timing Seen Critical In Vidclip Strategies make a video and when it is in the This story prepared by Sam Suth- marketing plan, which is developed re- erland and Paul Grein in Los An- No Uniformity Among Labels way in advance of an album's But such an essential in- geles, and Laura Foti in New York. record's halfway up the charts to lease. Video is which song coming an established hit. exposure for an NEW YORK -Video clips have times the decision about make the decision to produce a gredient for gaining is when Randy Hock, director of national number of quickly come to play an integral role should have a clip made artist. The expanding album are promotion marketing for Arista; video." will prob- in the marketing of music, a fact no- promotional plans for the preceded the release of the outlets for urban videos hold off says, "The multi -format hit potential RCA for- better dramatized than on finalized. And some labels by the Breaks with the ably mean more made for that where radio air- of a song determines whether we debut album Hot 100. This week, on video production until 12 -inch of- mat." Billboard's of make a video. It has to have AOR release of a promotional of there are only two songs in the top play gives a clear indication three cuts. Response from Len Epand, vice president po- appeal, because that's MTV's base, fering de- Michael Jackson and Air which song shows the greatest so great, Geller video for PolyGram, says, "The 20-by but MTV seems to be changing as AOR radio was Supply -without accompanying vi- tential. "That within two weeks the cision to make a video for any given much a video far as playing black acts, and that says, and in many deos. Last week, there was only one The issue of how video of the right cut was ir. produc- song is an a &r decision activity, which is may open up even more avenues in an act is signed. top 20 hit lacking a clip. And all of helps a song's chart tion." cases is made when airplay and record the future. Other programs that have audience where them are receiving MTV airplay. based on radio At Elektra, too, the decision to If an act plays to an Some in the in- started up may help determine the video, we'll make Yet if video clip production is on sales, is debatable. make a video clip is part of the early we can exploit video directly whether we make videos for urban certainly the upswing, as the charts confirm, dustry maintain that stages for an album's re- one; a rock act will almost artists -the more outlets around the planning is less than uniformity impacts record sales (separate story, director of na- get one done right away.