ABBA races to beat Blondie to home video market EX U.S.

London, 19th February 1980

As home video and the music business continue to eye each other with interest, but with unresolved apprehension over clearance agreements, Sweden’s Europa Film has firmed a deal with Polar Music International for release next month of a bunch of ABBA songs on video cassette.

All ABBA’s material is penned by members Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, and the ABBA operation, headed by Stig Anderson holds all performing and publishing rights. It seems almost certain that the Europa “audiovisual album” will be first into the market, ahead of Chrysalis Records’ cassette of Blondie’s Eat to The Beat, which can’t be out before the beginning of April, 1980.

The ABBA release, however, covers only territories which use the PAL colour TV standard. Those include most Western European countries, Australia and South Africa, but exclude the U.S. and Japan (which use the NTSC system) and France, the Mideast and the Eastern block (SECAM).

Called ABBA Music Show, the tape will comprise seven numbers previously released in audio form. Visuals have been specially created, apparently, and aren’t taken from existing TV or feature film material. Transcribed for ABBA World

Variety (New York) · Wednesday, 20 February 1980 (Page 73)

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