Entrepreneurs: Selling a Piece of the Rock

Some producers give their audiences thrills and chills, but Donny Osmond, 27, wants also to give his some dividends. Osmond, one of the six singing Osmond brothers and once half of the Donny and Marie pop singing duo that hosted its own TV show, is selling shares in the Donny Osmond Entertainment Corp. (DOEC). The company will have the rights to three years' worth of Donny and Marie reruns and will produce movies, television and theatrical events. Donny pledges to spend 60% of his time on company business. Like Sinatra, Osmond will be known as the Chairman of the Board. In addition, he will hold the title of vice president of creative control. Interested fans can be known as the stockholders.

The Osmond family has always had a good sense for business. In 1977 Donny, Marie and five of their brothers built a state-of-the-art recording and television production complex in Orem, Utah. The family sold it two years ago.

DOEC offered up to 1.4 million shares at $5 apiece. The initial sale began four weeks ago and should end this week. Early word is that the shares are selling as briskly as concert tickets for Chairman Donny Osmond that other Chairman of the Board.