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tNT’L SECTION BEGINS ON PAGE 29

j
 Jones & Humperdinck Talks Become Music To The
Ears Of CBS, BMI
Renew w/ Decca, Brit.
See $6 Mil Over 6 Yrs As Firms Enter Sessions To Avert Music Ban
NEW YORK — Whether or not the for performance fee payments that use any music at all,” he added.
NEW YORK — Tom Jones and Engel- 1970’swould start with a stoppage of would be based on actual per- Through BMI spokesmen and a
bert Humperdinck will continue to the performance of BMI music over formances of songs rather than the letter released by BMI president
record for British Decca over the next the CBS TV network was still up in the traditional method of royalty payment Edward Cramer later in the week,
six years. New deal, reportedly air last week. on the basis of gross advertising BMI indicated the form of the contract
guaranteeing the star songsters $6 But, some signs pointed to at least a revenue. was not important, but a recognition
million over this period, assures their chance at talks between CBS and BMI A1 this came to a head as a result of of BMI’s major role in songs per-
continued appearance through London to avert a previous decision by BMI to a letter to BMI and ASCAP from formed over the air was.
Records in tne U.S. Jones and Humper- cancel its licensing contract with CBS, George Wood, president of the CBS net-
einck are both managed by Gordon effective Jan. 1, if the broadcaster did work. "... the royalties paid by CBS “TV ispaying 60% of its song royal-
Mills, with whom the performers are not alter what BMI says is the “unfair do not bear any relationship to the ties to BMI,” a spokesman said. “BMI
partered in a company called Man- and inequitable manner in which CBS amount of music performed on the has come of age. We are agreeable to
agement Agency & Music, of which was paying for performing rights.” CBS Television Network,” he said. any system that would pay our song-
500,000 shares have been acquired by CBS, however, has demanded that “ . CBS is forced to pay royalties on
. . writers equitably and fairly.”
British Decca. In turn, the trio own both BMI and ASCAP offer new terms programming which which does not In his reply to Wood, Cramer relied
Decca stock valued at about 3% of the heavily on his contention that CBS had
value of the company. It’s estimated never objected previously to the
that the new agreement, effective Jan.
1, one year earlier than originally Atlantic Set LP Sales Mark During '69 present licensing agreement. “At no
time has CBS ever objected to the
anticipated, will be based on new existing form of license nor did it
royalty rates which are 75% higher
than the old.
Label Maintained Leading Singles Pace initiate any discussions relating to a
revision of the license,” Cramer said.
NEW YORK — Atlantic Records has “We could not have achieved such a
Stressing another point, Cramer noted
that “at all times CBS had the right as
set a new mark LP
sales for 1969
in successful year” Ertegun continued,
did BMI to terminate the agreement
while keeping pace as a singles sales “without the tremendous talents of in-
but not terminating obviously
Golden Albums leader over the past five years, the
company reported last week.
dependent producers associated with
Atlantic Records like Buddy Killen (of
it
indicated its satisfaction with the
license.” In conclusion, Cramer said:
List Updated In addition, the label noted a “tre- Dial Records) Quin Ivy and Marlin
,
“In view of the limited time left, I sug-
mendous growth” cartridge
of tape Greene, Ollie McLaughlin, Kenny gest you call me immediately so that
product during the year in which the Gamble & Leon Huff, Isaac Hayes & we can arrange a meeting with the
1969’s Golden Albums section for company set its own facilities for 8- David Prater, Brad Shapiro and Steve
December being reprinted this week
is new to resolving this matter.” It has
track and cassette product. These Alaimo, George Avakian, Charles been BMI’s claim that CBS has never
due to the omission of a number of product factors plus the successful in- Greene, Jim Hilton, Rick Hall, King
RIAA-certified albums. See page 23. entered into negotiations for a new
troduction of new artists and the ex- Curtis, Les Carter, Huey Meaux, Felix licensing agreement, while talks with
pansion of the diskery’s English art- Pappalardi, Willie Henderson, Herbie the NBC and ABC networks have been
ists roster contributed, in the words of Mann, Eddie Hinton, Tommy Cogbill, on for months.
Ahmet Ertegun, president of Atlantic, Norman Petty, Ted Cooper, David ASCAP had not at presstime, offi-
“to a consolidation in 1969 of (Atlan- Rubinson, and Bob Crewe.” cially replied to the Wood call for a
FRONT COVER: tic’s) position as one of the world’s “The independent English producers revision of the licensing agreement.
leading companies.” who contributed so much to this great Nor was there any word on that “call”
The top sales mark ever in LP’s is year for Atlantic are Robert Stigwood, called for by Cramer.
reflected in the award this year of Maurice and Barry Gibb, Georgio
nine RIAA-certified gold disks for sales Gomelsky, Kit Lambert & Chris
of $1 million. In addition, the company Stamp, Jimmy Miller, and Pete Town-
itself awarded four albums with plat- shend”, concluded Ertegun.
inum records for sales of over $2 mil-
lion. A new company record in total
Many of Atlantic’s hit singles and
albums were produced by the firm’s
Dick Asher Heads
sales was set by the Iron Butterfly own A&R staffers, who include Presi-
whose Atco album, “In-A-Gadda-Da- dent Ahmet Ertegun, Executive 'Vice- Capitol In East
Vida”, passed the 2 million unit mark Presidents Jerry Wexler and Nesuhi
in domestic sales this month. Ertegun, and 'Vice-President Tom HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. — Dick Asher
“We forward,” Ertegun said,
look Dowd, jazz producer Joel Dorn, ar- has joined Capitol Records to head the
“with confidence to even greater suc- ranger-composer-producer Arif Mar- company’s expandedoperations in
cess for the Atlantic, Atco and Cotillion din, engineer-producer Adrian Barber, New York and the eastern United
labels during the 1970’s.” States, effective Jan. 1.
(Con’t. on Page 8)
Capitol Records president Sal
lannucci said that as vice-president of
eastern operations, Asher will
Lib/UA Into Nat’l Rack Scene administer Capitol’s business, A&R,
and recording activities on the East
Coast, with special emphasis on
It's Music Isle Of America
increasing the firm’s New 'York artist
From the chaotic breakups that roster and boosting the production of
sundered many of England’s top New York-recorded product.
groups in the past year have come a HOLLYWOOD - Musical Isle, the Bob Hausfater, Hal Linick, Milt Since assuming the presidency last
series of “super groups’’ whose suc- rack jobbing arm of Liberty/UA, will Salstone and David Watson. July, lannucci has quadrupled Cap-
cess is still writing a new page in the become Musical Isle of America, Inc., The executive committee includes itol’s New York staff of producers and
history of contemporary music. One on Jan. 1, 1970, signalling a significant Ron Bledsoe, chairman-L.A., Russ created additional New York
move towards a national mass mer- Back, vice-chairman-L.A., George executive positions in business affairs,
of the foremost of these Phoenix-like
teams is Led Zeppelin which rose chandising operation. The national Berry-New Orleans, Bill Biggs-Mem- merchandising, promotion and
scope of the company took shape with phis, Vern Cupples-San Francisco, publicity, emphasizing the autonomy
from the ashes of the Yardbirds and
the recent acquisitions of Modern Tony Delesandro-Chicago, Vic Faraci- of the East Coast operations.
bound together by Jimmy Page who
Records, a major New Orleans rack Chicago, Norm Hausfater-St. Louis, Capitol’s New York facilities include
welded the Led into form.
jobber, and San Francisco’s Pic-A- and Norm Wienstroer-St. Louis. executive offices in the Sperry Rand
Now riding the crest of their “Led Building at 1290 Avenue of the Amer-
Zeppelin 33” album, the group also Tune rack operation and distributing
arm, Eric-Mainland. icas, recording studios at 151 W. 46th
boasts a monster “1” LP and is now
According to Liberty/UA president Street and music publishing offices at
booming on the singles front with
“Whole Lotta Love” from their cur-
rent album.
A1 Bennett, a complex of 20 fulfillment
centers is anticipated during the next 3- ‘Georgy’ To Bell; 1650 Broadway. Asher will be head-
quartered at the executive offices.
5 years. Musical Isle currently is Asher served as Columbia’s vice-
With Page in the flying Zeppelin
are lead singer Robert Plant, drum- operating in Kansas City, Memphis,
Nashville, St. Louis and Chicago.
First Cast Album president of Business Affairs during a
three-year period. He was personally
mer John Bonham and John Paul
Jones at organ, piano and bass. Though not totally ruling out future NEW YORK — Records will issue
Bell involved in talent deals with Barbra
Streisand, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin.
acquisitions, Ron Bledsoe, who will be its first original cast album, “Georgy”,
president of the new operation, said from the upcoming Broadway musical Johnny Cash, Santana, Laura Nyro
that the growth of the firm is expected scheduled to open in February. and Blood, Sweat and Tears, plus
to be internal, with new branches Starring Mellissa Hart (“Cabaret”), many other top Columbia artists.
being opened as executive manpower John Castle and Stephen Elliot, with Prior to joining Columbia in 1966,
becomes available. Dilys Watling in the title role, the Asher was a practicing attorney for
Index The Musical Isle operation will re- eight years, engaged primarily in the
stage adaption of the smash hit film
Album Reviews 13 main separate from Liberty/UA Dis- “Georgy Girl” is being directed by entertainment and recording fields
tributing Corp., and all Musical Isle Peter Hunt, winner of the Tony Award and representing many artists, pub-
Basic Album Inventory 22 (except New Orleans) lishers, record producers, and in-
outlets will for “1776”, and produced by Fred Coe.
Country Music Section 26-27 continue to handle independent Signaling the opening of a major dependent record companies.
distribution, with one-stop service campaign in the Broadway area for
Insights & Sounds 17 available in Chicago, St. Louis, San Screen Gems — Columbia Music, the
Looking Ahead (Singles) Francisco and Kansas City. pop contemporary score for "Georgy”
San Remo Fest
18
The Chicago warehouse, in Morton was composed by Screen Gems
New Additions to Playlist 16 Grove, will function as a feeder for the writers George Fischoff and Carle
midwestern states. The Chicago rack Bayer.
Radio Active Chart 10
jobbing operation, and others, will Larry Uttal, Bell president who re- Into Private Hands
Radio News Report 24 offer a unique perpetual inventory turned from the West Coast last week
R&B Top 50 control service by data processing.
23
The computer service will be available
after exec conferences with Columbia
Pictures, pointed to the “Georgy” LP
Italian Trade
Single Reviews 13 to all accounts, from tbe largest chain as “another example of our rapid
to the smallest retailer. diversification in album product made
Talent On Stage 17
The board of directors for the new ossible by our association with Colum-
Recoils
Tape News 19 corporations are A1 Bennett, chair- ia Pictures Industries.” The label
Top 100 Albums 21
man, Ron Bledsoe, vice-chairman, recently released its first two sound- (See Int’l News Page;
Russ Back (also serving as director of track albums, “Cactus Flower” and
Vital Statistics 14, 15 mass merchandising), Joe Chacere, “Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice.”

Cash Box — Januat7 3, 1970