49 Country Label Execs Differ On Picture Disk's Punch By SALLY HINKLE NASHVILLE -Country labels ture disks on Nelson's 'Stardust' al- also areas to be considered with the quality is upgraded. But at this time, isn't sure what the label's role would are taking a closer look at the pro- bum, which was strictly for promo- picture disks. he can't see any demographic group be at this time. motional and commercial values of tional use," notes Joe Casey, director "The Willie Nelson disks prob- "forking out some $16 for a picture "It's obvious that picture disks are the picture disk. promotion for to of CBS Records, "and ably cost about $5 apiece," says Ca- disk to hang on the wall." going have some impact on the Initially introduced in it so well the market- because was unique and so sey, "and as the popularity of these Does CBS have any future plans marketplace, but we haven't dis- place by CBS Records earlier this done, it proved to be highly effec- cussed the possibility at this stage in disks grows, I think you're going to for disks on any of their artists? with Willie Nelson's year "Stardust" tive. But they can be overdone. see the price accelerate from the "Right now, we don't. But who's to the game, mainly because we're LP, and recently followed by RCA "You have to have the right cover standpoint of manufacturing. say if, in January or February, we pretty well committed to our product with Elvis Presley's "Legendary Per- and a lot of chemistry has to be right come up with an explosive type of through the beginning of 1979. "Additionally, the sound quality former, Vol. III" LP and ABC's Don in order to make them effective. LP, and an LP that would lend itself "I think it's something we'll con- is usually lousy because of the type Williams' "Expressions" LP, the pic- Otherwise, it becomes a gimmick of from the standpoint of color and sider as a special project if we do be- of vinyl used. You can play a picture ture disk has proven to be a highly sorts, and it's a very expensive gim- graphics, that we possibly do it on a come involved with the disks." disk maybe four or five times, and effective promotional tool in both mick." picture disk." Meanwhile, ABC, which just re- country and crossover situations. Norm Osborne, national director from the first spin, you won't have leased its Don Williams' picture disk good quality. You also run the risk Some of the other Nashville labels Enough so that many major coun- of country promotion for Elektra/ which are keeping tabs on the value for promotional use, has met with try labels are considering it as a defi- Asylum Records, also feels the effec- of deterioration the more you play good response on its initial venture, it." of picture disks are MCA, Capitol nite possibility in the future with tiveness could be lost -if not already. and United Artists. and will probably consider more us- some of their artists. "It's a fad from what I can tell," Osborne advises, "If the stores are age the disk in the future. "Picture disks have been proposed of However, some label executives notes Osborne. "It's a possible pro- smart, when they sell whatever pic- "I'm sure we will be getting into for some of our country acts, but un- caution the overuse of the picture motional tool, but it's becoming so ture disk product is available com- it," Foglésong, fortunately, right now our plans are says Jim president of disk, citing the potential classifica- commonplace now that I don't even mercially, they'll make the customer ABC's in limbo," notes Eddie Kilroy, vice Nashville operations, tion as a gimmick rather than a valu- know if it's an effective promotional aware of that fact." "though we don't have anything in president of a &r for MCA. able aid. tool anymore." Commercially, Casey sees a pos- the works at the moment. "We purchased some 2,500 pic- Cost factors and sound quality are sible future with the disks if the "We had originally intended to "The response, so far, that we've have four releases in January, in- had on Williams' disk has been Bill cluding Anderson, Loretta really good, and it has performed Lynn, Mel Tillis and Merle Hag- what we had hoped it would in the gard, two of which would have pos- way of attracting attention and pro- sibly been picture disks. But now, voking conversation about Wil- only two of these four planned LPs liams." will be coming out, so that has put a According to Norm Osborne, hold on our plans." Elektra's country operations are not Capitol has discussed the disks as thinking about the prospect of the a possibility, and according to Lynn disk at the moment. Shults, vice president of Capitol's "I think if we did consider it, it country division, the label will be might be with Eddie Rabbitt." bringing out picture disks on some Frank Leffel, national country of their artists in the future, but no promotion director for Phonogram/ definite time schedule has been set. Mercury views the disks as an aid in Jerry Seabolt, director of Nash- establishing the artist's image in the ville operations for United Artists, marketplace, but notes that the label views the disks as something the la- has no plans for picture disks at this GLOBETROTTER JAM -RCA artist Ronnie Milsap joins the Harlem Globetrotters for a jam session at Studio B of the bel would certainly consider, but time. Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville. The unusual pairing came during a taping session for ABC -TV's "Wide World Of Sports," slated to air in January. 25- Year -Old Cedarwood Steps Up Goals In '79 By GERRY WOOD NASHVILLE -While celebrating small stable of writers. "With our Jerry Jeff Walker, Brian Shaw and its 25th anniversary this month, Ce- new jingle division, we're going after Gary Stewart's new single on the darwood Publishing Co. plans on the production of radio commercials Billboard Hot Country Singles accelerating its activities. and television jingles on a national chart, "Stone Wall (Around Your Plans are "on the boards" for Ce- basis," notes Denny. Heart)." darwood to get into the management The push also extends into motion Some of the more lucrative Cedar- of artists, advises Bill Denny, gen- picture music. According to Denny, wood copyrights include "Tobacco eral manager. a top Cedarwood song will soon pro- Road," written by John D. Loud- "We're watching with great inter- vide the basis for the story of a new ermilk, originally recorded as a est the role that the publisher will movie which will star the song's country song and later cut by such play in the development of video writer. The music for the film will be pop acts as the Moody Blues; Mel packages," comments Denny. - recorded in Nashville. No names Tillis' "Ruby" and "Detroit City," Denny, also the national president were given. and two of the most successful Ce- of the National Academy of Record- The Nashville publishing firm has darwood titles outside the U.S. - ing Arts & Sciences, sees a new its door open for more writer- artists "Cut Across Shorty" and "Roses To source of publisher income in this such as its current staffers Zack Van Sandra" (the latter being released as growth area, "Suppose a home Arsdale, Lee Morris and DeWayne "Roses To Reno" in the U.S.). Cedarwood Classic: A vintage vault shot shows, left to right, Dollie Denny, videocassette is a tape of an artist Orender. Jim Denny and Minnie Pearl Cedarwood has received 67 BMl backstage at the old Ryman Auditorium in Nash- performing his album. Suddenly, "I'm trying to discover and de- ville in the '50s. this gets to be a very significant in- velop new outlets for Cedarwood's Awards and two Grammy Awards come for the publisher. The rates music and talent," comments profes- since being formed in 1953 as an out will be higher, because the total cost sional manager John Denny, like his of pocket business by Jim Denny, a veteran WSM -AM The staff, which includes both of been associated with Jim Denny's of the package will be higher." brother Bill, the son of the com- talent booker. Denny's sons, also consists of three business ventures, and Pierce at one Cedarwood plans to continue pany's founder, Jim Denny. He's The company -one of Nashville's employes who have put in 25 years time co -owned Cedarwood. "turning over" its 5,000 -song cata- trying to secure a oldest publishers- obtained material label deal for Betty with the company, including Dollie log, says Denny. "We're taking new Jean Robinson, from many of the acts Denny han- "When my father started his pub- a gospel music Denny, wife of the late founder. She interest in seeking activity in dled in his "Grand Ole Opry" pro- lishing company and booking serv- this singer -writer, and is developing a manages the office and clerical area. A song, once it's a hit, will plan to back ductions for WSM. Its first national ice, he had access to a lot of the tal- disco artist Obrey Wil- duties. come back again." son. No. 1 country hit came quickly with ent he had worked with at the The foreign market is another The writing staff also includes Webb Pierce's "It's Been So Long" Other staffers are Curley Rhodes, 'Grand Ole Opry'," says Bill Denny. growth area, claims Denny, who Dale Royal, Fred Burch, Willie in July 1953. promotion director; Mary Claire "He was fortunate to get some good notes that Cedarwood has agree- Fong Young, Ramona Redd, Mitch- Denny left WSM in 1956 to devote Rhodes, assistant to her husband; writers with him such as Wayne ments with publishers in l9 foreign ell Torok, Michael Heeney, Linda full -time to managing Cedarwood Jim Hayner, song plugger; Pat Hig- Walker, Mel Tillis, Marijohn Wilkin countries. "Foreign markets have Easterling, Jim Hayner, Jack S. and the Jim Denny Artist Bureau. don, director of creative services and and John Loudermilk." the greatest opportunity of any time Schneider, Duke Paglier, Claude The booking business was sold by studio manager; Michael Heeney, Other Cedarwood hits include who in the past," says Denny. Southall and Alan Porter. Denny's estate after the Country works in the studio and jingle "Are You Sincere," "Daddy Sang The lucrative jingle market will Recent Cedarwood cuts include Music Hall of Fame member died in enterprises; and Barney Evans, asst. Bass," "Long Black Veil," "Teddy studio manager. get a strong Cedarwood focus songs recorded by Jessi Colter, Way - 1963. Bill Denny succeeded his fa- Bear," "In The Jailhouse Now" and through its 16 -track studio and a Ion Jennings, Ronnie McDowell, ther as general manager. Carl Smith and Webb Pierce had "Waterloo." www.americanradiohistory.com