Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1919 Vol. 69 N. 20

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
50
THE
MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
NOVEMBER 15, 1919
TEN CENT EDITIONS OF POPULAR SHEET MUSIC DOOMED
forced upon them by the printers' strike now in
progress. If it is true that it is impossible for
Cost of Production Renders It Impossible for Publishers to Issue Sheet Music to Retail for Ten a publisher producing non-copyright sheet music
to retail it at 10 cents per copy, then it would be
Cents Without Sustaining Severe Losses—Fifteen Cent Editions Gaining in Favor
foolhardy on the part of a publisher of popular
For the past few seasons all indications have 13 cents a copy it would be possible for the copyrighted music to attempt to do so. For the
shown that the publication of popular music to publisher to stay in the business of publishing publisher of non-copyright editions avoids the
retail at 10 cents was doomed. It is a known fact so-called popular music. A big obstacle, how- expense of paying royalties on every copy sold,
that the profits to the big publisher with a large ever, in the publishers' efforts to inaugurate a and in addition has works mostly of the class that
organization have been only a fraction of a cent 15 cent edition, has been the larger syndicate are termed standard numbers, which can be pro-
per copy, and many have believed for some time organizations who have a maximum charge of dnced in voluminous quantities for the simple
that if it were not for the mechanical royalties 10 cents on all articles purchased in their stores reason that the sales of such numbers vary very
it would be impossible for such large companies outside of their branches on the other side of little throughout the different seasons.
with heavy overhead expenses to continue to the Rockies and on the Pacific Coast. These or-
No publisher is probably in a better position
supply syndicate stores and others with sheet ganizations have been adamantine in their desire to know his costs than is the publisher of non-
to maintain a 10 cent maximum on sheet music, copyrighted music, for he eliminates many of the
music at &y 2 cents a copy wholesale.
At the present time, in the printing trades in and as they have over five hundred retail sheet expenses that the publisher of a copyrighted song
the city of New York, where most of the larger music departments and pay the publishers in ten is forced to meet in order to exploit his numbers.
publishers are located, there is in force a printers' days' time, they have been a large obstacle in
The publisher of popular 10 cent music who
strike, and whether those involved in the strike the way of the publishers accomplishing their has been laboring under the impression that he
win or lose it has already been agreed that the desire.
has been publishing at a profit will probably by
printers themselves will get a raise, the strike
Recently one of the larger of these concerns close analysis find that if it were not for other
really being because of a difference of opinion sent out a general order to all their sheet music sources of revenue, such as mechanical royalties,
as to the number of hours that shall compose a buyers in which they encouraged their depart- he would not be able to continue in business.
working day. If the profit to the larger publisher ment heads only to purchase music from the
It is thought that at least one of the larger
has been only a fraction of a cent on popular larger publishers of popular songs. In this it syndicate stores will not at once attempt to raise
music, and this has been conceded in almost would appear, if they intend to continue to make the retail price of their sheet music, inasmuch as
every instance, the additional cost under the new 10 cents the maximum price, that they have made they have always made it a point to impress the
arrangements of publishing popular music will a great mistake, inasmuch as it is quite impos- public with the fact that 10 cents is their maxi-
absorb anything in the nature of a profit.
sible for the smaller publishing house with a mum on any one article purchased. But if they
That the publishers have realized this, and larger overhead expense to issue music to retail find themselves very shortly without hits it is
have acknowledged from time to time that it at 10 cents and to show a profit. They then a reasonable conclusion to anyone who makes
would be almost impossible for them to stay in force the smaller publisher to look elsewhere to a close analysis of the situation that they will
business were it not for other sources of reve- dispose of his products, and at the same time be forced to raise in order to get the hits, as far
nue, again has been shown by the spontaneous it is almost impossible for the larger publisher as their music departments are concerned.
action of most of the larger houses in issuing to continue supplying popular music at the pres-
The publishers who have inaugurated during
works to retail at 30 cents per copy. This they ent wholesale price. If they will continue in the past two seasons 30 cent catalogs have in-
are doing with so much success that it is sure this attitude, they have nowhere to turn for variably done so successfully. They are receiv-
that they will continue to place more and more goods of fast selling qualities.
ing the utmost encouragement from the higher
of their numbers in that priced catalog if they do
In addition to all the above, one of the largest priced syndicate stores who have a maximum
not discontinue and eliminate 10 cent music alto- publishers of non-copyright music in the coun- price of from 25 cents to 50 cents. With this
gether. From time to time there have been ef- try will shortly announce that their publications encouragement and the success of the numbers
forts made to make the retail price of popular will in the near future be issued to retail at 15 themselves, their position is not in the least
music 15 cents per copy. It is thought that at cents per copy. This move has been probably weak, and if it were, the situation that they must
NOW ITS UNANIMOUS
THe Performers
TKe OrcKestra Leaders
The Trade
All Said We Had The
Jazziest Fox Trot Song' of THe Season
NOW THE PUBLIC ARE
WHEN
DEMANDING
YOU'RE
ALONE
Retails at Thirty Cents
ARTMUSIC, Inc.
145 WEST 45tH STREET
NEW YORK CITY
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE
NOVEMBER 15, 1919
face at the present time apparently makes it im-
possible under the present method of song ex-
ploitation to publish music retailing for 10 cents
a copy. The success of 30 cent music is unques-
tioned and the failure to publish successfully
10 cent music at a profit will soon be seen by
everyone who is involved in the publication of
such material.
The legitimate sheet music dealer must surely
be looking with pleasure upon the present situa-
tion. It is certainly an opportunity for him to
partake, in a large city, in the sales of the more
popular numbers, and one that he has for the
past several seasons been emphatically protesting
that he wanted to take part in.
He has, however, still the competition of the
syndicate stores with the lower maximum price,
and whether he can compete with that sort of
organization is a question. That he can if he
so desires, is unquestioned, but whether the aver-
age sheet music dealer has the desire or the ne-
cessary energy to go out and fight for such busi-
ness, is disputed. The syndicates with the larger
maximum retail price, such as Kresge, Kress, Mc-
Crory, etc., are better merchandise men on the
whole than the average sheet music dealer. We
think this is admitted. That they co-operate with
the publisher of popular music on a more exten-
sive scale is readily seen, and that they pay their
bills promptly, which is no small item with the
average publisher, is unquestioned. These latter
things are among the accomplishments that will
make it hard for the legitimate sheet music dealer
to get his full share of the sales of the popular
30 cent numbers. If he shows the proper energy
and follows some of the better merchandising
plans of these large organizations, it is more than
possible that he will make his presence felt, and
will get the proper recognition from the pub-
lishers for so doing.
His opportunity is here, but for such business
he has the competition of most alert minds. The
business is rightfully his in a large sense, but it
is more than possible that the great majority of
the sheet music dealers of the United States will
sit back and see the more voluminous of these
sales go to these larger organizations, who made
it possible to eliminate him as a factor in the
distribution of 10 cent music and who bid fair
to do so on the more popular 30 cent numbers,
leaving the slower sales of standard, teaching
REVIEW
51
"PATCHES" BECOMING ONE OF THE SEASON'S BIG HITS
Herewith is reproduc-
ed a clipping from the
New York Globe giving
a report of a new organ-
ization in Chicago known
as the Chicago Old
Clothes Society. T h i s
Chicago Organizes Old Clothes Society to Swat High Cost new organization has al-
ready adopted Lee S.
of Clothing—Members Known by Song
Roberts' and Will J.
Callahan's new s o n g
They Sing.
"Patches" as the official
CHICAGO. 111., Nov. 4.—This city is mer Chicagoan now living in New
York.
Roberts
dedicated
the
song
to
singing its way to shoddiness—and the society with his "cordial wishes number of their body.
This news item by the
patches, broad, colorful patches that and congratulations."
mother used to sew.onto the long" and Mr. Roberts added in a letter: "Be- way was reproduced not
shorts of childhood. And apparently ing a Chicago man, I am naturally only in several Chicago
for anything Chicago doeB, and
Chicago likes it for the singing-—and keen
it is very gratifying to note that you papers but many of the
the shoddiness—is loudest in the City are the first in this country to adopt, larger dailies throughout
Hall. Chicago likes it so well that such a sensible plan, but—don't forget the country have also
it is going to try it on New York and that New York knows a good thhig given the report of the
and it may soon go you one better."
the rest of the country.
.Thomas J. Courtney, president of organization quite some
Chicag-oans are no longer startled the society, and an attache of the space.
1
when they hear a man humming as Chicago city clerk's office, was one of
founders of the organization. He
This is most unusual
he walks along the street or bends the
is strong for wearing patches to the free publicity for a new
over his office desk:
harmony of song, and to this end
passed the words and music- of song, but "Patches" has
I'd give up every other joy,
"Patches" among aJl the employees of
To be once- more tnat Barefoot boy,
A-wearlng patches, patches, as I used the City Hall, with the result that already been accepted in
to do."
when a taxpayer goes to the munici- New York musical cir-
building to pay his taxes he is cles as the biggest thing
They only smile in sympathy and pal
with the snappy aria on how
understanding—they know the singer regaled
best to economize where it will do the Lee S. Roberts e v e r
is a member of the Chicago Old most good.
wrote and the prevalent
Clothes Society, the constitution and
"New
York
is
interested."
Mr
opinion
seems to be that
by-l^.ws of which state that its pur- Courtney said to-day. "I know, b»
pose is to wallop the old high cost of cause we have received letters inquir- it will probably be one of
living by cutting- out clothes—that is, ing about our society. In fact, we the biggest songs in
new clothes. The society's member- have received requests for informa- years. It has a most
ship, which la nearing the 10,000 mark, tion from all over the country, and it magnetic melody and as
be long before branches'of our
took Herbert Hoover's advice about won't
will be established in : G. Schirmer, Inc., the
beating the high cost of clothing by organization
other cities.
refusing to buy any for a year or so "Then watch for the strains and publishers of the num-
seriously—and there you are.
signs of "Patches" in your own town ber, are taking up this
The society met with popular ap- and watch the cost of clothing go song with a big publicity
proval, especially after it adopted as down!"
drive it will without
its rallying cry the word "Patches!"
and then wont that stroke of publicity
doubt be listed as one of
Clipping
from
New
York
Globe
one better by adopting as its official
the
big hits in a period
song "Patches," written by Lee S.
Which Gives Publicity to New
Roberts,: author of "Smiles" and a for-
of a very few weeks.
Schirmer Number
"Back to Patches" Is
Windy City's Battle Cry
pieces, library, books, etc., to what are termed
the regular dealers. Will the dealer arise to the
situation facing him or will he see these profits
go to the others? The popular 30 cent numbers
mean and will mean to the live dealers quick
sales and good profits.
JONES MUSIC FOR AUSTRALIA
Just before sailing for home, Fred Alberts, the
Australian music publisher and dealer, signed
contracts with the A. G. Jones Music Co. of New
York City, whereby he will handle all the latter's
publications in the Antipodes.
A LIVE STASNY NUMBER
MORE THAN A HIT
A HOME RUN
SEND FOR SAMPLE
COPY
"I'm Forever Thinking of You" Being Featured
in a Big Way
The now A. J. Stasny Music Co. song, "I'm
Forever Thinking of You," is being featured in
a big publicity campaign inaugurated by that
house. The campaign includes some of the lead-
ing national magazines in the country and in ad-
dition a big drive is being made on the song
among professional singers. The orchestras are
also taking kindly to the number. Much material
in the way of display matter, that can be used
by the dealer, is being shipped out to the trade,
and announcements in pamphlet form have been
mailed extensively. The A. J. Stasny Music Co.
have put over some big publicity drives, but
none has been more thorough and efficient than
the one used in exploiting "I'm Forever Thinking
of You."
Paramount Picture Song
The melody of this song Is used eight
times at each showing of thfs
great film
STERN NUMBERS AT THE STRAND
v:*
^ 9uU,ti,Ul>u
<-dob (Phamberlirv
3iS So'DearbornStrttt
Chicago*
Carl Edouarde, the popular director in charge of
the Strand Theatre orchestra, is noted for his
good judgment in the compiling of his programs.
He has the happy faculty of selecting composi-
tions which combine artistic merit with popular
appeal. As his feature numbers during the week
of October 27, he rendered "Now I Know" and
"You Didn't Want Me When You Had Me,"
which are published by Jos. W. Stern & Co.
Harry Singer has joined the professional de-
partment of the A. J. Stasny Music Co.
Very Popular Ballad, 7 Cents
a»« f o McKinley Music Co.
New York

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