BIG CAT'S BLUMFELD FINDS A NEW HIT IN `OLD NOBODY' (Continued from page 17) hero of a Franz Kafka story-enjoys Tränen Tief" (A Thousand Tears speaking, this music is very good, and Spex magazine in January, and that Trade "can live with that." Consider- a huge underground following and Deep) has been added to the playlists we want to be associated with that." was a signal for other media," ing the album's high chart entry, this has received critical acclaim at home. of MTV Germany and sueh youth - Uta Bretsch, who is responsible Bretsch says. "Then we had a sold - spirit of independence has ultimate- Since its 1992 debut album, "Ich- oriented radio outlets as MDR Sput- for promotion and product manage- out club tour right around the release ly paid off. Maschine" (Ego Machine), Blumfeld nik, as well as Germany's largest ment at Rough Trade, Big Cat's li- date [Jan. 26], which mobilized the Blumfeld has been signed to Big has been regarded as the standard - public radio stations, including SWR3 censee and distributor for the GSA fans, and there is also a broad range Cat since its second album, which, bearer of the "Hamburger Schule," or WDR EinsLive. Even more "main- region, attributes the positive re- of press feedback from fanzines to says the label, has sold approximate- the Hamburg movement that com- stream" formats, such as private [the German edition of] Rolling ly 30,000 units worldwide. "That's as bined lo-fi and punk elements with a broadcasters Radio Salü and the Stone and from local newspapers to many as we sold in the first week strong pop sensibility and (mostly) powerful Hit Radio FFH in Frank- `We've waited for general -interest magazines." with this album," says Tim Vass, Big German lyrics. furt, have now picked up on the band. this to happen Distelmeyer emphasizes that Blum - Cat's label manager. Blumfeld's second album, "L'Etat Alexander Schmitz, music editor - feld has in no way "sold out." "Once we The connection with Rough Trade Et Moi" (1994), reached No. 98 on the of public broadcaster MDR Sputnik, that Blumfeld go back on tour, it will become even predates V2's involvement with Big German album chart, but the group's says, "We've actually waited for this more obvious how much of the `new' Cat, according to Vass. The label sound has had an influence beyond its to happen -that Blumfeld would would finally was already contained in our older signed a German band, he adds, "be- sales figures. finally make a song that we could songs and how much of the old stuff is cause we had a big profile in Ger- With "Old Nobody," Blumfeld has play. It's ultimately a `classic' pop make a song we still present in the current album," he many at the time [1994] and the mu- brought its alternative pop sound into song. Of course, there's this `hip fac- says. The band, with its manager, sic is good." the mainstream. While the pop gloss tor' involved which also prompted us could play' Alfred Hilsberg, retains full control V2 says its international affiliates may disappoint die -hard supporters, to put it in power rotation [with up to over artwork and promotional matters. outside the GSA region have the the label says the band has reached a three plays per day]." Nor has the band moved away option of picking up the album; the new generation of potential Blumfeld Patrick Jöst, who works in MTV sponse partly to a well-structured from its libertarian and leftist polit- U.K. company will release it in May. fans who may not be aware of the Germany's talent and artist relations promotional effort; independent pro- ical stance, which involves not allow- The group has a cult following in the first two albums. department, confirms that "Tausend moter Public Propaganda handles ing commercial sponsorship of its U.K. and elsewhere in Europe. After the departure of bassist Tränen Tief" was put in Breakout radio, while Rough Trade is in charge concerts and not granting interviews "It will be difficult," admits Vass, Eike Bohlken, the band took almost rotation, which amounts to 12 to 15 of press and TV promotion. to certain conservative media. "but we're hoping to widen out the four years to "restructure in both plays per week. "It was an emotion- "We had a pre -release review in According to Bretsch, Rough fan base." social and musical terms," according al decision; it's simply a great song to singer /main songwriter Jochen and a great video." Previously Blum - Distelmeyer. feld could be spotted on MTV only JESSE POWELL CAN THANK `YOU' special- interest shows like `Alter- "Old Nobody" showcases a new on (Continued from page 17) lineup, featuring Peter Thiessen on native Nation." bass and recent addition Michael VH -1 Germany now plays the "Last year, we had Jesse headline business," says Powell. "You can lose had different offers. I love to perform Mühlhaus on keyboards, while found- video three to four times daily, in its a Summer Heat tour of six key cities. sight of that fact because you can be so live. I grew up doing that" ing member André Rattay remains VH -1 Recommends rotation, while These shows were geared to radio, busy making music. But I never know Corbin says, "Jesse's doing a series on drums. competitor Viva 2 started out with press, and retail. Jesse got a standing what's going to be a hit. There are of one -off dates right now. We want to Yet, as Distelmeyer notes, "there's N2 rotation (one to two plays per day) ovation at almost every show when he some songs I think I'd never hear again get him on the right tour." Powell is nothing here that's so different that and has just upgraded to Nl (two to did `You.' When Universal Music and and they're at the top of the charts, and currently not signed to a booking would warrant the assumption that three plays per day). Video Distribution [MCA's parent there are songs that I think are going agency but works with several inde- this band has finally `come into its Carsten Wien, catalog manager at company] had its annual meeting, we to be huge and they don't become hits." pendent agents. own.' " As for the pop -leaning sound, HMV's only German store, in Ober- had Jesse perform there, and we had Retail store Waves Music in Los Powell says upcoming plans also he says, "I've always seen the band in hausen in the Ruhr valley area, says the same reaction to `You.'" Angeles, which has a strong R &B include collaborating as a songwriter that sense, and my songwriting has the store did a co -op deal on the band, Powell's label, however, chose "I music clientele, reports increasing with his sisters, singers Trini and always had the same influences that advertising in the monthly magazine Wasn't With It" to be the first single sales for Powell's latest recordings. The Tamara, whose debut album is due only now seem to have become obvi- Intro and featuring the band's clips from " `Bout It." Although the song store's manager, Robert Blackburn, April 20 on Columbia Records. ous, such as ABC, Scritti Politti, on large video screens in the store. received airplay on R &B stations, it observes, "We've been selling a sub- Michael Jackson, Robert Palmer, HMV did this despite the relative- peaked at No. 85 on the Hot 100 in stantial amount of the single [ "You"], Grace Jones, or even Chris Rea." ly poor chart showing of previous September 1998. and the album's been doing well, espe- ISRAELI PIRACY "The single sales cially in the last few weeks. A lot of Yet when it comes to airplay, the albums. Corbin reflects, (Continuedfrom page 7) difference between the "old" and the "Blumfeld has got a big fan base in for `I Wasn't With It' were doing OK. people who are buying the album say "new" Blumfeld couldn't be more Germany, and they're the critical But when it came time to pick the sec- it's because they saw the video." been cited by RIAA for inclusion on astonishing. First single "Tausend favorites," says Wien. "Qualitatively ond single, we felt `You' was the Powell and Corbin both cite Black the Watch List because it allows sub- strongest record to go with." Entertainment Television (BET) as scription -based music services with- Alice Marie Dixon, assistant PD of being an early and committed sup- out extending rights to U.S. labels WJMI Jackson, Miss., porter of Powell's music, even with for the storage and transmission of FRAY R&B station MUSICMAKER.COM JOINS MP3 explains why she thinks "You" has Powell's first album. the recorded music they have creat- (Continued from page 12) been a hit: "It's a love ballad about a BET music director Gregg Diggs ed. Turkewitz says these practices attract some skeptics to the MP3 The 2,500 albums, available with man who wants to settle down. It's agrees. "One of the things we've are "unreasonable and unfair." fold. artwork, will be culled primarily the kind of thing women love. It's a always been proud of here is being "The recurring theme of today's "We are combining the technology from the Platinum catalog. Bernar- wedding song. The song just blew up able to break artists," he says. "We report," Turkewitz says, "is a con- with a legitimate music source," he di says Musicmaker.com's aggres- overnight, and listener requests for played Jesse's first video, `All I Need,' tinued lack of enforcement in many says. "Most labels would really like to sive move into full -album downloads `You' are still going up even though we right off the bat, and we've played territories, particularly in regard to support MP3, but there have been have it in heavy rotation." every clip we've gotten for Jesse since a burgeoning trade in illegal CDs." copyright issues. This is a way for Powell's journey to hitmaker sta- then. You can tell he's very talented. In other RIAA news, on Feb. 18 them to get some comfort. We are The technology tus started when, as a struggling But `You' shows how strong a vocalist Hilary Rosen, RIAA president/CEO, going to start with 20,000 songs and singer, he decided to move from he is. `You' is one of the best R &B announced the departure of Steven can move to 100,000 songs within a might be strong Kansas City, Mo., to Los Angeles. vocal performances I've heard in a D'Onofrio, executive VP and director short period of time depending on enough to attract Powell remembers, "I had a friend while. The video is classy, and it's of anti -piracy, after an 18 -year asso- consumer response." named Carl Roland who told me that pleasing to the eye. So the whole ciation with the trade group. He will Aside from propelling Music some skeptics to he was moving to L.A., and I begged package is there." leave the RIAA in June and will be maker.com into the thick of the to go along with him. We drove to Corbin adds, "We met with BET in succeeded by senior VP/director of MP3 race, the move could alter the the MP3 fold L.A., and we stayed with a girlfriend December 1998, and during that investigations Frank Creighton, a business model of a company whose of his. We started making the rounds meeting we talked about MCAs pri- veteran investigator. current bread and butter is with demos, and it took more than a ority acts. We told BET what our His accomplishments include enabling consumers to piece puts it on the same page as IBM year before anything really hap- game plan was: Have `You' bubble development of the legislative cam- together albums from a library of Corp.'s much -ballyhooed major - pened. My manager took my tape to under in 1998 and, in January, go for paign that dramatically changed the 200,000 tracks. label Madison Project (Billboard, [Silas Records owner/president] it. It was a partnership, and BET enforcement landscape over the last Bernardi says the compilation Feb. 20). Louil Silas [Jr.], and he signed me. increased their rotation of `You.' decade -the passage of "true name business and digital -download busi- Pricing for Musicmaker.com's album "It's funny, because even though I They've been a great support for and address" statutes in 36 states, ness can exist in harmony. downloads is still under discussion, worked with different songwriters on Jesse Powell. To a certain extent, which resulted in thousands of crim- "The custom compilation lends though Bernardi says it will "obviously "Bout It,' Carl -the person who was BET is playing less R&B and more inal seizures and convictions. itself to special occasions-like be some discount to list price." with me from the start -was the one rap, so to have them support Jesse so He also spearheaded the effort for Valentine's Day and Christmas-and "Like Madison, we are trying to who co-wrote my first hit [ "You "]." much has been great." California's optical disc identification special promotions, because the CDs gauge consumer demand and are of- Powell co -wrote half of the songs Corbin adds that the label is now legislation, helped draft the first fed- can be personalized," he says. "But fering it to people who have access on " `Bout It." His songs are pub- poised to take Powell "to the next eral anti -bootleg statute, and was as the digital-downloading market to high -speed networks and have lished by Chrysalis (ASCAP), and he level" and is servicing rhythm - responsible for bringing forward begins to grow, it is a natural segue significant bandwidth to download," is managed by Icon Entertainment. crossover stations with the single. cases that resulted in multimillion for us to move into that." he says. "The music industry is definitely a As for touring, Powell says, "I've dollar judgments against pirates.

BILLBOARD FEBRUARY 27. 1999 85

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