American Notes CANDIDATES

As a founder of the Parents Music Resource Center, Tipper Gore spearheaded a campaign against offensive rock lyrics that culminated in widely publicized hearings in 1985 before her husband, Tennessee Democrat Albert Gore, and other lawmakers on the Senate Commerce Committee. Now that he is campaigning for the Democratic presidential nomination, however, Gore does not want to alienate entertainment figures who are a rich source of funds for the party. So the Senator and his wife traveled to Hollywood last month for a not entirely harmonious gathering with music-industry executives. "The Gores looked on it as an opportunity to clear the air," Press Secretary Arlie Schardt says of the luncheon, which was organized by MCA Music Entertainment Chief Irving Azoff and Lawyer Mickey Kantor. Nevertheless, the Gores did not win over many new fans. Says Miles Copeland, manager of Singer Sting: "I was most unimpressed."