$5.95 (U.S.), $6.95 (CAN.), £4.95 (U.K.), Y2,500 (JAPAN) 11.1..11...1..1,11.1...1..11..1..111 I Iln.11 908 #BXNCCVR 3-DIGIT BLBD 690 A06 B0059 #90807GEE374EM002# 001 032500 2 MONTY GREENLY 3740 ELM AVE # A LONG BEACH CA 90807 -3402 Elmo/ NMI r THE INTERNATIONAL NEWSWEEKLY OF MUSIC, VIDEO, AND HOME ENTERTAINMENT JULY 10, 1999 Z 2 GEORGE Top Court Ruling As Used -CD Biz O Vid Biz In Transition Spurs Concerns Grows, Chains IAMOND Internet, DVD, Chains Among factors Reshaping Landscape Over Copyright BY SETH GOLDSTEIN of those rental fixtures in the U.S., Get In On Act Ills first SALSA production and EILEEN FITZPATRICK the neighborhood stores. "I hate to BY BILL HOLLAND NEW YORK -Independent video say it, but I believe" the small indies BY ED CHRISTMAN WASHINGTON, D.C. -The retailers used to control video retail- are an endangered species, says con- NEW YORK -With the used- containsENNANCED CE with June 23 U.S. Supreme Court rul- ing. No longer. sultant Richard Kelly CD business apparently on an video and interview ing that gives states immunity The growth of of Cambridge Associ- upswing at independent stores, from private lawsuits seeking chains like Blockbuster ates in Stamford, Conn. more U.S. chains are beginning His first single damages for patent and trade- and Hollywood Enter- Rentrak, the rev- to add the prod- mark violations tainment, the emer- enue-sharing specialist uct category to "QUE 111 VAS" NEWS does not yet gence of the Internet that regularly collects their stores. T81DEA already a hit on radio! ANALYSIS affect copyright- and DVD, and tough - rental-transaction data Both Tower ed material, but minded competitors from 10,000 locations, Records/Video and the Music - recording industry observers are like direct -broadcast says that based on the land Group are experimenting concerned that the ruling will satellite (DBS) services number of customers it with used CDs in their stores, soon be applied to that area. are drastically altering has lost, a total of 3,000 and Newbury Comics is on the As a potential copyright test the landscape of video 2000. The next stores closed in 1998. No one, includ- verge of introducing them. case percolates in the 5th U.S. couple of years will look a lot differ- ing the Video Software Dealers Assn. Torrance, Calif. -based (Continued on page 93) ent than any time in the past decade. (VSDA), knows whether the average (Continued on page 92) For one thing, there will be fewer (Continued on page 91) VH1.com Expands SDMI's First Step Waters To dour `In The Flesh' Web Site Features An Important One Exclusive: former Floyd leader On His 20 -Date Run BY CARLA HAY BY MARILYN A. GILLEN NEW YORK -As part of its ongo- BY HUGH FIELDER his next project until early next NEW YORK -The June 28 an- ing plans to boost its Internet pres- LONDON-Twelve years since his year. Waters explains his decision nouncement by the Secure Digital ence, VH1 will offer a slew of new daring Radio K.A.O.S. tour slipped to tour quite simply: "I had Music Initiative (SDMI) of a specifi- features in the coming months for its into the shadow of his planned to spend the cation for portable digital music Web site, VH1.com (www.vhl.com), former band Pink summer and fall in the players -which ensures that a flur- and its audio Webcasting service, Floyd's simultaneous Northeast of America ry of pocket -size devices from com- return to live action, with my family. And panies including Thomson, Samsung, Roger Waters is mak- the idea suddenly and Creative Labs will begin arriv- (7-7 ing his first foray back started to bubble up ing in stores next month (see story, on the road this month within me: `Maybe page 90)-is being hailed as a mile- at Work with a 20 -date East now's the time; just do stone as much for its spirit as for its Music First.._ in your office Coast tour opening a few gigs, see what (Continued on page 90) July 23 in the Milwau- it's like, see what the VH1 atWork. kee Mecca Auditorium. possibilities are.' " IN THE NEWS Among the new features planned There's no new al- Waters' last gig, in are videoclips not shown on the TV bum to promote -his WAT EPS 1990, literally took channel, Webcasts of artist perfor- last, the critically acclaimed over the newly reunited city of Fonovisa, Execs Charged mances, E- commerce, and new inter- "Amused To Death," peaked at No. Berlin when he staged a gargan- With Payola- Related Offenses ¡ P E C active elements for VH1 atWork. 21 on The Billboard 200 in 1992, tuan production of "The Wall" in VH1 president John Sykes says, and he's not due to start recording (Continued on page 100) / PRESTIGIO RECORDINGS See Page 6 220 E. 23rd Street Suite 303 (Continued on page 101) New York, NY 10010 Tel.: 212 -685 -1414 Fax: 212-685-6309 VSDA'99 A MERCHANTS & MARKETING SUPERSECTION: SEE PAGE 65 5.95 US $6.95 CANADA 8> 11 11 o 74808 02552 7 ADVERTISEMENT www.americanradiohistory.com /fßiTffY ' totAF 0.-4011111111 Available in Japan on Polydor KK, and in th rest of the world on Virgin. www.americanradiohistory.com Hevìvìng the Ballad Voìee Of The People Billboard in Perhaps the greatest myth of the entertainment business over The packaging equals the poetic flair of the material. Each CD is illustrated, and anno- Editor in Chief: TIMOTHY WHITE the last 25 years has been that popular music owes its primary the "Voice Of The People" anthology titled, folly, it's "To Catch A Fine Buck Was My EDITORIAL importance to the amount of money it makes. Such heightened tated with grace, whether Managing Editor: SUSAN NUNZIATA by recent successes at marketing flavor -of-the- moment product so Delight: Songs Of Hunting And Poaching," "You Lazy Lot Of Bone Deputy Editor: Iry Lichtman News Editor: Marilyn A. Gillen shallow that even fervent devotees soon disdain it, nonetheless rein- Shakers: Songs & Dance Tunes Of Seasonal Events," or "Come Director of Special Issues: Gene Sculatti; Dalet Brady, Associate Director; Porter Hall, Special Issues Coordinator forces a mounting aura of disposability for our industry's output. Let Us Buy The Licence: Songs Of Courtship & Marriage." Bureau Chiefs: Chet Flippo (Nashville), Bill Holland (Washington), have always An electrifying complement to these keen congresses of cultur- John Lannert (Caribbean and Latin America), Melinda Newman (L.A.) But one thing is historically certain: Cultures Art Director: Jeff Nisbet; Assistant: Raymond Carlson embraced music in its most enduring folk and pop forms because al outpourings are the radio-ballads, whose pioneering weaves of Copy Chief: Bruce Janicke Copy Editors: Lisa Gidley, Carl Rosen its messages had cogent and indestructible resonance in listeners' primary reporting, oral testimony, and original music shattered the Senior Editor: Ed Christman, Retail (N.Y.) Senior Writers: Chris Morris (L.A.), Bradley Bambarger (N.Y.) daily lives. Indeed, the best music has always been a deep pool into old actor -based template of BBC documentary broadcasting. The Talent Editor: Larry Flick (N.Y.) left -wing MacColl (1915 -89), possibly R &B Music: Gail Mitchell, Editor (L.A.) which societies could peer and always recognize themselves. Scotland -born and politically Country Music/Nashville: Deborah Evans Price, Associate Editor As young Yorkshire folk Kate Rusby recently told this Britain's greatest modern folk bard ( "Dirty Old Town," "The First Dance Music: Michael Paoletta, Editor (N.Y.) artist Pro Audio/Technology: Paul Verna, Editor (N.Y.) writer regarding her own ongoing exposure to ancient traditions Time Ever I Saw Your Face," etc.), was commissioned by the BBC Merchants & Marketing: Don Jeffrey, Editor (N.Y.) Home Video: Seth Goldstein, Editor (N.Y.), Eileen Fitzpatrick, Associate Ed. (L.A.) of British balladry, "Afterward you feel refreshed, because the in 1957 to create a radio special on the life and heroic death in a rail- Radio: Chuck Taylor, Editor (N.Y.) Heatseekers Features Editor/Music Video: Carla Hay, Editor (N.Y.) music helps you sort your own life out." More evidence of this ver- way crash of steam -locomotive driver John Axon. The results, in Editorial Assistant: Carrie Bell (L.A.) collaboration Parker and American folk artist Seeger (half- Administrative/Research Assistant: Aliya S. King (N.Y.) ity can found in two ambitious archival reissues on CD from the with Special Correspondent: Jim Bessman U.K.'s Topic Records: the magnificent 20- volume "The Voice Of sister of Pete), proved revolutionary. Interviewing Axon's widow Contributors: Catherine Applefeld Olson, Fred Bronson, Lisa Collins, Larry LeBlanc, Moira McCormick, David Nathan, Dylan Siegler, Phyllis Stark, The People: The Traditional Music Of England, Ire- and workmates for deep -background data for "The Steve Traiman Ballad Axon," MacColl and Parker realized International Editor in Chief: ADAM WHITE land, Scotland & Wales," a mammoth assemblage Of John International Deputy Editor: Thom Duffy of (mostly) vintage field recordings issued at the that the convention of having BBC actors offer International Music Editor: Dominic Pride International Associate Editor: Tom Ferguson end of 1998, and the just -released, eight -installment scripted, "proper English" re-creations of such inter- International Associate Editor: Mark Solomons German Bureau Chief: Wolfgang Spahr "Radio- Ballads" series, which resurrects the views would compromise, if not destroy, their Japan Bureau Chief: Steve McClure Contributing Editor: Paul Sexton epochal BBC Home Service documentaries creat- idiomatic authenticity. As Seeger now recalls, "Ewan CHARTS & RESEARCH ed between 1957 and 1964 by brilliant songsmith/ used these actual speakers for his information, for Director of Charts: GEOFF MAYFIELD dramatist Ewan MacColl, his gifted arranger/com- his breathing patterns [in his songs], and sometimes Chart Managers: Anthony Colombo (Mainstream Roc(New Age) Ricardo Companioni (Dance, Latin), Datu Faison (Hot R &B Singles/Top R &B Albums/ poser/musician wife Peggy Seeger, and noted BBC got ideas for the tunes by listening to them speak.