SINGLES CHART: P.11:ftLBUMS CHART: P.26 AUGUSTS. 1980 RECORDS ■ TAPE ■ RETAILING ■ VIDEO ■ BROADCASTING ■ STUDIOS PUBLISHING ST 21 Europe's Leading Music Business Paper-A Morgan-Grampian Publication 'Reject records without recommended prices—MRS 'Block releases' say angry publishers BRITAIN'S MUSIC publishers "suggested price" as its base. puzzled about why they" seem to~~"~ are prepared to block the release "My members are obviously think they can take liberties with the disturbed at this unilateral change of Copyright Act. of records following recent long established procedure," says "We accept that changed trading FOLLOWING CONFIRMATION of the appointment of Brian Shepherd as decisions by three major record Montgomery in his letter to the BPI, conditions may result in record A&R director of Phonogram, Roger Ames and Chris Briggs have also joined companies to abandon adding: "1 must ask you to tell your companies wishing to alter the prices the department. The three were, until recently, the core of EMI's A&R unilaterally recommended retail members that MRS may require of their product. We've all got to be division. They join Jeremy Ensor and Dave Bates to complete the new prices. recalculation of any royalties paid at realistic, but not to the extent of Phonogram A&R team. Pictured above (I to r) are Roger A mes. Jeremy Ensor, Angered by the manufacturers — a lower rate following the record companies avoiding payment Chris Briggs, Brian Shepherd and Dave Bates. In addition, Shepherd will assist EMI, PolyGram and CBS — taking abandonment of RRP by any of the statutory royalties." Ramon Lopez, managing director of PRO, in supervising Dacca's A&R action without prior consultation company." David Platz of Essex Music activities. with the publishers over royally MRS has issued its members with commented: "It's vital that both calculations, the Mechanical Rights a standard form with which to reply parties get together to solve the Society is advising its members to to companies seeking to release problem. It's important that this BPI planning to abandon refuse to accept statutory notices for records without RRP. This plainly should not be a device for record records which are proposed for stales: "As copyright owners we do companies to reduce royalty release without a recommended not accept that the statutory notice is payments to publishers and the home-taping licence retail price. issued as required by Section 8 of the copyright holders." MRS general administrator Bob 1956 Copyright Act". An EMI spokesman said; "As a THE BPI has decided that it wishes to abandon the home recording licence Montgomery has written to Guy Without an approved statutory long-term policy, we would hope which is issued by the MCPS and which allows individuals to indulge in home- Marriott, chairman of the BPI notice a record company would be that the industry will adopt the taping without contravening the Copyright Act. Copyright Association, clearly unable to release a record. European system of giving only a The licence currently costs £1.50 plus VAT and is considered by the BPI to spelling out the publishers' position: Ron White, speaking in his dealer price and basing royalty be "neither economic nor practical". In fact, many record executives believe "We do not accept any of the new various capacities as president of the payments on an average selling that the licence merely gives the public a blanket agreement to home-tape bases of payment". MPA, vice president of the MRS, price." without going any way towards recompensing the industry for lost income. EMI is now basing copyright and managing director of EMI BPI director general John Deacon Less than 10,000 licences were issued last year and the BPI believes that the royally payments on an "ordinary Music Publishing, told Music Week: declined to comment on the subject fee hardly covers administration costs. "To realistically recover losses from list price"; PolyGram is publishing "It's a sign of desperation in the except to say that negotiations home-taping, the licence should be priced in the region of £50, which is "catalogue" prices on which it is record industry along the lines of, between the BPI and MRS which obviously unrealistic," BPI director general John Deacon told MW. apparently paying artists and 'what can we do to reduce our began in 1978 to debate payments, The Mechanical Rights Society, however, is adamant that the licence should copyright royalties, and CBS has a royalty payments', and we are are continuing. be retained, although it is looking at "restructuring the licence and the wording". Should the BPI withdraw as a partner with MRS in the licence, it would mean that the domestic recording licence would only cover musical copyright Rebel indies Industry welcomes end and the licensee would also have to seek permission from individual record companies before taping a record. hatch BIRD of Radio One playlist THE RAPIDLY mushrooming body of independent record By DAVID DALTON labels who have felt that if they do shops seeking a new deal from THE RECORD industry has not appear on the playlist, they will manufacturers is likely to be broadly welcomed the scrapping of not get Radio One exposure. SI0UXSIE AND formed into a limited company the Radio One playlist (see Independent record promoter under the name BIRD (British Broadcasting pi6) which is expected Allan James comments: "1 was Independent Record Dealers). to produce what the station's never anli-playlisl because you're THE BANSHEES A decision to set up formally controller Derek Chinnery describes only anti when you're not on it. the company will be taken when as "a more open policy than any of "As always, if the product is good NEW ALBUM the founder members, led by the commercial stations". they will play it, but it does seem to Preston dealer Phil Ames, meet The general feeling, is summed up give greater scope for new records at the Eurocrest Hotel, by GTO head of promotion Paul and new artists. Not being Coventry, on August 17 Clark who says: "It will possibly committed to a format could cause a (3.00pm)'. create more opportunities for a lack of continuity during the Any dealer with a turnover in wider variety of records to be played daytime, but I feel they are excess of £250,000 a year is and it should help new artists." professional enough at Radio One invited to attend the meeting and Geoff Alherton, EMI's national not to let that happen". jonTBIRD, Leicester dealer Jack promotion manager, agrees: "I feel Another plugger quite happy with Ainley told Music Week. it will make for belter radio if it the old playlist system is Tony BIRD will pursue the dealers' provides a broader range of music, Bramwell, head of promotion at W. original idea to attain better and though one benefit of the Featured Polydor. more profitable trading Forty to record companies was that "1 thought the playlist provided a conditions for its members while it earmarked records that were likely good cross section of records and offering the manufacturers a to be played heavily and likely to sell artists and 1 don't think that f. chance to sell more records well. situation will change very much as it through high turnover outlets, "I think it means that pluggcrs will still be the same producers. and adhering to a "code of will have to get round to a lot more "One good point is that in the £ conduct" (MW August 2). producers and get to know their past when a producer's individual tastes even better, but it recommendation to the playlist • ACTING CHAIRMAN and should allow producers to put committee has been turned down, secretary of the GRRC, Harry together a show reflecting more of that particular record has perhaps Tipple, is still unable to give a the flavour of the DJ." never been heard of again. Now date when a full meeting of the Chinnery expects the move to be individual producers will be more / committee can take place in most welcomed by the ■ growing able to follow their own London to vote for a new number of smaller independent judgement." chairman. _ wmm _ __ _ Inlcrnalional 6 • Retailing 8 • Broadeasling 16 • Tipshccl. Talent & I'ubli'.hing 20 • Tislings & Select Singles 24 • Classical 28 • LP reviews 30 & 31 • John Wilkes feature 34 # Doolev & Letters 35 • Order from Polygram 01-590 6044 Uf&L, Album; 2442177 Cassette 3184146 MUSIC WEEK AUGUSTS, 1980 Edited by JIM EVANS / ■■ /IKK ^r- s A: Olivia nfwion- joah JET RECORDS has signed a worldwide singles deal with llie five piece London band The Eyes. Their debut single, written by lead vocalist Nigel Van Straiten and guitarist Colin Lester, tilled Right Direction, is produced by Roy Wood and released in a gale/old picture bag next week. Pictured (L to R): Peter Felstead(Aviation Music), Colin Lester, Roy Wood, Nigel Van Straiten, Grant AMERICA'S NO. I SINGLE Black (Aviation Music) and Don Arden, president, Jet Records (seated). J. C -■» St, / K: DIN DISC'S LATEST signing is Dedringer whose first single, Sunday Drivers (DIN 10) is Just released. They are touring during the autumn Music t and working on an album. Pictured with the band are Dindisc MD Carol Wilson (second night), head of promotions Donna Thomson (far Deals right) and the band's manager Des Eraser (top right). 1 v- mr c - SECOND SIGNING to Larry Uttal's Earlobe Records is five-piece London group. Amy, produced by Biddu. Debut single is Small Talk (ELS 2), for release on August 15. The band is playing live dates in support of the release, /HV V and the group is fronted by singer Amy who was formerly in Panties.