FOREIGNER AFFAIRS: Foreigner’s Rick Wills is going...

FOREIGNER AFFAIRS: Foreigner’s Rick Wills is going to work on a solo project this year. But wait--he’s not just ducking out and making an album. The noted bass player has joined forces with the Westwood One Radio Network, where he’s been named East Coast director of talent acquisition for the sprawling radio conglomerate. According to a spokesman for Westwood One, Wills (who lives in New York) will help attract both new and established artists for such programs as Superstar Concert Series, In Concert and the Off the Record music and interview show. “We expect him to make a valuable contribution,” the spokesman said, noting that Westwood One has featured Foreigner in its music and interview programming as well as co-sponsoring the U.S. portion of the band’s 1985 tour. “He can speak from experience as to how we’ve supported acts we’ve worked with in the past.”

The unusual arrangement would seem to give Foreigner especially close ties with the radio giant, but a Westwood One spokesman insisted it by no means represents a conflict-of-interest. “It’s not as if we’re covering the band, the way a newspaper or TV outlet would. We’re in the business of sponsoring and presenting artists, not doing exposes on them.” Wills said that his new post would not interfere with his status with Foreigner, which he said will begin recording a new album this May. “This job is a separate entity,” Wills said. “It will not affect Foreigner’s future plans at all.”