Usher, Garth, 'Titanic' Lead Billboard Awards Parade

LaFace/Arista's Usher was named artist of the year, Sony Classical's "Titanic" soundtrack was honored as album of the year, and Capitol Nashville's Garth Brooks was named country artist of the year at the 1998 Billboard Music Awards, held last night at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. The awards, which aired in the U.S. on Fox-TV, are based on Billboard's year-end chart tallies.

Other winners included Mercury Nashville's Shania Twain, named female artist of the year; Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam/Mercury's Jay-Z, R&B albums artist; Capitol's Everclear, modern rock artist; Jive's Backstreet Boys, group album ("Backstreet Boys"); and Ruffhouse/Columbia's Lauryn Hill, R&B album ("The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill"). The top Hot 100 single was "Too Close" by Arista's Next. In addition, James Taylor received Billboard's Century Award, and Curb's LeAnn Rimes and Columbia's Mariah Carey each won a Special Hot 100 Award.


Tool Forges Joint Venture

The members of Tool have settled a 15-month contract dispute by entering into a joint venture with the new owners of Volcano Entertainment for the band's future recordings. Tool sued to end its label deal with Volcano's predecessor, Freeworld Entertainment (formerly Zoo Entertainment), in September 1997 (Bulletin, Sept. 15, 1997); Freeworld was subsequently purchased jointly by Zomba Entertainment and Q Prime (Bulletin, April 9).

Under the new three-album deal, Volcano will market Tool's new recordings throughout the world on an as-yet-named imprint; BMG will handle distribution in North America, with various distributors elsewhere, including Pinnacle in the U.K. and Rough Trade in the GSA territories.

According to Tool manager Ted Gardner, the band will begin working on new material in early 1999, with an eye toward a fall album release. Tool's last album, "Aenima," has sold 1.7 million copies in the U.S., according to SoundScan.

--Ken Schlager, N.Y.


McCartney To Chat Online

Paul McCartney will appear live on the Internet in "McCartney's Wide Prairie," billed as a "Christmas chat show," on Dec.17 at 7 p.m. GMT. The hour-long show will be carried by Yahoo! and Broadcast.com and questions for McCartney can be posted via www.yahoo.com. The artist will talk about his late wife Linda's life and work, including the current "Wide Prairie" album, from which there will be premiere video "screenings."

--Paul Sexton, London


Dobbis Gets Executive VP Stripes At Sony Music International

Rick Dobbis has been named executive VP of Sony Music International, based at the company's headquarters in New York and reporting to SMI president Bob Bowlin. The appointment, which was expected (Bulletin, Oct. 16), takes effect Jan. 1. For the past four years, Dobbis has been London-based president of PolyGram Continental Europe.

The SMI departments accountable to Dobbis in his new role will be administration, business development, marketing and creative operations, and operations. He will assist Bowlin in managing SMI's business worldwide, working alongside such Sony executives as Paul Russell (Europe), Richard Denekamp (Asia), and Frank Welzer (Latin America).

Dobbis will also resume a professional relationship with Sony Music Entertainment president/CEO Thomas D. Mottola. The two previously worked together when Dobbis was executive VP/GM of RCA from 1987-91, and Mottola headed management firm Champion Entertainment, whose roster included RCA flagship act Hall & Oates.

--Adam White, London


Seagram/PolyGram Deal Leaps Last Hurdle

The last obstacle to the creation of the world's largest record company has been removed. Seagram announced that 99.52% of the shares of PolyGram NV were tendered by last Friday's deadline; Seagram will take formal possession of PolyGram later this week after cash and stock are transferred, beginning Thursday. The deal is valued at $10.4 billion.

Seagram has said it anticipates savings of up to $300 million a year in combining its Universal Music Group with PolyGram. A source says details of organizational changes may be announced later this week.

Shares of Seagram rose 87.5 cents, or 2.4%, to $36.375 yesterday on volume of 3.6 million shares, six times the normal activity.

--Don Jeffrey, N.Y.


Artist Developments

Singing group Rockapella has signed to Internet label J-Bird Records, which is distributed to traditional retail by Navarre Corp. An album is due Feb. 16.


Norway Proposes Plan For Changes At Rights Body

Norway's competition authority Konkurransetilsynet has drafted proposals for changes to the practices of national performing rights body TONO, following an investigation into claims that it was operating unfairly (Bulletin, Nov. 10).

The authority says that TONO should no longer be able to claim exclusive rights to administer all works by a rights owner, or to refuse to administer foreign-owned rights. Konkurransetilsynet also questions the differing agreements that TONO has struck with various broadcasters. While national TV stations TV2, TVNorge, and TV3 pay an annual fee based on coverage, national radio station P4 pays based on advertising turnover, and local radio stations pay according to airplay of music per hour and potential listeners. The regulator argues that "the various principles can be viewed as a form of discrimination, because the users of music pay different rates, while having access to the same rights. It will affect the companies' means to compete effectively with each other."

The proposals have gone for consultation to 34 music-related companies and associations, including IFPI Norway. They have until Dec. 14 to respond. TONO's current practices stem from exceptions to Norwegian competition law granted in 1961 and 1980. These were recently challenged by Warner/Chappell Norway.

--Kai R. Lofthus, Oslo


Memorabilia On The Block

Memorabilia from acts that performed at this year's Tibetan Freedom Concert is being auctioned online to benefit the Milarepa Fund, which is dedicated to promoting peace in Tibet. On the block are six items, including autographed CDs and/or posters from R.E.M., Beck, Dave Matthews Band, Beastie Boys, and Pearl Jam. The auction, the first in a planned series, is accepting bids through Jan. 1 at http://auction.milarepa.org. ARTISTdirect, which operates the Tibetan Freedom Concert merchandise Web site, donated the items and is administering the auction site.


R&B Acts Down For 'Delta'

The soundtrack to "Down In The Delta," the directorial debut from Maya Angelou, features new and veteran R&B acts. Among the artists included on the 16-track set, due today from Virgin, are Janet, D'Angelo, Stevie Wonder, the Leverts, Luther Vandross, and Chaka Khan. The film opens Dec. 25.


Song Team Lands PolyGram/Island Deal

PolyGram/Island Music has signed writers/producers Arnthor, Bloodshy, and Patrick Tucker to a long-term, worldwide sub-publishing deal with Swedish company Murlyn Songs. The trio co-wrote/produced 98 Degrees' "Because Of You" (Motown), which peaked at No. 3 on the Hot 100 Singles chart. They are also working with Murlyn signing Deetah--licensed worldwide to London Records--which had a recent U.K. top-20 hit with "Relax."

--Tom Ferguson, London


New Year's Date For Japan's Namie

Japanese superstar Namie Amuro will appear Dec. 31 on NHK TV's annual "Kohaku Utagassen" (Red and White Song Contest) program. The female vocalist has been on maternity leave since last year's "Kohaku" show. She gave birth to a baby boy May 19.

--Steve McClure, Tokyo


Ministry Of Sound, MTV Plan Venue

MTV Europe's Central service is developing a combined music venue and broadcast facility with Ministry Of Sound, the London-based nightclub/label/magazine operation. The central Berlin venue is scheduled to open its doors by the end of 1999. MTV Central managing director Christiane zu Salm says, "The city and its young people will provide an exciting backdrop for MTV's growing live output." The deal means that MTV gains a stronghold in Berlin, seen as important in its distribution/ratings battle with German TV station Viva; also, the expanding Ministry concern gains its first permanent venue outside the U.K.

--Christian Lorenz, Music & Media


Castle Recasts Biz With New Name

London-based Castle Communications is continuing its restructuring by changing its name to Castle Music. Managing director Joe Cokell says the name better reflects the company's core activity. Castle was bought by investment company Rutland Trust earlier this year.

--Jeff Clark-Meads, London