Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct-Dec 1957)

we markets in the(l) bag West Texas Television Network KDUB-TV, LUBBOCK, TEXAS KPAR-TV. A B I L E N E SWEETWATER KEDY-TV, BIG SPRING, TEXAS NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES: THE BRANHAM COMPANY President and Gen. Mgr., W. D. "DUB" ROGERS National Sales Mgr. E. A, "Buzz" Hassett PROGRAM SERVICES Nicol Seeks Proxies From BMI Stockholders Preparations were afoot last week for another attack on Broadcast Music Inc. — this one a frontal assault to be launched at the BMI stockholders' meeting in New York tomorrow (Tuesday). Stockholders received letters from Alexander D. Nicol, president of R&T Music Inc. in Jersey City and one-time controller of BMI, soliciting proxies to vote their stock at the meeting. In his letter he raised four questions which, observers noted, reflect much the same type of sniping that BMI has undergone for years, most conspicuously from members of the American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers [Editorial, Sept. 9]. Mr. Nicol's questions: Why has BMI paid no dividends in the past 17 years? Why is BMI now under fire by House and Senate? Why are there $200 million in suits against BMI? Why should the chairman of the board of BMI [Sidney M. Kaye] and his law firm [Rosenman Goldmark Colin & Kaye] pay themselves "millions" of BMI dollars in salary and legal fees? BMI officials declined to comment on Mr. Nicol's move. It was reported, however, that since his departure from BMI some three years ago Mr. Nicol has been associated closely with Barney Young and Gloria Parker of Life Music Inc., who are plaintiffs in some $30 million in suits against BMI and who attempted to introduce anti-BMI resolutions at both the CBS and RCA board meetings earlier this year. For at least part of these three years Mr. Nicol reportedly has shared offices with Mr. Young and Miss Parker. A call to Life Music (and Godell Music) Thursday afternoon elicited the information that Mr. Nicol had left the office, and Mr. Young, who was there, said he himself was not connected with the proxy solicitation and did not know what progress Mr. Nicol was making. The telephone company's information operator was unable to provide a number for Mr. Nicol's Jersey City firm. In his letter to stockholders Mr. Nicol described himself as controller of BMI from 1950 to 1954 and also as a member of the RCA accounting department from 1925 to 1930, with the NBC controller's department from 1930 to 1941 and as controller of ABC from 1941 to 1949. Columbia Records Names Miller As Director of Popular A&R Mitch Miller, heretofore concerned chiefly with single records, has been appointed director of all Columbia Records' popular artists and repertoire, according to Goddard Lieberson, president. Mr. Miller now will direct coordination and supervision of popular albums, single records and country and western material. Reporting to Mr. Miller will be George Avakian, director of popular albums, who will continue his present activities; Percy Faith, east coast musical director; Frank DeVol, west coast musical director; and Don Law, director of country and western artists and repertoire. Mr. DeVol was appointed to his post last week, replacing Paul Weston, resigned. At the same time Mr. Lieberson announced effective Jan. 1, 1958, a conversion in Columbia Records distribution, involving establishment of factory branch operations in areas representing "60% of the country's total record sales potential," namely New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. This will make a total of 12 branch operations throughout the country. "Our decision to initiate company-owned distribution reflects absolutely no criticism of our former independent distributors," said Mr. Lieberson, adding that there will be no disruption of operations with change of ownership — full present record sales department personnel .will be retained by Columbia. Headquarters of the new branches will be established in prime commercial locations. Company-designed displays in each center will serve as dealer display guides, according to plans. William Gallagher, Columbia field sales manager, will direct overall sales and promotion activities of the branches. Jack Loetz, manager of sales administration, will supervise administrative matters. Milwaukee to Hear Opponents of Pay Tv The Milwaukee Common Council on Thursday will continue its exploration of toll tv begun last Tuesday when representatives of Zenith Radio Corp., Tele Movie Development Co. and Skiatron Tv discussed plans to operate a system in Milwaukee. Opponents of toll tv in the city will have their turn this week. Tuesday's hearing followed a veto by Mayor Frank Zeidler of a resolution adopted by the council the previous week, granting Skiatron the right to negotiate with Milwaukee utility companies for cooperation in installing closed circuit toll tv systems. This action had been erroneously reported as a grant of a toll tv franchise to Skiatron [Program Service, Oct. 7]. Addressing the council at its Monday meeting, Mayor Zeidler said his veto does not represent any actual opposition to the idea of toll tv but he feels the subject should be investigated more thoroughly. Alan Lane, Skiatron vice president in charge of operations, said that in presenting the original resolution to the common council, his company is merely "putting Milwaukee on notice that we'd like to get a system installed there and that if we could work out the details with Wisconsin Bell Telephone Co., we'd be back to request a city franchise." In Los Angeles the city council is expected to set toll tv into motion this week by granting the non-exclusive franchises asked by Skiatron, International Telemeter Corp. jointly with Fox West Coast Theatres, and Harriscope Inc. An agreement between Skiatron and the Brooklyn Dodgers, giving the toll tv firm exclusive rights to the baseball team's 1958 games, became a stimulus for Skiatron to Page 84 • October 14, 1957 Broadcasting