cash box, news Mushroom Sprouts In U.S. With Determination, `Heart' by Stephen Fuchs LOS ANGELES - "I'm not ashamed to and played ball just as we're playing ball say there are a lot of things I'm not sure now with the rest of the guys. Both Jerry about. And when I'm not sure about it, and Ed gave us a recommendation and. goddammit, I pick up the phone and I down the road, it definitely paid off. ask. Whether I'm a client or not." Because they'd been around and weren't These are the unabashed words of going to lead people astray for some Shelly Siegel who, in the short span of company out of Canada that nobody ever two months, has grafted his unknown heard of." label (Mushroom) and unknown act Can't Do It Himself (Heart) from Vancouver to the United At this point you may have the im- States with awesome results. Heart has pression that Shelly Siegel isn't Howard been together for five years as a name Hughes, dictating earth -splitting direc- familiar to Canadian audiences - the tives to a quaking industry. nor is he King band was nominated for a Juno this year. Midas who can't sit down without turning PONTY'S NEW YORK AURORA Jean-Luc Ponty recently finished three days at the Still, it would have been preposterous his chair into gold. He isn't even Rum- Bottom Line introducing his second Atlantic album, "Aurora," with a newly organized for anyone to have predicted they would plestiltskin - you don't have to look for group. Ponty has edited one cut from the album, "Renaissance," as a promotional have broken onto the American charts as him. because he's got your name single for radio play only. Pictured backstage are (I to r) Atlantic's vice president of soon and as strong as they have. memorized. That's the point. He's just an promotion Dick Kline; vice president/ international manager Bob Kornheiser; publici- Who Is He ordinary guy who knows he can't do it by ty director Barbara Carr; Jean-Luc Ponty; his manager Michael Davenport; Atlantic's So who is this Shelly Siegel who walks himself. special projects assistant Beth Rosengard; Earl McGrath, director of artist develop- into L.A., sets up an office, and eight "I think that's one of the keys," admits ment for Atlantic: and (front) Art Collins of Atlantic's publicity department. weeks later has an LP, "Dreamboat An- Shelly. "The people at the trades, for in- nie," bulleted at 99 and a single. "Crazy stance. realize I'm from Canada and On You." at 66 with another bullet? haven't had that much experience here. Proposed FCC Regulations "I'm very high energy, very hyper." They sort of laid it out to me right from says Siegel. "But when I came down the start including, 'If you have any ques- here I didn't say, 'this is the biggest band tions, give us a shout and we'll be more Aims To End Radio Problem since matzo ball soup' or 'this chick is than glad to help you out.' I'm glad you better than Gracie Slick.' Even if it's true, guys felt that way. because I did have Rebecca Moore by people don't want to hear it. I'm sure a lot questions and I picked up the phone and WASHINGTON, D.C. Proposed One example: electronic games, like of people went to see Bruce Springsteen I called." - with a negative impression going in, all Attitude regulations by the Federal Communica- hockey and tennis, available in bars and Open on account of massive advance publicity. tions Commission (FCC) may end a major restaurants. Some of the video games Having an open attitude toward the "The week we mailed out the album I problem radio broadcasters have had in don't comply with current technical hurdles ahead of him, one of the first was debating whether to put in a the past: interference caused by low - specificiations. This wasn't discovered things Siegel did. upon launching a newsletter a introduction power and restricted -radiation devices until after they were widely distributed - or piece of or Mushroom office in the States. was hire I to in- like campus radio stations, walkie- and after it was learned they created in- whatever. Finally decided simply on a couple of experts. talkies, electronic games, and FM tuners, terference to public safety radio com- clude a note to the promo people say- "I'm sales manager in Canada because ing,'If feel sure about it that are capable of producing radio fre- munications. anybody doesn't I know the Canadian market." continues it. quency (RF) energy. As a result, the FCC is also proposing or doesn't hear telephone Jerry Morris Siegel. "But the U.S. market posed an In a notice of proposed rule making is- certification for restricted radiation de- (who broke the record) in Seattle.' Most entirely new problem, although I must sue two weeks ago, the FCC stated its in- vices that have "a relatively high in- of the people I was dealing with had say I'm very pleased. When I fly into dif- tention to specify and redefine such de- terference potential and/or are widely dealt with Jerry at one time or another. It ferent markets Macy Lippman picks up vices, and to set new technical limits on distributed to the public." Electronic wasn't like telling them to phone Joe the phone and tells people I'm coming the amount of interference they can games, RF (switching) power supplies, Blow in Bath, Maine; there was a decent and it's like ... a red carpet; you're in- create. This changes current regula- wireless intercoms, and any restricted level of respect. volved with Macy Lippman and it must be tions, which do not specify all the dif- radiation device which uses RF energy "Likewise with our distributors. We a winner. ferent kinds of equipment included un- for the purpose of communication will be wrote: 'Anybody worried about the state "If I didn't have Macy. I'd be beating der its general limitations. up for certification. Other devices will be of Mushroom Records or how we do our my head against the wall. Macy is, in a "It should make it easier to comply with added as problems arise. business. feel free to pick up and call Ed sense. a patch between Mushroom the law," says Herman Garland, in the Another major source of interference Richter (who runs ABC in Seattle) col- confirmed on pg. 36 FCC operations division. "Manufacturers has been campus radio systems. Com- lect.' And just about every distributor will know more what is required." Under peting for air space and audience, "cam- did. And Ed was just thrilled to death - New Schroeder Push the proposed regulations, manufacturers pus radio has always been a problem," he'd just sold ten thousand albums in six will bear full responsibility for meeting continued on oc 20 weeks. We had run advertising with him On 28 Yr. Old Song FCC -imposed standards. NEW YORK - For sentimental reasons In the past, manufacturers of and because Aaron Schroeder believes everything from door -opener transmit- the song "At A Sidewalk Penny Arcade" re- ters to microwave ovens to radio will stand the test of time, a major promo- ceivers were lumped together under a tional campaign is being put behind the broad general regulation. The new rules Rosemary Clooney oldie. will provide separate definitions and What are the sentimental reasons? The kind standards for each of device. song introduced Schroeder (who today Difference of Opinion is a leading publisher) as a writer 28 "There a was difference of opinion years ago and also introduced Rosemary between the FCC and the manufac- Clooney as a singer. And now that the turers," according to Garland. "With the song is 28 years old, it is the first new rules, the FCC has tried to eliminate copyright of Schroeder's up for renewal. areas of indefiniteness." The firm has prepared a series of new As the demand for radio spectrum demos of the song in a variety of treat- space has exploded, low-power and ments, which will be serviced all over the restricted -radiation devices have come U.S. to recording artists. under increased scrutiny and criticism. Network Although they can produce RF energy, Although Schroeder came into the they have not been subject to FCC a his license since the interference they music business as writer, career took him in a publishing direction. With created was small and their uses limited. his wife and partner, Abby, the two built As the number of such communica- a network of wholly -owned Schroeder tions devices grew, however, the FCC publishing firms throughout the world. faced a load of problems its regulations Among the people he found and/or did not cover. IN A 'STATE' OF HAPPINESS -- A banner proclaiming the "State of the Union" sponsored in their early years in the between MCA Records and State Records of England greeted attendees in Los music business are: Randy Newman. Pickwick 8¢ Dividend Angeles at the first in a series of parties held initiating the launch of the State label in Jimi Hendrix, Irwin Levine, Al Kooper. WOODBURY, N.Y. - Pickwick Interna- America by MCA. Pictured ready to christen a giant State license plate (the State Tony Macaulay and Barry White, to name tional has announced a quarterly cash logo) are: Lou Cook, MCA vice president of administration: Tony Waddington.