Music Trade Review

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THE: MUSIC TRADE
BUSlNESSJSjtEVIVING.
Wall Street Slump Does Not Affect Music Pub-
lishers, Who Make Excellent Reports Regard-
ing Present and Prospective Conditions—
This, of Course, Is More Evident Among
Those Who Publish the Popular as Opposed
to the Standard or Classical Lines, But the
Trade as a Whole Is on a Healthy Basis.
If the music publishers have been perturbed
by the recent slump in Wall street, they care-
fully and successfully conceal it by reports of re-
viving business and along really astonishing
lines. This, of course, refers to publishers of the
light and airy melodies that are supposed to be
closer to the heart of the multitude, and there-
fore sell more rapidly—if they sell at all—than
the better grade of music. On this account the
fluctuations are more marked, and the volatility
and exuberance of its votaries is on a sliding
scale of changeableness by no means easy to fig-
ure out occasionally. Possibly the delightful spring
weather early in the week may have had its ef-
fect. At any rate, rosy reports were rampant,
and among them were those who emphatically
declared "business has been fine since the first
of the year." Of course, this statement might
be qualified by evidence extremely strong the
other way. However, no one takes exception to
a cheerful Ananias, and it is very much more
pleasant to write of the brighter side than to
dwell morosely on opposite views.
\
Among publishers in the other branch con-
ditions remain in status quo. That is to say,
trade is not only excellent, but very brisk, and
it promises to continue so indefinitely. Sales
both wholesale and retail are abundant, and at
prices very satisfactory, though charges of sharp
practice, tantamount to indirect cutting, are by
no means lacking. As every line of business
has its silver lining, despite apparently serious
talk to the contrary, it is presumed the music
publishers have their days of sunshine as well as
of gloom.
The appended optimistic opinion is therefore
given the preference, indicative of the trade sit-
uation: "Why, yes; business is fine. Now, just
for instance, here is a few sales mad3 last week
to a couple of prominent, jobbers, one foots up
57,000 copies—10,000 each for three of our hits
and the rest "down the line"; the other 15,000
for miscellaneous numbers. We cannot find any-
thing wrong with trade, and the Wall street
Vesta Victoria's New Hit
POOR
JOHN!
By the
writers of
"WAITING AT THE CHURCH"
FRANCIS, DAY & HUNTER
15 West 30th Street
NEW YORK
OUR "NEW ISSUE"
F»ROF»OSITIOI>J
la of Interest to all dealer*—we furnish
you with any quantity of our new
thematic catalogues without charge.
We publish " The Good Old U. S. A,"
"Just a Little Rocking Chair and You,"
"Keep On the Sunny Side," and other
big hits.
Let us get In touch with yon—write us.
turn-over bothers us not a little bit. The job-
bers, as a rule, are buying liberally, and that
means, as a matter of course, that the dealers are
doing their duty."
all of the whistling kind. "The White Hen" has
been playing at the New York Casino for a
month, and is booked a t this home of comic
opera for an indefinite run. Jos. W. Stern &
Co. are the fortunate publishers.
GETTING MONEY EASY.
A New Way to Fool Music Dealers—For $10
They Are Able to Join a Club With the
Privilege of Buying Music at Special Rates
—The Scheme Is Declared a Fake.
"THE MAN ONJTHE STREET."
Uncertainty of Music Fublishing Business—
T. B. Harms Co.'s New Offices—That Copy-
right Bill—Percentage of Popular Hits—
Frank
Daniel's
Success—Teaching
the
French Language by Songs—Other Com-
ments of Interest.
The publishers and jobbers of popular music
are trying to run down a concern giving their
address as West 155th street, New York, but no
The popular music publishing business is a
number, who have been inviting music dealers
to join a club for which an entrance fee of $5 is curious one. There is no way by which a pub-
charged. Then for an additional $5 they were lisher can tell what success a song is going to
accorded the privilege of buying music at special make. The very things that make one piece a
rates—very much below the market. A list—and success may mean iailure to another. No more
a long one—of the best sellers of the leading striking example of this is offered than by the
publishers, wai iurnished the retail trade, an.I multiplicity cf so-cal ed Indian songs, even when
selections there.iom would be filled by the "Mu- the writer thereof is boomed as having caught
sic Exchange." The jobbing houses East and West his theme from the original melodies studied
have been "favored" with a number of these "after a long sojourn" with the aborigines. Ten
lists, with instructions to send the music se- to one the acquaintance of the claimant to this
lected at the "club" rates designated. The pub- rot is confined entirely to the cigar store tribe
lishers were immediately made acquainted with of red men, and his composition is nearly as
the contents of the circulars, lists and other wooden.
printed matter purporting to have been sent out
by the aforesaid concern, and they at once repu-
The new offices, professional studios and busi-
diated any connection with the proposition, di- . ness departments of the T. B. Harms Co., at
rect or indirect.
1431-33 Broadway, New York, are rapidly get-
ting
into shape, though not any interruption
The jobbers thereupon compared notes, and
has been experienced either in sales or delivery
finding none of the clan had filled an order per
the "bogus" schedule, concluded that "something of goods. This week will probably finish up ths
was rotten in the state of Denmark." It appears essential work, and a cozier or more suitabla
two of these lists have been distributed, a month suite of offices for publishing will be hard to
apart, and in connection with it jobbers declare find, or where the trade or profession will re
it is impossible to sell the music included there- ceive more cordial welcome or more satisfactory
in a t the prices quoted. Unavailing attempts attention. The Theo. F. Bendix Music Publish-
have been made to locate the originators of the ing Co. also relinquished their quarters on 44th
brilliant scheme, as West 155th street is a thor- street, and now occupy an office on an upper
oughfare of some length and importance. In floor of the Theatrical Exchange Building.
Thompson's trade directory for 1906 the firm
Meyer Cohen, the manager and right-han.l
whose name is attached to the circulars, etc.,
man
of Charles K. Harris, recently secured sev-
sent out, appear as publishers in Chicago, with
a branch on West 28th street, New York. For eral very large orders. The kind that would
1907 they were not listed from Chicago, but the "knock your eye out," as it is professionally
New York address is retained. The latter is expressed.
evidently an error, for the people in question
Solely in the interest of truth, it is officially
have been away from 28th street for six months recorded that Congressman Barchfeld, of Penn-
at least.
sylvania, who introduced the House minority re-
"THE WHITE HEN" PLAYING TO "S R.O.'
The entire music of "The White Hen" is by
the well-known Gustave Kerker, of "The Belle
of New York" fame, who seems to write what
the public want. There is an irresistible swing
to his waltz song, "That's Why the Danube Was
Blue." The melody he has supplied for "At
Last We're All Alone" is so perfectly fitted that
the words and music form a most happy com-
bination. The little love song "Edelweiss" is
conceded to be the prettiest number cf the bet
ter class produced in any musical show since
the days of "Violets"; in fact, all three numbers
are splendid examples of this talented com-
poser's versatility, and the music throughout is
port on the copyiight bill, attended all the hear-
ings before the joint Patents Committees dur-
VICTOR KREMER CO.
CHICAGO
59 Dearborn St.
NEW YORK
1431 Broadway
PUBLISHERS
"Under the Tropical Moon," "Won't You
Let Me Put My Arms Around Y o u , "
"Cinderella," Inst. and Song. "Not Be-
cause Your Hair Is Curly," " W i l l the
Ange.'s Let Me Play," "Paddy," "Can You
Keep a Secret," "Vanity Fair," " I Never
Can Forget You Dear," Kremer's Mandolin
Folio, No. 1, etc., etc.
A T I P —STOCK U P ON
"SMILB, SMILE, SMILB!"
The Real Song Hit in "The White Hen"
By LOUIS MANN and M. G. BROWN
Everybody is singing, humming and whistling it
PUBLISHED BY
F. B. HavUand Pub. Co.
125 W. 37th Street, New York
45
M. WITMARK & SONS
INEW YORK
CHICAGO
UOINDOIV