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54
THE
HIGHER PRICES ESSENTIAL.
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW
SINGS ACROSS CONTINENT.
A NEW MUSIC SELLING SYSTEM.
Cost of Physical Production of Music Alone a Strains of "Wake Up America" Carried from
New York to Pacific Coast by Telephone.
Serious Consideration for the Publisher.
The announcement made by Leo Feist, Inc., last
week to the effect that the prices of orchestrions
would be increased from 40 to 60 per cent, on April
1 has apparently been welcomed by the publishing
trade, and there have been several publishers who
have intimated that they would take a similar step
very soon. The reason being given that the increase
was "imperative" does not sound very mysterious
to the initiated, for the general conditions have
been such that it was only a question of time when
increased prices would not only be desirable but
necessary, and the sooner it came the better.
In the line of popular music, the action of sev-
eral publishers in holding their leading and most
de-sirable numbers at a "production" price has
opened the way for better returns. The effect on
the big ten-cent store syndicates is already apparent,
according to those in close touch with the situation,
and the removal of a number of good numbers out
of. their reach has found them more inclined to
give consideration to available material. Mean-
while the legitimate sheet music dealer can show
what he can do with the opportunities offered.
The increased prices do not represent an arbi-
trary stand on the part of the publishers, but have
been necessitated by the higher cost of production.
Shortly after the first of the year The Review pub-
lished an interview with Will Teller, of Robert
Teller, Sons & Dorner, the prominent music print-
ers, in which Mr. Teller stated that owing to
the greatly increased cost of printing music and
particularly of supplying title pages in several col-
ors, had hit his very necessary branch of the busi-
ness very hard, and that the increased cost of
production was bound to be felt by the music pub-
lishers at an early date. Paper stock, especially
white paper, has advanced in price tremendously,
chiefly owing to the scarcity of bleaching materials.
Inks, particularly colored inks, have not only in-
creased in price, but the supply is so limited that
the manufacturers and wholesalers will only supply
small quantities as actually needed to regular
customers.
SOUSA USESJfAGER MARCH.
One of the features of a recent Sunday night
concert a t ^ e Hippodrome by Sousa and his band
was the playing of the march "White Bird," com-
posed by Fred Hager. The march is published by
Charles K. Harris.
Henry Waterson Head of a New Scheme for
Distributing Music Through Stores.
"Wake Up, America," the new preparedness
Henry Waterson, head of the Waterson, Berlin &
song by George Graff, Jr.,.and with music by Jack Snyder Co., has evidently started something again
Glogau, is rapidly winning its way to popularity with the Globe System, Inc., in which he has a
and is being featured in a big way. The number controlling interest, and which has introduced a
was introduced in the incidental music of the film new sheet music selling system in Chicago. Ac-
"Defense or Tribute," recently shown in New cording to the plans announced, music racks will
York, and was later played by Sousa and his band be placed in 12,000 to 15,000 stores throughout the
at the Hippodrome, where it was favorably com- country, chiefly drug stores in prominent loca-
mented on by the bandmaster.
tions. Large advertisements will be put in the
The latest triumph of "Wake Up, America," lies papers, giving addresses where these songs may be
in the fact that at the Hotel Astor on Sunday eve- found, as well as giving the title of the popular
ning last it was sung into the transcontinental tele- songs being featured.
phone by Arthur Field and heard by groups in San
The system has already been introduced in Chi-
Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego, Cal. The cago and the advertising campaign started in that
occasion was a large and important gathering of
city. It is intimated that although Mr. Waterson
the Knights of Columbus, when a demonstration of
originated this system, other buyers will eventually
the possibilities of the transcontinental telephone market some of their music by that means in co-
was a part of the program. The song and the operation with him. The idea is for the main-
speeches were listened to by members of the tenance of production price of the music, and
Knights of Columbus in the Pacific Coast cities, really takes the advantage of the clientele in which
and their appreciation of the song was indicated by the music rack is placed.
the applause that could be heard distinctly by the
Under the present conditions, while the regular
600 members of the order at the telephones in this dealer cannot compete profitably sometimes with
city.
popular music selling at ten cents, he has been able
to make a fair profit on standard and productive
A new operetta, "My Soldier Boy," has been stuff. Where the legitimate music dealer gets off
secured by the Shuberts and will shortly be pre- under the new system is still to be explained, pro-
sented in New York. The musrc of the new piece vided, of course, that the system works out.
is by Emmerich Kalman and Sigmund Romberg,
and the book by Victor Leon, from which Rida
A Feist ballad that is coming along strongly is
Johnson Young has made an American adaptation. "Sweet Cider Time When You Were Mine," by
An excellent cast is announced for the production. Joe McCarthy and Percy Wenrich.
SHONINGER PIANOS
FACTORY AND OFFICES, NEW HAVEN, CONN.
AND
PLAYERS
WAREROOMS, 5 0 5 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK
STODART PIANO CO.
Instruments of Merit
Progressive dealers have
found them to be most
profitable.
FACTORY, Southern Boulevard and Trinity Avenue, NEW YORK
DECKER & SON
THE
FAVORITE
Pianos and Player-Pianos
Established 1856
697-701 EAST 135th STREET,
FREDERICK
AGENTS WANTED
Exclusive Territory
•Illee sad Factory:
117-fM CypreM A v e u c
NEW YORK
F»IA1SJO
Manufactured by
FREDERICK PIANO CO.
New York
" T H E P I A N O with the Weather Defying
Action." Artistic in design and tone quality.
PIANO CO.
Awarded first prize in many world compe-
titions during the past sixty years, the
Schomacker Piano is now daily receiving
first prizes of preference won by its superb
tone, wonderful breadth of expression and
structural beauty.
SCHOMACKER PIANO CO.,
1020 South 21st St., - Philadelphia, Pa.
"SveyythinaJGiown inTKusie*
FACTORY:
Eleventh and Wlnnebago Streets
JSecher JSroe.
fiiflb Grade Pianos aid Player Pianos
UNIFORMLY QOOD
drzj
The g%
MILWAUKEE, WIS.
Factory and
Warerooms t
767-769
10th Are.,
NEW YORK.
ALWAYS RELIABLE
BOGART
PIANOS 3SSS
IANO
BOQART
452-456 Tenth Ave., New YorK
PIANO CO.
S-1 1 Canal Plao.
NEW YORK
PIAN
O
ESSENTIALLY A HIGH GRADE PRODUCT
CHICAGO
(fnuite dealers to write
jbr/fatest Catalogs.
•*-
F. RADLE, w.., e S8S".,,... N e w York City
DE RIVAS & HARRIS
MANUFACTURERS OF
HIGH GRADE UPRIGHT and PLAYER PIANOS
Now Faotory. 1 84th to 1 36th Sto. and Willow Avo.
(CaMfltr MM PlaiM Mr • • • • • )
NEW YORK CITY