Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
VOL. LXIX. No. 12
REVIEW
Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill, Inc., at 373 4th Ave., New York.
Sept. 20, 1919
8In
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Opportunities
T
H E past two years have been momentous ones in the music industry. We have seen developments thai
in themselves are so widespread and tremendous as to prove almost confusing to the veterans of the trade.
These two years have seen what was formerly a group of independent trade associations, each revolving
in its own little sphere, passive and calm, transformed into an active offensive organization through the
establishment of the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce.
The trade organization of this industry just now means anything but a passive organization, for not only
are trade matters taken care of speedily and effectively, but the industry has placed upon itself the burden of
carrying the message of music to every corner of the country, work that requires tremendous effort, and, so
far as cold figures go, much expense.
To those who remember the trade conventions of a decade or so ago this change in attitude is little short
of startling. The whole secret of this trade movement seems to be the ability of the guiding spirits to recognize
the psychological moment for going ahead and for grasping the opportunity. What is being done now with
comparative ease would have been impossible of accomplishment even five years ago, for the association had
gotten into a rut and required some sudden impulse to throw it into action again. The war and its attendant
problems without question provided this impulse, and the industry has been fortunate in having men in it capable
of striking while the iron was hot.
The period of trade development is not yet past, for the opportunity is still with us. The situation as it
now exists in the relation of output and demand provides an opportunity that may never come again for lining
up the various trade factors for co-operative effort. Those w T ho under different circumstances would be
inclined to stand pat and remain passive, even if they did not endeavor to.hinder organization work, are now in
a position where their interest lies in keeping on the main road and close to the procession.
Should the situation change so that certain factors of the trade might be inclined to go back to the ways of
other years, the organization work of the industry would be so strongly established that their deflection, or
attempted deflection, should have not the slightest effect in injuring that work or interfering with in it any way.
In fact, the organization movement itself, with its tendency towards the encouragement of better and
cleaner business, should serve as a deterrent to those who under other circumstances might be inclined to slide
back to methods of piano distribution, wholesale and retail, which, while not in any sense to be ranked as
dishonest, could not with equal fairness be regarded as good business procedure.
The real opportunity lies in securing for music, and for the factors that go towards the making of music,
more general public recognition, impressing upon the people at large the substantial character of the industry
which, through the production of musical instruments, makes it possible for them to enjoy the full benefits of the
art.
All the work for the advancement of music done now while the opportunity is ripe means the building up
of a strong sentiment in favor of the art, and of musical instruments generally, that will react both directly and
indirectly to the benefit of the trade in all its branches when conditions may have changed to such an extent
that manufacturers and retailers will have to seek business instead of having business seek them as is the case
at present.
At no time in its history has the music industry been so firmly established upon a solid foundation as at
the present. Antiquated methods of doing business, unfair or shady practices, unstable credits, all are either
relegated to oblivion or are fast disappearing, and the industry as a whole is in splendid position to campaign
energetically for a greater public recognition of the value of music and of musical instruments generally.
The opportunity is here and the time to take advantage of it is now.