Universal Denies Allegations Of Antitrust Lawsuit In Oz

Universal Music Australia said in a statement Friday that it "does not believe it has breached" local trade laws, as claimed in an antitrust lawsuit filed last week against the Australian affiliates of Universal Music, Warner Music, Sony Music, the Australian Record Industry Assn., and Music Piracy Investigation Pty Ltd. Other defendants could not be reached for comment.

The action, filed in the Federal Court in Sydney by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), relates to the country's Trade Practices Act of 1974, which prohibits exclusive dealing and using market power to deter retailers from engaging in competitive conduct.

The ACCC claims that the companies acted illegally by trying to prevent retailers from stocking imported CDs. The body alleges that they cut off local supplies to some accounts; there are also charges that the labels colluded with sister companies in Asia to block the imports.

The ACCC has also served writs on seven individuals. Bulletin has learned that these include Warner Music finance director Gary Smerdon, Sony Music business affairs director Adrian Fitz-Alan, and former PolyGram/Universal business affairs director Sue Cohen. Also charged is Paul Dickson, former group managing director of PolyGram's music operations in Australia.

A preliminary hearing on the matter is set for Sept. 13.

--Christie Eliezer, Melbourne


Jett's Blackheart Group Inks Distribution Deals With 3 Indies

Blackheart Records Group, the New York-based company owned by Joan Jett and Kenny Laguna, has signed three independent labels to marketing and distribution deals. Blackheart in turn is distributed by Universal.

Newly signed are Italy-based label Irma Records, which will release albums by house/soul act Jestofunk and vocalist Sarah Jane Morris in early 2000; Long Island, N.Y.-based dance label Modern Voices Records, which will soon issue albums by Tony Mascolo and label chairman/CEO Chris Pati; and New Jersey-based label Sound Of Music, which plans to release a drum & bass/jungle series produced by Kingsize, a tribal house compilation, and a gospel compilation.


Edel Names New VP

German indie edel has promoted Michel Petre to the newly created post of VP of international A&R, reporting to CEO Michael Haentjes. Stockholm-based Petre was senior European A&R executive. He has worked with acts that include Toy-Box, Sash!, ATB, and Funkstar DeLuxe.

--Christian Lorenz, Music & Media


EMusic To Preview New Bush Single

Downloadable music retailer EMusic.com will exclusively preview the first single from Bush's forthcoming Trauma Records album starting tomorrow. The track, "The Chemicals Between Us," from the upcoming album "The Science Of Things," will be available for listening in the RealAudio and MP3 streaming formats at www.emusic.com. The single will be serviced Thursday to traditional radio. There are no plans for a commercial single. "The Science Of Things'' is due Oct. 26.

--Michael Amicone, L.A.


RIAA Revises Certifications Eligibility Period

The RIAA has changed its policy on when a company can request a gold or platinum certification for an eligible title to 30 days after street date, effective immediately. Previously, a company could submit a title for certification 30 days after its shipping date. The change will ensure that a title won't be certified during its first sales week before other debuting, noncertified titles that may have outsold it. The RIAA also requires that the submitting company include a copy of the audio or music video title along with the certification request.


Platinum Opens Atlanta Warehouse

Downers Grove, Ill.-based Platinum Entertainment has opened a 100,000-square-foot distribution warehouse in Atlanta. The facility also incorporates three recording studios, an art department, and several of Platinum's label divisions. It will handle product from the company's in-house imprints, including Platinum, Platinum Nashville, CGI, House of Blues, and Intersound Classical, and distributed third-party labels like Ruf, Half Note, Ramblin', Gator, and Power.

--Chris Morris, L.A.


Artist Developments

Pam Tillis has signed with Terry Elam of the Nashville-based Fitzgerald Hartley Co. for management.


Universal Publishing Buys Dave Stewart's Anxious Co.

Universal Music Publishing in the U.K. has acquired Anxious Music Ltd., the publishing company owned by the Eurythmics' Dave Stewart. Anxious contains copyrights that include material from Toni Halliday/Curve, Fluffy, David Freeman, and the Bluebells, including the latter's hit "Young At Heart." The company also owns shares of the publishing interests in songs by Elton John, Daryl Hall, Shakespear's Sister, and Leftfield. Says Stewart in a statement: "We have had a very good sub-publishing relationship with Universal/PolyGram over recent years, and this move will hopefully enable our writers to take full advantage of the great opportunities that can be provided by one of the world's top publishers."

Anxious Music managing director Phil Hope will act as consultant on the company's catalog during its transfer to Universal.

--Mark Solomons, London


PolyGram Veteran Read Takes Partnership In Oz Venue

Former PolyGram Far East executive VP Tim Read has become a partner in the Basement, a long-established live music venue in Sydney, Australia. Read, who left the record company in May following its absorption into Universal, is based in Hong Kong. Previously, he was president of PolyGram Australia. The Basement is expected to present more international acts, while continuing to showcase local artists. It plans its first Internet broadcast next month. Read's partner in the venture is Chris Richards, who has been associated with the club since 1992.


Those '70s Soundtracks

Volcano Records is issuing two soundtrack albums to the Fox TV series "That '70s Show." The albums, due Sept. 28, each feature 15 classic tracks. "That '70s Album (Rockin')" includes Golden Earring's "Radar Love," Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Saturday Night Special," the Kinks' "Celluloid Heroes," Argent's "Hold Your Head Up," and two cuts by Cheap Trick, "I Want You To Want Me" and a new recording of the show's theme song, "That '70s Song." The second soundtrack, "That '70s Album (Jammin')" includes KC & the Sunshine Band's "Get Down Tonight," James Brown's "Hot Pants (Part 1)," Ohio Players' "Fire," and Kool & the Gang's "Jungle Boogie."


U.S. Releases This Week

Blues Traveler vocalist/harmonica player John Popper makes his solo debut with "Zygote" (Interscope). Popper produced the blues-rock set along with Terry Manning (Led Zeppelin, Lenny Kravitz).

In honor of the 15th anniversary of the Talking Heads' "Stop Making Sense," Sire/Warner Bros. is rereleasing the album with, for the first time, all the music from the film. The digitally remastered edition contains all the songs from the original album plus seven previously unreleased tracks. The Jonathan Demme-directed film of "Stop Making Sense" will be rereleased to select theaters this month.

Coal Chamber's "Chamber Music" (Roadrunner) features Ozzy Osbourne on a cover of Peter Gabriel's "Shock The Monkey."

Other key titles: Steve Vai, "The Ultra Zone" (Epic); Folk Implosion, "One Part Lullaby" (Interscope); Blinker The Star, "August Everywhere" (DreamWorks); Van Van, "Llego Van Van" (Havana Caliente/Atlantic).


MP3.com, Agency Link For College Tour

MP3.com and the William Morris Agency have teamed for a U.S. college tour. The outing, featuring Goo Goo Dolls and Tonic, will hit about 28 schools starting Oct. 5 at the University of Iowa. Each location will feature an "MP3.com Village," with new-media demonstrations. Tickets will be about $20.


Legacy To Issue Lost Mahavishnu Album

Columbia Legacy will issue Sept. 21 a previously unreleased studio album by influential fusion band the Mahavishnu Orchestra, "The Lost Trident Sessions." The tracks--recorded in 1973 by the band's original lineup of John McLaughlin, Billy Cobham, Jerry Goodman, Jan Hammer, and Rick Laird--were discovered in Columbia's L.A. vault by producer/archivist Bob Belden while working on a reissue of the band's classic 1972 album "Birds Of Fire."


What's On

Late-night tonight: Sheryl Crow (on Letterman), Vitamin C (Leno), Candy Butchers (Conan O'Brien).