Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
72
CONDUCTED BY B. B. WILSON
ASSOCIATION REPORTS IN BOOKLET
Summary of Music Dealers' Conventions Pre-
sented in Carefully Compiled Volume Just Is-
sued—Has Accomplished Some Important
Work—An Editorial for the Music Retailer
There has just been issued by the commit-
tee on membership of the National Association
of Sheet Music Dealers, an interesting booklet
under the caption of "Pointed Paragraphs," and
which contains a summary of the convention of
the association held in New York last. June,
together with a brief resume of the proceedings
at the 1915 convention. The most important
matter has been selected and arranged con-
veniently in paragraphs so that the facts may
be readily digested by the reader.
The action taken by the association in the
matter of discounts, freight rates, parcel post
rates, and the reduction in the size of "edition
music" is set forth in an understandable man-
ner.
The material of the booklet is prefaced by
the following comprehensive editorial signed
by the membership committee, which includes
T. J. Donlan, M. A. Murray, L. B. Ellert, G.
Stoneburg and G. W. Furniss:
To the Sheet Music Trade
Organization is power.
After many years
of disorganization we have decided to try the
plan that has proven so efficacious in almost
every other line of human endeavor. Condi-
tions have reached a deplorable state in the
sheet music trade.
Cut-throat competition
renders it practically impossible for anyone to
carry on business profitably.
Dealer after
dealer has gone down in the struggle to meet
expenses and earn his living. Sheet music is
too often looked upon as merely an advertise-
ment to induce prospective piano purchasers
into stores, not as a business in itself.
Retail sheet music dealers are just as indis-
pensable to music publishers as are the pub-
lishers to the dealers. Yet what are the con-
ditions that confront the dealer? If he car-
ries a stock of sheet music and books com-
prising a fairly complete line of the publications
of the leading houses, takes a vast quantity of
new issues and pays his accounts in thirty days
he is able to buy merchandise at prices that in
many instances are hardly any lower than those
offered by certain publishers directly to the
retail customer.
Furthermore, the latter has
the privilege of deferring.payment for one and
even two years and returning most" or all of the
music.
Do these publishers realize that the
elimination of the retail music dealer means that
THE SONG WITH A FUTURE
One Fleeting Hour
their entire business must necessarily be car-
DEALERS FIX TEACHERS' DISCOUNT
ried on with the consumer, that they must wait
one or two years for their money, if they get Local Association Fixes Limit at One-Third Off
to All Classes—Publishers Urged Action—
it at all, and that a large percentage of the
Committee to Enforce Ruling
goods sent out will come back in a more or less
unsalable condition?
A special meeting of the Music Dealers' As-
Abuses that have crept into the sheet music
business have only to be discussed to make ap- sociation of New York was held on Friday eve-
parent to all the necessity for doing away with ning of last week at 232 Broome street, in or-
them. There are few businesses that can be der to decide what action should be taken re-
more easily regulated than the sheet music busi- garding the teachers' discount, which has re-
ness. We are comparatively few in number. mained up to this time at 40 per cent. off.
At the opening of the meeting letters were
Less than a dozen concerns control the bulk
of the musical output. The music consumer read from several publishing houses, including
is not a person in straightened circumstances, G. Schirmer, Inc., B. F. Wood Co., and Carl
and he will cheerfully pay a reasonable price Fischer. All letters were similar, and were to
for any music that he wishes to acquire. No the effect that "in accordance with the agree-
concern can get all the business. A frenzied ment of publishers of the National Sheet
scramble, in which every concern joins, to get Music Dealers" Association made in June of this
it all makes us ridiculous.
Ask any piano year, all discounts to the general public, in-
dealer or piano salesman what he thinks of cluding teachers, should be one-third off. In
sheet music and the sheet music business and organizing a local association it was suggested
get the opinion of the business man with whom by both the publishers and the president of your
association that the same agreement should
we as a whole come into closest contact.
We hope to make it possible for a man with be followed, and which without exception the
experience and some capital to enter the sheet publishers have followed in their retail depart-
music field, and for those already in it to stay ment while your association has continued to
in it and to be able to pay good wages. To allow a temporary discount to teachers."
The letters called for considerable discussion,
this end*we cordially invite every individual
or firm that handles sheet music, whether on and the point was made that if the local associa-
a large or small scale, to become a member of tion was to live it must agree to follow in the
the National Association of Sheet Music Deal- footsteps of the national body. It was finally
ers. Fill out the accompanying blank and mail voted by the association to allow one-third off
it to the secretary with your check to cover a to teachers and the general public alike, to take
year's membership dues, $5 for those with one effect at once.
to three persons in their sheet music depart-
A committee was appointed to visit the pub-
ments and $10 for all others. The following lishers this week and acquaint them with the
.summary tells some of the things we have action of the association, and also to place be-
accomplished and are trying to accomplish. The fore them a plan of action to be followed in
reduction of the freight rates on music would cases where dealers do not adhere to the prices
alone justify our existence had we done noth- as agreed. The committee consists of Theo.
ing else. A closer acquaintance with others Arison, J. Colin, S. M. Creedman and J. Katz.
in the trade will lead to the dissemination of
ideas as to the best methods of carrying on busi-
NEW WITMARK NOVELTY SONG
ness.
M. Witmark & Sons are featuring a new
During the coming season the traveling men
on the newly-appointed membership commit- novelty song "When the Major Plays Those
tee will meet personally many dealers who are Minor Melodies," which is being received every-
not already members of the National Associa- where as one of the best novelty rags of the
tion of Sheet Music Dealers. It is hoped that season. "Turn Back the Universe and Give Me
Yesterday," the ballad by Rrnest Ball and J.
every dealer will be enrolled as a member.
Keirn Brennan, continues to be one of the best
numbers in the Witmark catalog. This
NEW BALLAD FOR CHAS. K. HARRIS selling
house usually -has several Irish hits each year
Chas. K. Harris will shortly add to his cat- and this season is no exception, two of its
alog a brand new ballad entitled: "She Comes most popular Irish songs being "'Twas Only
From a Quaint Little Town in Pennsylvania," an Irishman's Dream" and "O'Brien Is Tryin'
to Learn to Talk Hawaiian."
by Billy Vanderveer and Wm. S. Hart.
66
One Fleeting Hour"
Words by
Karl Fuhrmann
The Song Beautiful
Music by
Dorothy Lee
Dealers throughout the entire country are pushing, featuring, displaying and SELLING
this song and they are continually selling more. The song is beautiful, melodious and sub-
stantial : it is a song with a future. Every copy sold sells others and creates an insistent
demand for the other numbers contained in the famous Sam Fox Library Edition. And
there is profit in all of these numbers for the dealer! "One Fleeting Hour" is selling bigger
every day; its best days are still ahead of it. That so many dealers are devoting window
displays to it is proof of the confidence the trade has in the future, the selling possibilities
and the commercial value of "One Fleeting Hour."
Published in 5 Keys
With Violin or Cello Obligate
Order from your jobber or direct from the publisher
Trade prices quoted upon request
SAM
FOX
CLEVELAND
PUB.
U. S. A.
CO