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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
48
NOVF.MBKR 22, 1919
A NEW TYPE OF FICTION IN MUSIC PUBLISHING CIRCLES
erts, "Patches," published by G. Schirmer, Inc.,
who were offered over $50,000 for the rights to
Claims of Small Publishers that Sums of $5,000 or More Are Asked or Offered for Practically Un-
the song, which they refused. The house making
known Songs Do Not Impress the Men in Touch with the Real Situation
the offer knew the possibilities of the number,
and, as a matter of fact, practically the entire
Ever so often, lately, with greater frequency, stance, we would state that the price offered for trade, both from a publisher's and dealer's stand-
some would-be publisher, with the price of title the composition was $105,000. The whole would point, admitted "Patches" to be a tremendous hit.
Songs such as "Vamp," "Tell Me," "Patches,"
page and music plates and a month's room rent, sound more reasonable.
announces the entry of Himself & Co. into the
Generally, in the press notices of songs that "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles." "Oh, What a Pal
music publishing field. Simultaneously with the are on the market (because, after all, that is what Was Mary," "Beautiful Ohio," "Yearning," "Ken-
announcement, he states that he has had an offer such announcements are), the writer states that tucky Dreams" and numerous others will always
from a well-known publishing house of $5,000 for his firm is exploiting the song or instrumental bring a large price if they are for sale. They are,
the feature number of his catalog. Why all such selection, and it is to be one of the biggest suc- of course, never for sale, as long as they are being
small fry use $5,000 as the amount offered them cesses of the season. This, they feel, is a little published by a large house.
for their composition will probably remain un- bit more bait for the possible purchaser.
Every once in a while one of the smaller pub-
known, though it is what would be termed the
Now, as a matter of fact, during the past few lishers does issue a number of that caliber, and,
"dickering" price for it. It would be just as easy. years there have been large amounts of money not having the organization or facilities for ex-
and have just as much basis in fact, for them to paid for songs, but they were numbers that had ploiting it on a large scale, either sells it or re-
announce they have been offered $25,000 for it. shown beyond a doubt that they were excep- leases it on a royalty basis to a bigger publisher.
They probably think $25,000 would be preposter- tional. No successful publisher pays one, five or These are, however, exceptions, and it would ap-
ous, when, as a matter of fact, all the leading twenty thousand dollars for a song that has not pear that the small publisher who announces his
publishers and those who are close students of got a whole lot of merit, and that they make number as a $5,000 publication would realize that
what such compositions are worth, would think these purchases with their eyes open is proved there is no comparison between his publication
that even $50 would be too much.
by the sales of the purchased numbers after they and the songs mentioned. They probably will
continue to make such announcements as long as
The Review has, from time to time, received add them to their catalogs.
press notices from such sources announcing these
Large amounts of money were paid for such their press notices are accepted by trade and pro-
large offers for unknown compositions, but our numbers as "Strutters' Ball," "Tell Me," "Vamp," fessional papers. Tt probably makes them feel
space is too valuable to be devoted to such fool- "Smiles" and numerous others, but all of them good to sec such stories in print, and there is al-
ishness. However, they manage to "dupe" some have been tremendous successes. If a number has ways a possibility that some publisher "might"
publications into accepting their announcemnets great possibilities, the big publishers will give drop for the song and dance. However, any such
as news matter. Recently, one paper carried two large sums for its publication rights, but this will announcements that appear in The Review from
time to time must be based upon something
such stories to the effect that the firms in each hardly include any of the so-called $5,000 songs.
instance had been offered $5,000 for a certain
A case in point is the new song by Lee S. Rob- other than an unknown publisher's press story.
composition. One of the announcements read
to the effect that the firm in question had refused JOS. KNECHT NOW MAKING RECORDS NEW ADDITION TO REMICK CATALOG
$5,000 for the publication rights of a new song
hit, and that the possible purchaser was promptly Leader of Popular Waldorf-Astoria Orchestra "I Am Climbing Mountains" Proving Popular as
Recording Two Stern & Co.'s Song Hits
advised that such an offer would not be con-
Successor to "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles"
sidered. However, in the next sentence they made
It is a delight to listen to an orchestra that
One of the latest additions to the catalog of
quick to say that this refusal was not final. They
knows
how to render the modern dance composi- Jerome H. Remick & Co., and one on which the
stated negotiations were then under way witli
still another house, whose offer had not yet been tions in a really artistic fashion without sacrificing publishers have inaugurated a big campaign of
publicity is "I Am Climbing Mountains," de-
attractive enough to part with this sure-fire song any of the so-called pep or syncopated effects.
Such an orchestra is Jos. Knecht's, who has scribed as the successor to "I'm Forever Blowing
hit. It all sounds very good, but the probabili-
been in charge of the music at the Waldorf-As- Bubbles." The number, by the way, is from the
ties are that no publisher w T ill fall for it.
In the other case, in the same issue, $5,000 is toria for many years. All the members of Mr. pens of James Kendis and James Brockman, the
announced as the price a certain firm could get Knecht's orchestra are real soloists on their authors of the latter number.
The professional and sales staff of the Remick
for one of their jazz melodies. Reading further, various instruments, and they have the faculty of
we find out that the number has sold 500,000 interpreting a number in a way which often sur- organization are most enthusiastic over the merits
of this addition to their catalog and a big drive
copies the first week of its release. It may have prises even the composer himself.
Mr. Knecht is now turning some of his efforts will be made among singers and the band and
been a typographical error, but we would like to
see the number that created such a tremendous to the talking machine field, and is engaged in orchestra leaders encouraging them to feature
amount of sale for itself. If we were publishers, making records for several of the largest com- the above song, as it will be one of their biggest
or even the publishers' press agent, in this in- panies. He is at present featuring in his dance successes of the past two seasons.
and record work S. R. Henry's two new suc- J. B. Lampe has orchestrated the number and
cesses, "Now I Know" and "Good Night. Geo. Botsford has made trio and quartet arrange-
Dearie," both of which are published by Jos. W. ments. The campaign is probably one of the best
Stern & Co.
planned of the present season.
The "House
of Good
BnlhiJt
SOME OF OUR SUCCESSES
"SWEET HAWAIIAN MOONLIGHT "
Tell Her of My Love
"WHITE
HEATHER"
Paramount Picture Sons
"YOU CAN HAVE IT, I DON'T WANT IT"
"WHEN YOU HOLD ME IN YOUR ARMS"
"WHEN I MET Y O U "
".WEEPING WILLOW LANE"
"fOASIS" (Oriental Song)
"HAWAIIAN ROSE"
" I WOULDN'T DO IT FOR ANYBODY
BUT YOU "
"IN MY GARDEN OF LONG A G O "
"I WONDER WHAT'S ZE MATTER WITH MY
0 0 LA-LA"
"DIXIE MOON"
"E-YIP-YOW YANKEE BOYS"
Welcome Home Again
" 0 LADY, STOP ROLLING YOUR EYES"
"KEEP YOUR FACE TO THE SUNSHINE"
"AT THE SHIMME-SHA-WABBLERS' BALL"
"DALLAS BLUES" (Song and Piano)
"MOONLIGHT BLUES WALTZ"
"SWEET HAWAIIAN MOONLIGHT VALSE"
"VICTORIOUS AMERICA MARCH"
FOUR NEW CHURCH & CO. SONGS
Egbert Van Alstyne has organized the firm of
Van Alstyne & Curtis, with offices at 117 N.
Four new numbers have recently been added State street, Chicago, and in the Gardner Build-
to the popular catalog of C. C. Church & Co., ing, Toledo, Ohio.
Hartford, Conn., among them being "My Castles
in the Air arc Tumbling Down," a number heard
quite frequently on the vaudeville stage, which
promises to be the successor, as far as sales are
concerned, to the firm's "Dear Heart," which up
to this writing has sold over a million copies;
"Why Do They Call Mama Poor Butterfly," a
song carrying a lyric with a new idea and a mel-
ody of much appeal; "I'll Be Glad to Get Back,"
"When You're Alone*
a timely song by Martin Swaugcr and E. H. Wil-
son, and "My Garden of Love" a song, as the
title indicates, of the love ballad variety.
Artmusic Gems
"Forever Is A Long,
Long Time"
POPULAR FISHER THOMPSON SONG
The Fisher Thompson Music Co., Butte, Mont.,
have sold over 3,000 copies of "I've Been a-Long-
in' for You," during the first sixty days of its
release. Its popularity as a dance number is
rivaling that which it has attained as a song.
Over 5,000 free orchestrations have been sent out
to orchestra leaders throughout the country and
circulars carrying the thematic and a reproduction
of the title page have been sent to the trade both
by the publishers and jobbers of the number.
The melody, while simple, is quite original and
makes itself remembered.
"Say It With Flowers"
"Fan San"
I
ARTMUSIC, Inc.
I) 145 Wul 45th St.
NEW YORK