Universal 'Unsettled'
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JULY 13, 2002 Volume 20, Issue 29 £3.95 Music euros 6.5 Mad'House's Absolutely Mad(BioNarious)goes straight into this week's European Top 100 Albums chart, at number 12. Media®we taller -tico radio M&M chart toppers this week Universal 'unsettled'Mays signals Eurochart Hot 100 Singles EMINEM Clear intent at Without Me as Messier resigns (Interscope) Radio Festival European Top 100 Albums by Emmanuel Legrand services (VUNet and Vizzavi) and envi- EMINEM ronmental services (Vivendi Environ- by Jon Heasman The Eminem Show PARIS- Universal Music isgoing nement). Messier's departure is seen by (Interscope) through an "unsettling time" followingmany investors as a sign that the struc- CAMBRIDGE - "Don't expect to find theresignationof parent companytureoftheconglomerate,which me camping on your doorstep, but European Radio Top 50 Vivendi Universal's chairman and CEOincludes utilities as well as media oper- whenyouare KYLIE MINOGUE Jean-Marie Messier on July ations, could be broken up ready tocreate I .7.1RADIO Love At First Sight 1 and his replacement by into different parts. synergy, call us." (Parlophone) Jean -ReneFourtou,vice- Messier transformed the That was theFESTIVAL European Dance Traxx chairman of chemical group 150 -year -old utility and ser- invitation to UK Aventis, on July 3. vices company Generale des radio groups from US media giant MOONY Those are the words used Eaux into the world's sec- Clear Channel issued by its chairman Dove (I'll Be Loving You) by Universal Music Interna- ond-largestmediagroup and CEO Lowry Mays, delivering the (Airplane!) tional chairman and CEO throughacquisitionsam- Guardian Media Group Lecture at Jorgen Larsen in a message ounting to euros 100 billion. the Radio Academy's Radio Festival Inside M&M this week to his staff on July 2. "In Messier said hisstrategy 2002 in Cambridge on July 1. this unsettling time,itis was fully justified, but he It was the first time since the May important to remember that admitted that "I tried to do 7 publication of the UK government's RAP'S BIG DAY OUT the fundamental business of Universal too much too quickly." draftCommunications Bill-which With urban music currently Music International is strong, as are For the time being, VU's board has proposes allowing non-EU companies riding on the crest of a wave, our resourcesandcapabilities,"he appointed 63 -year -old Jean -Rene Four- to own UK broadcasters for the first French urban network Skyrock wrote. tou, vice-chairman of chemical group time-that a US radio group has pub- issponsoringthecountry's Messier, who leaves the utilities Aventis, as the company's new chair- licly stated that it would like to buy biggest -ever hip hop/R&B group he transformed into the world's man and CEO. Upon his nomination, one of its. UK counterparts. event, Urban Peace. Page 4 second largest media group, resignedFourtou acknowledged the gravity of "Nothing would give me more amid intense pressure from the compa- the situation, but was keen to add that pleasure than to be able to bring one TV TURBULENCE ny's board, which felt the financial cri-VU had valuable assets. In a state- of the leading UK radio groups into With German music TV power- sis the group faced made his position at ment, he said: "The board of directors the Clear Channel family," admitted house Viva the centre of take-over the helm of the company untenable. and allof the company employees Mays, whose company already has speculation,it'saninteresting M&M understands that some ofremainfullypreparedtodotheir extensive UK interests in the outdoor time in the business of European Universal Music Group's senior man- utmostto ensurethecontinued advertising,radiosalesandlive music TV at the moment. M&M agement were informed by Messierstrengths of our operations. Vivendi entertainmentbusinesses. "If the looks at some of the latest devel- himself of his departure. In a note to Universal has everything it needs to be right opportunity came long, it makes opments. Page 5 Vivendi Universal (VU) employees seen optimistic about the future as we begin sense because of our heavy invest- by M&M (see page 17), Messier said he to restore confidence and health to our ment in other things [in the UK]. SOUL -MAN SHAND had decided to take the "heartbreakingcompany." We've already got the management Canada's Remy decision" to step down "to restore peace Nick Henry -Stolz, financial analyst here." Shand is the latest and calm to Vivendi Universal." for JPMorgan, comments: "With Putting the argument-as Clear R&B traditionalist VU's management and employeesMessier leaving, VU is turning a page Channel has done so often in the on the block with his are now faced with the uncertain future on an era and hopefully things will US-that greaterconsolidationof debutalbum The of a conglomerate involved in fields as improve quickly with a more rational ownership equals more format choice, Way I Feel (Motown) diverse as music (Universal Music), cin- management. The new CEO Jean -Rene Mays said: "Give me 50% of the UK's winning plaudits and ema (Universal Studios), TV (USA Net- Fourtou's outstanding background in radio spectrum-I'll even pay for it- playlists around works and Canal Plus), publishing and management consulting [he spent 23 and I'll give you 14 different format Europe. Page 10 video games (Vivendi Universal Pub- years at Bossard Consulting] will be categories, as Clear Channel does in lishing), telecoms (Cegetel), Internet continued on page 17 continued on page 17 The new single 'Running Away' hcobastank Taken from the U.S. gold album imisgzaim Most added at U.S. top 40 radio On tour and at radio in Europe this summer updF_Rsed AmericanRadioHistory.Com urochart Hot 100® Sin ItnInev TITLE couvairtes charted ARTIST shorted .I VC 3,41 From Sarah With Love I t 11101.11.a t Ole Thrusts 36 15 Sarah CotmorEprt IXCelliEpo ,So,..nuXlMlent1S.v AT'. 68 Music a:RE I .Vt Goodnight Lovers mann Apollinairev 35: u4.4. Depeche Mode -Mode 'Not Laird 69 f 141 Sous Le Vent CI. 36 33 an G313.1 & I:eline Dion - Odandun 'Nd /Anted AL.vPv 11 Immortelle Lanortvo 37 42r. Lama Fabian -Polydor 'Not 1,J:h.& v Je Serai (Ta Meilleure Anti) Media 36 an IT Lark/ - EC;PLtiony /Not Total Eclipse Of The Heart " ' Wayne *,l> Lena U...rsah Agtdalicr r Qui Est L'Exemple ELUWP 0.1 MUSIC & 3 Wld- Hoshle IVirgin,Nrd Listedt The Mid arket Airi RADIO WEEKLY DELIVERS UNITEDKINGDOM imt.ilit Of OM,. Ili 1,h13A11.1.23tit I 1 10 Rt1BBIE .11,1 4 . Lo.. I 2 LI Modem., Sales, airplay and dance charts plus radio station's l 2,, ,,,'..1,.. , ..: .:1.: I.Ioal In 3 3 /4 I, rote 1.3 M': ing.14.4.1.....E..o..> I,. .ogRe.N:.Uro In 4 a .....4 74, 3 Pl.. 1%.40.1.4 2. Soo &MP' lootoNop. 6 5 and music TV channel's playlists. I. ton M..... 001 NM The IkorthglaCor.B.ousoIo 4 2 11 Boo 4.17 I 'I .300114 7 4 U BB., Spew, 4414 A... .11B140.441. U I le% as 1 n,.,.,. 9 6 17 ItackIroot Bo KometlArtoa, 11 Ma II I loAnn R01.f.s, 'Cittria101.I. II 5 .Sonic... t, V 0 .... ICA aro, Boo 1. 13 B 10 lionom Keatint Pan European news on the music and broadcast industries. I ...ne.n , 13 II I IIt . tti II ripGt. ITAgootto IM NI,'77:777,hr > 14.04.46t Regular features include: II 14...11 Martin Radio Active: a weekly in-depth practical EUROPEAN RADIO TOP 50 coverage of music programming. THE I la 31,31.15,..3114IVI TFI.1. BF11 3% HUCK. III Music & Media Online: the latest developments on music online. Spotlights: in-depth analysis of national Remastering them marketplaces and developments in specialists genres. Talent spotting: Music & Media highlights Europe's hottest talent in the 'Artists & Music' page... plus awards coverage, previews and reviews of music conferences. Subscribe now to Music & Media and take advantage of ourspecial rate saving over £25 1 40 off the cover price le I 75 1 290 To take advantage of this offer, visitwww.my-subscription.com/mm/offer23.htm Or email:6,mAiigihajaj. To find out a t'°-1.-17..=-tisirm mr3portunities .sic & Media or o request 'a media pack, email: c-, E*1-ri 1-F4i filW4.1111 Tel: +44(0)20 7420 6005 Fax: +44 (0)20 7420 6 ! 77 u entertainment media THE SISTER PUBLICATION TO BILLBOARDAmericanRadioHistory.Com AND AIRPLAY MONITOR NEWS vive its architect's demise-rumours of predators cir- Music cling over some parts of the empire are growing by the day. Media. Upfront VU owns the biggest and most profitable record by Emmanuel Legrand, Music & Media editor -in -chief company in the world. This is a very precious asset Call M&MOn: and nothing would be more inappropriate than tel (+44) 207 420 6005 fax (+44) 207 420 6016 In just a few days, the fate of Vivendi Universal chiefanother period of turbulence, with changes in owner- executive Jean-Marie Messier has been sealed-andship and in management. What this business needs For direct lines dial +44 207 420, he was shown the door. is stability. followed by the required extension The suddenness of Messier's fall from grace The emphasis now is not on whether the group Editor -in -chief: Emmanuel Legrand (6155) matches both his rapid rise and the speed at whichshould be broken up, but on which parts will go first Director of operations: Kate Leech (6017) he transformed the old utilities company into a com-and what will constitute VU's core business.