International Newsline...

U.K. retail giant Kingfisher has successfully floated its general-merchandise unit—which includes the 810-store Woolworths chain, the country's leading home-entertainment retailer. Kingfisher investors approved the demerger of the unit, which now operates under the Woolworths name, on Aug. 24 at an extraordinary general meeting. Initially, Kingfisher was hoping to sell off the unit. But when no buyer emerged, it opted for a demerger (Billboard Bulletin, June 6). Shares in the new company, which employs 50,000 staffers, closed at £0.33 ($0.47) on the first day of trading—Aug. 28—up 30% on their opening price. GORDON MASSON



Vivendi Universal (VU) is set to launch its Universal Music Mobile service in France by mid-September. The move is a partnership with local mobile-phone network SFR. Universal Music Mobile will target 12- to 25-year-olds, offering them the opportunity to preview music over their phones, receive free concert tickets, buy CDs at reduced prices, and get artist news in the form of brief text messages. Users will also receive a custom-made CD featuring 15 tracks of their choice. According to Pascal Negre, CEO of Universal Music France, all major and independent labels are welcome to contribute catalog to the service. Artists will be paid royalties for songs heard; 6% of sales from the music services will go to French rights organization SACEM. There are no current plans for international development of the service. VU chairman Jean-Marie Messier announced plans for the initiative during the recent Popkomm trade fair in Cologne, Germany.



Tim Bowen departs Aug. 31 as executive VP of Universal Music International, after seven years with UMI and its predecessor, MCA Music Entertainment International. Originally hired in 1994 as senior VP of business affairs, he was closely involved with MCA's global expansion from four international companies to 34 in the mid-'90s. Later, he was a key member of UMI chairman Jorgen Larsen's team as it absorbed PolyGram's international operations. Since 1999, Bowen had devoted much time to establishing UMI music portal Voxstar, which was subsequently integrated into Vivendi's online apparatus. He is not expected to be replaced. He intends to "pursue new opportunities" in the music business but will remain available to UMI as a consultant. GORDON MASSON



Mizue Mase Kuroda has been appointed as president/CEO of Tokyo-based V2 Records Japan with immediate effect, replacing Shigeki Ouchi, who has been named director of the production/acquisitions department of SME Visual Works, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan). Ouchi's appointment takes effect Sept. 3. Kuroda was previously publicity/promotion director at V2 Records Japan, a 50/50 joint venture between Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) and V2 Music that was launched in June 1998. STEVE McCLURE



Spanish indie distributor Alía Discos has inked a deal to distribute U.K. world- and roots-music label Nascente in Spain. Madrid-based Alía claims the pact is its biggest foreign deal yet. Alía promotion director Luz Divin says, "It's perfect for us, as we already specialize in Latin, Caribbean, and Mediterranean music, especially flamenco." Nascente is the first U.K. label with which Alía has worked; it already distributes product from the U.S. label Knitting Factory and France's Babalao. HOWELL LLEWELLYN



Sony Music Entertainment Australia has signed a licensing deal for Australia and New Zealand with Wah Wah Music, the indie label co-founded by producer Paul Kosky. Sony will manufacture, distribute, sell, and market Wah Wah product in those territories. The label's Killing Heidi was one of the biggest breakthrough acts in Australia last year, selling 450,000 units of its debut album, Reflector, through previous distributor Roadshow Music. Denis Handlin, chairman/CEO of Sony in Australia, says Wah Wah will act as an unofficial A&R source for Sony. CHRISTIE ELIEZER



Vitaminic, the European digital-music distribution platform, has inked a new Internet license agreement with Swedish collecting society STIM. The deal allows Vitaminic to distribute the entire repertoire of STIM through the vitaminic.se Web site. Vitaminic's Swedish affiliate will directly pay to STIM royalties from the exploitation of its repertoire in Sweden. The deal follows similar revenue-distribution pacts signed by Italy-headquartered Vitaminic with SIAE in Italy and SGAE in Spain. Lars Henriksson, legal advisor for media/online at STIM, says the agreement is "a natural development in our goal of finding for our rights holders acceptable and practical licensing tools." TOM FERGUSON