Industry Profile: Donald Tarlton

— Jane Cohen and Bob Grossweiner

Donald "Deke" Tarlton has been one of the most influential people in the Canadian music industry for more than 30 years, from concert promoter to record company owner. He has promoted concerts by practically every Canadian, American and international artist. Since leaving the concert promotion industry in 1998, he has devoted most of his energies to various record labels, and even started a Canadian music trade publication. Today, he is chairman of The Donald K Donald Group of Companies which includes Aquarius Records, Tacca Musique and DKD D-Noy, But that's not all…

In the 1960s, Donald launched Donald K Donald Productions, one of Canada's most celebrated concert promotion organizations. In 1991 he sold and merged the company with the BCL Entertainment Group, becoming CEO. Then again, in the mid-'90s, he again sold and merged the company's Canadian concert holdings with MCA Concerts, a partnership of Universal Concerts and Molson Breweries to form Universal Concerts Canada, now known as House Of Blues Concerts.

Donald has produced more than 5,000 events, including record-breaking concerts with the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Tina Turner, Madonna, Supertramp, Michael Jackson, George Michael, Frank Sinatra, Queen, The Backstreet Boys, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Elton John, U2, Janet Jackson, Kiss, Bryan Adams, Genesis, Rush, Phil Collins, Bruce Springsteen and every major star of the last four decades. He gained notoriety throughout the entertainment industry for his global tour producing work with Céline Dion, André Rieu, Corey Hart, April Wine and several other attractions. He has also co-produced four Broadway shows including the Tony Award nominees "Tango Argentino" (1986) and "Black and Blue" (1989).

He surprised many when he resigned as a concert promoter from Universal in fall 1998 to reorganize and re-ignite his record company holdings, and to restructure his original tour production, talent packaging and artist development agency. Since the 1969 debut of his label, Aquarius Records, Donald has had a particular vision in mind -- to create a company that truly endeavors to support Canadian artists and to effectively promote their music to as many ears as possible around the world.

Now, more than 30 years later, Donald has seen his vision come to fruition. He is the Chairman of Le Groupe DKD / The Donald K Donald Group of Labels which operates under the leadership of Mark Lazare, president, and oversees three independent labels -- Aquarius Records, Tacca Musique and DKD D-Noy.

Aquarius (distributed by EMI Music Canada) is one of Canada's most important independents for over 30 years and this year was voted Canada's Independent Label of The Year at the 19th Annual Canadian Music Industry Awards on Feb. 28. The roster includes Canadian Radio Music Awards "Best New Rock Group", international superstars Sum 41, Serial Joe, Rubberman, Pigeon Hole, Antoine and the stars of the comedy film, Fubar. The roster includes the catalogues of April Wine, Sass Jordan, Bif Naked, Vann, Liquid and Corey Hart. Aquarius is also involved in a joint venture partnership, Awesome*DKD, an urban pop and R & B production company, under the direction of urban A&R specialist Asim "Awesome" Awan.

Tacca Musique, distributed by Select, is Canada's hottest French label, with Québec superstar Kevin Parent and multi-selling artists Nicola Ciccone, France D'Amour, Jodie Resther, Annie Brocoli, the unique Jorane and up-and-comer Dumas. DKD D-Noy is a dance specialty label under the direction of its Co-Founder and President Daniel Desnoyers, the top-rated CKMF and Radio Energie dance music air personality and Musique Plus' D.J., and the home of the gold-selling, successful "Le Beat", "DanseXpress" and cutting edge "Spin " compilation series.

Donald is also chairman of the DKD D Group of Labels, which is directed by President Janie Duquette and includes DKD Disques and DKD D-O. It is the home of La Chicane, whose albums En Catimini and Disparu have topped the sales charts for several years. Duquette has also formed a new label, "BoomBox", a joint venture with Donald and Boom Desjardins, vocalist and frontman of La Chicane. BoomBox recently released its first project by former La Chicane bassist Dany Bedar, who is breaking big throughout Quebec.

With effective distribution, booking, promotion, publicity and marketing teams in place, the companies have achieved worldwide attention from platinum and gold sales with several artists, sold-out shows across the country and U.S. label signings for numerous artists. A series of international label deals in top markets around the world will be announced soon.

In addition to label activities, Donald is also co-chair and co-publisher of Canadian Music Network, the country's highly regarded music industry trade magazine, which he co-founded in partnership with his good friend, artist manager and recording/ music publishing executive John Woodruff, publisher of The Music Network (Australia). Additionally, Donald is CEO of Dekeland Investments Inc. and is a shareholder in Generation, a talent agency serving Canadian attractions.

As an active industry executive, Donald serves the industry as vice chair of the Canadian Association of Broadcaster's Starmaker Fund, a director of CARAS (The Canadian Association of Recording Arts and Sciences) and as a partner in Fidec, (La Financiere Des Entreprises Culturelles), a Quebec entertainment investment organization. Donald sits on the boards of several community charities and was recently honored by his country with his appointment and investiture into The Order of Canada.

How do the Canadian and American concert markets differ?
Canada Rocks ... less developed urban music focus.

Why did you sell DKD?
I imagine you are referring to my first sale of the concert company Donald K Donald Productions. What is that they say about an offer you simply can't refuse? I seem to remember that I found myself in the middle of a Michael Cohl vision -- he and the CEO of Labatt Brewery had a strategy of one united concert company from coast to coast in Canada that I would run and he would focus with Arthur Fogel to grow his global touring vision. The second sale was more of an exit strategy for Labatt and a merger involving a group of BCL Companies including CPI, DKD Productions and Perryscope with MCA Concerts and Molson Brewery to form Universal Concerts Canada.

What happened to your retirement?
I might have fooled my wife for a few days but as she tells the story, "We went golfing on Saturday, drove up to the mountains on Sunday and left for the office on Monday at 7 a.m., and I haven't seen him since!"

Truth is I never really retired. I simply retired as a concert promoter. It was time for a change and a new challenge. The record business was most appealing as it presented an opportunity to be involved with young talented artists at the very beginnings of their career. Sum 41, from a record company perspective, sure beat insulting agents (or so some said) with my puny offers.

What did Michael Cohl mean to the touring industry in Canada and worldwide?
He was a daring risk-taker with big, big gonads who surrounded himself with skilled, devoted, loyal and talented associates. In Canada, he perfected the outdoor show and focused on venue and market control. He was also smart enough to make the deals and let Arthur Fogel, Norman Perry and myself do the promoting.

Worldwide he simply had a lot of better ideas - he paid attractions a lot of money and then treated them as preferred clients earning them even more money by developing new revenue centers and maximizing exciting and creative opportunities. He is a Hall of Fame visionary!

First industry job
Disc jockey on a St Jerome radio station, CKJL, where I was fired for playing "She Loves You" 26 times in a row…I like to think I was the first free-form DJ, but in reality, at that time it was the only song the listeners ever requested.

Career highlight
Pink Floyd…three nights at Olympic Stadium in Montreal -- 83,000 people x 3 nights … thanks to Steve O'Rourke and Mike Farrell.

Career disappointment
The Backstreet Boys not renewing their merchandise deal with Norman Perry and me.

Greatest challenge
My career focus change to records in the late '90's, and trying to be a successful and profitable indie against multi-national domination of the Canadian marketplace.

Best business decision
To work in the early '90's as the tour producer and promoter with a young French Canadian girl who had just learned English and had released her first English album -- Celine Dion -- and her visionary manager Rene Angelil…first concert - 117 people in Calgary, Alberta.

Worst business decision
An affair of the heart and not the head -- deciding to maintain my career as an independent concert and tour producer rather than signing a non-compete and taking a 13 percent equity investment in TNA … it is alleged that TNA later sold to SFX for $88 million (U. S.) That would have been 13 percent of $140 million Canadian … eh! However, I did okay just the same and had some of the greatest years of my life working with Celine and Rene.

Best business advice to share
Maintain passion and enthusiasm or get out.

Most memorable concert/event
The benefit Concert and National Canadian Telethon for the Saguenay, Quebec flood victims with participation by Celine Dion, Bryan Adams, Kevin Parent and almost the entire Quebec music industry … this event was instrumental in later being honored by my country with "The Order of Canada."

What people would be surprised to learn about you
Our organization signed, and were the first record company to be involved with, April Wine, Corey Hart, Sass Jordan and most recently Sum 41 … I have co- produced four Broadway shows "Tango Argentino", "Flamenco Puro", "Black and Blue" "Tango Passion" and have experienced several Tony nominations.

Office paraphernalia
E-mail fanatic.

Industry mentor(s)
Michael Cohl, Arthur Fogel, Mitch Rose and Rene Angelil.

Industry pet peeve
Working with anyone who refuses to think and function outside the traditional box.

Donald ("Deke") can be reached at 514 939 3353 ext. 246; e-mail: Donald@dkd.com

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