$6.99 (U.S.), $E.99 (CAN.), £5.50 (U.K.), 8.95 (EUROPE), Y2,500 (JAPAN) ...... ..r..........r......_.....* 3- DIGIT 908 IIIIII IIIIII II IIIIII111l1111111.1II11111II IIIIII BL240804 MAR04 A04 B0097 MONTY GREENLY 3740 ELM AVE # A LONG BEACH CA 9)8)^ -3402 R THE INTEPNATIOVAL NEWSWEEKLY OF MLSIC, VIDEO, AND HOME ENTERTAINMENT www.billboard.comr FEBRUARY 28, 2004, THERE'S A THEORY BEHIND BETTER 56.99US E8.99CAN 0 9> 02004 American Express Company. Terms, conditions and restrictions apply. 'SAT is a registered trademark of the College Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product. o 744 l 0255 8 ADVERTISEMENT www.americanradiohistory.com A EXPRESS Its called music theory. Studies suggest kids who learn music significantly boost their test scores. And yet, budget cuts are eliminating many music programs. So join Blue from American Express'. to help keep music in our schools. Go to americanexpress .com /blueformusic to make a donation and apply for the Card. 37 003 FORMUSICBLUE I% American Express is proud to contribute donations to VH1 Save The Music. www.americanradiohistory.com Y2,500 (JAPAN) , (CAN.), £5.50 (U.K.), 8.95 (EUROPE), $6.99 (U.S. $8.99 aw N> W Z ayÄi Re -Platinum Stars Series Begins On Page Z7 THE INTERNATIONAL NEWSWEEKLY OF MUSIC, VIDEO AND HC 7TAIN'MENT www.billboard.com FEBRUARY 28, 2004 HOT SPOTS Label Cuts Norah Sends Put Crimp A Valentine On Artists Quest For Savings Redefines Art Of Deal To Retailers 4 Billboard staff report As record companies cut costs - BY CHRISTOPHER WALSH in some cases, dramatically -to stem losses, artists are feeling the 7 Shining Brightly NEW YORK-Love, Norah and a solid Grammy squeeze. Rock band the Darkness show can do wonders for slumping record sales. From majors to independents, descends upon the Brit The industry has long been pining for the kind of labels are re- evaluating contracts, Awards, claiming three retail performance sparked last week by the con- negotiating tougher deals, curbing trophies. vergence of the Grammy Awards, Valentine's Day studio time and in some cases lim- and a cluster of new releases, led by Norah Jones' iting the number of tracks on an "Feels Like Home." album, mainly to save money. But the question now is, can the industry cap- "It's not about contract flexibility," italize on it? RCA Label Group chairman Joe "Everyone knows Valentine's Day and Grammy Galante says. "It's about the reality FBI ANTI -PIRACY day, or Father's Day, Mother's Day, Easter," says Joy of the marketplace. WARNING Feuer, VP of sales for Capitol Records. "Promotion costs more money. le v.v.', "These are certain pinnacles where people go out Pricing and positioning cost more buy records. We need to create these sorts of weeks money. Video costs more money. 9 and * A/F just with the setup of records," she says. "It can't be There isn't anything that we're doing , Cg GReA 1.1 ' (Continued on page 77) (Continued on page 73) itr O1or* 12 Putting Their Stamp On It Labels Get The Recording Industry Assn. EMI's Lundvall of America and the FBI pact for voluntary anti -piracy On Winning Streak Aggressive stickers on music releases. BY DAN OUELLETTE With DVDs NEW YORK-"I signed an original," says Bruce Lundvall, president/CEO of EMI Jazz & Classics. "It was just that BY JILL KIPNIS simple." He's talking about Norah Jones, whose sopho- more album, "Feels Like Home" LOS ANGELES -Through in- on Blue Note Records, debuts creased focus, expanded release at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 slates and aggressive pricing, the this issue. major labels are stepping up their The highly anticipated fol- commitment to DVDs. low-up to her phenomenal, "We are at the tip of the iceberg. 18 million -selling 2002 de- DVD momentum is growing," says but, "Come Away With Me," Phil Quartararo, president of EMI sold 1.02 million copies in its Music Marketing (EMM) /executive VP first week, according to Niel- of EMI Music North America. sen SoundScan. In addition to significantly in- "People are hungry for the creasing the number of releases that kind of real music she plays," Lundvall says. `The melodies include DVDs, in some cases labels are are lovely, and there's no screaming and yelling." creating new departments to handle While his résumé is packed with successes, Lundvall the format. today is being heralded as a modem -day miracle worker Across the board, labels say that 37 Dropout' Makes The Grade who is thriving during the industry-wide slump. In they are beefing up their DVD focus Producer Kanye West, known (Continued on page 77) because titles with a CD/DVD combo, for working with such artists a DVD video single or a long -form as Jay -Z, makes his debut on LundvaiJ's signings, pictured from top: Norah Jones, DVD video account for a growing Roc -a- Fella /Def lam. Al Green and Wynton Marsalis. chunk of music sales. (Continued on page 75) www.americanradiohistory.com STEALTH FIGHTER -INSPIRED, BUT SADLY VISIBLE TO POLICE RADAR XLR has an air- slicing architecture inspirec by the Stealth Fighter. And with a 320 -hp engine that delivers 0 -60 in 5.9 seconds, it can really take off. Other cutting -edge technology includes MRC, the world's fastest -reacting suspension system, that provides performance without the punishment. A word of caution: XLR cannot fly under the radar. BREAK THROUGH cadillac.com Call 1 888 4ONSTAR (1 888 466 7827) or visit www.onstar.com. ©2004 GM Corp. All rights reserved. Break Through" Cadillac* Cadillac badge° XLRT" www.americanradiohistory.com www.americanradiohistory.com FEBRUARY 28 Billboard- NO .:1 ON THE CHARTS B l NORAH JONES Feels Like Home ALISON KRAUSS + UNION STATION LivLive Home Video: Major =11 Top of the News 54 and indie distributors respond to the KEB' MO' Kee. It Sim tie 7 AEG Live strikes a ground- .0 high demand for Spanish - breaking artist -development deal language films on DVD. 414( SWITCHFOOT The Beautiful Letdown with Robi Draco Rosa. 8 A reorganization of EMI KENNY CHESNEY When The Sun Goes Dow n Global Christian Music Group leads to a ó 57 U.K. hit "Mad World" by j 10% decrease in staff. r SOUNDTRACK Queer E e For The Strai.ht Gu Michael Andrews Featuring Gary Jules gains global interest. VARIOUS ARTISTS WOW Gos.e12004 Music 59 Global Pulse:Tears for Fears The Beat: Dave Grohl on 19 reunites after 15 years for "Every- JEREMY CAMP Carried Me: The Worshi Pro ect why Southern Lord Recordings body Loves a Happy Ending!" was the right fit for his Probot YING YANG TWINS Me &M Brother project. Programming 20 Movies & Music: Eminem's NORAH JONES Feels Like Home 64 Tuned In- Radio: Clear "8 Mile" has ignited a spate of Channel, Sony Music and Winter - music-star biographies for the JOSH GROBAN Josh Grohan fresh gum have created Radio silver screen. R &B: Stephanie Mills & 33 56 Songwriters Publishers: Star, a 14 -week talent search. PAULINA RUBIO Pan Latina 22 In The Spirit: Rance Allen adopts a do- it- yourself approach ASCAP celebrates its 90th year Group records the first live album to promote her 1M Records with a record revenue of $668 Features KANYE WEST The Colle. e Dro tout in its 33 -year debut, "Born for This!" million in 2003. career. 32 Boxscore 26 The Classical Score: Car- 37 Beats & Rhymes: Kanye 56 Studio Monitor: Lou Reed SOUNDTRACK SO First Dates 48 Billboard Picks negie Hall's season calendar West is the latest Midwestern makes his "Animal Serenade" sing MC make a mark with his Roc- 50 The Billboard BackBeat Barhersho t 2 Back In Business reflects the creativity of the late to at Platinum Studios. Robert Harth. a- Fella /Def Jam debut, "The 50 Executive Turntable LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO Raise Your Spirit Higher. Wenyukeia College Dropout." Retail 31 Touring: The Vans Warped 58 Hits of the World tour celebrates its 10th - 38 Latin: Such Brazilian 51 Midway Amusement Games' PAGE 61 Classifieds E anniversary run with an eclectic artists as Roberto Carlos are "NBA Bailers "videogame fea- 65 Charts punk lineup. finding that there are more tures original tracks from rising USHER FEATURING LIL JON & LUDACRIS Yeah! avenues for recording deals than Interscope artists. 65 Chart Beat major labels. 52 The Indies: Table of the 65 Market Watch ti 3 DOORS DOWN Here Without You 43 Beat Box: Prommer Inc. Elements issues a limited- edition 78 The Last Word makes a distribution deal with series of one -sided vinyl LPs of SHANIA TWAIN Forever And For Alwa s aus Caroline. experimental music. TOBY KEITH American Soldier 45 Country: The new BR549 53 Retail Track: Baker &Tay- set, "Tangled in the Pines, "fea - lor works to expand its music - 0 KYLIE MINOGUE Slow tures a new lineup. business segment. BRITNEY SPEARS Toxic BRITNEY SPEARS FEAT. MADONNA Me Aia Inst The Ms e QUOTE OF THE WEEK OUTKAST He Val Radio Mix The industry is too quick to point to every THALIA Cerca De Ti other thing except the music that they're putting OUTKAST FEAT SLEEPY BROWN TIT 0 Yu] Mn, out as the reason for sales being up or down. ARISTA ASSOCIATED LABELS' LARRY HAMBY INCUBUS Men alomaniac RANCE ALLEN GROUP Page 77 TWISTA FEAT. KANYE WEST & JAMIE FOXX Slow Jainr TWISTA FEAT. KANYE WEST & JAMIE FOXX Slow Jam/ ARTIST & COMPANY INDEX USHER FEAT. LIL JON & LUDACRIS Yeah! (SIGNIFICANT MENTIONS IN THE NEWS) TITLE PAGE- Artist Page(s) Company Page(s) ó:: UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN Bob Dylan 32 AEG Live 7 W UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN BR549 45 Baker & Taylor Corp 53 Emergent Music Marketing 45 z.