WHAT'S SHAKIN' Continued from page 49

AC /DC's "Stiff Upper Lip" continued to salute those who wanted to rock. 's European success included Australia sales of a million in France. Country singer Keith Urban became the first Aussie to enter the U.S. country charts. Amorosi, who is signed to Universal in the European and Asian territories, debuted at No. 7 on the U.K. charts with her single "Absolutely Everybody." Pop duo S2S (Standard/Mushroom) landed a top -20 hit in the U.K. with their anthem "Sister," and joined major tours through the U.S. with and Christina Aguilera. Australia can have its cake and eat it too: far enough For The Record away from the major global centers to put a different slant on its music but close enough to be a player. Madison Avenue entered the U.K. charts at No. 1 with "Don't Call A Guide To The Leading Companies Me Baby," also registering in Europe and the Billboard dance charts. More club acts followed: Pnau (Warner) was UNIVERSAL MUSIC AUSTRALIA among the first in BMC signed by U.K. based Instinct Management, while its zewil,.unü4'l viI- a us( rrtlia.cau.aa worldwide) to announce the debut "Sambanova" was issued in Europe. www.pla n pop.com.au introduction of digital down- European label interest was registered for Groove Executives: Peter Bond, pres- load tests with retailers Terminator (EMI), Endorphin (), Biftek (Sony) and ident; Paul Krige, managing before the end of the year. Friendly (Zomba). director. Three separate A&R sources Chambers, whose "The Captain" (EMI Australia, Virgin The Universal/PolyGram (Gotham, Rubber and BMG) Europe) arrives in the U.S. this month on Aslnni, per- integration under Bond (who make for a dynamic domestic returned from Asia in February roster. '99) sliced a level of middle Key acts: , management to one manag- , , ing director, two marketing Oscarlima, Guven, Oblivia, directors and label managers. , Jack Jones. Bond wants to increase mar- ket share (now at 20% -21 %) to Bachelor Girl 24% and work on taking EMI MUSIC AUSTRALIA domestic repertoire abroad. www.enl i ldl n'/1.Catit .(1 n Key acts: , Grinspoon www.T'il L intNusic.colIl.au Grinspoon, Skunkhour, Tex Perkins, Cruel Sea, H Block Executive: Tony Harlow, managing director. 101, Screaming Jets, , Sean Ikin. British- hailed Harlow has brought in European ENTERTAINMENT AUSTRALIA execs to give company Pop stars Bardot, left, and Pnau ii,w;I.,()//p/ru.s/(w oni.a ri staff a greater global per- Executives: Denis Handlin, spective, the result being formed U.S. showcases which had Lucinda Williams and chairman & CEO; John Madison Avenue's No. 1 Steve Earle offering to appear on her next album. Girl Sackson, managing direc- debut in the U.K. with band Bardot (East West/Warner) found sales in Asia after tor. "Don't Call Me Baby." their TV series "Pop Stars" appeared during prime time in Sony expanded its new Harlow also restructured eight territories. (East West/Warner) continued to technology division while the company in August, build its European following, opening for Tina Turner. Handlin announced yet putting the sales team The contemporary rock band Invertigo (Standard/ another fine -tuning of the out on the road equipped Mushroom) signed with Atlantic Records for the U.S. Jackson Mendoza company Oct. 1 by enlisting with laptops, setting up an Amorosi inked European and Asian deals with Universal Price Waterhouse Coopers to extranet to be accessed by retailers for artist updates, Music, while Sony's Haywood and teen act Lo Tel get collate a survey of the mar- and streamlined the promotions department. international releases in early 2001. The PopKomm fair in ket and the company and, Human Nature Key acts: Madison Avenue, Living End, , Germany saw its first Australian showcases, triggering as a result, streamlined and specialized A &R, promotion Jackson Mendoza, David Bridie, , Lee label interest for European distribution for six acts. and marketing, with an ambitious new sales structure. Kernaghan, , Slim Dusty, Paul Kelly, Role of state branch managers was virtually made redun- Avalanches, , . POWDERFINGER & BREAK dant. Domestic Igo. 1 albums by Powderfiuger (Lniv ersal), 28 Key acts: l'ina Arena, Troy Cassar- Daley, Frenzal Rhomb, FESTIVAL Days (Festival Mushroom Records) and John Farnham Slava Grigoryan, Leah Haywood, Tim Draxl, Midnight www f ollvalrecor(ls.rmn . ati (BMG) have sparked interest from European labels. EMI Oil, Human Nature, Real Blondes, Testeagles, Tony Lee www.mushroom.conl U.K. and Europe released Alex Lloyd in September and Scott. Executives: Roger Grierson, chairman; Paul Dickson, CEO; will issue David Bridie in January. Jeremy Fabinyi, managing director. , a Festival Mushroom Records artist in WARNER MUSIC AUSTRALIA The two -year plan to change Rupert Murdoch's compa- Australia and New Zealand and signed to Parlophone for ru Trrn nermusic.com.au ny from a lackluster performer to a major player paid off the rest of the world, returned to the high end of the U.K. Executives: Shaun James, this year. The company was totally restructured and the charts with a back -to-pop album. chairman; Chris Moss, man- domestic roster reshuffled (although there are more local The two main obstacles to a continual flow of fresh tal- aging director, WEA. acts today than two years ago). The Festival, Mushroom ent in Australia -major airplay and talent management Since James took over 18 and MDS labels were combined last year, providing for skills -are being addressed. Discussions between ARIA months ago, the domestic more interaction between divisions. FMR has probably and major radio network Austereo saw a greater commit- roster has been expanded to shown the biggest growth of local labels, moving from a 6% ment to playing new music and joint initiatives to promote include pop (TV- promoted market share 12 months ago to current 11.5 %, mostly upcoming talent. Bardot) and dance. The front the success of local acts. "There used to be antagonism," admits ARIA executive company reports market Key acts: Kylie Minogue, 28 Days, , director Emmanuel Candi. "Once you start talking, you share growth due to success , Nokturnl, Motorace, , might disagree with some basic principles, but you under- of domestic roster, greater Deadstar, Ruby Hunter, , Leonardo's stand each other." resources applied to strate- Bride, . The Music Managers Forum holds monthly seminars to gic marketing division, a increase skills. Taking a cue from John Woodruff's role in joint venture with Austereo SHOCK RECORDS DISTRIBUTION steering to 17.5 million global album sales radio network for compila- w wTr Nhock.cont.au were manager /entrepreneurs such as Killing Heidi's Paul tions, and expanding third party deals through niche Executives: David Williams, managing director; Frank Kosky and S2S's Ralph Carr. Both take on the lion's share compilations. Warner is about to launch an Internet strat- Fah o, director; Charles Caldas, CEO. of A &R, marketing and developing their acts. egy and new -media division. Shock highlighted its continuing development as a A &R managers are becoming cult heroes and can name Key acts: , Taxiride, the Superjesus, Shihad, "mainstream" company by setting up the Velocity label to their own price. BMG Music is using two external A&R , Kaylan, Primary, Whitlams, Bardot, Marie focus on its dance and pop product. Velocity, in some sources and Sony Music is looking overseas for its new Wilson, Pnau. months, has constituted 60% of business for the company A &R manager. "The basics will never change -it's about that began as a champion of alternative music. Also set up having the right songs and having charisma," says Sony BMG AUSTRALIA an Internet fulfillment company, CD Fulfillment Australia. chairman and CEO Denis Handlin. What has changed, he ruu. burg.cont.au They have been quiet this year due to a lack of A &R man- says, is that label marketing has become smarter. Executive: Tim Prescott, managing director. ager until the appointment in September of Stuart "Record companies are not necessarily spending more," Reports best financial result in seven years, following MacQueen. says Handlin. "The days of throwing releases against the the company's dramatic restructure two years ago. BMG Key acts: , Dirty Three, Screamfeeder, The wall and hoping they'd stick are truly gone. They're work- is most aggressive about IT in the region, and the Fauves, Ronin System, Dave Hole, Mach Pelican, Angels, ing on getting the right songs and the right production Australian operation was the first of local companies (and Cosmic Psychos, Kerri Simpson, Toe To Toe. Continued on page 54

50 BILLBOARD SPOTLIGHT BILLBOARD OCTOBER 21, 2000 www.americanradiohistory.com