First CD 'From The Girls' Is For The Girls.

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Author: Hay, Carla chay@billboard.com

Tuned In: The Tube

It is only fitting that the first CD to bear the Oxygen TV network's name is a compilation of female artists.

The New York-based, female-targeting Oxygen has made a deal with Nettwerk America Records that will result in the Jan. 13, 2004, release of "Oh! From the Girls." The CD features 15 tracks from female solo artists and bands led by female vocalists.

The CD's songs include Sarah McLachlan's "Angel," Dido's "Thank You," Stacie Orrico's "Stuck," Aimee Mann's "Calling It Quits," Avril Lavigne's "I'm With You," the Pretenders' "I'll Stand by You" and Sixpence None the Richer's "Don't Dream It's Over."

There are also two previously unreleased live tracks: Tori Amos' "Cornflake Girl" and Macy Gray's "Come Together," both of which were recorded at the artists' respective Oxygen Custom Concerts this year (Billboard, May 31).

Equally important to the music is the cause behind the album: Its proceeds will benefit Oxygen's Oh! Get the Money charity, which raises money for female entrepreneurs.

"Nettwerk approached us to do a female-oriented CD," Oxygen VP of talent relations and music programming Julie Insogna explains. "They wanted to tie it into a charity that was related to women, and they figured Oxygen was a natural place to go. They also liked that Oh! Get the Money wasn't a typical charity."

As for choosing which artists would be on the compilation, Nettwerk co-founder Mark Jowett says, "The natural proclivity was to focus on female singer/songwriters. We tried to be as democratic as possible and have artists that people would embrace."

In an example of company synergy, the album features artists who are also signed to Nettwerk Management, a sister operation of the Nettwerk label. The Nettwerk-managed acts include McLachlan, Dido, Lavigne and Sixpence None the Richer.

Insogna says that although Nettwerk handled the bulk of the A&R responsibilities and costs for the album, Oxygen made sure the network had a say in the artists selected for the CD.

"Some of the artists they initially picked didn't necessarily represent our brand," Insogna elaborates. "The artists might have been too pop or too adult contemporary, so we had to make sure that all of the artists made sense to our viewers."

Marketing of "Oh! From the Girls" will encompass Oxygen's on-air promotions, Internet campaigns and Oxygen sweepstakes that will include giveaways of the CD. According to Oxygen, the network reaches 49 million U.S. cable households.

Insogna says the network will not rule out the possibility of a sequel to the CD: "We're always looking for an opportunity to get the Oxygen brand name out there."

IN BRIEF: Two music-video directors have left A Few Miles North Productions for new representation: Charles Jensen has signed with Culver City, Calif.-based production company Anonymous Content, while Erik White is now with RAW Entertainment in Los Angeles.

PHOTO (COLOR): McLACHLAN: HER SONG 'ANGEL' IS ON THE CD

PHOTO (COLOR)

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By Carla Hay