Record Clubs Utilize New Strategies
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$5.95 (U.S.), $6.95 (CAN.), £4.95 (U.K.), Y2,500 (JAPAN) aw aQ V) W Z ZO+YE-L0906 V3333 Ó LlAdW É A N33a9 JLLNOW ZLiI 9Zi Z OOSZO i00 l'Il nylon lnnlll"I"Illllll"I"'Il"l'Il L99 0919 lZ001.1347L2339L08061 806 1I9IO-£ ************* olfltl ß21A31NX9S THE INTERNATIONAL NEWSWEEKLY OF MUSIC, VIDEO, AND HOME ENTERTAINMENT JANUARY 30, 1999 UNIVERSAL NEWS Record Clubs Utilize New Strategies 500 Are Out In First BY ED CHRISTMAN online, including a "club" of a differ- having "hassle -free membership." BMG Direct, on the other hand, Wave Of U.S. Layoffs and MICHAEL PAOLETTA ent sort -the membership -based Unlike the traditional "negative has concentrated on trying to find NEW YORK -After flying high EveryCD (see story, page 6). option" tactic employed by record growth with existing members by A Billboard staff report. during the first half of the '90s and Any dulling of their own clubs, whereby members enhancing service and promotions, enjoying a new sales peak in 1994, competitive edge is something have to send back postcards including offering free sampler CDs Months of uncertainty came record clubs saw a slight 1995 -96 the record clubs are now aim- every month to stop delivery to members, as well as targeting buy- to an end for PolyGram and sales decline turn into tough times in ing to change through innov- of the club's "selection of the ers through genre -based clubs. Universal staffers on Jan. 20 1997. But after undergoing re- ative new tactics, aggressive month" title, Play members In addition, both record clubs and 21, as Universal Music trenchment during those years, the advertising, and improved have two years to choose a anticipate that the Internet will have Group laid off 500 label employ- clubs have seen their business stabi- customer service. minimum of six titles for a dramatic impact on their business. ees in the consolidation of its lize in 1998 as they tried new selling Among the new business purchase, without worrying Already, the two clubs have among labels with those acquired from strategies and received a boost by strategies being about automatic the most highly visited World Wide PolyGram. It was the first big tapping the growing power of the employed is Play, NEWS ANALYSIS shipment of un- (Continued on page 105) wave of U.S. staff cuts that will Internet as a music sales tool. a club created by wanted product. eventually total 1,200 this year. None of this has apparently affect- Columbia House, Play, which de- Many artists are also expect- ed the view of record retailers, who the record club jointly owned by Sony buted in June, was highly publicized '90s R &B Radio Is ed to be cut from the rosters of have long been foes of record clubs, Music and Warner Music Group. via TV commercials during De- (Continued on page 94) in any form and at any level of suc- Columbia House advertises Play as cember. Proving Less Open cess. The clubs' decline from their heyday, however, has made them less To Crossover Acts Operations Regrouped of a competitive threat, some mer- chants maintain, although other new Timba Burns In Cuba This story was prepared by In Euro Territories competitors seemingly rise daily Dana Hall, managing editor of BY HOWELL LLEWELLYN complex, highly danceable, and re- R &B Airplay Monitor. BY MARK SOLOMONS HAVANA-Compay Segundo and flects the problems and contradic- LONDON -Universal Music MUSiC TO MY EARS Afro -Cuban All Stars tions of contempo- NEW YORK -In the early '80s, Group (UMG) is dealing its may be Cuba's inter- rary Cuban society. it was common for R &B stations hand in Europe, and the national face, but the The world is set to to play such top 40 artists as strength of PolyGram's suit is cutting -edge music on hear more of this clearly visible. With just a hand- the island today is music through major- Label Pacts With Radio ful of smaller territories where timba, an evolved label involvement and Stations Draw Government Universal Music had pre -merg- form of Cuban salsa the touring of key Attention ... Page 6 er companies still to disclose that has little to do acts (see story, page their plans for their newly with that of neighbor- 97). Culture Club, Exposé, or even merged operations, a broad pat- ing countries or of "In 15 years' time, Cyndi Lauper when those acts tern is emerging in the big ter- New York. music historians in the U.S. and released dance- or R &B -fla- ritories that reflects Poly - Timba is musically aggressive, (Continued on page 97) vored songs. Even at the Gram's regional dominance. decade's end, when the advent of Former PolyGram labels "churban" radio forced main- become the principal home for INSIDE THIS WEEK'S BILLBOARD stream R &B outlets to narrow domestic repertoire, as well as ToneCool /Mercury's their focus, the format still sup- taking on the lion's share of Carole King Is Church Gains ported a handful of white responsibility for Universal's Susan Tedeschi Is 1999's artists, among them Lisa Stans- and PolyGram's international Hottest New Act With Her A High -Profile Devoted Fans field, George Michael, and repertoire in Germany, France, Sheena Easton, who worked in the Netherlands, and Spain, in 'Just Won't Burn' Album Presence On Via Set On Sony an R &B idiom. (Continued on page 103) (Continued on page 93) See Page 3 Radio ... PBB Classical ... PH Carnegie Hall FROM FOUR OF THE MOST LEGENDARY SHOWS EVER OX & BUDDY MILES MAKE ROCK 'N' ROLL HISTORY Taps Boulez 1-EIGFIX For Season ENDREX 5.95 US $6.95 ANADA Nearly Two Hours Of Music On 2 COs: 16 Tracks. 5> 13 Previously Unreleased Band Of Gypsys Home Video Includes Live Footage, Interviews & Music Not On CD .... E . MCA3/C2/D2-11931 MCAV-11931 www.mcarecords.com o 74808 02 52 7 MGA a. ADVERTISEMENT www.americanradiohistory.com BU_ZW.JRTFN IC EOS F$Mí'2+2i FA N{ c í:i mum: TOTAL RE3UEST MTV: THE #1 CABLE NETWORK FOR 12 -24 YEAR OLDS.` www.americanradiohistory.com Billboard® Susan Tedeschì's Blues `Burn' New Path Success craves a crowd, but the loneliness of daring to do some- main highlights of her live shows, including "Gonna Write Him A Editor in Chief: TIMOTHY WHITE thing different ensures the degree of isolation that originality de- Letter," "Locomotive," and "Love Never Treats Me Right." in '98, she EDITORIAL mands. And if all this must occur in the uncertain, retrenching mu- When the "Just Won't Burn" album first appeared Managing Editor: SUSAN NUNZIATA sic- business climate of the late '90s, you're bound to get the blues. hit the road on assorted blues bills that included opening slots for Deputy Editor: Iry Lichtman News Editor: Marilyn A. Gillen "You really can't keep up a traveling and touring pace like this Jonny Lang, B.B. King, and Buddy Guy, but she's also been paired Director of Special Issues: Gene Sculatti; Dalet Brady, Associate Director; Porter Hall, Special Issues Coordinator indefinitely," muses 28- year-old guitarist /singer Susan Tedeschi, with acts as diverse as John Hiatt, Rusted Root, and New Radicals. Bureau Chiefs: Chet Flippo (Nashville), Bill Holland (Washington), into cell -phone connection as her That she shines in all settings is part of the magic of her passion- John Lannert (Caribbean and Latin America), Melinda Newman (L.A.) speaking a crackling speeding Art Director: Jeff Nisbet; Assistant: Raymond Carlson van careens along a darkened Florida highway, "because I think ate, utterly unpretentious approach to her music. And if you've Copy Chief: Bruce Janicke; Assistant: Elizabeth Renaud Copy Editors: Lisa Gidley, Carl Rosen it would probably kill you. For 1999, I'm just hoping I can find the never seen one of Tedeschi's concerts, you won't appreciate the Senior Editor: Ed Christman, Retail (N.Y.) Senior Writers: Chris Morris (L.A.), Bradley Bambarger (N.Y.) time to do my taxes and to eventually find someplace to live, be- depth of one of the best new artists of the '90s until you do. Talent Editor: Larry Flick (N.Y.) a nice, mildly worldly Catholic girl attending Country Music/Nashville: Deborah Evans Price, Associate Editor cause I don't even have an apartment." Looking like Dance Music: Michael Paoletta, Editor (N.Y.) There's an extended, involuntary pause as the howling rumble evening Mass, Tedeschi steps onstage dressed in spike heels and Pro Audio/Technology: Paul Verna, Editor (N.Y.) Merchants & Marketing: Don Jeffrey, Editor (N.Y.) of a drifting phone signal drowns out any chance of discussion, 1940s -50s sweaters and skirts found in secondhand shops, her hair Home Video: Seth Goldstein, Editor (N.Y.), Eileen Fitzpatrick, Associate Ed. (L.A.) Radio: Chuck TaylorTaylor, Editor (N.Y.) this modern noise of a human being in transit becoming the same held primly back by barrettes. And she shyly proffers each selec- New Media Editor: Reece (L.A.) sale. But when her Heatseekers Features Editor/Music Video: Carla Hay, Editor (N.Y.) signature sound of unwonted seclusion as a train whistle or a dron- tion as if it were the last cake at a parish bake Staff Reporter: Dylan Siegler (N.Y.) We seem a nation on hold, each of us band erupts and she starts to sing, her vocals seethe, swoop, and Editorial Assistant: Carrie Bell (L.A.) ing delta -blues riff once was. Administrative/Research Assistant: Aliya S. King (N.Y.) alone and hurrying toward indistinct dreams as we struggle to roar with enough sensual bluster to break the seals on whiskey Special Correspondent: Jim Bessman Contributors: Catherine Applefeld Olson, Fred Bronson, Lisa Collins, somehow keep our long- distance connections to bottles and tear the leaves from trees.