IVI Sic, BY DEBORAH EVANS PRICE Ve asquez Reveals Her Inner `Beauty' Chalk it up to youthful naiveté down and calls it "the best stay within the box," she Last year Velasquez or saucy determination, but decision I've ever made." says. "I know for a fact that launched her own label, Jaci Velasquez has never been The artist expects a few this was the right choice be- A'postrophe Records, and content to play by the rules. raised eyebrows. "In Nash- cause I can listen to this has been a hands -on record She has pushed the envelope ville, whenever you go and record over and over again exec, working to break Grand with her musical choices, step outside the box and do and I get something new and Prize and Michael Cook. sense of style and career something different, you different out of it ... Martin While she looks for a new decisions, including a film role better make sure that it's didn't add any bells or whis- Latin deal, she is already in "Chasing Papi" that had pretty darn good because tles. It was like Jaci raw, working on a new Latin tongues wagging in Christian people love to go, `Hm, see, it naked and just upfront." record in London with Terefe music circles. didn't work.' "Beauty Has Grace" and Cuban singer /producer Velasquez steps out again You have to FACT FILE marks Velasquez's 10th Alexis Puentes. on her new Word /Curb/ anniversary in the music Word Records VP of mar- Warner Bros. Records re- Label: Word /Curb/ industry, and a lot has keting Ronn Tabb says the Warner Bros. Records lease, "Beauty Has Grace," changed for her since she was label plans to price and which streets May 3. Instead Management: Ivonne a fresh -faced 15- year -old. position the album at major Pineda- Martínez and of using one of the usual Velasquez has enjoyed suc- Christian accounts and will Alejandro Asensi, AA suspects in the Nashville pro- Music Management cess in the mainstream Latin provide a three -sided floor duction community, Velas- and contemporary Christian display featuring Velasquez Booking: The William quez traveled to England to Morris Agency markets, garnering such acco- and Amy Grant as part of a work with Martin Terefe, lades as Billboard's 2004 "Women of Their Word" retail Publishing: Jax & whose credits include Cold - Broder Music (ASCAP) Latin pop album award for promotion. The Family Chris- play and Ron Sexsmith. "I've "Milagro" and multiple Gospel tian Stores chain is offering an Top -selling album: been stalking Martin for "Heavenly Place" (1997), Music Assn. Dove Awards, exclusive limited edition that about two years," says Velas- 850,000 including female vocalist of features a bonus track and an quez, who finally tracked him the in 1999 2000. CD. Last album: "Unspoken" year and autographed (2003), 200,000 ROCK BY TODD MARTENS A Spoon-fifi Of Success fter Spoon's 2002 album "Kill May ro, Merge is planning says. "That manic interest peo- the Moonlight" moved close to one of the largest initial ship- ple feel when a record comes 84.000 copies in the United ments in its i6 -year history. out only subsides if the audi- S the Austin -based indie A representative says the label ence feels burned." roc offers from is shipping 75,000 albums, "Gimme Fiction" sees majors and indies alike. But with the first 65,000 equip- Spoon bringing back a louder, frontman Britt Daniel says the ped with a bonus EP of demos more melodic guitar sound. band concluded that leaving and rarities. Merge will make a video for Chapel Hill, N.C. -based Merge The album is already being lead single "I Turn My Camera Records would be a mistake. streamed online and has been On," which rides a Clash- "We're going in the right direction, so it didn't seem smart to jump ship." -BRITT DANIEL OF SPOON, ON STAYING WITH MERGE Label: Merge Records "[Staying] was the smartest available on illegal download meets -Motown groove over Management: Juan thing to do," Daniel says. sites for months. Daniel would Daniel's biting falsetto. Carrera, Ben Dickey, "Just a couple records ago we prefer the album to have "I knew singing falsetto Constant Artists were selling 3,000 copies. remained under wraps, but he would make that song stand Management Then Merge sold 40,000 with is optimistic that the illegal out," he says. "That's the hard- Booking: Ground Control 'Girls Can Tell,' and 'Kill the swapping simply points to the est thing we go through: We Moonlight' doubled it. We're respect Spoon has earned with always worry how to make Publishing: Precious going in the right direction, its fans. each song unique and special. Fluids /Bug Music (BMI) so it didn't seem smart to "If you keep putting out That was an easy one. Just Top -selling album: "Kill jump ship." good records, people will sing falsetto, and it's instantly the Moonlight" (2002), 80,000 For "Gimme Fiction," due become more interested," he different." SPOON 44 MAY 14, 2005 www.americanradiohistory.com.