TICKERTAPE EXECUTIVES ISGRO INDICTED: A federal grand one just begun”), let us suggest becom- jury has issued a 51-count indictment ing involved in one ofthe many environ- OX THE MOVE against Joseph Isgro, once one of the mental organizations currently crop- nation’s leading independent record ping up in the industry. Whether it be MCA Records has announced the appointment of Paul promoters. Charges against Isgro in- dolphins or trees, there are plenty of Atkinson to executive vice president, A&R, MCA Records . At- clude racketeering, conspiracy to worthy groups in need of vauious kinds kinson has enjoyed an extensive career in the music industry, Atkinson defraud Columbia Records, making un- of support. Give time or money, last serving as senior vice president, A&R, RCA Records and, disclosed “payola” payments to radio whichever you can afford. The Earth before that, as director of East Coast A&R for Columbia stations and conspiracy to distribute Communications Office (a.k.a. ECO) Records. He has signed and developed acts such as Bruce cocaine, among others. Isgro has been is one very worthy group. Formed by Hornsby & the Range and Loverboy as well as working close- the center of a controversy over the use entertainment attorney Bonnie Reiss, ly with Aerosmith and Pink Floyd, among others. Atkinson of independent promoters since a ECO has a current membership in ex- launched his career as lead guitarist for the British band the February 1986 NBC News telecast al- cess of 300 and is involved in everything Zombies. EMI named Henr'y Marquez vice president, crea- to get record com- leged that he was linked to the Mafia from campaigns tive services for the label. Marquez, who is an 11-year veteran to saving the rain and suspected payola practices in the panies recycling of the music industry, previously held the position of creative publicist Dee record industry. Within days of the forest. ECO Dee director for the company after serving as the art director for Whiteside informs us that A&M, original telecast, called The New EMI America Records. Also, at EMI Music Worldwide, Bros., Geffen and Virgin are Payola, every major record company Warner Julie Borchard has been appointed manager, international the suspension of inde- currently recycling, with Capitol in the announced product management. Borchard joined Capitol Records in pendent promoters, for which they’d process of setting up a recycling 1987 and has worked in the label’s video promotion and artist paying $60-80 million per year. program. Kudos to the above, shame on been and product development departments. Capitol Records Stations to which Isgro allegedly made the rest. For info or to join, ECO can be has promoted Frances Rudley to supervisor, black music payola payments, in the form of money reached at (213) 276-3333 or through division. Most recently, Rudley was an executive secretary at and cocaine, are KIQQ in Los Angeles, the mail at 1975 Century Park East, the label. Virgin Records has announced the promotion KYNO in Fresno, KAMZ in El Paso and Suite 2300, Los Angeles, CA. 90067. Get of John Boulos to the position of vice president, field promo- KMGX in Hanford, California. Isgro to it! tion. Boulos joined Virgin in May of 1988 as director, national promoted for Columbia, MCA, Warner CLASSIC CDV FROM WEA: Ramon Borchard promotion. Prior to Virgin, Boulos was with PolyGram Records Bros., RCA and PolyGram. Also in- Lopez, chairman and QEO of WEA In- where he served as eastern regional promotion director. dicted were Jeffrey Monka, who al- ternational and Julian Wilis, chair- RCA has announced the appointment of Susan Clary to vice legedly set up a sham company to help man of National \Tdeo Corporation president, publicity. West Coast. Clary comes to RCA from Vis- Isgro launder the cash used for payola announced the signing of a long-term ibility Video Marketing, where she was president. Prior to payments and Raymond Anderson, a worldwide licensing agreement. Under that, she was West Coast director of publicity for EMI. former Columbia Records exec who al- the terms of the agreement, WEA will Relativity/In-Effect/Combat Records announced a slew legedly took kickbacks from Isgro. distribute recordings from the NVC of appointments this week. Jim Genova has been promoted Isgro is expected to plead innocent to Arts catalogue of opera and ballet titles to director, national marketing and promotions. last all charges and was freed on reduced for release on both video cassette and Genova bail of provided that he served as director, retail promotions for the three labels . Anne $300,000, video laserdisc ( CDV ). The first releases Rudley refrains from directly communicating are scheduled for early next year. Com- Adams has been upped from production manager to label with any potential witness. menting on the agreement Lopez said, director for the three labels. Steve Martin is the new direc- Prosecutors set the condition because “We now have the opportunity, with tor, national publicity. East Coast after a stint as publicist for Isgro had allegedly “threatened to videos of the highest quality sound and the In-Effect label. Kerry Cooley will be the director, nation- harm” his former bodyguard, who is ex- production standards, to further al publicity. West Coast. She comes to the company from the pected to testify against him. In addi- develop and increase the classical video L.A. PR firm the Group. At Combat Records, Jim Welch tion, Monka has previously served five market on an international basis.” has been named label manager. Welch was last an assistant, years for probation on a charge of pos- THE RETURN OF special projects/tour promotion for the three labels. Finally, session of narcotics with intent to sell. FRANKENSTEIN: Edgar Winter Relativity Records announced the appointment of Hans If Isgro does go to trial it is speculated and Rick Derringer have reformed for Haedelt to the position of label manager. Haedelt last served Boulos that he might make allegations against a short tour through the West Coast and at Diamond Time Video. Arista Records has promoted record companies and their officials Japan. Although nothing is set at the Jeff Levy to the position of senior attorney in the law depart- that potentially could be quite damag- moment, Johnny Winter may be join- ment. Levy has been with the label for two years, holding the ing. “If he goes down, he’ll take people ing the group for selected dates, includ- position of attorney. Windham Hill has named Tom Meh- with him” according to one record ing a December 22 gig at New York’s ren marketing services manager, a newly created position. promotion source who declined to be Roxy. Mehren has been with Windham Hill for three years, as assis- named. Look out below! FACE-PAINTING OPTIONAL: tant to sales and marketing, and as marketing services coor- dinator. House has announced the promotion DARE TO DREAM: Dave Hayes Casablanca Records is throwing its Columbia to director, merchandise marketing. founded Orange, CA-based Dr. Dream “first and last” reunion party on of Leslie McMahon Thursday, December 14 at 6 p.m. at Prior to this appointment, she was senior product manager, a Records because he didn’t like what he Clary for years. has saw in the record business and ~“I was Carlos & Charlies in Los Angeles. position she held two Unistar named Penny Tiicker program director of the company’s Music of Your Life raised that if you don’t like something, Former Casablanca exec A1 Dinoble an announcer on Unistar’s change it.” Simple enough until you con- has been handling the invites and ex- nostalgia format. Tucker has been sider that Hayes started the label in pects to see former Casablanca artists Format 41 and Country formats and was western regional 1982 by lugging boxes of singles to local like Kiss and Donna Summer in at- manager in the company’s affiliate sales department. Satel- record stores where he sold them on tendance as well as numerous ex-staf- lite Music Network made two appointments in their sales consignment. Today Dr. Dream’s offices fers. Other Casablanca notables who’ve department. Mark Gray has joined the network as regional are located above his own retail store since gone on to make names for them- affiliate manager, sales. Gray came to SMN from KKCS radio where Hayes sometimes manages the selves include Columbia’s $500-million in Colorado Springs where he was an account executive. Also, register just to “get a feel for what man Peter Guber and Cher. DJ Scott Melinda C. Davis has been added as a regional consultant, Levy people are buying.” Judging by Dr. Shannon, who worked ( to use the term sales. Davis last served as sales director for the Starplex Am- Dream’s eclectic artist roster, Hayes’ loosely ) as an A&R man at the label, will pitheatre in Dallas. feel is impeccable (“If you can’t describe be acting as host of the bash. what it is, then it’s interesting” is his SOUL TRAIN DERAILED: The rule of thumb). Artists like Swamp Screen Actors Guild (SAG) national “Do Not Patronize” list and will instruct Michael A. Keller, The Death of Zombies, Food For Feet, Eggplant, board of directors has voted unani- its members not to appear on Soul Rhythm and Blues hy Nelson George, National People’s Gang and the mously to support the position of the Train. Meet Me at Jim and Andy’s by Gene I Lees, The Imperfect Art by Ted Gioia, masterful Imagining Yellow Suns American Federation of Television EVERYBODY’S A CRITIC: ASCAP j Popular Musics the Non-Western have brought Hayes major-label inter- and Radio Artists ( AFTRA) in its con- has distributed its 22nd annual Deems of est but he’s in “no hurry” to jump into a tract dispute with Don Cornelius Taylor Awards for outstanding music World by Peter Manuel, American \ licen.sing agreement, preferring to wait Productions, Inc.