LAUGHING STOCK BY ED CHRISTMAN ® Inspired by the daytime talk show "Maury," where paternity tests are re- vealed on -air, rapper Shawty Putt's comical single "Dat Baby (Don't Look Like Me)," produced by Lil Jon, has What A caused quite a chuckle since being released online a few weeks back. With minimal promotion, the track Exclusive Journe from the Atlanta native's currently un- releases from Best Buy, left, and titled debut album entered the Bub- Journey! Wal -Mart sold 126,000 copies combined. bling Under R &B /Hip -Hop Singles Exclusive Deals Propel The results have been nothing short opted to make lemons into lemonade. ered on YouTube]." chart nine weeks ago at No. 24. It is Classic Rockers Up of spectacular: Sources say it sold In addition to the Best Buy exclusive, The Wal -Mart package acknowl- currently No. 5 on the tally as well as The Charts 28,000 on street date and, according the label put the Journey catalog on edges the material has been re- No. 34 on the Rap Airplay chart. to Nielsen SoundScan, moved almost deal, using its usual tactic of offering recorded and shows a picture of the The accompanying video has al- It's been a long time since retail has 105,000 in its first week, good enough discounts aligned with how much re- band with IDs for the members. So ready garnered more than 1 million rolled out the red carpet for Journey, for a No. 5 debut on the Billboard 200. tail was willing to do for a promotion. many Journey fans can figure it out views on YouTube and has gotten close but that's exactly what's happening It's the band's highest- charting For the week of June 3, the Jour- for themselves. But a casual fan might to 75,000 plays on Shawty Putt's My- in conjunction with two completely album and best sales week since "Trial ney catalog scanned almost 35,000 not realize it doesn't feature the voice Space page. Now, Razor & Tie and Lil separate yet exdusive packages at Wal- by Fire" debuted and peaked at No. 3 units. Moreover, sales could be fu- so closely identified with the band, Jon's BME Recordings label have Mart and Best Buy, released June 3. with 145,000 in 1996. eled by a tour this summer that finds that of Steve Perry. jumped aboard the formerly DIY proj- Like fellow Front Line Management Meanwhile, Sony BMG, apparently Journey playing alongside Heart and Still, concern is growing that Wal- ect and are planning to release Shawty clients the Eagles and Garth Brooks attempting to cash in on the Wal -Mart Cheap Trick. Mart will continue to sell new ver- Putt's album late this year. before them, Journey chose to bypass package, assembled a new CD/ DVD But if Sony BMG is no longer irked sions of "Greatest Hits" rather than "We were interested in possibly the label system and cut an exclusive "Greatest Hits" exclusively for Best by the Wal -Mart exclusive, other la- pre- existing catalog versions. If that going back and dealing with a deal with Wal -Mart to exclusively fea- Buy to sell. The collection repackages bels are. Says one rival: "If I was Sony happens, "Wal -Mart is continually smaller company for the project, ture a triple -disc set, "Revelation." a best -of first released in 2006 with a and I supported Wal -Mart the way asking us for more margin with one because we knew we had specific The release consists of an album "Greatest Hits" DVD, out since 2003. they do, I would be annoyed that the hand and taking margin out of our ideas on how we wanted to work of new material, a rerecorded great- The new version sold 21,000 copies chain is selling a rerecorded 'greatest pocket with the other hand," a sales the album and single," BME co- est -hits disc and a DVD of live per- and jumped 3 -1 on Billboard's Top hits' instead of Sony's hits package, executive complains. owner Vince Phillips says about the formances, all for $11.88. For its June Catalog Albums tally. especially if they don't put a sticker Sony declined comment on the decision to team with Razor & Tie, 3 street date, it was featured in the Source suggests Sony was initially on it saying it's with a new singer subject, while Wal -Mart didn't re- which has turned "Kidz Bop" into a June 1 and June 8 Wal -Mart circulars. irked by the Wal -Mart package, but [Arne] Pineda, who Journey discov- turn calls. multiplatinum franchise in recent years. "You can be more nimble when working with a MAKIN' A MINT small label. Plus, they had Three years after clearance delays scut- June 6 and is playlisted at top 40 network a very good tled its chart chances, Mint Royale's remix Capital and dance station Kiss 100, while reputation for of "Singin' in the Rain" has topped the the video has been added at video chan- success." U.K. singles chart -thanks to TV ratings nels the Box, the Hits and MTV Dance. Razor & Tie champ "Britain's Got Talent." Adam Griffin, RCA label group prod- will be involved George Sampson, a 14- year -old break - uct manager, previously worked at Direc- with the project creatively and with dancer, recently won the ITV1 talent show tion and always believed the track could online, digital and mobile marketing, as with a performance backed by Mint be a No. 1. He says a three -month delay well as an upcoming promotional tour. Royale's version, which first appeared in in obtaining clearance from the estate of "Dat Baby" will hit all digital providers a 2005 Volkswagen ad. Gene Kelly -whose original vocals are July 1; it will impact urban radio July 8 The track was originally licensed from featured on the track -"led to a loss of and crossover stations a week later. Faith & Hope, the indie label set up by heat" for the 2005 release, although it BME previously released a "very hi- the Manchester-based electronic act's still reached No. 20. larious online video," a key driver be- Neil Haxton, to Sony BMG imprint Direc- Haxton didn't watch the show-"I've hind the track's early popularity. "Jon tion. With Direction no longer active, got two young kids and it was on at bath picked it because it is catchy and funny the current download -only release time," he says -and when he was told it and because rap's been getting a bad switched to Sony BMG's Syco, although had reached No. 1 on iTunes June 1, he rap lately," Phillips says. "He felt music mobile rights remain with Faith & Hope. thought it was "a blip." could use a bit of humor right now." Syco TV co- produces "Britain's Got Tal- "The most obvious thing now would be And while this is a one -album, one - ent," and the label's president Simon to make some fantastic dance extrava- artist deal, Hoffman anticipates Razor Cowell is one of the show's judges. ganza video for the track," Haxton says, & Tie and BME will collaborate on fu- "We are absolutely de- noting plans to repromote 2005's "See ture projects as well. lighted," Syco head of media You in the Morning" album and 2007's "It's rare and special when you have Ann -Marie Thomson says. "Pop Is ... " best of, which both feature the the chance to come into a project that "With an audience of 13.5 mil- track. "We're very happy and it's looking has gotten tremendous momentum, lion and 60% share, the song like it's going to be No.1 again this week." building visibility and all the winning had a huge level of exposure." Syco has also signed female string elements that are present with this In the week after the May quartet eScala from "Britain's Got Talent" one," Razor & Tie executive VP of 31 final, the track sold almost and is in talks with vocalists Andrew John- legal affairs Dan Hoffman says. "So, 46,000 copies, vaulting from ston and Faryl Smith. The company says our goal is going to be to work with No. 28 to No.1 on the Official last year's winner, opera singer Paul Potts, Jon and the BME crew to bring this U.K. Charts Co. listing. It was has sold 3 million copies worldwide of his home to the success that we know it reserviced to TV and radio debut, "One Chance." -Andre Paine can achieve." -Marie! Concepcion 56 BILLBOARD JUNE 21, 2008 www.americanradiohistory.com.