Everybody knew that when these multi-national corporations merged their jazz labels, there would be a metamorphosis.  Artists would be dropped, company personnel would be downsized and the labels given a different focus.  Like any company, the bottom line is profit and the bigger the company, the more the profit.  Accordingly, there are millions of dollars at stake here.  Who says there's no money to be made in Jazz?

Remember when a corporate job in America meant a position with the company for life?

When the merger was announced, a few forward thinkers saw the handwriting on the wall and got out before the soap opera unfolded.  Veteran Verve publicist Mike Wilpizeski, one of the good guys, moved over to Telarc, although he'll remain with us in Brooklyn rather than relocate to the Cleveland based label.  Mike is one of those rare publicists who quickly returns a phone call and actually does what he promises without having to be asked again.  Why can't they all be that competent?

The old Mr. Big over at Verve, Chuck Mitchell didn't have to worry about gainful employment.  When he was quietly shuffled out of the company a few months ago, he left town with a severance package that will allow him to luxuriate on a tropical island well into the millennium.  But he'll be back, probably in Branford Marsalis' job over at Columbia/Sony when the tenorman/executive runs out of golfing buddies to sign to the label. 

Question for Branford Marsalis: Are you a musician or an executive?  Or, can you be both?

Tommy LiPuma, another one of the good guys who produced everything from "Guantanmera" to Miles, is now the main man at VIPS.   Richard Seidel, a holdover, becomes the Director of A&R.

During his tenure at GRP/Impulse, Tommy kept the reissue program going, and signed some promising new artists.  But no matter what his own musical tastes, Tommy LiPuma is going to have to march to the beat of a different drum now.  He's a company man.

Look for the label to go much more conservative.  Those new artists signed by Impulse with recordings scheduled for release momentarily are going to be dropped.  We'll probably never hear the work of Omar Avital, Jason Linder and Kurt Rosenwinkel that they did for Impulse, unless someone else buys the masters.  Also, say goodbye to Impulse artists Donald Harrison and Eric Reed, they're already history.  And look for VIPS to drop more adventurous Verve artists like Geri Allen and Graham Haynes.  On the contemporary tip, trumpeter Chris Botti is going, and Ben Neal will soon be shopping for a new deal, as well.  And no more joint ventures, meaning i.e. Music is toast, as well.

Question for Edgar Bronfman, Seagrams equivalent of Bill Gates: Is it true you hate jazz, feeling it's nothing more than jungle music?

Of course the reissue program will continue, it's their bread and butter.  Reissues are a guarantee profit center.  They cost next to nothing to produce.  But I suspect we'll see a lot of compilations with a somewhat different theme, like Great Jazz Cha-Chas, and Music To Help You Relax.

They'll be going after a different demographic now.  The beancounters don't know music, only money.  They'll probably christen a new genre, Adult Jazz, something that appeals the aging babyboomers.  What they'd really like to sign is twenty Diana Kralls.  A legion of attractive, non- threatening blonds with talent. 

This week on Celebrity Death Match: Diana Krall vs.  Elianne Elias. 

Hey, it's only a matter of time before the VIPS marketing team books Diana Krall on the Howard Stern Show.  Think of how her record sales would escalate if Stern's legions jump on her stairway to stardom

Message to Elianne Elias: Unless you're ready for Howard Stern, why don't you forget the sexy CD covers.  It's about the music, girl.

With their marketing and distribution power, VIPS truly is the 500 pound gorilla in the jazz record business.  When they decide to sell their product, be it the voluptuous blonds, or some mainstream molasses like Joe Henderson's "Porgy and Bess," look out.  They have lots of money to spend on marketing, much more than their competitors and in the end, in this media dominated society, that's what really matters.  Hype.