DECEMBER 3, 1999 ISSUE 2283 THE MOST TRUSTED NAME IN RADIO PHAUN Country Spotlight: 3rd Annual "Best & Worst" MUSIC TOP 40 Eiffel Towers Over Radio RHYTHM CROSSOVER Bizkit Anything But Limp MAINSTREAM AIC Kenny's Y2K Mix Soars ALTERNATIVE Creed Can't Get Higher COUNTRY Chad Brock Is Y2K Ready NEWS EMusic Buys Tunes.com NBC1 In Clear Channel Deal Home of the Seminar in Radio MONTGOMERY G2K in SF0 Feb. 16 -20, 2000 From the Publishers of Music Week, MBI and fono A Miller Freeman Publication www.americanradiohistory.com ` t- ' b. R 1999 Sony Monk Entertainment Ina / "Columbia" Reg. U.S. Pot. d T. 011. Morro Registroda. www.sonynashville.com www.americanradiohistory.com Pure Poetry -All of the defendants have the greatest respect ti>r R(>.Sa Parks, hut their nnlsk . like poetry. is protected by the First r\nlCndnt(tlr." -Ic)sFPII IiL:CK. AI-l'c)It\IEI. REPRESENTING 1.:\F:\l;F. RAP I )1 ( I ()I " FK:\S L. \\IIII;II ON THE FIRST ROL NI) IN :\ LEGAL li:\TFI.P ( )\Int "II IF Sl )\G "R< Quiet Storm Rusa l'ail., Ills nec again suffered the Main, 4 II exploita- Emusic Buys Tunes.com For 3130M tion. She \\ ill tinge ahead in titis matter \\ ith the saine faith. courage. and quiet strength she employed tu change Rcch\'uu(I City-pried Elnusic.cum cive expansion)Il of our business a natiutl." -AEI ( )R \Fl ( F(R(fl 1(1;1'1). RFPRIEsEx I I\(, Cl\ Il. has entered Into :Itl :tgreel11CI1t t(> motel. which sign ilicantIy extends RI(;IIIs \l:l1 \151 Ri)s :\ P. \RKs, \\Itl)l.I.:\I. \tFt) Iltl'.OtIKAsI 'I our reach and overall \ isihilit\ . This purchase privately held unes.cuii MID.. s( )\( "I \l'I c I IFIt \:\\IF ( IOrntcrly J,\\It\ ). \\ hich operates is :1 unique opportunity tu acceler- RollingStone.cont anti I ) l)Iicatt- ate the adoption ut flu\\ tlluatlahlc Iazr.cunt. in a stock- ti)r -stock ex- music. anel further solidifies Bump 'n' Slump change. liase(I on the current price F:\lusic.conl's position ass a leader I\ r bus )o you "All ha, hush that I tu,, ..I \ \ I,( Rik Ill' lo the hack ut the ...l of Emusic stock. the transaction is in online music.'. \\anna hump anti slump \\ ith its...\Ce the l pc ut peuple stake the club \'aluetl at S I i(i million. According to tlocununts tiled get crank. -OPF \I\(. I.l Itk s TO ( )t 'I K: \s 1' s "It( )s:\ I': \RKs "Since its inception. LIii ir.ro i ith the Securities Exchange has been focused till the emerging Con unissiun :is part ut a postponed market fur do\\nloa(lahle nuuir... initial public uttering. i unes.cont Fmtisie President CEO (Gene poste(; m'enfle ut S 2.I million :alti Zims to Co -Pilot Internet Start -Up f loltman said in a statement. "This a net loss ut SI 3.t-1 million in the After almost a half- century writing about We will miss the kind folks at GAVIN as acquisition is a logical and aggr(, first halt of 1999. virtually all aspects of the music business, well as all our comrades in London and New Senior Editors Keith and Kent Zimmer - York, though we'll remain involved with the man-a.k.a. the Zimmermen, also a.k.a company in the role of ongoing contributors," NBCi Signs Promo Deal With Clear Channel the Zims -are leav- commented Kent ing GAVIN for new Zimmerman. "But At first glance the launch of NBC Internet, Inc. (NBCi) this week looks like cyber adventures. being so close to a pure TV -Web play -until the marketing agreement with Clear Channel is The Zims, who built Silicon Valley, we've taken into account. and nurtured the Triple yearned to be in- According to company reports, NBCi has signed a S20 million deal with A and Jazz/Smooth volved in a marriage Clear Channel to promote NBCi on Clear Channel radio stations and Jazz departments at of music, radio, and Internet properties over the next three years. In exchange, NBCi will GAVIN, are founding a the Internet...and receive promotional placement across Clear Channel's Web properties. new Internet entity this is it." Parent network NBC also is investing heavily in NBCi. NBC that will deal with "While we'll tem- President /CEO and NBCi Chairman Bob Wright said, "The next step music, radio, and porarily miss our beyond traditional media platforms into the Internet is to become an business -to- business applications. According radio and music friends, putting together electronic commerce company, enabling our valuable network televi- to the Zimmermen, the company is prepared this concept has been a dream -and we sion advertisers to directly reach consumers." At a news conference, to close its first round of funding, after which will resurface," added Keith Zimmerman. Wright revealed that e- commerce opportunities will be the centerpiece a full staff will be hired. "We look forward to plucking more names of the NBCi strategy. "Advertisers will be able to market goods directly Meanwhile, look for the Triple A and from the music and radio community to to consumers on TV screens and online," he said. "With the various Jazz/Smooth Jazz slots to be filled quickly at realize our dream." Internet properties of NBCi and our partners, we're prepared to reap the GAVIN. "I know they are not going far and I am Specific details about the company will benefits of this revolution." excited for them in taking this bold step, but I be announced early in the year 2000. In No word on how the NBCi -Clear Channel deal might affect AMFMi, a will miss their always stimulating presence," addition, the Zimmermen will continue subsidiary of AMFM Inc., which is merging with Clear Channel in the first said GAVIN CEO David Dalton. "I also look for- their association with GAVIN as editorial half of 2000. ward to working with them in the future." consultants. CONTENTS FORMAT SECTIONS SPOTLIGHT: COUNTRY TOP 40, RHYTHM CROSSOVER 8 COUNTRY 30 NEWS WABB's Stunt Boy Buried in His Work Group Contesting: Another View Emusic Buys Tunes.com for $130 Million 3 RAP 13 3rd Annual Country's Best & Worst 36 NBC; Signs Promo Deal With Clear Channel 3 Artist Profile: Us New Year's Resolutions 45 RADIO ®LARGE URBAN /URBAN A/C 15 AMERICANA 46 It's Beginning to Sound A Lot Like Christmas 4 BET Programmer Stephen Hill A Tribute to Doug Sahm RATINGS & RESEARCH 6 A /C, HOT A/C 19 TRIPLE A 48 in '99: A Trend Not So Fine Country Lite /FM Alumni Remember the Alma Mater John Hiatt Interviews Ziggy Marley ALTERNATIVE 23 JAZZ /SMOOTH JAZZ & VOCALS 53 Looking Back: 91X's Move Into the Future WDET Combines Jazz With Triple A 1/2 Miller Freeman ACTIVE ROCK 27 For Big Ratings in the Motor City Unncd Nev.. A\IcJu.,m,l m I"VV ,,\S. Internet Active Rock: Fast Band Global Cast l)r,(n)h('r_i. /999 gavin 3 www.americanradiohistory.com Fenlntlt4l by Bil( Gatin in 1958 RADIO @LARGE ®1vIn \tiller Fn.-man Entenainment limo'. "It's Beginning To Sound 140 Second Street San Francisco, CA 94105 Phone: (415) 495 -1990 Fax: (415) 495 -2580 http: /íwww.gavin.com e-mail: etlnorial @gavin.com A Lot Like Chief Executive Officer DAVID DALTON Christmas" Chief Financial Officer BETTY HOLLARS lilitnr- ur- Chief REED Rt'NZEL Rwortur Director SANDY SKEIE BY PAIGE NIENABER ing trees. wrapping presents. of cir- ers? Great. 'Ibis month have them Erectility Director, .Same r- . Mktg VANESSA THOMAS cling in cars looking for parking dress as Santa. bring a lampshade. An Director PETER GRAME Whenever I'm suggesting to people spaces at malls? and host full -on Christmas office Associate Moor TODD SPENCER what not to do in December. i My (belabored) point? Christmas parties complete with eggnog...and TOP 40, KEVIN CARTER relate this tale: is one of the most outstanding pro- of course, some mistletoe to hang (J:dm,r, A /C, HOT A/C I was on Ivy way back to the Twin motional opportunities that we've from the ceiling of the supply clos- ANNETTE NI. LAI (rilm,r) Cities following a market visit. It was been gifted with. You should wrap et. Even weekend giveaways of OREAN the weekend before Christmas and yourself in it. Cloak your contests movie tickets must have a spin on (p'IN(:ï Nkt:Ol' (91 Maori as I battled my way to the gate to and events with the countless ele- them or you'll sound hopelessly RAP, HIP -HOP catch my flight, on the concourse I ments available. Have a Santa at out -of -touch with the mindset of JUSTIN TORRES (Associate Maori was serenaded by carolers that your remotes. Whatever you your listeners. MICHAEL NIXON (Ciarsulting Fditrl the airline had brought in to give away on the air, stuff it Radio stations set the scene. help soothe frayed holiday in a stocking stenciled with Create the muX)d. To ignore the I:\\IIr \I:VI-I-Ifx)\ N'due.rNa.hHReSunauChaJ) \I:\RCIIS R/ (cbanEduon traveling tempers. it worked. the winner's name. No mau- biggest, most hyped holiday of the (:11AD HENSON (.i.csi.cran) As i settled into my seat, i ler holy staid the prize. year is, well, stupid. You should AMERICANA was relaxed and you can put a "hear" Christmas every time the JESSIE SCOTI (Fihn,r, thinking about twist on the con- jock cracks the mike.