Industry News & Trends
This issue of Billboard covers significant developments in the music industry. Key news includes the busting of a Midwest record theft ring, a look at the Grammy Awards broadcast featuring winning artists, and discussions between the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and the Record Industry Association of America (RIAA) on industry cooperation.
Retail sales forecasts for Chicago anticipate a strong Christmas season, with distributors increasingly bypassing rack jobbers. George Marek of RCA Victor highlights the importance of effective merchandising and album packaging.
Artist & Label Highlights
Prominent artist news includes Steve Sholes' appointment as Vice-President at RCA Victor and Mary Ford's new single release. Benny Goodman's concert performance and Diahann Carroll's act are reviewed.
The magazine features extensive coverage of new album releases and sales trends, including popular artists like Trini Lopez, Dion DiMuci, The Kingston Trio, and the burgeoning Christmas album market with promotions from major labels such as RCA Victor, Capitol, Columbia, Decca, and Mercury.
Updates on country music and rhythm & blues charts, along with talent on tour and TV guest appearances, are also provided.
Christmas Sales Push
A significant portion of the issue is dedicated to the upcoming Christmas sales season, detailing new releases, promotional campaigns, discounts, and merchandising strategies from various record labels like Capitol, Columbia, Decca, Liberty, Mercury, and London Records.
