TAKING CARS BUSINESS

Rip It Up, Issue 250, 1 June 1998, Page 32

TAKING CARS BUSINESS

PARALLEL IMPORTS LEGISLATION Without consulting any representatives of the book and music industries the Government opened the NZ market to parallel imports in the recent Budget. Previously, only the company who owned the license to a product could import that product. There is a fear that reduced profits in the NZ market by the major multi-national record labels will reduce budgets for recording NZ artists, however with the NZ dollar’s value being so low there does not appear to be any rush to try to parallel import recordings and undercut current retail prices.-, ’ How will the new legislation affect smaller distributors such as Flying In who represent specialist labels such as Ninja Tune, Sub Pop and Epitaph? “The independent distributors are sourcing music at as good a price as is possible,” says Flying In’s Paul McKessar. “Retailers purchasing it at a one-stop overseas can’t buy it cheaper. We’re just concentrating on service and . waiting and seeing what happens.” McKessar adds, “I’m more concerned about the value of the NZ dollar than parallel importing, it’s really hard to make a margin.” Ironically, two parallel imported James Brown titles (both with two CDs in one case) are retailing for the pricey S6O and $65 respectively at Real Groovy. The recent indie Prince USA release has not found its way to NZ as no importer can source it at a reasonable price. A British one-stop was asking £45 for the Prince CD-set. The set can be purchased on Prince’s website for USASSO plus postage. His prior CD-set Emancipation, marketed here by EMI, retailed on release for prices between S4O and S6O. TVNZ CLOSES MTV NZ The TVNZ transmission of MTV London ended Sunday June 7. Popular local programmes Havoc and Squeeze will move to TV2. Only months after the demise of Max TV, New Zealand musicians have lost another outlet for music videos and live performance. The closure took place only weeks after the man who brought MTV to NZ, Neil Roberts, resigned from his TVNZ Director of Television position. In the NZ Herald, Universal GM George Ash echoed music industry sentiments that MTV failed to gain a significant audience, “Because the videos were programmed from London,” said Ash, “it didn’t affect us sales-wise because no one was watching it and it wasn’t what people were buying.” JUICE 7VMOVES TO NET The free-to-air overnight video show on Sky ended May 31. Juice TV will now broadcast via the net until additional digital channels, will allow Juice TV to have a channel of its own. Juice TV on the net can be found at: www.juicetv.com j? UNIVERSAL PURCHASE POLYGRAM Seagrams, the owners of record distributor Universal have purchased a controlling interest in Polygram from its prior owner Phillips for USASIO.6 billion. Seagrams expects rationalisation of the two parallel marketing and distribution systems will save about USAS3OO million annually. The merger still has to be approved by the USA Justice Dept who regulate anti-competitive moves in commerce. Seagrams is expected to sell-off Polygram’s movie division. The two companies are viewed as a good match due to Universal earning two thirds of its revenue in North America, while Polygram earns 75% of its revenue outside North America. . V2 boss Richard Branson says the purchase of Polygram is good for indies. “Unlike the airline business, the bigger the big boys get in the record business the better for the independents, so I welcome this move. Artists will best be served by companies that can give them the time to concentrate on their careers.” TADPOLE GEAR STOLEN After returning home from a North Island tour, Auckland band Tadpole had their van and musical gear stolen on the night of May 18, from Kingsland. The van has been found, but the following property is still missing; Sonar

2000 Series, 4-piece, blue drum kit; 7X Paiste Alpha series cymbals; Paiste ‘Sound Formula’ hi-hats; 7X Pearl cymbal stands, plus snare stand and drum stool; 1x Ensoniq ASRX sampler/sequencer and zip drive; plus various roadcases, a stage backdrop, and lights. The estimated total value of the stolen gear is $16,000. Anyone with info can contact their local police station, or Dean on (09) 849 3362, or Renee on 0868 01381. CD PLANT OPENS IN AUCKLAND The first NZ compact disc manufacturing plant opened this month, Software Images (09-378-9790) in Maidstone Rd, Ponsonby. A second major CD plant will open in Ponsonby soon as part of Stebbing Recording Centre. B-NET NZ MUSIC WEEK During the national student radio ‘NZ Music Week’ starting from Monday June 8, there will be increased exposure for NZ music. Auckland’s 95bFM will play 100% NZ music and bands will regularly play live from York Street Studio 2. NZ MUSICIAN 10TH ANNIVERSARY NZ Musician magazine hits its 10th Anniversary with this year’s June/July issue, due in stores June 23. Richard Thorne has helmed the magazine since Issue N 0.4 and focussed the title on the NZ music scene. “We have endeavoured to showcase and include as many Kiwi musicians as possible and have been deliberate in involving as wide range of musical genres as practical,” says Thorne. FOREIGN MOVES Sony-aligned UK indie Creation have signed former Ronettes (60s girl group) lead singer Ronnie Spector to release an EP produced by Joey Ramone. One track is a duet with Ramone. Creation have dropped 18 Wheeler and Toaster and will soon announce three new signings ... Warner Music have purchased the 50% of the Rhino reissue label that they didn’t already own. Rhino’s film (Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas), book and retail operations are not included in the deal ... in the UK the former indie label Chrysalis has lost its autonomy within the EMI group. The label has been merged into the EMI Records label group. Chrysalis was purchased by EMI from founder Chris Wright in two halves, one in 1989 and one in 1991 ... in Melbourne former NZ Mushroom person Janet Dawes and Steve Morice (ex Push Push manager) had an Blb baby boy Marlon in May. After maternity leave, Dawes returns to her responsibility for directing Mushroom’s sales push in the Asia region. BEAT MERCHANTS . A new retail store in Victoria St, Auckland (beside Magazzino) is Beat Merchants (09 3022328) with Pete Farnham and Mike Morgan (both ex Truetone) and Phil Bell (ex BMG). The focus is dance but the store will also stock a cross section of import. NON-PROFIT TV IN AUCKLAND Triangle Channel 41 has been given $500,000 by the Lottery Grants Board to broadcast a non-profit TV channel in Auckland. $300,000 will go to purchase an automated playcart and transmission suite giving the station low running costs. : NZ ON AIR KIWI HIT DISC The tracks selected for the Kiwi Hit Disc N 0.32 are: Sina Don’t Be Shy (huh!) Neil Finn She Will Have Her Way (EMI) J T Dave Dobbyn Waiting (Sony) Deep Obsession Lost In Love (Universal) Eye TV Call Me (Antenna) The Feelers Space Cadet (Warners) Tadpole Blind (Zeal) Dead Flowers Outer Space (Wildside) Che Fu Scene 3 (BMG) Ma-V-Elle Depend On Me (Birthday) - Barry Saunders Colour Me Blue (Pagan) Tongue & Groove One More Try (Metro)