usic week For Everyone in the Business of Music DECEMBER 27 1997 £3.35 î THIS WEEK Heath seeks new financiers |4IMFtoact sackingsoverspateof bySelinaWcbb on BMG's part given Heath's avowed willinitiated be seeking soon after "enlightened his arrivai, venturesays he includingGoldsmith managingwho departed director in July Hugh to BMG chairman John Pi capitalists" to invest in music projects in launch new Virgin label Innocent. The 1 5launch MTV digitalburns endeding the weeks departure of spéculation of Arista by managing confirm- whileit would Heath be the at first the time heacknowledged had worked histhe RhythmNew Year, King as Music well pubUshingas reactivating corn- yearrun of has chart ended success well, from however, acls including with a ithe rule book directorHeath, Martin 36, has Heath. been absent from the forFollowing anyone other last thanweek's himself. Ipany. was allowed"Under myto nin agreement my publishing with Arista com- andNatalie Five. Imbruglia, "Ifs really Steven a tribute Houghton to the aboutlabel since his futureOctober, at fuellingthe Company. spéculation But, heture hinted had not working suited in hin a rporate"I have struc-found workingpany, but as Ia feltmanaging working director on it wouldwhile losingteams theirat Arista MDs and they RCA have that had despite such a apartno-one from at BMG confirming will be that dravyn he has on left,the my time ideningat BMG to be of my expert- Neither Heath nor BMG would com- The major has announced that it will departure just 20 months aller he was e. Howe ïr, I ai v looking for- ment on, althoughthe future BMG of musicRhythm division King notdirectly, be replacing but appointing Heath and général Goldsmith man- Heath joined Arista in April 1996 in indie," he says. it Jeremy Marsh says, "Ifs busi- agers to run RCA and Arista, with iVirgin'sISCarleen: top a deal which ultimately gave BMG Heath, who brought ; ts including tunesThe for news BMG, ends which a year has ofseenitsKGA m i priority ownershipfounded in of thethe Rhythmearly Eighties. King label The he partDavid of Devant the elaborate and Devo: "Hi opération lose a number of key staff I 8back St Etienne: after Etemal: the show goes on four years Work is already underway on the next Eternal's recordings, says, "I don't 27last Dooley: to leave theEMIUK trio are sayson the it vergeis business of sphtting. as usual alreadythemselves in thewant studio to continue.for discussions We're the party for the act followingle Managemer last week's by sacking m andEMI have L already got si bersIst Easther Avenue and joint Vernie managing Ber director along absolutely fine. The big issue non managesOliver Smallman, third member whose companyKelle Bryan still wantis what to recordthe songs them. are Ail and the issueshow thej an Seeyouallagain in the New Year breakMusic Wee/land will is taking return a with Christmas a spé- Januarycial charts 5 (Issue issue date onJanuary Monday 10), whichalbums willand contain singles therundowns final two of TOTP producer Chris Cowev s décision to overhaul the ttaditional Chnstmas Day programme 1997.Meanwhile, RM has already bro- hoinglinc-up number is reilected ones, in Cowey, this Thursday's who has just12.55pm signed show a new with one-year just eighl contract of the 18 as songs producer, leatured decided ken up for Christmas and will also he would concentrate on 1997's higgest sellers, rather than the usual collection of chart- returnUntil in then, the Januaryail of us at10 AfIV issue. would toppers, for the hour-long programme which will aise feature a Top 30 countdown of the year ft Christmaslikc to wish and our areaders happy aand pcaceful pros- theinclude first time.new studio Presented periormances by (from left) Item Jayne AN Saints, Middlemiss, Shola flma,Je Whiley Eternal and and Zoe Natalie Bail, the Imbruglia. show wil perous New Year. Evans starts Virgin Radio overhaul i One in thi announcingChris Evans sweeping changes at takeFridays, that althoughday off. he u ■ar. Virgin managing difeci John Virgin Radio. Further changes inc de the Irahamearson says,and Nicky."We are 1 wouldsorry Ukëto lo Capital Radio to take control of Virgin, hankave done them in bringingfor the greatus to thiswork poinl th theEvans split has FM/AMtold staff programmingthat he is removing and basis in April. Holland was previously According to leaked Rajar figures I bringing the station together as one joiningmusic director Ginger Radio at Virgin to help Radio with before inter- presidedwill be axed. over theGraham lOam-lpm Dene, show, 48, whowill national projects. Grâce will continue THE STOHY OF LOVB presentedbe going, as the will l-4pm Nicky show. Horne, 46, who theable New future. Year Also is joiningRay Cokes, the stationwho pre- in hadthan attracEvan LOOK OUTFOROTT jreakfasl m will bciced that. Virgin's sentedshow for MTV three years.Europe's Most Wanted morethe Virgin liste PERFORMING THEIR BRAND NEW SINGLE show weekday,r The moves are part of Virgin's game from 1.6m ON THEON NATIONAL NEW YEARS LOTTERY EVE LIVE ^ ^ P 1997 SIGNS OFF AS SINGLES HIT B00MTIME - p3 ► ► ► AND LIVE & KICKING ON 3rd JANUARY Your direct link to the créa m of the global music industry TERRITORIES COVERED For international music executives around Europe North Asia Pacific the world, the MBI World Directory has become Austria America Australia Belgium Canada China an essentiai contact book to the people and Czech Republic United States Hong Kong Denmark India companies who count in the global music Finland Indonesia France Latin & Japan industry. Easy to use and small enough to Germany Central Malaysia Greece America New Zealand travel, the MBI World Directory can be found on Hungary (inc. 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Agents Multimedia/Video Tel: 0171 921 5906 or 5957 Fax: 0171 921 5984 NEWSDESK: 0171-9Z1 5990 or NEWSFILE Quaye to star at Brits nominations Pulse-8 loses royalty légal wrangle substantialUrban Cookie claim Collectives against Pulse-8Rohan Heath last week won affera taking liveFinley at London'sQuaye will Cafe be de pei-formi Paris next piay ; chairr légal action against his label over royalty payments. month1998 Brit as Awards the nominations are unveiled. for the outParis li ter turnoutSand got^H the^rive- Heath brought the action in the summer after The announcement of the Epie drive time shows on board," he says. royaltiescomplaining and heother was payments being shortchanged since signing on to overseas the label pleasedConroy to secureadds he the îs services particularly again in 1993. Pulse-8 has been ordered to pay Heath an withthe earlier the Radio time One of 5pm coverag< to c< praisedof Ben forElton, his whoperformance was widely last Heath'sintérim £265,000account andbefore instructed February to 2 conduct next year an to audit discover of The February 9 cere It will be the second year r if the artist is due any further royalties. However, Pulse- place at the London. a live act and taken place been8 managing unable director to pay Heath Frank because Sansom itsays hasn't the received label has appealingmoney due the to thedécision artist fromin the abroad. New Year. Pulse-S will be Soaraway singles hit Golden Rose linked to Melody bidders Jazzlinked FM with owner a bid Golden for Hanson-owned Rose Communications Melody Radio was last weekend of asSeptember it unveiled of pre-tax£987,460, losses compared for the with year profils to the of platinum awards high £257,600which was last put year, on theA number market of last bidders month for with the astation, price by Pau ith's Men In tag of around £18m, are already thought ta have thrown H0W PLATINUM AWARDS Black, believes a strong showing for pop theirGroup hats and into Scottish the ring Radio including Holdings. Capital Radio, GWR Platinumawards have and hit double-ph record n 1997, HAVE GR0WN "There'shas helped a huge to increaseinterest inthe pop figures. music furtherrevival ofemphasising the singles market. the continuing moreagain, discemingallhough people about these what days they're are Black Grape call off tour after row Eighteen releases reached the magie going to spend their money on. If it's a Blackincluding Grape an areappearance cancelling at theail liveNew commitments, Year's Eve previous600,000 markbest achievedin 1997, twoin 1996,up o ■e going to Essential festival and dates in Australia and Japan platinumthree singles status. also Since going the on introduction to de Conroy,Virgin whose Records company président is represented Paul scheduleda row between for January Shaun Ryderand February. and band The members move follows Kermit, of multi-platinum awards in 1985, only list,twice says by the the Spice market Girls contrasta in the platinum sharply Psycho, Jed and Wags after the singer pulled out of a to five years ago when people were doctor'sgig at the advice.