$5.95 (U.S.), $6.95 (CAN.), £4.95 (U.K.), Y2,500 (JAPAN) IN MUSIC NEWS #BXNCCVR ** * * *** 3 -DIGIT 908 #9080ÓÓ1E3Ó321982# 2 126 1213 MONTY GREENLY 3740 ELM AVE APT A LONG BEACH CA 90807 Reunited Fleetwood Mac Bowing Reprise CD, Vid PAGE 1 1 THE INTERNATIONAL NEWSWEEKLY OF MUSIC, VIDEO AND HOME ENTERTAINMENT AUGUST 16, 1997 ADVERTISEMENTS Compilation Hits Have More Replicators Cite Growing Labels Turning To TV Mktg. Burden Of CD Patent Fees BY ED CHRlSTMAN Party," a 1998 edition of what the label clearly hopes will be a long -running, BY PAUL VERNA Philips and Sony and therefore do NEW YORK -With millions of successful series. not pay the same royalty that the rest consumers this year embracing Virgin is gearing up to issue As intense competition in the CD of the industry does. Arista's "Ultimate "Celtic Moods" replication industry continues to "You've got a club of companies Dance Party 1997" and "Instrumental drive down profit margins, some disc saying, `We will not charge each POLYMIDIA to voice other for our own patents,' " says LEMON PARAD and Virgin's "Pure ARISTA- Moods" in Octo- manufacturers have begun Moods," a plethora a PdyGrom mrtperry ber. Also in the concerns over what they perceive is John Metcalf, principal at U.K. - of television mar- EMI camp, Angel an unfair playing based indepen- keting efforts for Records is planning field in the area of NEWS ANALYSIS dent replicator newly conceived compilations are to release "Pure Classics" in Septem- CD patent fees. Ablex. "That club ready to kick into high gear for the hol- ber. Manufacturers includes Sony, iday selling season. In June, PolyMedia, the company not affiliated with Sony and Philips - Philips, Toshiba, Matsushita, Mit- Later this month, Arista will issue formed within PolyGram Group Dis- the bearers of most of the hundreds subishi/ JVC, and Hitachi/Maxell. So THE GOLD ALBUM "Ultimate Hip Hop Party," "Ultimate tribution to exploit PolyGram's cata- of patents that apply to CD replica - here I am in Shropshire. Maxell is in featuring New Wave Party," and a follow -up to log, issued the "Pure Soul" compilation tion -say the burden of paying a per - the same town. They pay the same IF YOU COULD ONLY SEE its platinum -selling "Ultimate Dance under the Motown imprint. It released unit licensing fee for every disc they rents and wages, but they're 10% OPEN UP YOUR EYES "Urbal Beats," a dance compilation, press has becoming increasingly dif- better off because they don't have to CASUAL AFFAIR July 29 on its affiliated ffrr/London ficult to bear for a variety of reasons. pay the Philips license." German Indie label. Sources say that the company is For one, several manufacturers Although Sony and Philips jointly on page 78) http://www.polydor-atlas.com/polydor readying at least two more compilation have cross -licensing agreements with (Continued 01997 PolyGram Records, Inc. Mam f cth, d and Marketed on page 75) by ARM Associated labels, a division of ARM Records. Inc., (Continued a PolyGram company. All rights reserved. Stores Unite To Help New Acts Trans World Back Elvis Anniversary Brings On Growth Track SAaVaagm BY WOLFGANG SPAHR BY ED CHRISTMAN Punk. funk. Pop. And none of the above. and JEFF CLARK -MEADS Renewed Promotional Push HAMBURG -The independent retail NEW YORK -In signing a letter of intent to acquire the Strawberries Big Slate Of Releases lnt'l Markets Map Out Should Shake Up Retail Localized Campaigns Lechmere Closing Will Thin The BY MELINDA NEWMAN This story was prepared by Dominic Electronics -Chain Ranks ... Page 6 and CHRIS MORRIS Pride in London, with reports from 18O x In Dauiaoh/and Billboard correspondents in Tokyo, NEW YORK -The 20th Hamburg, Amsterdam, chain, Trans World Entertainment anniversary of Elvis Paris, and Milan Corp., which last year successfully ...pustnng the sclmcnille envelope the debut cltrnm sector in Germany is bucking a Euro- Presley's death will be completed a restructuring begun in pean trend by helping to launch the marked by celebrations LONDON -Of the esti- January 1995, continues to outpace careers of emerging acts. fit for a king -the King, mated 1 billion -plus other music specialty retailers. Indie stores in many parts of to be more precise. legitimate sales of Elvis The pending acquisition, if complet- (Continued on page 89) A slew of album Presley's recorded mu- (Continued on page 88) releases, a concert fea- sic, approximately half turing musicians who have been rung up out - IN VIDEO NEWS performed with Presley, side the U.S., according and a presentation of in- PRESLEY to BMG Entertainment ternational awards at International, now the Warner Music, Vid Units burgess(Vcompuserve.com http: //www.poIydor.com/polydor . 1997 PolyGram Records, Inc. Graceland are just a few of the activ- worldwide owner of the rights to all Manulaclured end Marketed by A &M Associated Labels; pop korn ities planned. recordings of Elvis' voice. Team For `Batman' Push a division of A&M Records. Inc. A BILLBOARD EXPANDED SECTION rOCket All rights reserved. (Continued on page 80) (Continued on page 81) elq1IiL PAGE 6 SEE PAGE 44 HEATSEEKERS minor Asylum's Lila McCann julia fordham east west Claims The Chart Peak The new album featuring PAGE 19 "East West" ,"My Last Goodbye ", "Wishing You Well" and "Killing Me Slowly" On tour with the Lilith Fair: $5.95 US $6.95 CANADA August 13 Scranton PA 33> 15/16 Toronto 17 Montreal Produced by Michael Brook and Julia Fordhano AOL Keyword:Virgin Records http://wwv.%virginrecords.com i © 1997 Circa Records Ltd. i o 74808 02 52 7 ADVERTISEMENT www.americanradiohistory.com 1997 F R E E Y O U R M I N D > T H E W O R L D W I L L F O L L O W www.americanradiohistory.com Product Still Moving, Despite UPS Strike THE BILLBOARD 200 86 * THE ART OF WAR BONE THUGS -N- HARMONY RUTHLESS Retail, Record Cos. Scramble To Minimize Impact BLUES around the build- 34 BY BRETT ATWOOD shelves." that he has even checked * LIVE AT CARNEGIE HALL to STEVIE RAY VAUGHN AND DOUBLE TROUBLE EPIC and SHAWNEE SMITH PGD distributes Mercury and Def Jam. ing to find extra copies of the albums Despite the contingency plans of record put on shelves. CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN 36 LOS ANGELES-Retailers, one -stops, distributors like PGD, the strike still has Garrett is confident, however, that the * SHADES OF GRACE BOB CARLISLE DIADEM and labels are scrambling to ensure that a some retailers nervous about the possibil- strike won't continue much longer, as he of product flows to con- ity of being without hit product. does not think the federal government will COUNTRY ß2 steady supply by a big problem for us," says Richard allow interruption of productivity and T * EVERYWHERE TIM MCGRAW CURB sumers, following a nationwide strike "It's the Teamsters union against United Par- Ellis, manager of Aron's Records in Hol- services across the country for too long. O GOSPEL about "People will be laid off, and I 37 cel Service (UPS). lywood, Calif. "We normally average getting P * GOD'S PROPERTY Caught in the crossfire of the strike, 20 UPS -shipped boxes a day, and today we don't think the government is going to GOD'S PROPERTY FROM KIRK FRANKLIN'S NU NATION B -RITE which began Aug. 4, are several high -pro- got nothing ... Luckily, we have sufficient stand for that," he says. A HEATSEEKERS file new releases that were due in stores back stock on our top sellers." Chicago -based retailer George's Music * LILA LILA MCCANN ASYLUM the day after the strike began, including Ellis says that the store is picking up Room has not been affected by the strike 311's "Transistor" on Capricorn/Mercury, some orders directly from local one -stops, yet, but its owner says he is cautious about B KID AUDIO 55 "Def Jam's How To Be A Player" sound- but that it is most affected by delayed the prospects of an extended strike. U * HERCULES READ -ALONG WALT DISNEY track on Def Jam, and Snoop Doggy shipments from East Coast -based inde- 'We haven't really felt the effects of [the M says owner George Daniels. LATIN Dogg's "Doggumentary" on Death Row/ pendent labels. strike] yet," THE BILLBOARD 50 36 us so S * SENTIMIENTOS CHARLIE ZAA SONOWX Interscope. Many shipments are being made "UPS would probably affect more The strike -related problem of getting through alternative distribution avenues, from our secondary supplier, Valley and first -class [Record Distributors], who is out of Wood- POP CATALOG 55 product into stores in the absence of UPS such as Federal Express * GREASE SOUNDTRACK POLYDOR delivery is likely to result in reduced sales mail, according to Ellis. In some cases, the land [Calif.]. They ship through UPS." The for many hot releases, industry executives retailer is splitting the additional distrib- retailer adds that the Chicago -based R &B 22 say. Retailers, too, worry that if the strike ution cost with the label. Baker & Taylor is his primary supplier. "I * THE ART OF WAR BONE THUGS-N- HARMONY RUTHLESS is an extended one, they may have trouble Lew Garrett, VP of purchasing and mer- can either pick up [the shipments myself] keeping an adequate supply of stock on chandising at Camelot Music, says that the or they messenger them over." REGGAE 34 their shelves. 315 -store chain is "doing the best it can" While retailers worry about keeping * REGGAE GOLD 1997 VARIOUS ARTISTS VP "We are scurrying," says Henry Droz, to find alternative methods of delivery, shelves stocked, distributors like Valley WORLD MUSIC of Universal Music and Video such as Airborne and other couriers, to get are concerned about stretching the capa- 34 president * MICHAEL FLATLEY'S LORD OF THE DANCE (U.S.).