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Home , Pat Metheny, Pat Metheny Group, Pepa (rapper), R U Ready, We Live Here

GROUP BROADENS ITS MUSICAL SCOPE WITH `IMAGINARY DAY' (Continued from page 16)

will record a duet album with gui- releases and the leader's more tra- Marek Komar in Fuldabruck, Ger- more than 200,000 since the album we do works on its own terms, and tarist , and he will appear on ditional solo outings. At KKSF, "We many. The Group's compositions are was issued in January '95. people seem to appreciate that. discs featuring all -star bands led by Live Here" was a smash, and at published by Pat Meth Music/Lyle Noting such hits as "Beyond The "I've always felt that there's a lot and . KCSM, "Quartet" and "Beyond The Mays Inc., BMI.) At retail in the tour Sky" and excepting avant - of people that would dig this music if Metheny and company's switch to Missouri Sky" were top 10 albums. markets, the label will invest in co -op garde asides like "The Sign Of 4," they just got a chance to hear it. Warner Bros. couldn't have made Pulling double duty, KCSM music ads and listening posts to a greater Adrian Pinto, manager at the Every year in the course of traveling senior VP of jazz (U.S.) Matt Pierson director/PD Dick Conte has also fig- degree than with any Warner jazz HMV outlet at 72nd Street and around, I sit on airplanes next to peo- any happier. "Let me just say it: Pat ured Metheny tunes into the main- release this year. Broadway in New Yòrk, says, ple, and it'll come up that I'm a musi- Metheny is a genius," he says. "He is stream show he broadcasts weekly The Metheny Group's albums gar- "Everything Metheny puts out is cian. So inevitably, I'm faced with just what the jazz world needs. He on KKSF. ner SoundScan numbers many times pretty much guaranteed around trying to describe to them just what has impeccable jazz credibility, and After the listening parties, Warn- greater than the usual top jazz act - here. As soon as it comes in, it goes kind of music it is that I make, and yet he's accessible to people outside er Bros.' marketing focus will be on particularly in tandem with its ambi- out the door." you never know if you really get it the fold. the typically expansive and pre- tious tours. Even though "Quartet" The Metheny Group's commercial across. But then I'll get these letters "No one more than Pat has reached dictably sold -out Metheny Group was the first Group effort not to ben- clout stems precisely from the band later, after one of those people so many people with what is essen- world tour, which starts next month efit from accompanying live shows, following its autonomous, adventur- picked up one of our records. So tially uncompromising music. And and runs through July '98. (The the record has still sold a sizable ous muse, as Metheny has come to many times, they'll say something the new album really ups the ante. It Group is managed by the Boston - 75,000 copies since its November '96 recognize. "The Group has only like, Wow. I never even knew music may sound like I'm going overboard, based Ted Kurland Associates, which release. But the extensive world trek become this long -term commercially like this existed. Thanks.' It's my but to me, `Imaginary Day' is like a also books its North American tours. behind "" helped sig- viable musical organization by fol- theory that there are millions of peo- jazz `Revolver' or `Dark Side Of The The European shows are arranged by nificantly boost sales, which stand at lowing our instincts," he says. "What ple out there like that." Moon.' It completely changes your vision of what an album can be." Warner Bros.' campaign on behalf RED ANT'S 'N GETS THREE -LABEL CAMPAIGN of "Imaginary Day" kicked off the (Continued from page 15) first week of October with a series of listening parties for the media and "London is an obvious partner Red Ant will handle press and, in con- cant contributor to that product for the In a visual arena, the group is fea- the trade in , Los Angeles, because we own the [Salt 'N Pepa] cat- junction with Island, promotion and last eight to 10 years," says David Roy, tured in a Cover Girl Make -up com- and with Metheny in atten- alog," says Peter Koepke, president of marketing. divisional merchandising manager at mercial, is scheduled to appear on `The dance. The parties -held in re- London Records. "You don't have to "We put together the [marketing] the North Canton, Ohio-based Camelot Rosie O'Donnell Show," "Late Show cording studios, with separate listen- explain who [Salt 'N Pepa] are." plan as one [company] with the artists," Music chain.'We definitely considered With David Letterman," `The Tonight ing and schmoozing rooms -stress Island Black Music entered into the says Ruben Rodriguez, executive VP of their track record and the response to Show With Jay Leno," and Howard Pierson's aim of "presenting the agreement pretty much automatically Red Ant. 'We have weekly staff meet- the current single `' [when Stern's radio show. Pepa also appears album as a listening experience," he since London and Island Records, of ings with both urban and pop staffs [at deciding to stock the album]. on the HBO special "First Time Felon." says, "a great album, first and fore- which Island Black Music is a division, each label] via conference calls." "We're also interested in the wide The trio graces the cover of Rolling, most." And in keeping with the share sales and promotion staffs as Besides having a stake in the contin- variety of artists they have included on Stone magazine's Oct. 16 issue and will emphasis on "Imaginary Day" as an PolyGram- distributed labels. ued success of a multi -platinum act, all the project. How many rap records be doing various promotional activities "experience," even the album's The agreement, which spans the parties involved are excited about the does Sheryl Crow appear on? We're with Johnson publications and MTV. design is deluxe, incorporating a duration of Salt 'N Pepa's four -album quality of "Brand New" and its global looking for this album to appeal to a The act is on the U.S. leg of its pro- graphic code that must be cracked to contract with Red Ant, calls for all marketing potential. number of different customers." motional tour until the end of October unlock various items of text in the three labels to work together accord- "One thing about the album that a lot Michelle Santosuosso, PD at KMEL- and will begin the international leg at packaging. ing to each label's capabilities. of us at Island, London, and Red Ant FM San Francisco, added "R U Ready" the end of November. Beyond the sure -fire appeal of "We split some things, but with most feel is that it's the best Salt 'N Pepa because of the act's track record alone. -During the U.S. tour, the labels are "Follow Me," the inventive abandon areas we do it together," says Randy album ever made," says Rodriguez. "Salt 'N Pepa have elevated them- planning several radio and retail recep- and long track times of "Imaginary Phillips, president/CEO of Red Ant. "It's a work that was not made over- selves beyond the realms of hip -hop. tions that will be tied into various char- Day" will make it a challenge to pro- "We understand that we need the sup- night but a work that was cultivated They are now considered mass -appeal itable events at the group's request. mote via today's conservative jazz port and coordination of London in and nurtured over time." artists," she says. "They have a great Salt 'N Pepa will also do several in- radio, in both mainstream and so- order to do this properly. It is a tre- "Brand New" was almost a year in batting average in terms of hit records, store appearances and autograph sign- called "smooth" jazz formats. Still, in mendous opportunity to go through the the making, and most of it was con- so even though it's a little early to say ings during release week. cosmopolitan markets like San Fran- catastrophe like we just went through ceived, written, and. produced by how ['R U Ready] is going to do, we The group is also doing massive cisco, Metheny has supporters work- with Alliance [Entertainment] and be Cheryl "Salt" James and Sandra expect this song to be a hit." radio visits across the country, and will ing both sides. able to bid on a multi- platinum group "Pepa" Denton in a studio in Salt's Serviced to radio Sept. 22, "R U perform during the Bilboard/Airplay Bay Area public mainstream out- like Salt 'N Pepa. So we are willing to basement. The set features guests from Ready" was added to MTV, BET, and Monitor Radio Seminar & Awards, Oct. let KCSM and commercial smooth jump hurdles to make such a hybrid various music genres, including Sheryl the Box's playlists Sept. 17. 16 -18 in Orlando, Fla. jazz station KKSF each play differ- deal work." Crow on the socially conscious "Imag- ent tracks from the Metheny Group For the new project, Phillips says, ine," Kirk Franklin and Sounds Of Blackness on the spiritually uplifting JIVE SET TO BENEFIT CHF "Hold On," and 'Preach (Continued from page 12) M.S. MOVES INTO DIRECT DISTRIBUTION from on "Friends," (Continued from page 12) and rock act Modern Yesterday, which make money, we both just thought organization." helps the girls turn in a bit of rock on this [album] would be the most ideal The label intentionally chose a hol- mass merchants, while willing to deal some unique systems," Dalesandro "The Clock Is Tickin'." The latter act way to really help a significant fund iday release date "because there's no with field reps of the studios, don't says, such as one to gather point -of- is on Jireh. like this maintain its existence and greater time to think about children want a dozen or so independents in sale data and another to analyze it. The labels are planning to release help it grow." than during the holidays," says Jor- their stores to check inventories and Shopko should properly showcase each genre -specific track to their re- Weiss and Jordan then enlisted dan. "America is getting ready for replenish stock. "It's too confusing," what M.S. can do. Dalesandro thinks spective radio formats: inspirational, their R &B and rap artists, since the Thanksgiving, and it gives them the says Salstone. 'We want it to be sev- the chain "will turn some heads" with pop, rock, and R &B. neighborhoods served by the CHF opportunity to think about feeding en vendors: the six studios and us." expansion plans that at one time in- 'We went everywhere on this album," are a major portion of the demo- the children. Then you roll right into And if the studios can't completely cluded the acquisition of Phar -Mor, says Dee Dee "DJ Spinderella" Roper, graphic that buys their albums. Christmas, and children are really at fulfill the orders, `we're prepared to sources indicate. Phar -Mor was who raps on the set and has a solo rap "It's not really brain surgery [why the forefront of everyone's mind. fill that gap for them as well," Dale - known for its aggressive video pricing album slated to be released in the first we wanted to help]," says Ali Sha- When people walk into a record store, sandro adds. In addition, M.S. can earlier this decade but went into quarter of 1998 on Jireh. "It shows how heed Muhammad, DJ for A Tribe we want them to know that they are help those suppliers that aren't big Chapter 11 bankruptcy following dis- much we've matured -Salt with her Called Quest. "Jive's Unreleased" buying a good album and that their enough to qualify for direct delivery closure of management fraud. production skills and Pepa with her includes the group's track "It's money will go directly to help support but nonetheless have popular releas- Also active in sell -through, Shopko ideas. I [even] stumbled upon a couple Yours," which was intended to be a the health of children." es. went to M.S. to improve the return of of talents I didn't know I had. I think we DJ and mix -show single. "We [are During the planning stages of the Dalesandro and Salstone claim that its video investment, says a trade let our creative stuff flow and didn't hin- involved] because we're in a position project, Dr. Redlener asked that M.S. is the only one of the 10 remain- source. Handleman provided only a der ourselves. We're also blessed to be to be influential [to people], and we're "Vol. 1" be included in the title to ing video distributors to have focused 9% gross margin, this retail executive at a label that didn't just look at our 10 supposed to use that influence to leave the door open for additional so completely on sell-through. "We notes, "so anyone else is going to be a years in the business and didn't just bring about an awareness of a good projects. made the decision five years ago. We hero." M.S. thinks it has earned that believe in what Herbie [Azor, the cause." "If this is a success, I am certain love rental, but we recognize sell - status at Montgomery Ward, where group's former producer and visionary] Jive and CHF intend to hold a that Jive will be interested in contin- through has the greatest growth," says "video has had the highest growth of has done but looked at [the situation] press conference this month in New uing to help, and I hope that the Salstone. any department in the chain," Dale - and believed in what we have done." York at a date still to be determined artists will consider this a positive He and Dalesandro also knew the sandro says. `They're very happy with Although Spinderella says many to announce the project, and plans experience so they want to come back impact direct delivery was having on it at this point." industry executives don't give Salt 'N are being made to bring some of the for more," says Redlener. music: 'We're record guys. We saw However, M.S. reportedly has Pepa the respect a 10-year rap act artists to the CHF treatment sites. He would also like to see other what was happening out there." Other taken longer than expected to get its deserves because of the members' gen- "We're going for direct marketing major labels get involved with the distributors will get the drift and play system fully up to speed. As a result, der, retail and radio are looking for the to radio and to consumers," says Jor- cause or any other cause that bene- catch -up, the partners say. there have been some inventory and group to continue turning in quality, dan. "We also plan to do print mar- fits children. M.S. already has the experience - merchandising problems, a source mass -appeal music. keting like we would do for any other "This is a major demonstration of it has been racking Montgomery says. While video sales have surged, "Urban rap product is a major per- record, but the idea here is to spend what can be done [to help communi- Ward for nearly a year-and the com- M.S. still has "a ways to go," he centage of our overall business, and as little money as possible so we can ties] in an appropriate, dignified way puter expertise. 'We have developed maintains. Salt 'N Pepa have been a very signifi- get as much money as we can to the that approaches people," he says.

100 BILLBOARD OCTOBER 11, 1997

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