SMALL LABEL HAS BIG '98 DESIGNS.

Byline: Stacy Brown Daily News Staff Writer

This is the time of year when releases from mainstream artists like Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson and others dominate stock at record stores, so Brett Helm is taking it easy. For now anyway.

The Santa Clarita front man and producer of the group Doc Tahri is positioning his Cash Only Records for a European concert tour next spring with super guitarist Jennifer Batten's group Tribal Rage.

``The goal in 1998 is to have much more of a live presence and to get all of Cash Only artists out there because during the holiday season corporate bigwigs rear their ugly heads and dominate the stores,'' Helm said.

Formerly the bassist for Public Image Ltd., the 38-year-old Helm plays bass, sings lead, writes songs and produces the alternative rock band as well as heads the record company.

Doc Tahri's first release, ``Einstein was a Bullfighter,'' sold more than 5,000 units in Europe and the group hopes its new release, coupled with the tour will help to increase its ever growing popularity overseas.

``We've got this goal, if you build it, it will come,'' Helm said. ``I don't have the money and power to compete with the (big guys) but I can leave a record out there longer and sell it,'' he said.

One example of Helm's theory is his Santa Clarita-based group, Vynil, which has seen a measure of domestic radio success. In Klamath Falls, Ore., 89.5-KTEC listed ``Einstein'' as one of its most requested units while songs from the album, which included ``Arrest this,'' and ``Brain Dead Endorsee,'' charted as high as No. 4 on Tampa, Fla.'s, 1075-WUTZ playlist.

If Helm's 2-year-old label is not fronted with well-known superstars, it certainly has produced artists who've gone on to work with them. Bassist Linda Taylor, a Helm product, has gone to work with superstar Tracy Chapman and Jaime Muhoberac, another of Cash Only Records' former members who has graduated to become the musical director for Grammy-winning artist Seal.

Batten, perhaps Helm's most successful stablemate, is best known as Michael Jackson's favorite guitarist. ``This is why I called Cash Only a farm club, we were meant to be a collective vehicle for great players to come through and play. I'm not sure who's going to drop in next,'' he said.

After beating out hundreds of other guitarists a decade ago, Batten has toured with the Sony music superstar on each of his last five world tours.

``They just returned from South Africa and she is stoked,'' Helm said. Batten's band, Tribal Rage, recently completed its latest album, ``Momentum,'' and will hit the road with Doc Tahri next spring.

Helm hopes the new year will bring big success to his small label.

``I am making profits now, but I gotta keep building. The funny thing is that when we do make it big people will be calling us an overnight success and I'll say, `hey, you remember when . . .,'' Helm said.

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Photo

Photo: Brett Helm, right, leads Doc Tahri.