MCA Records To Handle Geffen's Hip-Hop Roster

MCA Records and Geffen Records, both owned by the Universal Music Group,
have entered into a joint venture in which MCA will begin working Geffen's
hip-hop acts, including the Roots, Genius, Sauce Money, and All City. As
part of the pact, Geffen A&R executive Wendy Goldstein will move to
the MCA A&R staff; other Geffen staffers may also make the move.
According to a Geffen statement, the transfer is being made because
"our artists will be best served by MCA, which has a long tradition
of dominance in urban music and is better equipped to build on the success
of artists like the Roots and Genius."

The recently released Killah Priest album "Heavy Mental" will
continue to be worked by Geffen.

-Michael Amicone, L.A.


Navarro Exits Chili Peppers

In what is being termed an "amicable" and "mutual"
split, Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Dave Navarro is exiting the band,
citing "creative differences." He will continue to work with
Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith in a new band, Spread. Navarro, who joined
the L.A. funk-rock group in 1993 and played on its 1995 Warner Bros. album
"One Hot Minute," was the sixth guitarist to work with the band.

-Chris Morris, L.A.


Delsener/Slater To Offer $15 Tickets At Jones Beach

Delsener/Slater Presents, the New York-based promoter that handles concerts
at Long Island's Jones Beach amphitheater, will offer $15 tickets for all
shows at the shed this year, according to company president Mitch Slater.
"We believe it's a great concept for a lot of the public to get some
affordable ticket pricing," says Slater. "In the past, the cheapest
price has been in the area of $30."

The number of tickets-which will, of course, be for seats at the back
of the venue-available per show will vary for each concert, but Slater
says it could range from "several hundred to several thousand."
He adds, "We felt that pricing was getting out of whack and that people
can't afford to go to 10 or 15 shows a year." Shows tentatively booked
at Jones Beach this summer include James Taylor, Shania Twain, Yes, Megadeth,
and the Ozzfest. Slater notes that if the idea works, Delsener/Slater may
try it at other amphitheaters where it promotes shows.

-Melinda Newman, N.Y.


Lollapalooza Trek Scrapped For '98

After failing to secure a proper headliner, the organizers of Lollapalooza
have decided not to stage the festival this summer. "We just ran out
of time," says Lollapalooza co-owner Ted Gardner. "A lot of bands
we wanted already had tours confirmed or their records were delayed."
Gardner adds that the decision to cancel this year's Lollapalooza was
made to "maintain its integrity" and the multi-act music festival
could return next year.

-Craig Rosen, L.A.


Music Fest Canceled After Kelley's Death

The Mid-South Music Festival, originally set for April 24-26 in Memphis,
has been canceled in the wake of the death of promoter Bob Kelley, who
apparently took his life March 27 (Bulletin, March 30).

Officials at Mid-South Concerts, Kelley's company, had hoped to go on
with the festival-which had already booked John Fogerty, Widespread Panic,
Foo Fighters, and many others-but were unable to because the company's
finances are tied up in probate court.

-Ray Waddell, Nashville


Almo Nashville Folds

Citing an inability to find a suitable distribution partner, Almo Sounds
Nashville closed Friday. Director Garth Fundis will continue to work at
the Sound Emporium studio, where he has produced such artists as Trisha
Yearwood. Label acts were Mullins-Black and Marty Heddin; Bekka Bramlett
& Billy Burnette and Billy Yates were recently released from Almo.

-Chet Flippo, Nashville


Mansfield, Lehning Leave Asylum Posts

Elektra-owned, Nashville-based country label Asylum Records has lost
its top two executives. Co-president/CEO Joe Mansfield and co-president
Kyle Lehning have exited, according to a statement, "to pursue other
interests." Sources say they will be replaced by indie publicist Evelyn
Shriver and Lorrie Morgan manager Susan Nadler. Asylum's acts include Kevin
Sharp, Lila McAnn, and Bryan White.

-Carolyn Horwitz, N.Y; and Chet Flippo, Nashville


Artist Developments

Jive's Backstreet Boys begin a U.S. tour July 8 in Charlotte, N.C.


Dublin's Serene In Deal With Paradigm For Label

Paradigm Records, a unit of TCI Music, has created a new imprint, Serene.
The label is a collaboration with Aiden Lambert of Dublin-based Serene
Management, which counts Irish electronica band Blink among its clients.
The label's first release is from Katie McMahon, formerly of the acclaimed
Irish choir Anuna and a featured singer in "Riverdance" since
its inception. The album, "After The Morning," explores various
aspects of Irish music, from medieval ballads to modern classical compositions
and bawdy drinking songs. Lambert will handle A&R for the label, which,
like Paradigm, will be distributed by Alternative Distribution Alliance.

-Ed Christman, N.Y.


New Johnny Rivers Album On Revived Soul City Label

Sixties hitmaker Johnny Rivers has released "Last Train To Memphis,"
his first album of new material in 15 years, on his newly reactivated Soul
City Records. The label has an exclusive U.S. distribution deal with Distribution
North America and is seeking deals for other markets, especially Europe
and Australia, according to L.A.-based VP/GM Rebekah Alperin. Also new
from Soul City are two titles from Rivers' catalog, "Johnny Rivers
Greatest Hits" and "The Memphis Sun Recordings." Upcoming
in June under license from EMI/Capitol is Rivers' best-selling album, "Realization,"
originally released in 1968 on Imperial. Rivers is supporting the releases
this year with shows in up to 50 cities in North and South America.

Soul City was the original label of the 5th Dimension, issuing seven
top-20 hits by the group from 1967-69.

-Ken Schlager, N.Y.


CD Company Sonopress Names GM In Birmingham

Bertelsmann-owned CD manufacturer Sonopress has appointed Tim Bevan
to the new post of GM in charge of the U.K. plant in Birmingham, England.
He joined the company nine months ago as director of U.K. sales. Previously
with Mayking Multi Media and WEA Records, Bevan, 32, reports to Ray Sheridan,
managing director of Sonopress Ireland.

-Mark Solomons, London


U.S. Releases This Week

Bonnie Raitt's "Fundamental" (Capitol) has a stripped-down,
gritty sound that she attributes to producers Mitchell Froom and Tchad
Blake. First single "One Belief Away" was inspired by Zimbabwean
musician Oliver Mutukudzi. Raitt plays theater dates with Keb' Mo' starting
April 18.

Stabbing Westward's "Darkest Days" (Columbia) "is a ride
through the life of a depressed person," says singer/songwriter Christopher
Hall.

Popular live Nashville act Ceili Rain switches to recording on "Ceili
Rain: Say KAY-lee" (Punch). The name is "heavenly party"
in Gaelic; the sound is Celtic-influenced pop.

Alice In Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell goes solo on "Boggy Depot"
(Columbia). "Cut You In" is No. 6 on Mainstream Rock Tracks.

Other key titles: Andrea Bocelli's "Aria-The Opera Album"
(Philips); Athenaeum's "Radiance" (Atlantic); Keiko Matsui's
"Full Moon And The Shrine" (Countdown).

-Carolyn Horwitz, N.Y.


No Doubt, Aqua Win Dutch Awards

The Backstreet Boys, No Doubt, Aqua, Janet Jackson, and the Spice Girls
were among international acts honored Friday at the Music Factory Awards
in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Marco Borsato was the top local winner,
taking honors for best male and album ("De Waarheid"). The Music
Factory is the country's biggest music TV station, with more local viewers
than MTV.

-Robbert Tilli, Amsterdam


Amazon.com Names Senior Music Editor

Former Windham Hill VP Sam Sutherland is joining Amazon.com as part
of the team working on the virtual bookseller's entry into online music
retailing. He has been named senior editor, music. Sutherland comes from
Microsoft, where he was editor of its Music Central division. He also was
Billboard's West Coast bureau chief.

-Adam White, London