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THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
43
VSICrV5LISHING
TRADE PRICES DEMORALIZED.
At Least for Popular Publications—Western
Dealers Notify New York Publishers That
Unless the Supply of Goods to the Five and
Ten Cent Stores Is Stopped They Will Have
to Discontinue Their Sheet Music Depart-
ments—Prices on High Class Publications
Are Solid and Satisfactory.
lar lines, though the upper strata of publishers
have never done better. Their business has
grown slowly, but surely, and they are on a
sound basis, with nothing to fear in the future.
Every year has witnessed an improvement, and
while the slaughter of popular stuff has caused
a clamor for lower prices on standard goods, the
shading has been slight. That is to say, such
advantages as have been given are enjoyed by the
dealer, and the retail price remains unchanged.
Our friends in the popular lines do the reverse,
and we all know now what has happened. I
dipped a little into that branch of the business,
experimentally, mind you, and when I saw what
I was up against it was the regular business for
mine."
At this time of the year, when business with
the publishers of popular music is reckoned at its
lowest ebb, it is refreshing to turn to the pub-
lishing houses whose names have become widely
known and highly respected for the legitimate
and successful manner in which their affairs
have been conducted. The "popular" firms com-
STILL AMENDING COPYRIGHT BILL.
plain bitterly of the demoralized condition of
trade, the producers of higher class music are
winding up a season the most satisfactory in Congressman Sulzer Introduces Bill to Permit
the Hiring of Musical Works, Although the
their history. With the steady growth and ex-
New Bill Deals Adequately and Equitably
pansion of musical culture follows an ever in-
With the Matter—No Possibility of Its Pas-
creasing demand for publications of character
sage—Something of a "Bluff."
and repute. But the publishers of this class of
music do not run amuck in the trade cutting and
(Special to The Review.)
slashing prices for the benefit cf the consumer
Washington, D. C, June 25, 1906.
and the ruination of themselves. There is only
Evidently a desperate effort is being made to
one end to proceedings of this kind, and every
amend the copyright law so as to permit the hir-
now and then is revealed a "hard-luck" story of
ing of musical works. The new bill, introduced
how some publisher of popular music has brought
in
Congress, May 31, the hearings on which have
about his finish by methods that make the
trained business man gasp when the story is been reported in The Review, deals adequately
and equitably with the matter. But the "scalp-
told.
ers" know if this measure is enacted it will put
Perhaps another chapter will soon be added
them
out of business, so they have again rallied
to this harrowing tale, unless the rank compe-
tition of the "cheap" stores is not checked. Sev- their forces, and have succeeded in having the
eral of the largest and oldest music dealers in Bennett bill framed to legalize their practices, tan-
the West have formally notified the New York tamount to infringing copyright compositions,
publishers of popular music that unless the sup- amended and favorably reported by the House
ply of goods to the "five and ten-cent" stores Committee on Patents. The Bennett bill, intro-
is placed on a different basis, they will have to duced January 15, amended Section 4966 of the
discontinue these sheet music departments al- Revised Statutes, as follows:
"Nothing in this act shall be so construed as to
together. In one prominent Western city these
"cheap" stores display flamboyant signs read- prevent the renting of religious or secular works,
ing: "We will supply the music of any pub- such as oratorios, cantatas, masses or octavo
lisher in the country at 10 cents." When this choruses from any person, musical library, or
society, nor to prevent any person or society
has been "put up" to the publisher he replies:
"Well, they must get their goods from other from obtaining copies of any such work from any
sources; we don't sell to them." Of course, this other person, society or musical library owning
statement is not believed for the fractional part the same."
of a minute, and those on the "inside of the Those directly concerned felt satisfied no
further move would be made to effect a change in
game" know its falsity.
A publisher who knows spoke as follows to The the face of the provision in the new copyright
Review Monday: "Business is very quiet in popu- bill, to wit: "Section 1, that the copyright secured
by this act shall include the sole and exclusive
right (b) to sell, distribute, exhibit or let for
Complete vocal score and Separate Numbers of
hire, or offer or keep for sale, distribution, ex-
hibition or hire, any copy of such work."
Book and Lyrics by CHAS. EMERSON COOK.
Nevertheless, the enemy never sleeps, and
Music by LUCIUS HOSMBR.
Tuesday week the trade were surprised when
Featuring the well-known prlma donna,
Mme. LILLIAN BLAUVELT.
Congressman Sulzer, who prides himself on look-
Supplementary Songs In the following productions :
ing like Henry Clay, and having the cause of the
EDNA MAY'S New Musical Play,
"THE CATCH OP THE 8EA80N."
"pee-pul" nearest his heart, reported the follow-
"RAINING"
By Jerome D. Kern
ing in the House, with the recommendation of
SHUBDBT BROS.' English Musical Comedy Success,
"THE EARL AND THE) QIRL."
the Committee on Patents:
"HOWD YOU LIKE TO SPOON WITH ME."
Max. C. Eugene's hit, "IN ROSBLAND" Intermezzo
"Nothing in this act shall be so construed as
to prevent the performance of religious or secu-
Published bv
lar works, such as oratorios, cantatas, masses or
T. B. HARMS CO.
octavo choruses by public schools, church choirs
26 West 44th St.
NEW YORK
or vocal societies rented or borrowed from some
other public school, church choir or vocal society,
provided the performance is given for charitable
or educational purposes and not for profit."
"Come Take a Skate With Me"
Of course, Mr. Sulzer advocated its passage
with a few remarks plausible to the uninformed,
In "HIS HONOR THE MAYOR"
but entirely misleading as to the real effect on
and tliene other liila:
authors, composers and copyright owners. The
"If a Girl Like You Loved a Boy Like Me," "Some-
body's Sweetheart I Want to Be," "I'll Do Anything
Bennett bill openly indorsed the so-called "musi-
in the World for You," "Two Dirty Little Hands,'
cal library" scheme with which the trade is only
"When the Green Leaves Turn to Gold," "In a Little
Canoe With You," "Pocahontas," "You Can't Give
too familiar. The committee bill, it is held,
Your Heart to Somebody Else and Still Hold Hands
With Me," "Kiss Me Once More Good-Night," "Na-
means practically the same thing, with the "Afri-
poli," "Cherokee" and "The Hurdy Gurdy Man."
can in the woodpile" quite visible. The chances
PUB. BY G u s Edwards Music Pub. Co.
of its passage are exceedingly slim, but should
1512 Broadway, New York
it go through the House, the Senate Committee
"THE ROSE OF THE ALHAMBRA"
BLANCHE
RING'S
>
is said to be unalterably opposed to any change
in the copyright law until the new copyright bill,
on which further hearings will be given next ses-
sion, is reported upon.
REVIEWOGRAPHS.
Early in the month Allan M. Hirsch, author of
the famous "Boola" song, the classic football
anthem of Yale College, was married at Montclair,
N. J., to Ellen H. Reid, of that place. Mr. Hirsch
graduated from Yale in 1901. The event was
quite a society function.
Frank Pixley, the librettist, returned from
Japan last week, bringing with him the com-
pleted book of his new piece, "The Grand Mogul."
It was accepted by Klaw & Erlanger, and Gus
Luders, the composer, will begin work on the
score at once. Prank Moulan will have the title
part and Maude Lillian Berri will sing the prima
donna role. The new opera will be staged in
November in one of Klaw & Erlanger's theaters.
Following the erection of a new building, 50
by 125 feet, four stories, by G. Schirmir, at 69-71
Bank street, New York, for a publishing and
printing plant, the premises at 108 East 16th
street will be devoted entirely to their wholesale
and shipping departments, removing them alto-
gether from the Union Square place. J. L. Tin-
dale, who is manager of the wholesale branch of
the business, is now on an extended vacation,
running into the city occasionally to supervise the
fitting up and arrangement of this department.
"That story The Review had recently about
Senator Kittredge, of Idaho, and George W. Fur-
niss, with the Oliver Ditson Co., about news-
papers in the trade," remarked a publisher, "re-
minds me that when The Review handles news
BIG
HITS t
"HOYTONO."
Latest Japanese Intermezzo.
"YALE BULL DOG"
Latest College Song.
80 per cent, off list for limited time only.
VOGUE MUSIC PUB. CO.
Aborn Hall Bldg.
New London, Conn.
Orchestrations Free to Leaders.
^Francis, Day & Hunter's^
POPULAR HITS
Waiting at the Church
50 cts.
(The Craze of New York)
Valse Royale
-
-
60 cts.
Beautiful French Waltz
By Allred Margls, Composer ol "Valse Bleue")
, DAY & HUNTER, 15 W. 30th St.. New Y o r k ^
LOOK!
HAPPY HEINE
IS THE MOST TALKED OF
M A R V H TWO-STEP.
Do you play it ?
JEROME H. REMICK & CO.
4S West 28tti Street,
Mew York