NEWS

Music Inks Deal With At press time it was learned that A1 Bell, founder of Stax Records, Bug j has joined the staff of Motown Records in the capacity of President,*! | Creative. Details are forthcoming and will offer a full report Capitol we ini i" our next issue. Mr. Bell has most recently served as President op ) LOS ANGELES - Bug Music has Edge Records in Los Angeles. signed an exclusive record label deal | with Capitol Records it was an- nounced by David Berman, Presi- Beach Boys To Receive "Award Of Merit" dent of Capitol. Since forming in 1975, Bug Music has been at the vanguard of the Performers And 1 publishing field. Their roster in- cludes: , Don Dixon, Marshal Crenshaw, T-Bone Burnett, Presenters Set For AMA's,. John Hiatt, The Blasters, , - Albert Lee, , Robert Cray LOS ANGELES A stellar cast of Entire, Richard Marx, Bill Medley, performers and presenters have been Stephanie Mills, Moody , Juicic^w and The Fabulous Thunderbirds, BUGGING CAPITOL- Pictured at the Bug to among many others. Music record label deal signing; Evan announced appear on the 15th an- Newton, Richard Page, The Pointer Bug chairman and founder, Dan Meadow, Attorney, Bug Music; Dan Bour- nual American Music Awards. The Sisters, Charley Pride, Lou Rawis,'^ Bourgoise, stated 'Tt's the obvious goise, Chairman and Founder, Bug Music; program will emanate from the Restless Heart, Statler Brothers, David Berman, President, Capitol Records; and logical step for us to be making Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on Steven Stills, George Strait, Patrick Fred Bourgoise, President, Bug Music; and because we're involved very early January 25, and will broadcast on the Swayze, Billy Vera, Jennifer Warned Tom Whalley, Vice President, A&R. with an artist and this makes the ABC television network. The Bee Jody Watley, Mary Wilson and process easier." Bug President, Fred Capitol's Berman commented, Gees, Whitney Houston, Barbara Dwight Yoalim will serve as awar^^ Mandrell Bourgoise, added 'It's very exciting "We are pleased to be able to work and Smokey Robinson presenters. to be working with the new Capitol. with Bug. Capitol believes in their have been asked to host this year's In addition. The Beach Boys hav*^ event. It gives us an opportunity to have ac- ability, proven by their track record been named as the 15th recipients of Performers scheduled to appear the American Music Awards special cess to a major label. Now we can for recognizing and developing new , include Eric ' brainstorm with our writers and talent. We look forward to a success- Carmen, Gloria Estefan "Award Of Merit." A special tribute . offer them a creative outlet." ful relationship." & Miami Sound Machine, Cissy will be paid to The Beach Boys, the Houston, L.L. Cool J, Lisa Lisa & Cult first group ever to be honored witj*i^. | Bill Medley Jam, & Jennifer Warnes the award, on the show's telecast ! Drosins Named VP, Advertising and Randy Travis. In addition, 'Fhe David Lee Roth will be leading thev Bee Gees, Houston, Mandrell and tribute, which will also feature Glen And Creative Services Robinson will each perform in- Campbell, Little Richard, Quincy dividually during the broadcast. Jones and Henry Winkler. ^ LOS ANGELES - Patricia Drosins Alabama, Herb Alpert, Ashford & Nominees for the American Music has been named Vice President, Ad- Simpson, The Bangles, Bon Jovi, Awards were compiled from Cash ' vertising and Creative Services, Poly- Laura Branigan, Natalie Cole, Box's year end charts. Nominations Gram Records, it was announced by Terence Trent D'Arby, Expose, Janie are in three categories: Pop/Rocl^.^ Harry Anger, Senior Vice President, Frickie, Kenny G, Debbie Gibson, Soul/Rhythm & Blues and Country - ^ Marketing for the company. Drosins, Mickey Gilley, Flerbie Hancock, The with five awards presented in each^

^ j a 12-year PolyGram veteran, is Jets, The Judds, LeVert, Reba Mc- category. responsible for overseeing all crea- tive and administrative aspects of the two tmits. World Beat Revolution Set Drosins joined PolyGram in 1975, and served in Business Affairs and Customer Services capacities before Patricia Drosins To Storm America being named Advertising coor- five staff a priority," Anger stated (in By Joe Levy dinator in 1980. She was promoted to a press release). "We accomplished Manager, Advertising, in 1983, and that in June of this year. In the short NEW YORK - In just two months sub-label, Braziloid, which will was appointed director two years period between then and the end of time the oft mentioned global village release albums by contemporary^' later. In June 1987, Drosins was the year, the creative people working may be something of a reality. In- Brazilian pop artists. PolyGram has_^ named Senior Director, Advertising with Patti have developed into a stead of the U.S. dominating world plans to release a Best Of Brazil seri^ ^ and Creative Services. smooth, efficient and superbly communication, the U.S. will be in late March, comprising greatest "Both the increase in talent sign- talented team, producing quality receiving signals for a change. Pop hits packages by established bosslb- ings and the greater visibility en- visual materials that enhance the music is about to become more of a nova and tropiedista stars. And Vir- joyed artists by PolyGram made a re- overall presentation of our artists to dialogue between cultures than it has gin/Earthworks will release several alignment and expansion of our crea- the public." been in years. The occasion for these albums of mbaqanga, or township^' grandiose claims is a flood of interna- jive, the South African pop Paul tional pop LPs on major and inde- Simon used for Graceland. Virgin alsCTj pendant labels. Offer whatever has plans for compilations of zouk, reasons you like, and you can be sure Caribbean dance music, and soukousuf the phenomenal sucess of Paul Zairian guitar pop. All in all, this will Simon's Graceland has something to make a wider variety of contem- do with it, but records by artists long porary world pop, or world beat,-» available only as imports will soon easily available to American con- have more domestic support than sumers than ever before. ^ ever before. If any of these record companies Shanachie Records, the Ho-Ho- have seen the development of worH / Kus, New Jersey, indie that has beat as a growing trend it's marketed traditional Irish music and Shanachie. Shanachie's new World reggae in the past, is leading the pack Beat/Ethno-Pop label will include y with its World Beat/Ethno-Pop label, releases from artists in Israel (Ofra GUTHRIE TO WARNER BROTHERS — Gwen Guthrie has been signed to an exclusive 1. Cel- Ngobeni), recording contract to be inaugurated Febuary Haza), South Africa (Obed with Warner Brothers Records. Her label debut. Lifeline is scheduled for that Columbia. Says Randall Grass, ‘elease this spring. Pictured: Oscar Fields, Warner Bros. Records vice president/Black luloid, the New York indie made and sic Sales; board chairman Mo Ostin; Gwen Guthrie; president Lenny Waronker; its name releasing hip hop and Afro- director of promotion and ngleton, vice president/Black Music Marketing and manager Bob Caviano. pop, will also be inaugurating a new (Continued on page 18)

Cash Box January 30, 1988