APRIL 20, 2002 Volume 20, Issue 17 £3.95 Music euros 6.5 Pet Shop Boys' Release (Parlophone) is this week's highest new entry on M&M's European Top 100 Albums chart, at num- ewe talkis® to radio ber five. M&M chart toppers this week EMI overtakes UniversalNRJ in 'play Eurochart Hot 100 Singles SHAKIRA in European album sharefor publicity' Whenever Wherever (Epic) by Emmanuel Legrand With a 23.7% album chart share, allegations European Top 100 Albums EMI is ahead of Sony Music which, CELINE DION LONDON - In a first quarter of 2002after a poor performance in 2001, has by Kai R. Lofthus A New Day Has Come that saw few new made an impressive recovery,thanksto OSLO - NRJ Norway is being accused of (Columbia) releases,EMIRe- cordedMusichas chart -topping releases adjusting its playlist to schedule songs European Radio Top 50 moved ahead of Uni- from Shakiraand they were initially reluctant to play, on KYLIE MINOGUE versal Music in Euro- Anastacia and contri- the basis that its logo will be featured in In Your Eyes peanalbumchart butionsfromSarah record company TV ad cam (Parlophone) share. Connor, Creed, Jean - paigns for the tracks concerned. According tosta- Jacques Goldman and While managing directors of European Dance Traxx tisticscompiled by Jennifer Lopez. With the majors in Norway could not DB BOULEVARD M&M based onour its 20,7% share, Sony be reached for comment, inde- Point Of View exclusive Eurochart Hot 100 Singlesmoves up from third to second posi- pendent labels which cannot (Airplane) and European Top 100 Albumstion in the crucial albums ranking, afford much TV advertising have told chartsduring thefirstquarter,compared to the same period of 2001. Music & Media they believe the practice Kylie Minogue and Robbie WilliamsIt does, however, slip one ranking in is "unfair" and "limits competition". Inside M&M this week (pictured)contributedheavilyto singles chart share. "NRJ evaluated one of our songs," EMI's good performance, notching Executives at Sony welcomed the says one independent promotion execu- AUTOMATIC FOR THE PEOPLE the top positions both in singles andresults, which should be bolstered tive. "They said it didn't fit their format, In a special radio report, M&M albums. continued on page 21 but they changed their position after we looksattheeverincreasing told them we could include their logo in impact of voice -tracking technolo- a TV advertising campaign. We eventu- gy in Europe, and also talks to US Sheryl Crow 'learns to let go' ally accepted, because we're dependent programmers-where the technol- by Paul Sexton on NRJ." ogyiseven more prevalent- One major label source tells M&M about how they're dealing with the LONDON - The energy with which that "there are situations where TV logistical and creative challenges Sheryl Crow is working her new continued on page 21 it presents. Pages 6-8 A&M album C'Mon C'Mon, and the enthusiasm with which it'sbeing SongPeople founder HEART SURGERY greeted,belietheartist'sown A Rhythmic AC music policy intro- description of it as a "giant fiasco"- launches Mind Lab ducedlastyear and that's in the liner notes. by Jon Heasman undernewpro- The American rock singer -song- grammedirector writer, widely respected for uphold- LONDON - The company which pio- Francis Currie has ing the musical principles that have neered music research over the 'Net in broughtaturn- seen her through eight years as a Europe is to provide radio stations with around in fortunes major star, doesn't mind who knows the opportunity to undertake research at London's Heart 106.2.Page 9 about the problems she encountered using an audience response system via beforecompleting her "three-year the Internet. GREEN-EYED SOUL labour of love," her first studio set Music Programming, known as Song Sony Music is hoping to expand since 1998's The Globe Sessions. But People prior to co-founder Peter Rupp- the success already enjoyed in the end results, released April 8, pert's buyout of partner Andy Noyman, Germany by its 21 -year -old R&B have been much praised and have is launching its Digital Mind Lab at the and soul sensation Sarah Connor. already produced their first hit single Radio Academy's Music Radio confer- Page 10 in Soak Up The Sun. ence in London on April 18. continued on page 21 continued on page 21 see you soon at MUZIEK & BEELD LIVE 1 29 April 2002 1 Huizen, The Netherlands WWW.MUSICTRADECENTER.COM making the music business a whole lot easier. don't forget, drop by and say hello... AmericanRadioHistory.Com AmericanRadioHistory.Com NEWS opment. Music Another practice we touch upon this week is that of radio stations trying to secure big portions of record com- Media. Upfront pany marketing budgets. This trend has been quite domi- by Emmanuel Legrand, Music & Media editor -in -chief nant in France, where stations get their logo associated Call M&M on: tel (+44) 207 420 6005 with TV advertising campaigns for artists (something like: fax (+44) 207 420 6016 Some media moguls have long dreamt of newspapers with- "NRJ presents the new single by such or such artist"). And out journalists. Whilst no one has quite gone that far (aside it usually means that the single of said artist is more like- For direct lines dial +44 207 420, for some local "free" newspapers), radio operators can now ly to be played by the radio station concerned, which bene- followed by the required extension dream of radio stations without DJs. Or at least without fits at no cost to itself from massive TV exposure. Publisher: Ron Betist (ext. 6154) presenters who do their job live. Nothing illegal in that, of course, but as recent official Editor -in -chief: Emmanuel Legrand (6155) With the increasing prevalence of radio station automa- reports in France have shown, it can create an imbalance Director of operations: Kate Leech (6017) tion systems and voice -tracking (as described in this week's between those labels who can offer stations the carrot of Editorial Radio Active), DJs can present a tailored show by remote big TV ad campaigns, and those who cannot. Indie labels in Deputy editor: Jon Heasman (6167) News editor: Gareth Thomas (6162) for several different stations in different cities without France argue that, without such campaigns, it has become Features/specials editor: Steve Adams moving from their home town. For stations, it reduces pro- almost impossible to secure airplay on the national net- Music editor: Adam Howorth (6161) Reporter: Siri Stavenes Dove (6163) duction costs, makes better use of their jocks' time and can works. Charts8(research be used to a high degree of efficiency by groups that own Now, NRJ is starting to export this same practice outside Charts editor: Raid Cairo (6156) several stations. of France. In Norway, however, it is being met by strong Chart production manager Beverley Evans (6157) But the harshest critics of voice -tracking believe that it Charts researcher: Paul Pomfret (6165) resistance from local labels (including creates bland-and boring-radio without interactivity,the majors). Of all the different goodies Production disconnected from its listeners and from its local roots, fac- that NRJ could potentially bring to a Production & art co-ordinator: Mat Deaves (6110) Correspondents tors which have to date been radio's trademark. Others country like Norway, this one is proba- Belgium: Marc Maes - (32) 3 568 8082 worry that it stops stations from developing new air talent.bly the least enticing, because it radi- Classical/jazz: Terry Berne - (34) 91 474 4640 Yet the enthusiasts contend that when it's done properly, callytransformstherelationship Dance: Gary Smith -(33)49172 4753 listeners will never notice the difference. between radio stations and labels, and Denmark: Charles Ferro - (45) 3369 0701 Finland: Jonathan Mander - (358) 503 527384 One thing is certain, in this age of consolidation, we are ends up linking programming directly Francs Joanna Shore -(33)14735 7042 bound to see a whole lot more of it in Europe, in the sameto marketing deals. Another sign of the Germany: Gesa Birnkraut - (49} 4101 45930 Michael Lawton - (49) 172 241 2107 way things have developed in the US. A sign of the times, times, without doubt, but not necessar- Greece: Maria Paravantes - (30) 932 665432 without doubt, but not necessarily the most exciting devel- ily one to be recommended. Ireland: Ann Scott - (353) 864 061 570 Italy: Mark Worden - (39) 02 4802 4127 Netherlands Menne Visser - (31) 206 738 378 Music & Media values its readers' opinions-you can e-mail the editor -in -chief at: [email protected] New Media Juliana Koranteng - (44) 208 891 3893 Norway: Kai R. Lofthus - (47) 918 21 208 Spain: Howell Llewellyn - (34) 9 1593 2429 Sweden: Johan Lindstrom - (46) 8 470 3730 Sales and Nlarkei-Ing SER launches Maxima dance chain International sales director: Ron Betist (UK, USA) - (31) 299 420274; mobile: (31) 653 194133 by Howell Llewellyn music was growing in popularity, The launch of Maxima FM comes Sales executives: Patrick Jansen (Benelux & Scandinavia) - (31) 299 420274 there was no unified national danceone month after rival radio group Francois Millet (France) - (33) 145 49 29 33 MADRID - With the launch by thenetwork," says Baro. "We shallOnda Cero Radio launched its Lidia Bonguardo (Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal) SER group of Maxima FM on April 1, - (39) 031570056 treat dance culture as a music phe-Dance FM outlet in Madrid (M&M, Spain has its first national nomenon with equal impor-March 16), with plans to open more Sales & marketing co-ordinator: dance music network. tance to pop or rock. AndDance FM stations this year. But Claudia Engel (6159) The10 -stationchain, we'll give space to the fullBare points out that Dance FM Marketing assistant: Miriam Hubner (6158) International circulation marketing whichSERexpectsto range of dance, as well asremains for the moment a one -city director: Ben Eva (6010) expand over the next two the radical sub -genres suchstation,while Maxima FM is Group circulation manager: Paul Brigden (6081) years, broadcasts commer- as progressive techno oralready a national network.