NOVEMBER 25, 2000 Music Volume 17, Issue 48 £3.95 The Backstreet Boys' Shape Of MyHeart (Jive) is the new number one on theEurochart Media® Hot 100. we talk to ir.....41:11.1_4ci. M&M chart toppers this week NRJ drops RMC bid: WeillU2 leave the Eurochart Hot 100 Singles rest behind BACKSTREET BOYS prepares to takeits place Shape Of My Heart (Universal) by Emmanuel Legrand he plans, in the first year, to European Top 100 Albums spend some Ffr 200 million PARIS -Four months after ( 30.5 million) to finance U2 the purchase and relaunch All That You Can't Leave Behind announcing the acquisition of financially -troubled full -ser- RMC as a national news (Island) vice station RMC (Radio Monte talk station. European Radio Top 50 Carlo), French radio group NRJ Weill will own 35% of U2 has thrown in the towel. Nextradio, a company with a by Adam Howorth Beautiful Day On November 13, the day before itcapitalisation of 15 million, and will (Island) was due to present its project forinvestpersonallyintheventure. LONDON -To hit the number one approvaltoFrenchbroadcastingFinancial group Groupe Alpha will spot in 31 different countries is a rare European Dance Traxx authority the CSA, the group madeown the remaining shares. Nextradio feat. MODJO the surprise announcement thatitwill own 83% of RMC and the state of The fact U2 have done it with their Lady (Hear Me Tonight) was withdrawing its bid, due to diffi-Monaco willretain the remainingninth studio album, All That You (Universal) culties over ownership regulations. 17%. Can't Leave Behind-selling five mil- If cleared by the CSA, the station NRJ, which owned 20% of RMC, lion copies in less than two weeks-is will now fall under the control of Nex-will dispose of all its shares, and will testimony to the vitality of a band that Inside M&M this week tradio,anewly -createdcompanyacquire from Fabre the 20% it did not has ignited stadiums around the world which has made an offer to Pierreown in Gold network Nostalgie. for the better part of 20 years. It is Fabre, RMC's current owner. Alain Weill says that, after exploring all also tribute to the international vision A CLASSIC MAKE -OVER Weill, the founder of Nextradio, is cur-the options, it became clear that NRJ of the band's record company Univer- Flemish public broadcaster VRT rently managing director of the NRJwould not be able to acquire RMC sal Island, and to the business acumen is remoulding its classical and Group. without having to dispose of other of manager Paul McGuinness. jazz network Radio 3 into the Weill has been closely associatedassets. It was then he suggested to "It's always been my practice to moremelodicandharmony - with the RMC acquisition from theNRJ Group president of the superviso- acknowledge that major companies driven Klara. Page 5 outset. With the backing of investors continued on page 25 continued on page 25 MUSICALS SCORE INFRANCE Musicals have been an unlikely Bertelsmann source of chart success in France this year. M&M's annual France moves for EMI Spotlightlooksatthistrend togetherwiththecontinuing A M&M I Billboard staff report success of French electronica. Pages 7-12 LONDON -Two months after EMI Group and Time Warner were forced to BERLIN withdraw the proposed merger of their BLOCKBUSTER musicdivisions,Bertelsmannhas Radio's digital EMI Recorded Music has teamed up with two European Internet com- emerged as a potentialalternative future was very panies as it prepares to launch digital downloads in Europe in 2001. suitor for the British company. much tothefore DX3 and On Demand Distribution (0D2) will become recommended dig- On November 10, EMI Group con- once again at this ital service providers for the online downloads and sale of EMI's reper- firmed that it had been approached by year's NAB Euro- toire. Peter Gabriel, co-founder of OD2 along with Charles Grimsdale, Bertelsmann about combining the two pean Radio Confer- comments: "I have always been frustrated at the music business' inabil- companies' music operations. According ence in Berlin. ity to provide fast and free information. OD2 has been designed to pro- to EMI's statement: "The transaction Pages 13-14 vide that both for artists and record companies." Peter Gabriel (left) isproposed by Bertelsmann does not pictured with EMI Recorded Music chief executive Ken Barry. continued on page 25 "This is the future of sound... au I truly believe this man is a genius" Madonna in Billboard08/05/2000 naive album Production and single Naive Song available across Europe licensed to Sony Music except for France - mirwaisonline.com AmericanRadioHistory.Com NEWS EMI could be a hard nut to crack. It is quite fascinat- ing to see that so many people fail to remember the Music pitfalls EMI and Time Warner fell into when their Upfront proposed merger was put under the microscope by Media. by Emmanuel Legrand, Music & Media editor -in -chief Europe's regulators. Call M&M on: Why would the Commission's verdict be any differ- tel (+44) 207 822 8302 After proposing to Napster, divorcing from Dome- ent than it was two months ago? Have things changed fax (+44) 207 242 9138 maim and Zelnick and bringing Rudi back home,so drastically in the music industry that the concepts Thomas Middelhoff is now flirting with EMI. of dominant position and oligopolies described in the For direct lines dial +44 207 822, What an appetite he has! And welcome to the lat-EC "statement of objections" are no longer valid? followed by the required extension est weekly episode of the ongoing saga of the Bertels- The size of the combined EMI/BMG entity is not Publisher: Ron Betist (ext. 8312) mann's chief executive's career in the music industry.too dissimilar to the size of EMI/Warner. So, unless Editor -in -chief: Emmanuel Legrand (8318) Obviously he is on a roll. After all, this is the manEMI shrinks in size, it could be a good bet that the Director of operations: Kate Leech (8307) who said in March this year that he expected to be No.1 Commission will apply the Editc:.rio I Deputy editor: Jon Heasman (8316) in the music industry "within the next 12 months"-same reading of the situation News editor: Gareth Thomas (8317) although not "by the end of the year," as written every-as it did when it ruled on Features/specials editor: Steve Adams (8380) where else. Music editor: Adam Howorth (8319) EMI/Warner. Reporter: Siri Stavenes Dove (8311) It's a dangerous thing to -say but, if he succeeds, What the EMI/Warner case Charts 8c res.sto everyone will shower him with glory. If he doesn't, hishas proven is that you cannot Charts editor: Rani Cairo (8313) long-term credentials as a manager will be seriouslytake for granted the Commis- Charts researchers: Menno Visser (8322), questioned. Beverley Evans (8321) sion's clearance of a deal. Mid- Charts system manager: Ray Hewitt (8345) After the collapse of the EMI/Warner deal, Middel-delhoff probably appreciates Production hoff knew he had a window of opportunity, albeit onlythis. Even though he is in a Production & art co-ordinator : Mat Deaves (8323) half open. But, if it is confirmed, clearing a deal withhurry. Correspondents Austria: Susan L. Schuhmayer - (43) 1 334 9608 Belgium: Marc Maes - (32) 3 568 8082 Music & Media values its readers' opinions-you can e-mail the editor -in -chief at. [email protected] ClassicaUjazz: Terry Berne - (34) 91 474 4640 Dance: Gary Smith - (34) 9 3488 2180 Denmark: Charles Ferro - (45) 3369 0701 Finland: Jonathan Mander - (358) 503 527384 France: 1V1illane Kang (artist profiles) -(33)148871599 Germany: Gesa Birnkraut - (49) 4101 45930 Sanz walks off with honours Tayfun Kesgin - (49) 2205 908 807 Italy: Mark Dezzani - (39) 0184 223 007 by Howell Llewellyn The Amigos, organised by Span-Andre Midani, Miami -based BMG Mark Worden - (39) 02 3807 8239 ish labels' association AFYVE, also The Netherlands: Robbert - (31) 20-672 2566 Latin Region VP Adrian Posse, New Media: Juliana Koranteng - (44) 208-8913893 MADRID - Warner Music act Ale-honouredLuz(BestSpanishUniversalMusicInternational Norway: Kai R. Lofthus - (47) 918 21 208 jandro Sanz capped a triumphalFemale Artist),Gloria Estefansenior VP Max Hole, RCA UK mar- Spain: Howell Llewellyn - (34) 9 1593 2429 Sweden: Fredrik Nilsson - (46) 8 735 9750 week on November 13 after receiv- (Best Latino Female Artist), Tomketing manager Peter Nilsson, and Johan Lindstrom - (46) 8 470 3730 ing awards for Best Spanish MaleJones (Best Internation- RCA executivesfrom Solescinci Mcirkatino Artist and Best Spanish Album atal Male Artist), Madonna New York. International sales director: Madrid's Premios Amigo ceremony.(Best Ron Betist (UK, USA) - (31) 299 420274; International The47thPremios mobile: (31) 653 194133 The honours came just sevenFemale. Artist), and Ondas-which is organ- Sales executives: Igor Rooselaar (Benelux; days after topping the same cate-Christina Aguilera (Best Scandinavia) - (31) 299 420274; Francois ised by Radio Barcelona, Millet/Christophe Chiappa (France) -(33)145 49 29 33 goriesatBarcelona'sPremiosNew International part of the Cadena SER Beth Dell'Isola (US Radio) - (1) 770 831 4585 Ondas, and in the wake of SanzArtist). radio group-took place Lidia Bonguardo (Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal) - (39) 031570056, smashing Spanish sales records U2, who performed at a weekearlierin Olav Bjerke (Germany) - (49) 221 868005 when his new album El Alma Althe ceremony, won an Barcelona. Apart fom Sales & marketing co-ordinator: Aire, which sold a million units inhonorary award for their Sanz, winners at the Claudia Engel (8315) its first week of release. contribution to music. Marketing assistant: Miriam Hubner (8364) awards(whichcover International circulation marketing Other double -award winners atChristina Aguilera, 1ej:lndro Sanz radio, television and cin- director: Ben Eva the AmigosincludedCatalanBackstreet Boys, Hevia, ema as well as music) European circulation promotion manager: Paul Brigden (8305) rumba duo Estopa (Best SpanishEstopa and Alejandro included Estopa, European circulation promotion Group and Best New Artist), San-Sanz himself also performed live.