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THE
APRIL 17, 1920
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW
63
EXPLOITING THIRTY-CENT MUSIC
The Song and Dance Triumph of the Country
Many Unnecessary Evils Developing in the Ex-
ploitation of the Higher-priced Music—Dis-
tributing Problem Has Not Changed Radically
According to rumors in the trade, which are
probably based upon reliable information, a
well-known buyer of a syndicate store recently
severed his connection from his organization
after some of his methods had been investigated
by his superiors, it seems as though the buyer
in question was in the habit of demanding
bonuses from publishers in order for them to
have their works placed upon his sales list.
It is understood his plan of action was quite
brazen and he even went so far as to have an
emissary who visited personally some of the
publishers in the capacity of confidential repre-
sentative. His rates were quite high in some
instances, being as much as $200 for listings.
The above proves once more that there are
fast-growing evils connected with the distribu-
tion of 30-cent music, all of which must be
eliminated by the publishers in the early stages
if they expect to permanently place their popu-
lar catalogs, retailing at 30 cents, upon a stable
basis.
The publishers in recent years have spent
enormous sums in publishing and giving pub-
licity to 10-cent music, often at a loss, although
,lhe mechanical royalties probably made up the
deficit. With profits accruing at the higher
wholesale rates which they get for 30-cent
music many publishers have funds in hand which
they are tempted to spend recklessly, with no
method of arriving at the returns received from
any given channel in which the money is spent.
This should not be so and some recent activities
of the Music Publishers' Protective Association
show that the evils arising from this condi-
tion are deemed worthy of immediate attention.
One would think from the way some publish-
ers are spending money that in order to popu-
larize 30-cent music entirely new methods must
be devised. As a matter of fact they are still
publishing what twenty-four months ago was
10-cent music, and the same methods and means
of exploitation which popularized the works
then will popularize them now, with probably
a little more accent on the orchestra field.
If these popular publishers had entered into
the field of what is termed "'black and white"
editions they would indeed have to use differ-
ent methods to popularize their works and ex-
ploit them to the trade. Rut in most cases they
are not publishing "black and white" editions.
SWEET
and
LOW
"WOND'RING"
SONG
SONGS THAT SELL
"Clouds"
(That Pass in the Night)
" Tents of Arabs "
" Romance "
B. D. NICE & CO., 1 5 4 4 Broadway, NEW YORK
It is true that they have some new problems,
NEW DRAMA BY SONGWRITERS
most of which they are making for themselves.
As long as the syndicate stores sell such a large Maude Fulton and Louis Weslyn Responsible
percentage of the popular 30-cent works, in a
for New Comedy Drama, "Tomorrow"
large way the means of distribution will be the
Milt Hagen, advertising manager for Daniels
same as existed heretofore in the 10-cent field.
& Wilson, Inc., music publishers of San Fran-
cisco and New York, recently received a wire
COMPOSERS BECOME SENATORS
from the San Francisco office of his concern
Mascagni and Puccini to Be Elected in Italy, stating that "Tomorrow," a comedy drama
written by Maude Fulton and Louis Weslyn,
Says Dispatch From That City
two of the staff writers of the company, has
Pietro Mascagni and Giacomo Puccini, the been produrcd with great success on the Pacific
famous composers, will be elected to the Italian Coast, and it will be booked for a New York
Senate before the reopening of Parliament, run shortly.
Louis Weslyn is professional manager for
says the Giornale dTtalia, Rome.
Salvatore Barzilai, Signor Dacomo, Pietro Daniels & Wilson, Inc., and writer of one of
Bertolini and Admiral Secchi, former members their successes, "Sally, Shame On You-" Maude
of Ministries, are also candidates for the Senate, Fulton is the writer of "Singapore" and
as are Signori Bonicelli and Ancona, former "Raggedy Man," two numbers of the Daniels
& Wilson catalog, for which music has been
members of the Chamber of Deputies.
contributed by Neil Moret. Miss Fulton has
been prominent in theatrical circles
HARRY BUSH NEW CHICAGO MANAGER long
throughout the country.
Harry Bush, formerly manager of the San
Leo Edwards, well-known songwriter, who
Francisco office of Gilbert & Friedland, Inc.,
was recently appointed manager of the Chicago lor a number of years has been associated with
McCarthy & Fischer, Inc., has severed his con-
oifice of the same company.
nection with that organization. It is understood
A new humorous novelty dance number en- that Mr. Edwards will in the future devote his
titled "Old Man Jazz" was recently issued by time to special writing.
Jos. W. Stern & Co. The number is already
gaining wide popularity with the orchestras.
F0R5TER5 DIG 3
V
I
'
A Triumvirate of Triumphs
Every Ounce of Forster Energy
is being concentrated on
A
Sensation
^ THESE 3 HITS
The Wonder
WaLtz
Hundreds of
VaudeviLLe Acts
KARAVAN
ARC SinGIMG THEM
Thousands of Orchestras
FOX-TROT
McKINLEY MUSIC CO.'S
New Hit Ballad
18 Cents
J J wkaiiinnif
WhichTHE PUBLIC has seLected!
ALREADY
TREMENDOUS
SELLERS!
The Original, by
Wiedoeft
ano
ALL The Phonograph Records
OLman
THAT
ariD P L a y e r Piano RoLLs ARE FEATURING THEM
HITS OF THREE PRODUCTIONS
" 5 W « T *no LOW" IN "HELLO AL«*nCKR %1 f[^77oBBER CAM SUPPLY you
'TVUJGHTy WALTZ" in "ZISGFtLD F0LLIC5"
OR IF VOU PREFER
"KAfMWII" in "PflSSinC SHOWoriqiQ"
DIRECT FROM us
FORSTER
MUSIC
riAUGHTy
WALTZ
MoveLty WaLtz
Son£ Hit
PUBLISHER IDC
F J.A. FORSTER PRES.
736 SOUTH MICHIGAn AVE.
A
CHICAGO, ILL.
.*.
r-H'H^ •?•
HAROLD 0, FRO5-T
H HENRI KUCKMANN
MrKi\i.i:YMu\irGi