Radio & Records Convention

LOS ANGELES, June 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Industry event includes Bill Clinton, Christina Aguilera, Stevie Nicks, David Foster, Boz Scaggs, Larry King, Rev. Dr. Al Sharpton, Sophie B. Hawkins, Dave Navarro, The Doobie Brothers, Shelby Lynne, The Guess Who, John Waite and more! Radio & Records, the largest and most respected radio industry trade publication, will host R&R Convention 2001, June 14-16 at the Century Plaza Hotel & Spa (2025 Avenue Of The Stars) in Los Angeles. This annual three-day gathering attracts radio and records executives from around the world to discuss music trends, industry challenges and programming strategies. On Friday morning at 9am, the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton, will serve as the keynote speaker, with performances by Island/Def Jam Records artist Shelby Lynne and Reprise Records artist Stevie Nicks. Access Hollywood co-hosts Pat O'Brien and Nancy O'Dell will announce the winners of the R&R Industry Achievement Awards in the national radio and records categories.

The R&R Pop Awards Show, on Friday afternoon (5-7pm), will feature a special performance by RCA recording artist and pop sensation Christina Aguilera. Aguilera, Mya, Pink and Lil' Kim, are enjoying No. 1 status on the CHR/Pop charts with "Lady Marmalade" from the Moulin Rouge movie soundtrack. This marks the third time Aguilera has reached No. 1; her debut album produced two smash hits, "Genie in a Bottle" and "What a Girl Wants." Influential songwriter and producer David Foster will participate in the exclusive "One On One With David Foster" session on Friday morning at 11:30am, also featuring a musical performance by singer-songwriter Sophie B. Hawkins of Ryko/Trumpet Swan Records. Musician John Tesh will present several Industry Achievement Awards in the Adult Contemporary category. Immediately following this session, at the Adult Contemporary luncheon, Pyramid Records' The Doobie Brothers will perform material from their latest CD, Sibling Rivalry. Few American rock groups have been able to sustain their success like The Doobie Brothers: They've had two Grammys, 27 chart singles, 16 top 40 hits; 11 multi-Platinum albums and 13 Gold albums, and 10 million units of Best of The Doobies, Vol. 1 have been sold. Keyboardist-songwriter Jim Brickman will also announce the winners of the Adult Contemporary Industry Achievement Awards. Brickman is best known for composing "Valentine," which was recorded by Martina McBride, and "The Gift," performed by Colin Raye and Susan Ashton.

At the Smooth Jazz luncheon on Friday, Virgin Records artist Boz Scaggs will preview tracks from his forthcoming CD, Dig, which is scheduled for release in September. A critically acclaimed singer-songwriter, Scaggs left The Steve Miller Band in the late '60s to begin a solo career. In 1976 his album Silk Degrees reached No. 2 on the charts; it included hit singles "Lowdown" and "Lido Shuffle." In 1988 he returned with Other Roads, and he joined Donald Fagen's New York Rock and Soul Revue in 1992. After moving to Virgin, Scaggs released the acclaimed Some Change in 1994; his most recent album, Come on Home, was released in 1997. Rev. Dr. Al Sharpton will address an R&R Urban session on Friday, June 15 at 3:30pm, speaking on a variety of issues, including the importance of lyrical content in the shaping of young people's lives. Sharpton, one of America's foremost civil rights advocates, crusades relentlessly against economic injustice, political inequity and corporate racism. Also at this session, Heartless Records will present up-and-coming artists The Donz, who will perform material from their debut CD, Sex, Lies and Audiotape.

CNN's Emmy award-winning personality Larry King will host the exclusive "Larry King Live! With Rick Dees" session on Friday at 11:30am with Premiere Radio Networks syndicated personality and KIIS-FM/Los Angeles morning host Rick Dees. Critically acclaimed Virgin Records recording artist Nikka Costa will perform songs from her latest release, Everybody Got Their Something.

On Thursday, June 14, beginning at 8:30am, LIFEbeat -- the music industry's nonprofit HIV/AIDS resource and awareness organization -- will host a charity breakfast with Kevin Weatherly, the innovative and award-winning Alternative radio programmer from "The World Famous" KROQ in Los Angeles.

On Thursday evening, following R&R's traditional opening cocktail reception, the original members of legendary rock group The Guess Who will play in support of their Platinum double-live CD, Running Back Through Canada. Guess Who members Burton Cummings, Randy Bachman, Garry Peterson, Donnie McDougall and Bill Wallace are gearing up for their "American Woman Tour" with Joe Cocker, which kicks off in early July.

A Friday-afternoon Hot AC (Adult Contemporary) session at 1:15pm called "The Quiet Companies" will feature the heads of several important but, by today's standards, smaller radio groups: Bonneville's Bruce Reese, Emmis' Doyle Rose, Journal Broadcast Group's Carl Gardner and Saga's Steve Goldstein. The session will feature a special performance by Gold Circle artist John Waite, who has earned Gold as a solo artist and as lead singer of The Babys and Bad English. In addition, Nina Blackwood, former MTV VJ and host of United Stations' internationally syndicated weekly radio program Entertainment Express, will discuss the '80s-music phenomenon.

On Saturday, June 16 at 11:30am, the "Third Annual Alternative Rate-A-Record" session will feature guitarist Dave Navarro (formerly of Jane's Addiction and The Red Hot Chili Peppers) who, along with a panel of influential radio programmers from around the country, will rate up-and-coming artists and songs. Navarro is gearing up for the June 19 release of his highly anticipated solo project, Spread, on Capitol Records.

On Thursday, June 14 at 11:30am, a special study, sponsored by R&R and conducted by Edison Media Research, will outline the behavior of more than 700 active consumers of radio and music and will examine their habits, desires and motivations. The research will uncover the impact of video airplay and appearances at radio station-sponsored concerts.

Founded in 1973, Radio & Records covers every aspect of the radio industry, including programming, management, related financial markets and government relations. R&R also publishes the industry's most trusted music charts, in 13 of radio's most popular formats. R&R recently partnered with Liquid Audio for an Internet music-auditioning service called Music Meeting, which permits radio stations to retrieve promotional copies of new songs via secure digital download from the R&R ONLINE website. Under the leadership of Publisher/CEO Erica Farber, R&R has its main office in Los Angeles, with bureaus in Nashville and Washington, D.C.

MEDIA COVERAGE: There is limited space available for media during the Bill Clinton keynote address. To secure media access to R&R Convention 2001, register online at www.rronline.com (click on "Conventions"; go to "Registration") and follow up by calling Pam Baker at 310-788-1654. Media access does not include meals or events sponsored by third parties. Electronic media should inquire about power, sound and lighting availability prior to attending. All media covering this event must fully identify Radio & Records as the sponsor of R&R Convention 2001.

SOURCE Radio & Records

CO: Radio & Records

ST: California

IN: ENT MUS

SU: TDS

06/06/2001 20:17 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com