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THE:
BUSINESS NOT UP TO THE MARK.
The Unseasonable Weather Which Has Been
With Us for the Past Few Months Has In-
jured the Publishing Business Like Other
Lines of Commerce—The Summer Hits Must
be Laid Up With Pneumonia as There Are
Few in Evidence
Up-to-Date—Publishing
Houses Busy With the Professionals—The
Outlook in the Musical Comedy Field Pretty
Good—The Situation Summed Up by an
Expert for the Benefit of Review Readers.
Maybe the preposterous weather that has pre-
vailed throughout the country for the past ten
days is having an effect upon the sale of popu-
lar music. At any rate, business is generally
conceded not to be up to the mark. A sort of
wet blanket has settled upon the publishers in
this branch of the trade, creating a chilliness far
from comfortable. As yet no special hit has
made its appearance, but there are a number of
excellent £e lers in the market that are "making
good." The summer song ha3 doubtless been af-
flicted with pneumonia or something else of the
kind, otherwise the air would be filled with the
vociferous claims of a dozen publishers that their
number led all the rest. Here again the moist
and disagreeable weather has interfered with a
number of well laid plans to "boost" the "hit of
the season." The summer resort season is "de-
cidedly on the blink," as one disgusted publish-
er phrased it, hoping that each day would regis-
ter the last of the surprising spring and usher in
the warm, joyful vacation time, when the throngs
make merry and gay music is in demand.
Aside from these drawbacks the publishing
houses are extremely busy with the professionals.
The studios are overrun with singers, both great
and small, trying out songs for next season's rep-
ertoire, in vaudeville sketches mainly. Firms en-
gaged in handling the better grade of ballads, and
interested in musical comedy enterprises report
a much stronger condition of business. Sales are
in fairly good volume and more evenly distrib-
uted throughout their catalogs. On the whole,
trade is far more brisk, and on a more substan-
tial basis than in the metropolitan district,
where the situation is still upset and badly de-
moralized.
Commenting upon trade affairs in a general
way a publisher remarked to The Review: "There
is no astonishing improvement in business. Sales
are in fair volume for popular music, with a
still more favorable report from houses engaged
in producing higher grade music. The retail
trade has been material 1 }' interfered with by the
unpropitious weather, but the mail order business
is very heavy. Jobbers assert their sales to deal-
ers—legitimate and regular, of course—are in
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"
PROPOSITION
U ol Interest to all dealers—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 you—write us.
F. B. Haviland Pub. Co.
125 W. 37th Street, New York
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
the main none too strong, but goods are moving
nevertheless. The Middle West are in much bet-
ter shape than we in the East, especially in and
about New York. Unless one is prepared to ac-
cept the low figures of the department store buyer
you are compelled to look for another market.
The cheap stores do not count so much as is
supposed. Their trade is peculiar in its way, and
no first-class dealer need fear their competition."
RAPID STRIDES MADE
house's own catalog includes a new waltz by
Ernest Alberti, entitled "Enchantment," a song
entitled "Tell Me You Love Me," by Mr. Wier,
and a special edition of the famous Spanish char-
acteristic march, "La Sorella," arranged by
George Rosey.
"THE MAN ON THE STREET."
American Music Stores Premier Opening—Sol
Bloom Receiver Discharged—Mrs. Tarkington
a Composer,—Copyrights in France—Other
Comments Pertinent and to the Point.
By the Hinds, Noble & Eldredge Music Depart-
ment—A Brief Resume of What They Have
Accomplished—A Splendid Record.
After much ado, the first opening of the chain
of stores to be established by the American
Music Stores, the premier publishers' combina-
tion
for retailing purposes, occurre.1 last Satur-
Hinds, Noble & Eldredge, 31 West 15th street,
New York, have been making extensive additions day at 31 Park Row, New York, with Miss Nina
to their "Most Popular" Library series. The first Hewitt, formerly with James H. Remick & Co.,
success published by them in these series was in charge. The company has established a
"The Most Popular College Songs." Previously counter there in the rear of a vaudeville parlor,
several college song books had been published where talking machines and automatic instru-
by other houses, but there seemed to be a neces- ments are the chief attraction. It is certainly
sity for some one to get out a revised book which a very modest beginning, but it is probable the
would eliminate all songs which had become ob- old saying will apply, "Great oaks from little
solete and include the new melodies which were acorns grow." On the other hand, the United
popular with the present generation. The publi- Music Stores Co., the other "Richmond in the
cation of "The Most Popular College Songs" field," have fitted up a neat, well arranged and
offered along these lines met with immense suc- creditably decorated store, about 15 x 60 feet, at
cess and to-day this folio is claimed to be the 1389 Broadway, in the heart of the theatrical ten-
standard book of its kind. Encouraged by the derloin, and have installed a piano for demon-
success of this folio, but using the same care and strating. An electric sign of* more than average
discrimination, the house issued "The Most Pop- dimensions, with a flaming red background, is a
ular Home Songs," edited by G. Clifford Noble. conspicuous object above the entrance, con-
This was the first folio published after the man- tributing its quota of bright light at night to the
agement of tne department was assumed by Great White Way. The contrast between the two
Albert E. Wier. The success of this book was places, koth as to location and equipment, is pain-
fully marked.
immediate and it has already had a sale of over
100,000 copies and is pushing steadily toward the
Sol Bloom, a corporation, with the redoubtable
250,000 mark.
Mr. B. the officially acknowledged president, on
Then Hinds, Noble & Eldredge decided to issue May 17 had an order signed by Judge Hough, of
a piano folio, entitled "The Most Popular Piano the United States District Court, discharging the
Pieces." In this -book were incorporated the receiver and dismissing the. petition in involun-
thirty-five most popular known piano pieces, and tary bankruptcy proceedings. The. concern sat-
the excellence of the book was assured by the isfied their creditors with a composition of pay-
fact that George Rosey, the well-known musician ment in full to be covered by quarterly remit-
and composer, edited each piece, in most cases tances in a year's time, dating from July 15.
making completely new arrangements.
This
book has reached its fiftieth edition of 1,000 Mrs. Louisa Fletcher Tarkington, wife of the
copies each and shows no signs of diminished novelist, Booth Tarkington, has set to music most
sale.
charmingly the well-known poem of Robert Her-
Other publications of the house which met with
rick, "To Electra." She has dedicated it to Mme.
immediate success were "The Most Popular Love Marguerite Sylva, of the Theatre Comique, Paris.
Songs" and "The Most Popular National Songs." There is every reason to believe that this song
The contents of these books are fully described
will reach an unusual popularity as soon as it
by their titles and they are both enjoying stead- comes from the press. Mrs. Tarkington, lik" her
ily increasing sales. One of the latest publica- gifted husband, is always sure of herself before
tions of the house is "The Most Popular Mando- she places her efforts on the market. Mrs. Tark-
lin Pieces," a collection of twenty-nine mandolin
ington's love for music is her dominant passion,
pieces edited by the celebrated arranger, Louis and the musical setting to this poem (which has
Tocaben. The latest publications from the house
are: "The Most Popular Orchestra Folio," edited
by George Rosey, and "The Most Popular Band
NEW YORK
Folio," edited by Robert Recker, each folio con-
CHICAGO
1431 Broadway
59 Dearborn St.
taining sixteen standard numbers, arranged in
masterly style by the musicians just mentioned.
PUBLISHERS
In addition to the above-mentioned folios,
"Under the Tropical Moon," "Won't You
which are only a portion of the entire line pub-
Let Me Put My Arms Around You,"
lished, Hinds, Noble & Eldredge are handling
"Cinderella," Inst. and Song. "Not Be-
sheet music publications of the George Rosey
cause Your Hair Is Curly," " W i l l the
Publishing Co., and have published a number of
Angels Let Me Play," "Paddy," "Can You
good pieces themselves. The Rosey catalog con-
Keep a Secret," "Vanity Fair," " I Never
tains such numbers as "Standard American
Can Forget You Dear," Kremer's Mandolin
Airs," "Grand Opera Bits," "Wooing," "Motor"
Folio, No. 1, etc., etc.
march, "Love's Meditation" waltzes, and the
VICTOR KREMER CO.
f T1/F 1 TIP AT F P C should subscribe to M. Witmark & Sons vocal and instru-
M-tM.V MJ MJMlir%.RjM-iM\& mental "New Issues" so as to keep their patrons and them-
selves in touch with the latest successes. Five cents the copy is all that is charged. Fill
in and forward attached blank.
M. WITMARK & SONS, 144 W. 37th St., New York.
Hereby agree to take one each of your "NEW" Vocal and Instru-
mental Publications as soon as issued at 5 CENTS PER COPY. This to begin
with your next shipment of same and to continue until notified to the contrary.
Name
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Reference (New York if possible)
Note—The "New Issues" are sent out monthly and no less than the COMPLETE SET
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Those with whom we have no business relations will please send reference with £rst order.