$5.95 (U.S.), $6.95 (CAN.), £4.95 (U.K.), Y2,500 (JAPAN) 11111111111111111111111111111111111111 I 1111111 #BXNCCVR 3-DIGIT 908 #90807GEE374EM002# BLBD 747 A06 B0058 001 033002 2 MONTY GREENLY BBI 3740 ELM AVE # A LONG BEACH CA 90807 -3402 THE INTERNATIONAL NEWSWEEKLY OF MUSIC, VIDEO, AND HOME ENTERTAINMENT AUGUST 19, 2000 Country Music's Internet Pioneers Proprietary label Deals Competition forces Sites To focus On Brands, Polish Revenue Models Alter Indie Oìstrìb. Scene BY PHYLLIS STARK the companies that own them. These will shake out. Executives at Coun- BY CHRIS MORRIS sive national rights to their labels; in NASHVILLE -If you're a country include Jones International Net- try.com and MusicCountry.com think LOS ANGELES -Proprietary rela- some cases, they bolstered their sta- music fan and want to find informa- works' CountryStars.com, which pro- there ultimately won't be a market tionships between independent rec- tus by acquiring or establishing labels tion about your favorite genre on the motes not only Jones' syndicated for all the country dotcoms current- ord distributors and of their own. In other Internet, you suddenly face a dizzy- radio programming but its cable ly in play. But CountryCool.com independent labels, cases, independent ing array of choices. music video network, Great Ameri- chairman Jim Dixon says there's "a virtually unthinkable labels established dis- First, there are the full- service lot of room" for more competitors. "I only a few years ago, tributorships or pur- country sites aimed at consumers. country.eam would encourage more competition, are par for the course chased interests in These include Country.com, a part of because I think it's going to be a in the business today. existing distribution Viacom/CBS' MTVi division; Gaylord NEWS ANALYSIS tremendously expanding market," he Through the '90s, firms to ensure their Digital's new MusicCountry.com; and says. retail chains de- position in a shrinking the independent CountryCool.com, can Country. And if you work in coun- Ironically, that statement comes manded more central- retail landscape. based in Northern Virginia. Then try radio, your choices include the from the company that has struggled ized buying, and the In the year 2000, there are the all-format sites with industry-only site AllAbout Coun- the most in the market. In June, just indie business evolved from a network ownership relationships between country pages, including MTVi's try.com, among others. (Continued on page 98) of regional distribution fiefdoms to indie distributors and labels are Sonicnet.com and House of Blues' In the still a nationalized commonplace and for the most part HOB.com, both of which often part- fledgling world of distribution sys- very profitable. ner with Country.com. online entertain- tem. Distribu- Times have certainly changed, There are also sites that feature ment sites, it's Tiffany Tells Stories He r Way tors increasing- says Nina Easton, who serves as music information but primarily hard to know how ly sought, and president of Atlanta -based 404 Music function as marketing vehicles for this crowded field Eureka's `Silence' Aims for Adult A udience attained, exclu- (Continued on page 100) BY MICHAEL PAOLETTA U.S. studio set in a decade. Best Buy Heralds Arrival NEW YORK- Tiffany is tense. "I'm not searching any longer," AMEM leads Noms for Seated in a New York conference she says of the songs on the room, the singer exudes a nervous album. "It's not manufactured. I In N.Y. With Sting Show energy, seemingly hope the album Billboard /Monitor Awards BY ED CHRISTMAN unaware of how surprises those A Billboard staff report. NEW YORK-When Best Buy officially arrives here next often she swivels in who didn't neces- month, it will host the biggest grand- opening party ever the chair. The sarily care for my NEW YORK -The Billboard /Airplay Monitor Radio thrown by a music merchant in this stakes are high as music before - Seminar returns to New York this year, Oct. 5-7. The market. On Sept. 12, Sting will play a she prepares to pleasantly surpris- finale of the free show in Central Park (see story, reveal her true cre- es them, that is." three -day confer- BilboardRADi0Madta page 98) as the centerpiece of the ative identity for Indeed. ente will be the the very first time. Scheduled to presentation of Major Labels, Retailers Say "Yes, I'm ner- street Oct. 10, "The the 2000 Bill- MAP Suit Is `Without Merit' vous, and, yes, I'm Color Of Silence" board /Airplay Monitor Radio Awards. Page B excited," says is thoughtful, intel- When the nominees are broken out into radio groups, Tiffany, as she ligent, and full of the big boys garnered the most honors. AMFM led the chain's introduction to metropolitan begins to discuss grace. It's also un- pack with 81 nominations, Clear Channel culled 59, Infin- New York. "The Color Of pretentious. Con- ity had 58, and The 350 -unit Eden Prairie, Minn. - Silence," her first sider it Tiffany's Susquehanna had based Best Buy plans on bowing in the full -length collec- equivalent to Ala - 11. In terms of STING New York area in the fall with 15 tion for Los Ange- nis Morissette's markets, Chicago stores, many of which will open in September. So far, the les -based (and self -distributed) landmark "Jagged Little Pill." stations garnered company has announced New York state stores in West- Eureka Records -and her first (Continued on page 99) 21 honors, fol - (Continued on page 98) (Cont. on page 89) _ - ':,,. 1E4MV=M10,71.._, 5.95 US $6.95 CANADA 34> BILLBOARD'S INTERNATIONAL BUYER'S GUIDE IS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE! Fully and updated weekly . Customized reports for download searchable BiIII®o®ird. '",.,.:lJ-- For free demo, visit www.billboard.com /directories DIPectorcP.s o 74808 02 1 52 7 ADVERTISEMENT www.americanradiohistory.com 4*" UNIVERSAL UNIVERSAL MUSIC LATIN AMERICA CONGRATULATES I FELICITA I PARABENIZA timba / Pagode Album: "Claridade ALCIONE Best New Artis AMAURY GUTIERREZ Album Of The Year: "Livro" GAETANO VELOSO Producer Of ' e ear: CAETANO VEL.060 Albums: "Joao Gilberto Voz E Viol o "; "Livia"; " Omaggio A ta" Best MPB [Musica Popular AETANO VELOS Best Flamenco Album: "Paris e7 MARION CON TOMATITO "Com Voce. -.Meu Mundo Ficaria Compl CASSIA ELLER - Brazilian Song: "D Segundo Sol" -,. ELLER 5ongwrite Best Male Rock Vocal Performance: "Swee orne .v,_ uenos Aires CHAR Y GARCIA'. Best Brazilian Roots /Regional Album: "Voce Vai Ver O _ DOIV/IINGUINHOS Best Female Rock ' - - nc- : "Vete Destin ERICA 'GARCIA a "Si :a eñor CONTROL M - Songwriter ,FERMIN CABALLERO. RAUL CHAPA .." ROBERT Bë ock Album: "Lech ILLYA KLIRYAKI & THE VALDERRAMA est -yew Artist:w, SA,. _ EA :. oritempor A_ turn: Ivete San alo SA i -ALO Best lassical Album: " Salmo De Las Americas" 4IQSie MARIA_ VITIER - Producer: Enrique Pér -.. - .!. -.-st Flamenco Album: "De La Zambra AI Duende...Un Homenaje" - AN HABICHUELA Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or ith Vocal: "Miént KETAMA Best Pop Album: "Toma Ketam Best Female Pop Vó" `.° i °rmanc "Al Despertar' MERCEDES SOSA t Folk Album: "Misa Criolla" Best Latin azz Spa n MICHEL CAMILO & T! IIÀ Best` rig neere Album: "Joao Glib Engineer: Moogie Canazio Best Pop Album: "Vengo Naciendo PABLO MILANE st Classical Album: "La Dolores - Tomas Breton" Produ PLACIDO DOMINGO Best Sertaneja Album: "Ao Vivo...A Majestade. Sabia' ROBERTA MIRANDA Best Samba /Pagode Album: "Zeta Pagodinho Ao Viv ZECA PAGODI'NHO ` : est Female Pop Vocal Performance: "Meu Erro" ZIZI PO55I est onternporary Pop Album: "Puro Prazer ZIZI PO551 UNIVERSAL USIC JAhN GRAM' IY° AWARDS NO INEES www.americanradiohistory.com Billboard HIAA, Artists Agree On C'rìght Language This story was prepared by The Hollywood for hire is resolved without prejudice to be retroactive, would remove sound record- sources Editor in Chief: TIMOTHY WHITE Reporter's Tamara Conniff. anyone's position," says Hilary Rosen, ings as a work -for -hire category, language would ask EDITORIAL president/CEO of the RIAA in a state- said. It includes that Managing Editor: DON JEFFREY The Recording Industry Assn. of Amer- ment. "The book needs to be closed on this courts not to take last year's amendment Deputy Editor: Iry Lichtman Executive Editor -New Media: Marilyn A, Gillen ica (RIAA) and representatives from issue so we can get back to a united indus- into consideration when deciding work-for- News Editor: Carolyn Horwitz Director of Special Issues: Gene Sculatti; Dalet Brady, Associate Director; artists' groups have reached agreement on try on so many important challenges of the hire cases. Katy Kroll, Assistant Editor; Marin Jorgensen, Speciaf Issues Coordinator Bureau Chiefs: Leila Cobo (Caribbean and Latin America), Bill Holland a legislative recommendation to Congress day. The resolution is a good one." The draft legislation needs to be (Washington), Melinda Newman (L.A.), Phyllis Stark (Nashville) a Both sides see as a victo- approved by Congress; however, as it was Art Director: Jeff Nisbet Assistant: Raymond Carlson that, if passed, would repeal controver- the agreement Copy Chief: Bruce Janicke sial change to U.S. copyright law that des- ry and a means to move on to the larger on lawmakers' recommendations that the Copy Editors: Andrew Boorstyn, Marlaina Gray, Carl Rosen Senior Editor: Ed Christman, Retail (N.Y.) ignates sound recordings as "works for issues facing two parties work together toward a reso- Senior Writers: Chris Morris (L.A.), Chuck Taylor (N.Y.) Talent Editor: Larry Flick (N.Y.) hire." labels and lution, both sides are confident the bill will R &B Music: Gail Mitchell, Editor (L.A.) Country/Christian Music: Deborah Evans Price (Nashville) After months of negotiations and a artists during be pushed though.