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THE! MUSIC
TftADE
writer that many of the coming summer song
"hits" are not only sentimental, but utterly and
hopelessly sad.
The Review's Little Joke.
It is now some weeks back since the writer
first tested the efficacy of the letters which have
EDWARD LYMAN BILL - Editor and Proprietor been sent fr,om time to time to the publishing
fraternity by the anonymous music publisher
J. B. SPILLANE, Managing Editor
who has been quoted freely in these columns.
Procuring a number of cards printed "Nemo &
J . HAYDEN-CLARENDON, E d i t o r
Rien, Slide Operators and Ballad Singers," the
Published Every Saturday at 1 Madison Avenue. New York
writer took the opportunity of sending a mes-
SUBSCRIPTION, (including postage). United States and
senger
totally unacquainted with the publishing
Mexico, $2.00 per year; Canada, $3.50 ; all other coun-
fraternity, to the leading publishing houses of
tiies. $4.no.
New York for the purpose of finding out whether
Telephones—Numbers 4677 and 4678 Gramercy
Connecting all Departments
or not the publishers were really distributing
"professional" copies indiscriminately. A canvass
NEW YORK, MAY 2 3 , 1 9 0 8
of a little over six hours netted some 215 "pro-
fessional" copies, only three publishers in twenty-
two visited refusing to give all and every song
that happened to be on their shelves. The same
scheme was tried by the writer some few days
back, when another representative with cards
printed "Singer & Gervis," attained results
which, from the writer's point of view, were both
With the opening of the summer season the 'astonishing and gratifying. Not only was the
"summer song" becomes a reality. Indeed, how- messenger catechized severely on all sides, but
ever bad time3 may be, the Munyon doctrine, a day's hard work netted but twenty-three songs,
"there is hope," springs eternal in the pub- and these all ballads—the style of song which he
lisher's breast, when the printer turns out the was instructed to ask for, should any awkward
first batch of "Trolley" and "Molly," and "Air- questions be asked. For the benefit of the pub-
ship" and other ditties, all redolent of some form lishers who may doubt the excellent work done
or other of the approaching holiday. This year, by their anonymous confrere we publish the
however, the "summer song" seems to have above. It may be said that the writer took the
taken a sentimental turn, which, from the pub- opportunity of returning the first batch of "pro-
lisher's point of view, is not unnatural when fessional" copies to their several publishers with
the existing trade conditions are taken into con- a friendly warning to look closer into the leak-
sideration. Charles K. Harris has "I'm Starving age in their professional department.
for One Sight of You"; Jerome H. Remick,
"There Never Was a Girl Like You"; Maurice
T. B. Harms Gives a Right Arm Jolt.
Shapiro, "Honor Bright, I Loves You Right Old
Whatever may have been said regarding the
Pal," while Witmark has "Just Some One" apathy of the publishing fraternity on the "pro-
to top their numerous summer sellers. Of fessional" copy abuse no charge of this descrip-
course, the lighter class of ditty is well repre- tion can be made against Max Dreyfus, head of
sented as in Harry Von Tilzer's "Summertime," the house of T. B. Harms & Co. Only last week
Cohan, Jerome & Schwartz's "Ball Game" song, the representative of a prominent vaudeville p;o-
Fred Fischer's "Under the Matzos Tree," Gus ducer called upon Mr. Dreyfus and asked for—it
Edward's "I Met Her at the Metropole," and Dick would be more correct to say demanded—"a
Temple's latest tuneful number, "Coney Isle" bunch of professional copies." "What kind of
(Francis Day & Hunter). But withal it seems song do you require?" asked Mr. Dreyfus. "All
as though the sentimental song were going to you've got," replied the visitor shortly. The
have its innings this year. Indeed, a visit to writer, who had the pleasure of hearing Mr.
Coney Island on Saturday last convinced the Dreyfus' reply, charitably draws the veil over
COMMENTS B Y - „
c
the severe jolt administered; but one thing is
certain, if ever this gentleman again demands in
the office of a reputable publisher, "a bunch of
professionals" he possesses a hide so thick that
the epidermis of an elephant would look like a
baby's kid glove by comparison.
The " W o r l d " Goes on Just the Same.
Not content with thrusting a special music
supplement upon a long-suffering public, contain-
ing among other misinformation a list of songs
with their estimated sales—estimates, by the
way, which were either compiled by the publish-
er's press agents or the Park Row bootblack—the
New York World lately printed an editorial,
headed "The Song Writer's Reward," which is
commented upon, for the reason that gush of
this description, in which the profits of song
writers are made to appear ridiculously large, is
in no small measure responsible for the succes^
of the numerous bogus music publishing con-
cerns which have flourished during the past few
years. The uninitiated imagine that there is
big money in song writing, but as a matter of
fact "big money" has been won by few com-
posers. Great successes are rare. It is, of
course, a fact that "After the Ball" did make a
fortune for Charles K. Harris, for the excellent
reason that he not only wrote and composed the
song, but also published it himself at a time
when sheet music was a salable commodity and
not regarded as so much spoiled paper. There
are, of course, other instances on record where
songs made a good deal of money, but, taken all in
all, the song writer of to-day works largely for
the glory of seeing his name neatly printed upon
a more or le^s glaring title page. In the first
place the royalties upon popular songs in this
cut-rate era rarely amount to more than 1%
cents per copy, which, of course, is divided
equally between author and composer. More-
over, the song which reaches the sale of a hun-
dred thousand copies is a rara avis, all blunder-
ing statements to the contrary notwithstanding.
With facts so easily procurable it seems a pity
that arrant, nonsense should be printed by repu-
table newspapers, which should at least make
some effort to get even a smattering of truth.
The Big Stick.
News comes from Chicago that Victor Kremer
is endeavoring to organize a "Retail Music Deal-
ers' Association of the United States." This
seems to be a step toward the solution of
M'KINLtYIO MUSIC
NOTICE OF REMOVAL
Francis, Day 6 Hunter
DEALERS WILL FIND OUR LATEST
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Without a doubt the greatest
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MR. DEALER—
It may not have reached your
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