$5.95 (U.S.), $6.95 (CAN.), £4.95 (U.K.), Y2,500 (JAPAN) 11.1..11..,1..1.11,,,I...1.. 11..1..111 I [[Hi[[ #BXNCCVR 3 -DIGIT 908 #90807GEE374EMO02# BLBD 815 A06 B0118 001 MAR 02 2 MONTY GREENLY 3740 ELM AVE # A LONG BEACH CA 90807 -3402 THE INTERNATIONAL NEWSWEEKL OF MUSIC, VIDEO, AND HOME ENTERTAINMENT DECEMBER 22. 2001 Industry Rediscovers Its Troubadour Traditions BY WES ORSHOSKI before and after it closed -Ondrasik NEW YORK -Five for Fighting's found himself filled with pride and Jon Ondrasik is living proof that, hope for his own career as he saw during the past decade, it hasn't firsthand how, after years of being been particularly easy to be a devel- ignored by U.S. record buyers, Gray oping male singer /songwriter. was enjoying stardom in the States. Launching his career in a decade "I remember us laughing, because that was first ruled by grunge, then we both had suffered through [the by alt -rock, hip -hop, and teen pop, U.S.] EMI [Records label] closing and Ondrasik found himself coping every other record company passing with many frustrations in the '90s, on us and our records," Ondrasik says including the closure of his first la- of a shared moment on that tour, bel, EMI, and industry execs blunt- which ended roughly a year before ly telling him that, although he Ondrasik himself would begin tast- wrote good songs, he wouldn't sell ing mainstream success with his "Su- many albums. songwriters were faring much bet- exemplified by the three Lilith Fairs toured the U.S. late last year in sup- perman (It's Not Easy)" single. He was probably one of dozens ter than men -the mass popularity helmed by McLachlan. port of former EMI labelmate David "It was so neat for me to see [Gray] who heard the same thing during of Jewel, Sheryl Crow, Alanis Moris- So, when Five for Fighting (es- Gray -who had been dealt his own having success," Ondrasik says. this period, when female singer/ sette, Sarah McLachlan, and the like sentially Ondrasik's one -man show) set of frustrations from the label, both (Continued on page 74) Latin Piracy Feels The Heat Reversal Of Fortune: U.K. BY LEILA COBO At 10 a.m. he goes off to work at a rented house in Artists See U.S. Sales Rise MIAMI -In the past 12 months, labels have been strug- Puebla, Mexico, where he burns CDs. His equipment gling to figure out what releases to slate for the lucra- is relatively old; it takes him 12 minutes to record BY GORDON MASSON More unexpected, perhaps, is tive end -of- the -year season, distributors have been each disc. But it's enough for him and his partner to and MELINDA NEWMAN the clear impact of four British leveraging for the produce and sell 2,000 LONDON -After sliding to a his- classical crossover performers - best possible prices, illegitimate discs per toric low in 1999, Charlotte Church, retailers have been week. Back in the day the fortunes of U.K. Sarah Brightman, playing musical when pirated CDs artists in the United Russell Watson, and chairs with store were a novelty and CD States have been Bond -who have placement and ex- burners actually cost steadily improving. collectively sold hibits, and acts something, the price Much of the upturn more than 4 million have been promot- of Chon's labor was is due to the suc- albums in the U.S. ing hard in an ef- higher. But business is cess of albums by during the past two fort to offset a de- still good. The only Dido, Sade, David years. Brightman is pressed market. thing stopping him Gray, Radiohead, Gorillaz, Cold - one of the most popular U.K. acts But for a small -time Mexican pirate who goes by from selling more albums is the lack of better equip - play, Sting, Craig David, and-of on the American touring circuit. the name of Chon, it's just another day at the office. (Continued on page 73) course-the Beatles. (Continued on page 76) Vivendi Universal, One Year Later: Page 4 Creed Tour: Page 8 Copyright And Publishing Hearings: Page 9 V2 Revamps: Page 35 C R E A T O R O F A L L P U L L M A N B O N D S BIT MftCHINE CANADA $5.95 US 56.95 BONDS 51 > 113 Oa;ld Pullman ET- Foun r ! //IrmBl aad f,FG Valenmpson Nlckolas'0.shfartll lamesroWn Dauìd 'The Pullman Group 'Wishes Sou Happy Jlolidais and Happy New Year Becunitizing The Future www.pullmanbonds.com 11 THE PULLMAN GROUP. LLC 1370 Avenue of the Americas, 23th Floor, New York. NY 10019 Fax 212 -150 -0464 Tel: 212 -150 -0210 E -mail: info @pullmanbonds.com o 74808 02552 7 ADVERTISEMENT www.americanradiohistory.com MTV2 CLASS OF 2001 At MTV2, a rigorous emphasis on airplay with an eye towards artist development is at the core of our curriculum. But it's the added extracurricular activities like Handpicked and the Sisters for Hip Hop & Soul Tours that teach our students how to shine. Armed with our top notch education, many young men and women have gone on to make their mark. Like our Homecoming Queen, Alicia Keys, who's gone 4 times platinum and still counting. And Mudvayne who went gold after an intensive 13 week MTV2 summer school cram session. Even Jurassic 5, who after 1000 appearances on MTV2 sold 400,000 albums. It's these successes and more that embody the heart and soul of MTV2's school spirit! Look out for the Class of 2002 to follow in the footsteps of our notable alumni. I" MUSIC TELEVISION x OUR STUDENT BODY ROCKS. ©2001 MTV Networks. All rights reserved. www.americanradiohistory.com india.arie city high coldplay Craig david "best smile" "most spirit" "most likely to cry at "cutest foreign graduation" exchange student" dilated peoples drowning pool nelly furtado gorillaz "most likely to save "best hair" "class flirt" "class party animal" the world" LI-00 Ì11o 1 ) 7(e4Y' 77:, +.e C . Otv_ , 54,,>.4 david gray jimmy eat world jurassic 5 alicia keys "cutest accent" "class clown" "best sense of humor" "homecoming queen" mudvayne ours remy zero pete yorn "most changed since "too cool for school" "most sensitive" "most stylish" freshman year" www.americanradiohistory.com Bronfman,Vivendi Look Forward Billboard. BY MATTHEW BENZ ed UMG's market leadership and effective- NEW YORK-Though some see storm ly created the competitive landscape of Editor in Chief: TIMOTHY WHITE clouds on the horizon for the media and today, in which five major labels dominate. EDITORIAL Acting Managing Editor: MICHAEL ECUs communications giant he helped create Sensing that consolidation meant only Bureau Chiefs: Leila Cobo (Miami), Bill Holland (Washington, D.C.), Melinda Newman (Los Angeles), Phyllis Stark (Nashville) one year ago this month, departing Viven- the largest media companies would thrive, Deputy Editor. Wayne Hoffman di Universal executive vice Edgar ago Senior Editors: Ed Christman (Retail), Larry Flick, Chuck Taylor chairman one year Bronfman joined Seagram Senior Writers: Chris Morris (Los Angeles), Ray Waddell (Nashville) Bronfman Jr. tells Billboard that the goals with Paris -based Vivendi in a deal valued Special Correspondent/Music Publishing Editor: Jim Bessman Art Director. Jeff Nisbet of the Universal Music Group (UMG) are as at $100 billion. Vivendi Universal was thus Associate Editors: Jill Pesselnick (Home Video, Los Angeles), Brian Garrity (Merchants & Marketing /New Media), Carla Hay (MusicVideo), clear as ever. born, boasting UMG and Universal Studios, Gail Mitchell (R &B, Los Angeles), Wes Orshoski, Michael Paoletta (Dance), "I think the music group's priorities are- one of the top film studios. Deborah Evans Price (Country/Christian, Nashville), Emma Warby Staff Writers: Matthew Benz, Rashaun Hall at a difficult time in the industry-to try and "He needed to find a way to get larg- Assistant Editors: Christopher Walsh (Pro Audio), Chris Woods Art Assistant: Raymond Carlson strike an even and more disciplined balance er," says Sanford C. Bernstein analyst Contributors: Scott Aiges, Fred Bronson, Ramiro Burr, Lisa Collins, Steve Graybow, between investing in artist development and Michael Nathanson, who recently initi- Marri Kenon, Larry LeBlanc, Moira McCormick, David Nathan, Matthew Robinson, Steve Smith, ChristaTdus, Steveliaiman reining in costs, because it is just a difficult ated coverage of Vivendi. "He did right INTERNATIONAL (London) economic environment for the moment," by Seagram shareholders." Editor In Chief: ADAM WHITE Deputy Editor. Thom Duffy says Bronfman, who made it public Dec. 6 Bronfman is satisfied that the integra- International Editor. Tom Ferguson News Editor: Gordon Masson that he will step down but remain vice chair- tion has gone smoothly. "It's time to turn Bureau Chiefs: Christie Eliezer (Australasia /Melbourne), Kai R. Lofthus (Nordic/Oslo), man of the Vivendi board and a "close advi- our attention toward building this compa- Steve McClure (Asia/Tokyo), Wolfgang Spahr (Germany/Hamburg) Contributing Editors: Sam Andrews, Nigel Hunter, Kwaku, Paul Sexton, Nigel Williamson sor" to chairman/CEO Jean-Marie Messier. ny," he says, "and I've got to make a deci- SPECIAL SECTIONS (Los Angeles) "So UMG in 2002 is going to be very focused sion that, emotionally, intellectually, I'm Director of Special Sections: GENE SCULAm Associate Director: Dalet Brady on costs as well as artist development -and, going to invest in helping Jean-Marie to do Assistant Editor. Katy Kroll Coordinator: Marin Jorgensen of course, the beginning of a legitimate dig- Bronfman has assembled will also be his that, or go do something on my own." CHARTS & RESEARCH ital offering for consumers.