TIME OUT: Mercury Records’ new co-presidents, Ed...

TIME OUT: Mercury Records’ new co-presidents, Ed Eckstine and Mike Bone, haven’t wasted much time letting staffers know that after the label’s woeful 1990 performance it’s time for a new ‘tude around the home office, especially when it comes to getting to work on time. Any employees who arrived after 10 a.m. the other morning were told to stop by Bone’s office, where he delivered a little pep talk. “I told ‘em they had plenty of options,” Bone said. “They can come in at 9:30. They can come in at 10. But coming in at 10:30 is not an option.” . . . The good news at Mercury? The label has a hot new pop group, Material Issue, whose debut single, “Valerie Loves Me,” is already getting airplay on KROQ-FM. The Chicago-based group’s album, “International Pop Overthrow,” was produced with the Shoes’ Jeff Murphy and is due out this week.