Music publishing companies are always alert to the possibility of signing new songwriting talent.

However it is a good competition for recruiters who want to sign new talent in European clubs.

Studios are reluctant to agree to guarantees but accept them as part of the deal for signing major talent.

"The fact is that the best clubs in the world do sign young talent," Bradley said.

But he emphasized that he would push to sign new talent.

Until last year, Ms. Richards, who is 33 years old, did everything herself, from signing talent to lining up band interviews.

Jazz record producers and the people at labels who sign young talent have to start going to clubs to find what's there, who's doing what.

Instead of putting lawyers and promotion people in charge, Interscope gave decision-making authority to artists, producers and those who sign talent.

This enabled him to sign and develop new talent on the Philadelphia scene at the time.

The changes were made because new top executives of MCA want the music group to aggressively sign young talent and rapidly increase business.