POP/ROCK - Feb. 3, 1996

Hootie & the Business: Hootie & the Blowfish, whose debut album, “Cracked Rear View,” was 1995’s top seller with 10 million copies, are starting their own record label, to be called Breaking Records. Hootie members will help pick the bands signed to the label, an affiliate of Atlantic Records. “We’re not looking to make a gazillion dollars on this,” band manager Rusty Harmon said. “We want to help the artists develop their careers and help them help themselves.” The new label will be based in Columbia, S.C., the band’s hometown.

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Let It Be: Paul McCartney returned to his hometown this week to officially open a $23-million performing arts college he helped found at the site of his old boys-only high school. The Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts will train young people from all over the world, awarding degrees in music, drama, dance, design and management--the only British college to embrace all aspects of the performing arts. The first 200 students, accepted on the basis of their performance skills rather than academic credentials, began classes in January. McCartney, who has given more than $1.5 million to the institute, will teach songwriting classes.