TALENT TRAFFIC

Acts geared toward the younger set continue to do big business. 'N Sync's upcoming arena tour is on pace to be huge. SFX Entertainment/Magicworks will produce about 55 dates with 'N Sync, beginning in March 1999. An April 16 date at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, Calif., sold out in nine-and-a-half minutes. In the same general market, a Universal Amphitheatre date in Universal City, Calif., sold out in 10 minutes, and a second show sold out in less than five minutes, according to Bruce Kapp at SFX. The tour will stay indoors until May, with shed dates to follow. Kapp said organizers were in the process of selecting a tour sponsor from several offers.

In other news from SFX, it looks like the second annual George Strait Country Music Festival stadium tour is firming up, with Tim McGraw and Dixie Chicks on board. The tour, which grossed $33 million in 1998, will hit approximately 18 stadiums this spring.

Set to perform at the Nobel Peace Concert Dec. 20 are Elton John, Phil Collins, Alanis Morissette, Shania Twain, Enrique Iglesias, Andrea Bocelli, and The Cranberries. The concert will be televised live on Fox TV from the Spektrum in Oslo, Norway.

The Rolling Stones will sell a limited number of advance tickets for the No Security U.S. arena tour exclusively through VH1.

NARAS has named IBM as its partner to sponsor and produce the official Webcast of the 41st Annual Grammy Awards. The Grammy Webcast, on www.grammy.com, will launch in early February and peak Feb. 24, the day of the awards.

SIGNINGS: Lynn Anderson has signed with Cathy Gurley, Gurley & Co, for personal management. She is currently signed to Intersound, with Red Ridge Entertainment handling the bookings.

Billboard Bulletin reports Q Prime is close to signing a management deal with Red Hot Chili Peppers.

No Doubt has signed with Jim Guerinot's Rebel Waltz Management. The band split with Spark Management earlier this year.

M.P.I. Talent Agency of Los Angeles has signed The Lettermen.

Nashville-based female group Mulberry Lane has signed with Refuge/MCA Records and is currently in the studio. Comprised of sisters Jaymie, Rachel, Heather and Allie, the debut release is set for early spring. The group will continue to tour the Midwest, playing Chicago, Minneapolis and other cities.

UNSIGNINGS: The Smashing Pumpkins and management company Q Prime have parted ways.

Fred Lawrence has resigned his position as senior vice president at International Creative Management. He headed ICM's adult contemporary division out of Los Angeles.

Mega-managers Clarence Spalding, left, and Stan Moress attended the William Morris Agency centennial dinner. Spalding works with Brooks & Dunn, who will be back out on their own after two years of touring with Reba McEntire.

David Breen has left the William Morris Agency in Nashville and has launched The Breen Agency, a division of Emerald Entertainment in Nashville.

The Iguanas southern tour will take them to the Continental Club in Austin (Dec. 4), the Fabulous Satellite Lounge in Houston (5), and Mid-City Lanes Rock 'n' Bowl in New Orleans (11), returning to Rock 'n' Bowl for a New Year's Eve bash. The lizards start the year off with two nights at The Barns at Wolftrap in Vienna, Va., with other East Coast dates to follow.

Reba McEntire has been inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in Tulsa. The ceremony took place at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center and Reba was inducted by Ed Gaylord Jr. Nov. 18.

The Fifth Annual Nashville Music Awards is set for Feb. 10 at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center's Jackson Hall.

At Atlanta's Local Music Awards Nov. 19 at the Variety Playhouse, Marvelous Three was named Best Rock & Roll Band, The Charms received the People's Choice Award, and Shawn Mullins was named Best Signed Georgia Artist.

Jim Brickman was the recipient of the 1998 Songwriter of the Year award at the 3rd Annual SESAC Music Awards Nov. 18 at the Supper Club in New York.

Jeff Pringle, formerly of Creative Artists Agency in Nashville, has left the agency to form his own Nashville-based management company, Level 2 Management Group. Initial clients are Daniel Tashian, Lennon Murphy and Robert Shemin.

Charlie Daniels will sing the National Anthem at the Citrus Bowl Jan. 1 in Orlando. Daniels, a big (really big) Tennessee fan, told Traffic he hopes Florida plays in the game, after comments from Florida Coach Steve Spurrier that "you can't spell 'Citrus' without 'UT'."

John Berry's Christmas tour is off to a great start. The CAA-booked act recently sold out the 1,500-seat State Theater in Kalamazoo, Mich., in 52 minutes, and was close to selling out the Fox Theatre in Atlanta and the Opera House in Detroit. The sponsor of the tour is 10-10-220 long distance service. Berry has a new record due in 1999 on produc- er Chuck Howard's Striker Records.

Brian Wilson, Johnny Cash and songwriter Jeff Barry will receive Lifetime Achievement Awards from the National Academy of Songwriters at a dinner/benefit concert to be held Dec. 2 at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles. The show will feature a performance by Wilson and his daughters, Wendy and Carnie.

Vari-Lite International Inc. and High End Systems Inc. have announced a preliminary settlement agreement has been reached between the two companies regarding the ongoing litigation relating to certain Vari-Lite patents. Although the terms are confidential, the settlement consisted of a combination of payments to Vari-Lite and the exchange of specific rights concerning the use of each other's patents. The settlement will not affect the sale or use of any current Vari-Lite or High End Systems product or service.

Jars Of Clay launched an official fan club this month, distributing more than 40,000 copies of the first issue of The Crazy Times, the organization's quarterly newsletter. The band is currently on tour with Essential Records labelmates Silage and A&M act Burlap To Cashmere.