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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
47
In tKe World of Music Publishing
REVIEW OF TRADE CONDITIONS.
Business in a Rather Standstill Condition—
Not Unusual for This Time of the Year—
Looking Forward to the New Year With a
Feeling of Optimism—Collections Somewhat
Better—The Publisher's Position To-day as
Compared With t h e Past
Interestingly
Defined—Some Present Day Evils.
imagination of its ambitious publisher, and in
saying this I wish to give full credit to every
really original composition that has achieved a
popularity outlasting temporary good fortune.
There are too many—altogether too many for the
welfare of the business. But how are you going to
choke off this ocean of song, instrumental, and
what not? Publishers are making the mistake
of their lives in rushing such an enormous list
into print. The jobber is in a quandary what to
buy without being charged with lack of judg-
ment or risking his capital foolishly. I t is a
problem which unless quickly solved must lead
not on to fortune, but to the deep ditch of igno-
minious failure."
strictly popular field his judgment has? also pro-
vided not a few well known issues. His correct-
ness in gauging the public taste in Instrumental
numbers has also been demonstrated by record
sales.
One great aid to Sol. Bloom's progress is his
ability to choose able lieutenants. In Chicago
this is evidenced by the able manner in which
his affairs are handled by Miss Hattie Bloom, as
manager, with Miss Hana Mintz as principal as-
sistant. Lee Hechheimer, the Frisco manager,
is an active and resultful partisan, and his New
York City interests are in the competent hands
of such proven people as William H. Penn, I.
Waldman Teschner, Hattie Foley, Arthur A.
Penn, George Moody and Raymond A. Browne.
Considering the time of year, when sheet mu-
sic is not receiving the attention that publiah-
ers believe should be accorded their publications,
business is in a mixed condition. Orders are
not lacking, but their size really represents a
minimized demand that does not make glad the
SUCCESSFUL SOL. BLOOM.
hearts of those engaged in the marketing of this
REV1EWOQRAPHS.
class of goods, speaking in a strictly commercial
Starting in a characteristically modest manner
sense. Writers are rich in inspirations and pro- in Chicago, some seven or eight years ago, Sol.
John W. Bratton's first big hit in the popular
lific in output, but publishers are rather loath Bloom has caused the one small room on Wabash song line was "Sunshine of Paradise Alley,"
to the modest flotation of new things let alone avenue to extend into whole floors in three which he wrote in collaboration with the late W.
rising to feats of enterprise. The situation will cities—New York, Chicago and San Francisco— H. Ford. It has been sung in all parts of the
not warrant the hazard or the investment, yet
wprld and is still heard occasionally. Mr. Brat-
no dissenting voice is heard concerning the pros-
ton's other great song hits are "Only Mo,"
pects of the new year. Such opinions as are ex-
"Henrietta, Have You Met Her?" "Isabelle" and
pressed by publishers and jobbers of sufficient
"I Love You in the Same Old Way." His most
standing and repute to command attention, and
recent songs, written in conjunction with Paul
be considered as an authentic utterance, have
West for special musical productions are "I'm on
the rosiest tinge. It is agreed that business will
the Water Wagon," for Frank Daniels; "My
be big and with a big B to boot, and therefore
Cozy Corner Girl" and "In Black and White,"
the quietude of the holiday season cannot pass
for "The School Girl," and "Can't You Guess?"
too quickly. Collections are slightly better with
for May Irwin. These songs are published by M.
the distributing houses, though the improve-
Witmark & Sons, New York. Mr. Bratton is at
ment is slight, dealers on an average framing
present engaged in writing the music for "The
up many stupid as well as ingenious pleas for
Pearl and the Pumpkin," Klaw & Erlanger's big
deferring settlement of their accounts until they
spectacular production, the book of which is from
either feel more inclined or are in stronger
the pen of Paul West.
finances.
A comprehensive glance of the field, supplied
With the jobbers who deal more directly with
The Review, Monday, by a publisKer of energy
the dealers, this has been a time of travail when
and acumen, is subjoined: "I tell you the pub-
collections are under consideration. The excuse
lishing business does not occupy the position in
offered by debtors of long standing for non-pay-
the community it once held, hence the uncer-
ment of bills would fill a bulky volume, and
tainty and risk. Houses devoting their time and
many of these are of an ingenious, and a few
capital to standard lines grow slowly, but sure-
of a humorous tune. If a particularly cantank-
ly, while the kind deteriorating are engaged al-
erous customer is encountered his name goes into
most wholly in producing the popular pieces.
the "cut-off" box until a satisfactory settlement
SOL. BLOOM.
There is no need to dwell particularly upon the
is made.
first named, for they speak for themselves. In the tiny enterprise having grown to large propor-
The new year will bring forth a list of song
the other schedule or classification the troubles tions. And just two things did it all—original-
originate and have their abiding place. The Re- ity and hustle. That both these attributes are novelties by the "House of Harris," which will
view, in a recent issue spoke truthfully of the his no one who knows Sol. Bloom, or his record, be a surprise to the profession as well as to the
professional grafters—and I speak advisedly— will deny; for he started without a dollar, evolv- public and the managers. No two songs will be
alike. The list will be published in The Review
only the remarks might have been more strongly ing vast interests out of mere nothing.
Admirers of this aggressive publisher have no the beginning of the year. Among the instru-
expressed and there kept within proper bounds.
Time was when singers paid for the privilege of hesitancy in saying that a great aid to his suc- mental numbers, bearing the Harris imprint, and
using songs—but those were halcyon days, never cess has been a fortunate facility for choosing which are meeting with great success throughout
to return. Now, publishers are 'touched' by a just the right works to publish; in other words, the United States with the prominent bands, or-
young army of these parasites—I might say his catalogue contains a large percentage of sell- chestras and leaders, are the following: "Our
daily—making the same promises to all who will ers and very little dead wood. In the former President" (march), "Down the Pike" (march),
listen to tales of woe or be influenced by their category are many standard writings, and in the "March of the Eagles," "Swanee Rag," "New
blandishments, and then fooling us all. This
kind are a disgrace to their so-called profession
iT* SUCCESS
and a nuisance, if not a menace, to the music
business. On the other hand, there are profes-
sional singers self-respecting, sincere and honor-
able, and these are always welcome, for they ask
no odds of anyone and are a pleasure to have
Book and Lyrics by GLEN MacDONOUGH
Music by VICTOR HERBERT
dealings with.
Absinthe Frappe
50 I Brought Them Home to Mother
"Then, another great drawback is the enor-
50
The Matinee Maid
50
mous output of the publishing houses. New pub-
The
Coon
Banshee
50
A Knot of Blue
• •
50
lishers are appearing weekly, and each has a
The
Jack
0'Lantern
Girl
50
Beatrice Barefacts • •
50
list which soon assumes the dignity—in size
only, mind you—of a catalogue. Now all sorts
Selection
1.00
Waltzes
75
of inducements and prices are made to get the
March
50
Lanciers
• • 50
stuff on the market. Each separate effort, unless
50
Al Fresco-Intermezzo-
made on the recognized basis of regularity, has
a tendency to demoralize selling conditions. I t
takes a mighty good thing to emerge from the
ruck and be so pre-eminently better as to be
called an actual hit. Like the poor, the hit is
CHICAGO
LONDON
always with us, but how? Generally only in the
"IT HAPPENED ] [N NORDLAND."
M. WITMARK & SONS, New Yo*k