pedal CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW Issu 08120 BE3049GREENLYMONT00 MAR83 NEWSPAPER MONTY GREENLY 03 10 UCY 3740 ELM LONG BEACH CA 90807 A Billboard Publication The International Newsweeklydir Of Music & Home Entertainment Jan. 8, 1983 $3 (U.S.) Video Game Firms Ready LATE SHOPPING RUSH CALLED KEY Formal Returns Policies Dealers Post Modest Yule Gains story prepared by news editor who are heavily into video games games, but he is also "greatly en- By EARL PAIGE This Iry Lichtman in New York and retail- and accessories leave no doubt that couraged" by showings in record- LOS ANGELES -Retailers of video games are expecting formal returns ing editor Earl Paige in Los Angeles. this area channeled important dol- ings, which, he adds, "will get programs to be adopted soon by certain software manufacturers. They antici- NEW YORK -Retailers report lars into their cash registers. Record Bar back in music." Since pate the announcement of at least one such program at the Consumer Elec- modest gains in record and tape As predicted, cassettes were one of the chain's fiscal year begins in No- tronics Show in Las Vegas this week. sales during the Christmas period, the season's sales heroes, in some vember, the December gains, he The development is largely the result of intensifying competition among and appear grateful. Mirroring last cases matching or overcoming LP notes, "take pressure off for the re- games makers. It's also been fueled by last month's stock market furor over year, a late shopping rush put many movement. Specific winners were mainder of the year and will mean a disappointing Atari sales, in particular the "E.T." cartridge (Billboard, Dec. dealers over the top. Men At Work, Lionel Richie and more aggressive promotional stance 18). But because of feverish pre -CES activity, few firms were willing to discuss Even results that are flat com- Marvin Gaye, with additional mo- as far as recordings are concerned." details, including Activision, which is expected to show its hand at Las Vegas. pared to last year elicit encouraging mentum provided by Pat Benatar, Roy Imber, operating 40 Record Also, several manufacturers are thought likely to mull the competition's plans words, although accounts surveyed Loverboy, Billy Squier, John Cou- (Continued on page 82) before unveiling their own. gar, Stray Cats, Phil Collins and Returns policies, popularly (and Don Henley. Vid Tag euphemistically) called "stock bal- Indie Distribs Eye '83 Philosophically For those carrying video games, $39.95 ancing plans," have been informal Activision's "Pitfall" led the pack, to date. "It's whatever you can work By LEO SACKS while new player sales revived some Gains Momentum out with your suppliers," comments classic cartridges like "Pac- Man." Jim Lahm of Video Cross Roads in NEW YORK -Independent dis- clear whether Columbia or Epic will At the 140 -plus Record Bar chain By LAURA FOTI Orange, Calif., a national video store tributors, while "shocked" and "sad- market the label because CBS de- out of Durham, N.C., marketing vice franchisor. His view is typical. dened" by the loss of Chrysalis Rec- clined to comment on the arrange- president Ralph King notes that un- NEW YORK -The $39.95 price Denver wholesaler Mike Kelley of ords, see no threat to their survival in ment at presstime. However, it's til Dec. 23, business compared to last point has become the one to meet or Danjay Music & Video looks for view of the current chart success of known that Chrysalis will assume re- year was up only 1% or 2%, but from beat in the home video market, and stock balancing plans to "vary several new indie labels. sponsibility for the return of its un- that point on, the rush was on. a number of suppliers are doing so widely." He envisions one -for -ones Chrysalis formally notified its sold product. The company discon- He says Christmas period sales with their new releases. and two - for -ones with semi -annual wholesalers last week that the com- tinued shipments to its 15 U.S. were eventually 16% ahead of last Paramount will ship "An Officer balancing plans. "Retailers will still pany had concluded a new distribu- distributors Dec. 27. year, about 5.5% on a per -store basis. And A Gentleman" at that price, in (Continued on page 27) tion pact with CBS Records. It's un- (Continued on page 73) King says Record Bar did well with (Continued on page 80) - Inside Billboard - MAJOR ACTS with new releases due in January include Christopher Cross and Journey; both are following platinum albums last time out. Full de- 449;3 tails in Billboard's monthly Hot Product Status Report, page 4. 1/4 41 r(e BIRCH REPORT figures from eight markets are available for October - Analysis November and show interesting developments in several formats. 1)14 and statistics appear on pages 14, 16. CONSUMER ELECTRONICS exhibitors at this week's show in Las Vegas total more than 1,000, a reflection of the broadening range of hardware and software product on display at each CES. Organizers are expecting their most successful event. Billboard's comprehensive pre -CES coverage begins on page 29. NARM MEMBERS are heading to CES, seeking signs of stabilization in 3 `<) r the blank videotape price wars, news of formal returns policies for video games and enlightenment in the fast -growing field of home computers. Page 20. 11P RECORD RETAILERS and their audio specialty counterparts report lately. But, The album Black Sabbath fans have been waiting for, Live Evil is the that consumer interest in prerecorded video has been increasing Look no further. The long- awaited followup to "Planet Rock" is here. Pro- 3. Boy -inch group's first live release. A specially- priced two- LP set, it features concer they advise, sales patterns don't yet represent a substantial new trend. Page duced by Arthur Baker and John Roble (the gurus), Tommy twelve TB831 is your future. BEAT THIS! (Advertisement) versions of Black Sabbath's greatest hits including "Heaven and Hell,' PAY -TV RESPONSE to the Who's live telecast on their final North "Paranoid," "Iron Man" and "Voodoo." Produced by Tommy lommi an American concert was less than expected -around 12% of eligible households, Geezer Butler, the Live Evil street Gate is January 17. On Warner Bros instead of a projected 30%. But, the producer claims valuable lessons were Records and Cassettes. 1 -23742 (Advertisement) learned for future such events. Page 3. 1983 EMI AMERICA RECORDS, a d!,iSie I of Capitol Records. Inc. THE "EYES" HAVE IT... "111#1111 I *, .I I!- i ì ( ra, PRODUCED BY JOHN HALL ó 1I-1I:.101-IN 'I..131N1) FEATURES THE SINGLE "LOVE ME AGAIN" - - - ri 11_,A1 . - . `1 .i S.S. ( - - I 1 I 16i 1 O S 1 1 4 1 1 I "' . - ma N u n w www.americanradiohistory.com BOB SEGE DISTAN THE LONG -AWAITED \EW STUDIO ALBUM FEATURNG THE PREMIER SI 1GL PRODUCED BY JIMMY IOVINI EXCEPT " COMIN' HOME PRODUCED BY BOB SEGER AND THE MUSCLE SHOALS RHYTHM SECTION www.americanradiohistory.com News 3 Retailers Unsure On Music Video; Broad Agenda For IMIC The myriad technological developments in home entertainment provide Still Hedge Bets On $ Potential the focus of Billboard's 13th International Music Industry Conference, to be held at the Alvor Praia Hotel in the Algarve, Portugal May 2 -5. This story prepared by Cary Dar- "Music videos began to catch on Diana Ross videodisk and the Rod In outlining the wide -ranging topic areas for the annual forum, Lee ling in Los Angeles and Edward Mor- about six months ago," says John Stewart tape and disk did real well, Zhito, Billboard publisher and IMIC director, states, "The home entertain- ris in Nashville. Kenfield, vice president of Video as are stereo videodisks." ment industry is in a state of accelerating evolution, and IMIC will be cov- The jury is still out concerning the Exchange, with 28 stores in the "We're doing quite well," says Art ering all facets of the industry and the inter- relationship between them, impact of prerecorded music video Rocky Mountain and Midwestern Lauer, co -owner with Linda Lauer bringing participants up to date with the latest worldwide developments." at retail. A survey of video specialty states. "Before that, there was no of Arizona Video Cassettes stores in One significant theme of the panel discussions and presentations will be dealers and record outlets selling market at all. Now that some prod- Phoenix and Tucson. "Every concert the role of video -not as a competitor or an alternative to audio entertain- video shows that while there's more uct is in stereo, aeople are getting does well in sales and rental." ment, but as a potent means of regenerating interest in the sound -only me- consumer interest than before in this into it. Some of our older material in However, for every retailer who dium. type of product -especially MGM/ mono doesn't do well." reports solid action, another has a Also high on the list of agenda topics will be updates on the international UA's "The Compleat Beatles" -it's "The music videos are doing ex- different story to tell. -The Corn- struggle against piracy and record rentals; technological developments her- still difficult to tell whether this cellently," says Michael Betker, pleat Beatles' is doing well, but that's alding a new era of quality in audio and video media; and the broadcasting trend is permanent. For those manager of the central California - the exception," notes Chaz Austin, revolution signaled by the advent of cable and satellite systems.