P.O.B. 271238 Nashville, TN 37227 615-870-1565
On the web at: www.radiocountry.org
E-mail: icma@bellsouth.net
Scarlett Gremard, Publisher Bobbie Patterson, Editor

NEW RECORD COMPANY PAYS ALL RECORDING COSTS AND NEEDS GREAT SINGERS

Mention the name Ambassador Charlie Ray in a crowd of Country music professionals anywhere on the planet and they are sure to know who he is. Over the last several years, he has built a reputation for bottom line honesty, hard work, fair dealing, and a no nonsense approach to the business of country music. If a country music person knows the name of only one off-stage professional, it is almost sure to be Ambassador Charlie Ray. If they only know the name of one country music company it is almost sure to be Around The World Promotions or one of the other companies that make up Ambassador Charlie Ray’s International Talent Group. The company name will still be out there, but Charlie will no longer be a part of it. He has moved into the new millennium with a new company and a new name. On March 27th, just one day after his 50th birthday, he sold Ambassador Charlie Ray’s International Talent Group and all rights to the professional name he had made so very well known. Charlie, formerly doing business as Ambassador Charlie Ray, began promoting bands, during the 1960's while still in high school. He spent the late 60's and most of the 70's promoting rock and R&B bands. In 1977, he came to Nashville where he and Jennifer Foxx promoted outlaw country singer, Jason Hawkins. They had a great deal of success, getting Jason chart records in such magazines as "BillBoard", "Cashbox" and "Record World." Charlie handled most of the overseas promotions getting himself and Jason well known throughout Western Europe and anywhere the BBC broadcast signals were received. They had Jason well on the way to international stardom with such songs as "Angel In Memory", "I Will", and "The Devil's Angel" climbing charts and being heard in many countries. However; Jason and Jennifer married and had a son. Jason decided his love for Jennifer and his new son were more important than a singing career which would keep him on the road most of the time. Jason began a career as a record producer and was soon known as one of the best in Nashville. Charlie left Nashville in 1983 and spent several years traveling and enjoying life. He spent summers in Minnesota and Washington state and winters in Texas, Florida, Las Vegas and places south of the border. In 1993, he resumed a business relationship with Jason and Jennifer. Following in the footsteps of many people in the entertainment industry, he took a professional name and was soon known worldwide as Ambassador Charlie Ray. The title Ambassador had been given him by Bill Clinton, when he appointed Charlie as Goodwill Ambassador. Together, Charlie, Jason, and Jennifer created The King Eagle Awards Show and Festival. This event has grown and now draws people from several foreign nations as well as all 50 states. In fact, it has became so important, Governor Don Sunquist of Tennessee has signed an official proclamation recognizing The King Eagle Event as the most important independent music event in the history of Nashville. This is not the first time a politician has honored Charlie. His wall is covered with autographed photos of political figures such as Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Ted Kennedy, and Dan Rostenkowski. He has also been awarded honors by Governors of Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, and Georgia. He was appointed as an Lt. Colonel Aide-De-Camp by Alabama's most famous Governor, and Presidential candidate George Wallace. He has been given numerous honors from Country Music Organizations such as The Lone Star State C.M.A. of Texas, the Country Music Associations of America, The Ohio Country Music Alliance, The Nebraska Country Music Foundation and others. He has been named Promoter of the Year in '93, '94, '95, '96, '97 '98, and '99. He was one of our founding members and still serves on the Executive Board. In 1996, Charlie founded Around The World Promotions, which grew into Ambassador Charlie Ray’s International Talent Group. In March 2000, he sold the business and all rights to the name Ambassador Charlie Ray. In the future, he will just be known as Charlie. When asked the obvious question, why sell a company he had spent so much time and effort turning into the best known music promotion company on the planet? He said there were several factors, some personal and some professional. Perhaps the biggest reason was his desire to move into the high tech new millennium. He is an ardent believer in the power of technology to level the playing field between non-major labels and the giant major label entertainment conglomerates. He said, the new American satellite radio broadcasters (see our October Newsletter for more information on these new broadcasters) will create great demand for radio programming and lots of opportunities for quick thinking and fast moving small companies, such as Diamond Ram Music. He believes the power of the internet is bypassing the major labels’ strangle hold on record distribution. As more and more radio programming is needed, small companies will rush in to provide it. The internet is making record stores obsolete. Soon, it will make broadcast radio obsolete. Amazon.com is only the tip of the iceberg. Charlie believes in the future so much the new company is willing to pay all record production costs, for selected artists who can sell CDs. The artists will be aggressively promoted for airplay to both of the new satellite radio companies, internet radio, and overseas radio. The CDs will be aggressively promoted for sales over a secure site on the internet. If you think you are good enough to sell CDs, you are invited to send a voice sample and photograph to, Millennium Star Search, 50 Music Square West, Suite 305 B, Nashville, TN 37203. Mark it, Attention: Charlie. He has assured me all who submit a package will receive a fair evaluation and a prompt reply. He said the three things they will be looking for, are talent, a strong desire to succeed, and absolute belief in yourself. Meanwhile; the new owners of Ambassador Charlie Ray’s International Talent Group have chosen Col. George Gibson as Executive Director. They have indicated they will shift the company entirely towards songwriter services. They assumed responsibility for all unfinished projects. However; when pending projects are completed they will cease all artist promotion. Their mailing address is Drawer 291827, Nashville, TN 37229.

CALIFORNIA RECORD PROMOTER NABBED BY THE FEDS, AGAIN

Famous record promoter, Joseph Isgro has been arrested by Federal authorities. In the 1980s Isgro was one of nine associated record promoters who were charged with collecting $60, 000, 000 per year from major label record companies. At that time, the charges were, Isgro and eight other record promoters were collecting $60, 000 000 per year from major record companies and passing payola to certain trend setting major market radio. The basic idea is to pay radio programmers to play your company’s records. The case was dismissed by a federal judge, after a ten million dollar seven years investigation. The judge ruled the government had not brought its case to court, in a timely fashion. Isgro is now charged with running a loan sharking operation, in which money was loaned at high weekly interest rates and threats of violence used to collect. The facts appear to support rumors that have circulated through the music industry for many years. The rumors say there is and has been a certain connection between major record companies and organized crime. Whatever the truth may be, it appears they have found a way around the laws against payola. Giving cash is illegal, but inviting key radio programmers to all expense paid vacations so they can have informative talks with record company executives is legal. In the record industry as in life it seems the golden rule is still, the one with the gold makes the rules. As long as radio relied on limited broadcast frequencies, the total number of radio stations was very limited. We all know the smaller the industry the easier it is for a few companies to control. However, the march of technology is increasing the number of radio broadcasters. The advent of satellite radio in our cars and the continuing growth of internet radio is making the overall industry too large and too spread out, for anyone to control. Within a few years, our cars will be connected to the internet and able to pick up an unlimited number of internet radio programs.