Music Trade Review

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THE
BUSINESS IS FLOURISHING
In the Publishing Trade and Current Orders
Represent Liberal Buying of Popular Issues
—Chat Upon Restrictions on Publishers—
General Conditions Dilated Upon by an Au-
thority.
Notwithstanding a growl here and there, in a
minor key, business is quite flourishing and pub-
lishers are going ahead preparing for an unusu-
ally heavy spring trade. Current orders repre-
sent liberal buying, both direct and indirect, of
the popular issues, which continue to be pub-
lished in such numbers that not a few are
crowded to the wall or relegated to the rear when
their musical worth and selling qualities entitle
them to a better and more deserving fate. Of
course, this is an old story, and while publishers
are fully alive to its significance and detrimental
effects, still no remedial steps are, or possibly
ever will be, taken.
While a ten-cent jobbing basis is talked of, its
general observance is by no means assured; for
the simple reason that while this figure may be
in the minds of some publishers, with others
having the goods the recognized rate of 12 x h
cents will be enforced, and those turning out.
"junk" will accept any old figure. It is a de-
plorable state of affairs, but is one controlled
by the laws of trade—that of supply and de-
mand—no matter what agreements may be en-
tered into, as the business is now.conducted. A
publisher whose opinions are entitled to respect
from his wide experience and high standing, on
the score of overproduction and prices, remarked
to The Review:
"My idea is a publisher should not bring out
more than five numbers monthly—three would
be better. Then, if they have merit, push and
promote them to the utmost limit. This is the
limit that my experience teaches me is right and
proper; more spells disaster. The overproduc-
tion in the publication of popular music has
been its undoing. The present endeavors to es-
tablish a uniform selling rate is poppycock, when
the elements and factors in the business are con-
sidered. Everybody knows that, and discussions
to the contrary are either lacking in sincerity
or knowledge of the real situation. The matter
must adjust itself—there is no panacea."
With publishers of serious and educational
music and higher-grade melodies an entirely dif-
ferent condition prevails. In this branch of the
Complete vocal score and Separate Numbers of
"THE ROSE OF THE ALHAMBRA"
Book and Lyrics by CHAS. EMERSON COOK.
Music by LUCIUS HOSMER.
Featuring the well-known prlma donna,
Mme. LILLIAN BLAUVELT.
Supplementary Songs In the following productions :
EDNA MAY'S New Musical Play,
"THE CATCH OP THE SEASON."
"RAINING"
By Jerome D. Kern
SHUBEHT BROS.' English Musical Comedy Success,
"THE EARL AND THE GIRL."
"HOWD YOU LIKE TO SPOON WITH ME."
Max. C. Eugene's hit, "IN ROSELAND" Intermezzo
Published by
T.
B. H A R M S C O .
126 West 44th St.
NEW YORK
"The House Melodious."
GUS EDWARDS
MUSIC PUBLISHING CO.
Publishers of Lillian Russell's and the Sea-
sons Song Hits,
" I f a Girl Like You Loved a Boy Like Me "
"Somebody's Sweetheart I Want to Be,"
and "Napoli," and Italian Love Story.
Our New Issues
"Pocahontas" (Tammany's sister). " I n a little Canoe
with Y o u " being featured by all the leading acts in
Vaudeville. "When the Green Leaves turn to Gold' a
Beautiful Rustic Ballad.
Gus Edwards Music Pub. Co.
1512 Broadway, New York.
MUSIC
TRADE
REIVIE1W
business the glamor of the gamble is conspicuous mund Corlctt, Toronto, Can., which company is
by its absence. The regular lines are looked alleged to have published other American songs.
after systematically and methodically, and this Mr. Bolton is holding the songs. He has a simi-
season has been no exception to the high char- lar consignment from Wall Lake, Correctionville
acter and general excellence of the works and and other towns. It appears that the Canadian
miscellaneous compositions bearing the imprint music dealer has been doing a big business in
the region of Sioux City.
of houses in this category. A manager of one of
these firms, known for its conservative policy
and deservedly eminent position in the trade,
ENGLISH MUSIC PIRATES PUNISHED.
said: "We do not pretend to understand the
James Frederick Willetts, who proudly boasted
attitude of the publishers of popular airs; they the self-assumed title of "The Pirate King," has
are beyond our comprehension when strict busi- been sentenced to nine months' imprisonment.
ness is in the balance. Our publications consist His associates in pirating the work and property
of merchandise that enjoys a steady sale; hits of authors, composers, and artists were at the
are unknown. Things brought out thirty years same time subjected to various lesser penalties.
ago are selling to-day better than ever. Our It thus seems that a way has at last been found
business, though prosperous and brisk and profit- to punish the people who have robbed song writ-
able, is as the serenity of a mill-pond compared ers, publishers and others of many thousands of
to the turbulent tossings of the tremendous pounds, besides so depreciating the value of a
energy put forth by many publishers of the popular song that it brought no reward to those
lighter pieces, and often to such little purpose." seeking to gain a livelihood by their work or a
return on their capital. The justice, in passing
sentence, added that the defendants, now that it
CANADIAN PIRATES OPERATING
In Sioux City and Locality—Surveyor of Cus- had been proved an illegal conspiracy, must not
toms Trying to Run the Matter Down— expect to be dealt with so lightly again. He
Underselling Copyright Songs—The Scheme regarded it as a very important case, and the
extent to which other people had been defrauded
Adoped in This Case.
was great.—Music Hall and Theatre Review,
London.
(Special to The Review, i
Sioux City, la., Feb. 10, 1906.
It has been believed that the Music Publishers'
Association of the United States had about sup-
pressed the sale of music printed by Canadian
pirates and shipped into this country. If such
is the case the practice has been resumed, and
in an apparently formidable manner, as the ap-
pended facts make clear:
J. H. Bolton, surveyor of customs and deputy
clerk of the Federal courts, has been called upon
to assist in the exposure and punishment of a
Canadian publisher operating widely in this sec-
tion, whose object is alleged to be to infringe
upon United States copyrights.
The accused publisher is engaged in securing
copies of popular music published in the United
States, printing it in Canada, where there is no
copyright upon it, and then mailing the music
to customers in the United States. Sev-
eral complaints have been received from
small towns in the region of Sioux City,
where the postmasters have held packages from
this Canadian firm subject to orders from Mr.
Bolton. He has in turn ordered the music sent
t i his office in Sioux City, and sent notice to the
publishers that if good and sufficient reason for
its preservation be not given within ninety days
the music will be destroyed.
The scheme employed by the publishers at
Toronto is to secure copies of songs copyrighted
exclusively in the United States. The copies
printed by them in Canada are exactly similar
to those of the original publication in this coun-
try; and they can be made there with impunity,
because the copyright has not been secured under
the Canadian government oy the American pub-
lishers. Then the Canadian publisher sends out
circulars to people ail over the United States ad-
vertising copies of this American song at 10
cents by mail, whereas the purchaser has to pay
25 cents for the copy in the United States be-
cause of the copyright. The scheme has been
immensely successful from the point of view of
the Canadian publisher, and the American pub-
lishers have been losers. The song writer is also
cheated out of his royalty.
Several days ago the postmaster at Lead, S. D.,
notified Mr. Bolton that a package was being held
there which he believed to be subject to custom
duty. It had been so stamped by the inspector
on the border. Mr. Bolton instructed the Lead
postmaster to open the package in the presence
of the addressee, and if it should answer certain
descriptions to send it on to Sioux City. It
proved to be a copy of a song published by Ed-
MME. NORDICA'S CONCERT TOUR.
The opera season at the Metropolitan Opera
House closes March 17. One week afterward, be-
ginning March 24 and continuing for six weeks,
Mme. Nordica will commence a spring tour of
twenty-five concerts, assisted by one or two
artists.
A new act will shortly make its appearance at
one of the leading vaudeville houses. It is being
staged by George Marion, and is entitled "The
Show Girl's Chagrin." Miss Smythe, understudy
for Lillian Russell in "Lady Teazle," and who
took Miss Russell's place upon several occasions
in the star part, is to assume the leading role
in the new sketch. "The Show Girl's Chagrin"
was written by S. B. Cassin, one of the coterie
of young librettists rapidly coming to the front.
Miss Smythe has a beautiful voice of remarkable
quality, and during the act will introduce two
entirely new songs, especially written for her,
"The Stars Are Still Shining for You" and
Under the Lovesick Tree," both "classy" songs
published by the Stern people.
Publications of
The Moore Music Co.,
Frank B. Perry, Mgr. 1345 Broadway, New York.
VOCAL.
My Heart Goes Bump-pa-di-Bump For You I
When the Evening Shades are Falling.
Sweethearts Forever.
Alice Darling.
INSTRUMENTAL.
Misses and Kisses
-
-
A Novelette.
Gallant Brigade
-
March and Two-Step.
Tanglefoot Joe - Characteristic Two-Step.
Every dealer should be on our "New Issue" list!
JEROME H. REHICK & CO.
ANNOUNCE
MY
IRISH MOLLY O"
BY JEROriE & SCHWARTZ
The terrific hit in "Sergeant Brue," sung
by Blanche Ring, and other big hits by Je-
rome & Schwartz.
JEROriE H. REfllCK & CO.
DETROIT and CHICAGO.
45 West 28th Street,
-
NEW YORK