Issue 230 September 16, 1994 Interview With MICHELLE MERCER, PD POWER 106 Conference Call: SWEEPER UPDATE Spotlight On: WFKS, Daytona Beach Inside: THE CHANGES AT KIIS FM CHAIN SOMETIMES ALWAYS #1 Alternative Produced by William Reid/Jim Reid Management by Jaffe BLANCO M,Y NEGRO '1994 American Recordings ISSUE #230 published by NETWORK 40 INC. 120 N. Wry Blvd. Burbank CA 91502 phone (818) 9554040 fax(818) 846-9810 k AN IL LI OUT THIS WEEK \*A6k/V I\SA&Piw TONI BRAXTON "How Many Ways" (LAFACE/ARISTA) #1 Most Added #1 PPWD. TORI Amos "Past The Mission" (ATLANTIC/AG) On The Cover: Street Chart / Rhythm Nation 24 TOAD THE WET KPWR L.A. PD Michelle Mercer with morning stars Tha &ka Boyz. SPROCKET Crossover Music Meeting 26 News 4 "Something's Always Wrong" X Chart / X News 28 (COLUMBIA) Page 6 6 The whole truths, the half-truths and anything but the truth.. SPIN DOCTORS Retail Chart / Bin Burners 54 "Laraby's Gang" (EPIC) The Top -40 albums; the Top -5 records with the biggest sales increases. Editorial 8 Top 40 Editor Dwayne Ward offers a difference of opinion. SASS JORDAN Show Prep 32 "Sun's Gonna Rise" Network 40 Interview 10 Play It, Say It! I Rimshots (IMPACT/MCA) Michelle Mercer SHARA NELSON The most influential female programmer in Top 40. Most Requested 34 "Down That Road" (CHRYSALIS/EMI RECORDS) Conference Call 12 Picture Pages 42 Y?N-VEE New sweepers for the Fall book. "Chocolate" Now Playing 46 (PMP/RAL/ISLAND) Network 40 Spotlight ..16 Now Selling 54 DIGABLE PLANETS WFKS, Daytona Beach "9th Wonder (Blackitolism)" (PENDULUM/EMI RECORDS) Spin Cycle Promotions 18 56 All the pertinent data on every song in Network 40s Top 80 PPW chart. OUT NEXT WEEK Mainstream Music Meeting 20 The Crunch Page 58 HARRY CONNICK, JR. A/C Chart / Hot Notes The Most Added Records and those with the most Accelerated Airplay. "(I Could Only) Whisper Your Name" (COLUMBIA) MIS FM Spotlight 23 The Chart 60 JACKSON BROWNE "Sky Blue & Black" GARY F. BIRD STEVE SMITH GERRY CAGLE (ELEKTRA) Publishers Vice President/General Manager EDITORIAL STAFF KRISTEN N. GUARINO A/C Editor ART STAFF OPERATIONS STAFF PAT GILLEN HARMAN G. SMITH VICTOR CABALLERO Managing Editor KAREN HOLMES BON JOVI Alternative Editor Art Director Imaging Center Manager DWAYNE WARD SARA HUNTER DEBBY PETERSON ALDEN KEITH STUBBLEFIELD "Always" Radio Editor Production Director Imaging Director JEFF SILBERMAN Research Director (MERCURY) Editor DANYLuK HELEN WAGNER STAN PRIMMER Features Editor Graphic Designer Director Of Information Systems WENDI CERMAK THE CHROME LIZAgD NICOLE M. ECKENRODE LEAH BRANDON Music Director/Crossover Editor Graphic Designer JOHN KILOO Page 6 Editor Office Manager Mainstream Editor LUCAS 01994 Network 40, Inc. All nghts reserved. The information compiled herein is deemeogo be proprietary. and cannot be copied, distributed or commercially exploited without thewritten permission of Network 40. "Lucas (With The Lid Off)" Printed in the USA and distributed -hroughout North America. Europe. Australia. New Zealand and Japan. For subscription information or change of address notificatikp. contact Jackie Bodner, Circulation Manager of The Network Magazine Group at (818)9554000. (BIG BEAT/ATLANTIC/AG) NEWS RADIO Davitt Sigerson Cops EMI President/CEO Post Former Producer/Songwriter Replaces Daniel Glass MUSICAL PDs & GMs Davitt Sigerson was named Presi- with artists such as The Bangles, Chairman/CEO Charles Koppelman. dent/CEO of EMI Records, a group David & David and Tori Amos. "He possesses tremendous focus and Lot of movement in the higher-up re- that comprises EMI, SBK and leadership abilities. Having grown up in gions of Top 40. Bob Visotcky suc- Chrysalis Records. He replaces depart- this business as both an executive and a ceeds Scott Fey as GM of KYLD San ing President Daniel Glass and will musician, Davitt has a keen understand- Francisco and its LMA/simulcast sister KYLZ Santa Cruz/San Jose. Also, oversee all executive and creative func- ing about what it takes to find great mu- WVSR Charleston OM Burke Allen tions for the three labels. sic, work with artists and get their music headed off to WAEV/WLVH Savan- Sigerson comes to EMI from Poly- heard by a lot of people. He is also very nah to be OM/PD and do mornings. dor Records, U.S. (a division of Poly - skilled as a manager and he will lead the (Bill Shahan will continue to program Gram), where he served as President company into great success. I have every WVSR.) And WCIL Carbondale GM Dennis Lyle came up with the pocket for three years. During that time, he confidence that he will capitalize on the change to buy the station. worked with artists such as Santana, enormous potential within these labels." X -Clan, Van Morrison and Andrew "People and music are what I care COMING & GOING Lloyd Webber. However, his roots are about most, so working with Charles is definitely on the creative side. Origi- a natural" Sigerson notes. "The mission Eric Ferguson left WMMZ Gainesville DAVITT SIGERSON to become the new morning host at nally a musician/songwriter, Sigerson of EMI, SBK and Chrysalis will be to KWMX Denver... Former WBWB put out two solo albums on Island be- "Davitt is an extremely creative and build great careers with great artists in a Bloomington PD Tony Manes will do fore becoming a producer, working talented individual," states ERG-N.A. spirit of honesty, respect and passion." mornings at KI00( Bakersfield... Ex - B96 Chicago personality Gary Spears was hired by WEZB New Orleans to team up with Steve Johnson in after- Tommy LiPuma Named President of GRP noon drive. As Co -Founder Larry Rosen Named Chairman Emeritus MEL: INFINITY & BEYOND The proverbial passing of the torch A&M Records in 1966. In 1970, he portunity to work together with Al took place at GRP Records, as co- started Blue Thumb Records with Teller and Zach Horowitz," LiPuma With Infinity's stock prices still rising, CEO Mel Karmazin told a trade con- founder/President Larry Rosen was Bob Krasnow. He has also worked at says. "I feel privileged to be given the vention audience that the company is named Chairman Emeritus, while Warner Bros. Records first as staff chance to carry forward the pioneer- now worth $2 billion. Why? It now Tommy LiPuma was named the new producer, then as VP, Jazz & Progres- ing work that Larry Rosen and Dave controls 40% of the radio network President. GRP's other co-founder, sive Music. Most recently, he was Sr. Grusin began with GRP records, one business and some guy named Howard Dave Grusin, will continue as Cre- VP A&R for Elektra Records. of the industry's greatest success sto- Stem (who just picked up a new affili- ative Consultant for the label. "Tommy is that truly rare individ- ate, WBGG Miami). Reportedly, his ries. I look forward to meeting the show charges $10,000 per spot in New ual - a creative force and award -win- challenge of building upon this York. Other topics: The new 20/20 ning producer who is at the same time tremendous foundation and leading ownership rule is "archaic" especially a highly respected music executive GRP into an exciting new future." when compared to Ted Turner's abili- and industry leader," states MCA ty to put five channels on the nation's Music Entertainment Group Chair- TV airwaves; he complained of radio The LIFEbeat Continues man/CEO Al Teller. "Through his operators who change formats not be- Daniel Glass Moves On cause of "a programming problem, but artistic association with numerous a sales problem" and a lack of air talent major musical projects, he helped ex- Although Daniel Glass has parted creativity. One solution: hiring and pand the audience for Jazz around the company with EMI, he is hardly calling training talent to do weekends at one world. GRP was created by Dave it a career. His name has already been station so they can sharpen their skills Grusin and Larry Rosen as a home for before being moved to a full-time posi- dropped as a leading contendor for sev- tion at another. great music. Tommy's creative and eral top-level label openings. What's management styles are perfectly suited more, he will now be able to devote "STOP THE VIOLENCE" VI TOMMY LIPUMA to continuing and expanding GRP's more time to his favorite charity. One of the industry's most renown legacy of excellence." Jerry Clifton's New World Commu- "I resigned because I decided it is and respected music men, LiPuma has Founded in 1982 by Grusin and nications is gearing up for its sixth an- time to move on," he told Network nual "Stop The Violence" one -day earned a multitude of producing Rosen, GRP pioneered all -digital 40. "Besides my involvement in mu- moratorium on violence on Novem- awards, including 18 Gold and Plat- recording and DAT long before they sic, I plan to devote more of my time ber 22. The number of stations partic- inum albums and 30 Grammy nomi- became industry standards. It has been and energy to LIFEbeat." ipating in the event - via special events nations. He produced Barbra the top contemporary Jazz label for the like gun buy-back programs, gang Glass is the co-founder and Presi- Streisand's The Way We Were, George past five years and is now part of the truces and moments of silence - has dent of the LIFEbeat organization, Benson's Breezin 'and co -produced MCA Music Entertainment Group. grown from 20 to over 50. For info which generates music industry funds about participating, call Paige Nien- Natalie Cole's Unforgettable.