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DECEMBER 13,
1919
THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
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LOOKING FORWARD TO 1920
(Continued from page 3)
plants and the re-equipment and enlargement of retail stores. This expansion is not brought by accident,
or without thought, and is to be accepted as a good sign.
The advancement of music work in which the industry has played such a prominent part during the
past couple of years is beginning to bring definite results and these results will become more emphasized
as time passes and the advancement work continues. The cause of music has received an unexampled
impetus. The art is recognized in its full importance, as never before, by the American public generally,
and this appreciation is going to make itself felt in a tremendous volume of sales of musical instruments
for years to come.
There has been much said, during and since the war, about entering export fields. A number of
piano manufacturers have evinced a distinct interest in the possibilities of thus extending their business,
even though production has not been sufficient to take care of domestic demands in some instances.
American pianos and other musical instruments have obtained a firm footing in South America and
particularly in Australia, and although conditions make it difficult to handle this business to the full limit
right now, the potential benefits are enormous. It seems likely that during 1920, with industry more settled,
the development of export trade will receive even greater attention than in the past. It is certain that
the opportunity is there.
Looking forward to 1920 there seems to be nothing but encouragement. The troubles of the industry
are distinctly of the present and early relief is hoped for and expected. With the adjustments that are
bound to come in national and industrial forces, the industry will have clear sailing and the opportunity
for making up for lost time. If the lessons learned during the war, and the months that have followed,
are taken to heart, there is nothing to look forward to but a period of distinct prosperity in this particular
industry at least.
Certainly 1920 is a year of promises. May it measure up to the prospects—fully and completely.
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"As a matter of fact, will not a goodly portion of it be diverted
toward the purchase of articles not only of utility, hut of necessity,
such as musical instruments in the home? Manifestly if only one
of the billions of the several billions of dollars hitherto expended
for drink should be diverted to buying musical instruments, or in
other adornments for the home, trade would be very much stimulated.
• "This has certainly been the case in a great many Western
States and cities where prohibition has gone into effect. Not only
do dealers speak enthusiastically of increased business, but the
employers of labor claim they are getting more continuous and more
satisfactory service then ever before in history. There is less
idleness and more production on the part of workers, and this fact
alone is a potent factor in helping to reduce the high cost of living."
Herein are presented strong arguments to show that, while
personal liberty may be assailed, yet there is good to be derived in
a business sense from the inauguration of prohibition. Whether the
strong case made out for Western States will have the same appli-
cation on a nation-wide scale is a subject of interest to business
men irrespective of their individual views on the wisdom or un-
wisdom of prohibition.
The fact remains that prohibition is now a part of the consti-
tution of the United States, and it looks mighty likely that it will
remain there and go into active force nationally soon after the first
of the year. Let us hope if it does that the music trade industry
will be able to capture a fair proportion of the billions of dollars
that formerly found their way into the Federal coffers and private
pockets as payment for liquor.
THE ADVANCEMENT OF MUSIC PROGRAM
ITH practically all members of the trade throughout the
W country
deeply interested in the advancement of music cam-
paign that has been carried on for the past couple of years, the
program for the work of the National Bureau for the Advancement
of Music during 1920, as presented on another page of The Review
this week, is of unusual interest. C. M. Tremaine, director of the
Bureau, has set forth the program in a most exhaustive and com-
prehensive manner, and it is indeed an ambitious one.
This program cannot be carried out automatically, however.
By its very nature it depends largely on the co-operation of the
members of every branch of the industry—the men whoni the work
of the Bureau is intended to benefit. By reading and studying Mr.
Tremaine's plans, members of the industry will be prepared to co-
operate intelligently in the campaign, and to make 1920 the most
successful of all years from the music advancement viewpoint. It
means working together systematically.
THE COMING MUSIC FESTIVAL
week shows fresh progress made on the plans for the
E ACH
coming Music Festival and Exhibition, so far as the commer-
cial side of it is concerned, and the success of the venture is already
assured, inasmuch as practically all of the space has been contracted
for. Likewise, indications point to the festival side being most suc-
cessful.
The idea of Music Week is not to be confined to New York
alone. It is to be held throughout the entire country. The exposi-
tion is national in scope and it is felt that its effect should likewise
be widespread.
Once again let it be urged that the trade lend its earnest sup-
port to the work. It may be far fetched to say that the importance
of music will be put to the final test, but it is certain that upon the
success of the festival and exhibition depends whether music re-
ceives a decided impetus or whether it gains nothing.
ERADICATING DANGEROUS RADICALISM
must be eradicated from business as well as from
R ADICALISM
politics, for the nation at large has lost patience with the furtive
attempts to disrupt the government and industry. Definite steps
are being taken to cleanse industry of the radical element and it is
a condition where action, rather than words, will get results.
The music trade, especially in the East, has had its own troubles
with so-called radicals and the time to get rid of the trouble once
and for all is right now. This is not the time for temporizing—
for accepting an unfavorable condition as a means of granting tem-
porary relief—or of postponing the final fight until a later date.
To wage the battle at the moment means sacrifice, but if the
sacrifice is big enough and the effort earnest enough the results
will be well worth while. It may mean the rebuilding of manufac-
turing organizations in many instances, but the rebuilding will be
done on a solid foundation and with a view to future safety. The
work is already started.