BMG’S HAVING A PARTY

The worldwide music division of Bertelsmann will hold an "unprecedented" three-day event at which its U.S.-based labels Arista, Jive, RCA Music Group and RLG-Nashville will present their release schedules for the fourth quarter of 2003, it was announced today by BMG Exec.VP/Chief Marketing Officer Tim Prescott.

The event, which will include all-star performances, will take place from July 29-31 at the Hudson Theatre in Midtown Manhattan. BMG’s fourth quarter release schedule, which includes more than 20 Platinum artists, will boast albums from Clay Aiken, Nick Cannon, Dave Matthews Band, J.C. Chasez, Dido, Aretha Franklin, Wyclef Jean, Joe, Alicia Keys, Sarah McLachlan, Martina McBride, Neptunes, OutKast, Pink, Elvis Presley, Britney Spears, Rod Stewart, Ruben Studdard, the Strokes and Usher, among others.

BMG’s Prescott said, "Against the backdrop of declining sales of music, it is more important than ever for us to keep our focus on developing great artists and creating diverse, world-class records. Next week in New York our U.S. labels will bring to life BMG’s most exciting release schedule in recent memory."

Hosted by BMG’s U.S. label heads RCA Music Group’s Clive Davis, Arista’s Antonio "LA" Reid, Jive’s Barry Weiss and RLG-Nashville’s Joe Galante, the labels will hold their own private listening sessions and showcases by some of their top recording stars.

The performances, which will be closed to the public, will be attended by BMG’s International and U.S. management, as well as special invited guests.

Davis himself will chair a marathon session on "How I Invented the Concept of the Three-Day Convention."

Meanwhile, the company continues in talks to merge its music operations with WMG.