MAKING WAVES: RTL Bridges North/South Divide... see page 6 DECEMBER 7, 1996' VOLUME 13, ISSUE 4 V16. Jamiroquai Europe's Radio -Active Newsweekly £2.95DM8 FFR25 US$5 DF18. EHR Radio Active Page 21 Sky Buys IntoIpsos Ratings Receive Classic FM Mixed Response by Christian Lorenz statement that the move, "Allows us to complete the by Emmanuel Legrand tive to the traditional Media- Apart from Cherie FM, ACE AMSTERDAM-Leading Dutch Dutch part of the original metrie ratings. nets get better results with commercialACEstation internationalstrategyfor PARIS -For the first time in In general, IPSOS ratings IPSOS whereas music nets, Sky Radio acquired a 50% either syndicated program- years, two different ratings tend to favour stations reach- especially those targeting stake in Classic FM Hol- ming or a strong local media are available for the Parising older audiences such as young audiences, are behind land, effective January 1. partner to promote aware- metropolitan area. Not sur- full -serviceand ACE nets. their normal performance. Announcedonlydays nessandbuildofthe prisingly, they don't deliver IPSOS, which after the intended takeover brand." Classic FM Holland the same data. Paris Top 10 Stations deliversUK radio of Classic FM's parent com- MD Paul Beerkens adds On November 21, research Market Shares (Monday -Friday) ratings throughits pany in the UK by GWR, "Sky is an ideal partner for organisation IPSOS unveiled subsidiary RSL, says Sept -Oct '96Sept -Oct '96 the deal was actually pre- us since our target groups the first results of a test run in Mediametrie IPSOS the use of the RAJAR pared months ago according are highly compatible." Paris for the period Septem- RTL 23.6 21.7 system, "Reflects the to Sky MD Ton Lathouwers. With a market share of ber -October, using the UK's France Info 14.5 13.1 attitudes of the lis- Classic FM CEO John some 11.5% for the period RAJAR system. IPSOS ratings France Inter 13.0 14.8 tenersmoreaccu- Europe 1 11.8 12.4 Spearman says in a written continues on page 20 are presented as an alterna- NRJ 10.6 8.1 rately," through the Fun Radio 7.5 5.6 use of a diary filled in Skyrock 6.5 4.3 by the listeners. The Europe 2 6.0 6.8 test was based on a Cherie FM 5.4 4.8 sample of 2.000 INSIDE GWR Profits Up Voltage FM 4.7 3.9 households repre- Making Waves: by Terry Heath the permitted Radio Authority Source : Mediametrie 1% = 86.770 listeners senting 3.000 listen- ownership points limit, accord- over 15 ers, in Paris and the NAB Rome Report 8 IPSOS 1% = 91.000 listeners over 15 LONDON -Leading UK radio ing to chairman Henry continues on page 20 German Punks Go group GWR postedpre-tax Meakin. International 9 profits of £8.2 million (approx. GWR alreadyannounced Sugar Does Paris US$14 million), up 54.9% on an agreement to sell 80% of Radio 21 Turns 15 its1994/95businessyear. Leicester Sound to (DMGT). 20 Turnover, reflecting the larger However,furtherdisposals number of licences now under will be necessary to comply the GWR banner after aggres- with Radio Authority owner- NUMBER ONE sive expansion moves, rose by ship rules, and Meakin 63.2% to £52.2 million. reveals, "We are now in the The results follow a week of process of disposing of further European Hit Radio falling GWR share prices as licences." SPICE GIRLS the City showed its nervous- Meakinpointsoutthat Say You'll Be There ness over the group's proposed despite the pending sell -offs, (Virgin) acquisition of national inde- the nearly completed merger pendent station Classic FM for withClassic FM willgive Eurochart Hot 100 Singles £71.5 million. GWR, "The largest number of PRODIGY GWR, which currently listeners in the UK radio sec- Breathe holds a 31% shareholding in tor." Meakin further singles (XL) London News Radio as part of out "very strong progress in a consortium including ITN both audiences and revenues," Italian rock star Zucchero flew over to Paris to join the pan-European launch of his new album. The Best Of Zucchero features 16 European hits European Top 100 Albums and the Daily Mail General attherecently acquired and three new songs. Zucchero is pictured here with PolyGram Continen- SPICE GIRLS Trust (DMGT), now plans to Chiltern Radio and Mid Anglia tal Europe VP marketing Monica Marin (2nd from left), Polydor France Spice sell 11% of its stake for a pro- regions which provide signifi- product manager Aurelie Ullrich (2nd from right) and Polydor Italy mar- jected profit of £1.5 million, to cant contributions to the GWR (Virgin) keting director Stefano Zappaterra (far right). bring the group back within group's profitability. THE AXEL BOYS QUARTET PRESENTS THE SMASH HIT ALBUM "EVERYBODY ELSE), A Collection of Unforgettable Lovesongs incl. `Scatman''It Must Have Been Love' `All That She Wants' - 'Mr. Vain''Saturday Night' and 'Dub -I -Dub' (Feat. in the international Carlsberg Campaign running 12 times daily on MTV until 31/12/96) 2 ALBUM OF WEEK IN MUSIC & MEDIA WEEK 48 AmericanRadioHistory.Com AmericanRadioHistory.Com M & M N E S H I S WEEK NRJ ChallengesReggae Rocks Midem by Christian Lorenz Priest. Two Jamaican all-star Grooverider from London. "Con- CLT/RTL Merger backing bands are booked to certschangethe faceof by Emmanuel Legrand in March, the CSA authorised PARIS -Taking place between provide the authentic reggae Midem," believes Batzen."It CLT's "confidential" acquisition January 19-23inCannes, vibes. One of the two bands fea- has long lost its stiff business PARIS -The French radio group of the remaining 54% of the Midem '97willprovide the tures the prolific rhythm twins atmosphere in favour of becom- NRJ has decided to take fur- shares it did not yet own in stagefor the biggest reggae Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shake- ing a forum for new ideas." ther steps in its attempt to ACE net RTL2. According to showcase ever held in Europe. speare. challengetheCLT-Bertels- NRJ, all changes in sharehold- Midem's opening gala on "Reggae Rocks Cannes mann merger and the attitudes ing authorised by the CSA are January 18 hosts Reggae Rocks marks the biggest investment of the radio regulatory body, usually made public and the Cannes, a musical extravagan- by the Jamaican government in CSA. NRJ claims that the station wonders why this has zaco -produced by Jamaican a musical event outside mergerrepresentsamajor not been the case this time. economic development agency Jamaica to date," says Midem's change in shareholding which NRJ's general manager Marc JAMPRO and Midem.The artistic director Bernard would require prior approval Pallainsays they discovered event showcases a wide range Batzen. "We are aware of reg- from the CSA. through a financial advertise- of reggae artists, from veteran gae music becoming more and Claiming that the CSA has ment in a daily newspaper that performers Jimmy Cliff and moreinfluentialintoday's failed to address this particular CLT claimed to own 100% of John Holt to current dancehall musical underground. The time issue, NRJ has filed a com- RTL2. singers like Luciano and Maxi is ripe to present it to a larger plaint to the Conseil d'Etat, the Sources at RTL in France audience again." high court which has power to say they are "unabashed" by Incorporating today's under- reverse acts made by public NRJ's legal proceedings. "They BMG Ariola ground into the concert pro- organisations. "We think that do this kind of thing all the gramme of the largest gather- CLT should be forced to hand time," says a spokesperson at Reshuffles ingofmusicprofessionals back alltheir frequencies in RTL, adding that the switch worldwideisBatzen'saim. France for a new tender," says from M40 to RTL2 has been Lineup "Three years ago we saw techno NRJ president Jean -Paul made according to the rules. eventsoutside theofficial Bernard Batzen Baudecroux who claims that RTL furtheraddsthatthe by Marc Maes Midemconcertprogramme," the CSA treats NRJ and CLT arrival of Bertelsmann has not says Batzen. "Now they are on with different standards. altered the radio operations of BRUSSELS - Frank Arnout, the programme. That shows Attention radio programmers In addition, NRJ has filed a CLT in France, nor has it affect- general manager of BMG Ario- how fast underground trends andstationdirectorsevery- further complaint against the ed the management of the com- laBelgium, has announced cross over into the mainstream where! Midem is offering you CSA, concerning the fact that, pany. new important changes in the pop business." free accreditation for the dura- Brussels -basedaffiliate,say- Batzenisproudtohave tion of the event. Please send ing that these changes "will scored personal appearances by your business card to Reed- Laura Pausini Praises Radio take BMG beyond the year innovativeDetroitDJsJeff Midem in Paris before Decem- 2000." Mills and Carl Craig as well as ber 15 to secure your personal A firstrestructuringis junglepioneersFabioand invitation. beingimplementedonthe product label level as product (advertisement) manager Ronny Daschot _ leaves the company and is replaced by former head of Working for equality promotion IngeBrinkman, 000 of opportunity becomingproductmanager internationalpoprepertoire andheadofinternational exploitation of local acts such Sales & Marketing as Vaya Con Dios and Helmut Multi -platinum selling Italian singer Laura Pausini thanks Ital- Lotti. Former Sony Music pro- Executives ian radio-here represented by Rome -based Radio Dimensione Suono programme director Marco Minelli-for its support of her motions officer Bart Brusse- Salary according to experience music during the November 18-19 NAB Radio Operations Semi- leers has been appointed A&R Initial 2 year contract BASED CENTRAL LONDON nars in Rome. (See page 8 for more on NAB Rome.) and local repertoire manager, working alongside Nancy Do you want to join the world's largest distributor of radio Engels (dance product) and programmes? MarcDekeyser(rockand 111 French repertoire).