Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Conducted by B. B. Wilson
THE PRACTICE OF SELLING SONGS TWICE SHOULD STOP.
Several Recent Cases in the Trade Indicate That Publishers Should Take Action to Protect Their
Interests in Contracting to Publish Numbers—Too Much "Forgetfulness."
A problem that promises t cause considerable
worry for some music publishers is the growing
number of cases wherein songwriters have, either
intentionally or unintentionally, placed practically
the same song with two concerns at intervals and
thereby caused considerable trouble and expense
tor publishers, to say nothing of law suits and
threatened law suits. Within the last few weeks at
leasv three cases of this character have been
brought to the attention of trade, and a most
flagrant case cropped up last week which involved
two prominent houses. In the last case one con-
cern had signed a contract to publish a certain
number and paid substantial advance royalties to
the writers about five years ago, although the song
has been held in manuscript since. Recently it was
learned that another publishing house had is-
sued a number in professional copy form that had
a slightly different title but with a melody exactly
the same and lyrics also the same as the original
song with the exception of about a dozen words
that might well have been changed for the purpose
of editing.
Fortunately the two publishing houses involved
appear inclined to settle the matter through arbi-
tration and there is every prospect that the efforts
will prove successful for the second publisher was
really innocent of any previous agreement regard-
ing the song, when he published it.
The question arises, however, as ti> just how
frequently these "mistakes" on the part of song-
writers are to be permitted to continue. Tho
courts have ruled that a contract between a song-
writer and a publisher is just as binding as any
other strictly business agreement and is not to be
considered as simply a "scrap of paper" of the inter-
national treaty standing. It might be well for the
publishers to announce publicly the purchase of all
songs, even though it showed their hands.
There should be some definite action to stop such
practices both among the publishers, who suffer
financial loss, and the better class of writers who
suffer in reputation for the acts of the few. There
is enough imitation and duplication in popular
songs that may be excused on the plea of accident
without having to combat that which smacks ot
direct intention to "put one over" or rank careless-
ness regarding business obligations.
BETTER TONE TO THE TRADE.
CAPTURED MUSICAL CROOK.
Satisfactory Number of Successes Move Pub-
lishers to Take on New Life and to Go After
Business Strongly and with Success.
Whatever the improvement in business in the
sheet music publishing and selling field amounts to
in the matter of dollars and cents, the fact remains
that the confidence of the trade has fully returned
and with it the apparent desire to become active,
issue and push new music and get results instead
of sitting still and bewailing the existence of hard
times. Since the first of the year there is hardly a
concern, at least none of ihe larger ones, that has
not issued new music and met with a satisfactory
measure of success with it.
There have been a number of real hits marketed
and a large number of really good sellers, the sort
tiiat go to make up the regular increase in the
sales reports. V\ itli the general improvement in
trade conditions throughout the country, and es-
pecially in the West, there is every reason to be-
lieve that the music trade will receive its usual
share of the business that will develop. The craze
for "soldier' songs, fox-trots and other dance
music, the ever faithful ballads and even the cake-
walks has served to keep things going nicely for
the past few months.
TIPPERARY GUARDS
MARCH
b
ONE-STEP
E T PAULL_
Description Printed in the Music Trade Review
Enabled Police to Land Harry Fox in Green-
field, Mass.—Pleads Guilty in Court.
The Greenfield police force added another laurel
to its accumulation recently by annexing the per-
son of Harry Fox, twenty, of the world in general,
who has cut a wide swath as a swindler and has
been obtaining money under false pretenses in
many of the cities from Indiana to the Atlantic
coast. Fox was arrested yesterday afternoon in
Lamb's music store on Federal streeet by Officer
Burns and Chief Manning, and was arraigned this
morning in the district court before Judge H. J.
Field on the charge of obtaining money under false
pretenses from a well-known Greenfield man.
The Music Trade Review furnished the clew
which enabled the Greenfield police to nab Fox,
the issue of that magazine for March 6 printing a
warning from Leo Feist, Inc., to the effect that
Harry Fox was representing himself as connected
with that concern for the purpose of winning the
confidence of hotel managers and others, and thus
securing money.
Fox borrowed money from a well-known local
man yesterday and when arrested had a check in his
possession. Later he appeared at Lamb's store,
ONE MILLION COPIES
will be told of these 3 big instrument*! httf. We picked
them a* our "Big" ones for 191S and we are going after
"good and forte." You know what that t
SILVER FOX
FOX TROT
An instantaneous sure fire Raggy Fox Tro
hit by Henry Lodge. We are having call* for
it everywhere.
A LA CARTE
ONE STEP
Abe Holzmann's jingling, tingling, ringir
one step. A sensational instrumental nutnbe
GERALDINE
VALSE HESITATION
The catchiest, most melodious and charmin.
waltz published.
A musical masterpiece by
Henry Lodge.
JEROME H. REMICK & CO.
THE HOUSE THAT MADE INSTRUMENTAL
MUSIC FAMOUS IN AMERICA
^DETROIT, MICH.
NEW YORK, N.
and as Mr. Snow, the proprietor, had seen the
warning in the trade journal, he immediately be-
came suspicious and notified the police.
In district court this morning Fox pleaded guilty
and was held one week for trial. In default ot
$-•(00 sureties he went to jail.- (Greenfield, Mass.,
Recorder, March 17.
PIANO MAN A SUCCESSFUL COMPOSER.
C. \Y. Toner, of the Meyer-Toner Piano Co.,
Seattle, Wash., has gained a considerable reputa-
tion in that section as a composer, through the
medium of a number of songs that have been pub-
lished with much success. Mr. Toner's latest efforts
include "When Evening Comes," a ballad; "Rock-
a-Rve, Rock-a-Bye," a cradle song, and "What the
Flowers Say."
The David Publishing Co. has been incorporated
under the laws of Delaware for the purpose of
publishing music and other works. I he capital
stock is $50,000. Incorporator, R. G. David.
Pittsburgh.
TIPPERARY GUARDS
New March and One Step, by E. T. Paull
The Latest Instrumental Success
It's a Hummer. Something Everybody Can Play, Something
Everybody Can Dance. Brand New. Just Published.
A Positive Winner
A Special Introductory Rate to any Dealer who will Address the Publishers
E. T. PAULL MUSIC CO., 243 West 42nd St., NEW YORK