Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
I
NEW YORK, JUNE 19, 1920
Comments by The Man on Xhe Street
in
After passing through a period of unexampled
prosperity during the past eighteen months or
so, the music publishers, particularly those in
the popular field, have begun to experience
somewhat of a lull in business—a lull which first
made its appearance early in March but which
did not make a very strong impression until late
in April. It is divulging no secret, however,
to say that the business during the past few
weeks has not been in a flourishing condition.
Present Scarcity of Big Hits
Numerous reasons are given for the existing
situation and the sudden turn. There are those
who declare that the condition is due to the
movement on the part of the public to cut down
expenditures and there are scores of other ex-
cuses offered. The most logical opinion seems
to be, however, that the scarcity of hits is largely
responsible for the falling off of business. Up
to a couple of months ago there were a goodly
number of fair sellers on the market, but nat-
urally the popularity of these commenced to
wane and there have been few other numbers
to take their place. A few live numbers of the
real hit type should do much to counteract the
present stagnation.
A Chance to Eliminate Evils
The present period of business dulness will, no
doubt, afford the publishers an opportunity for
eliminating many of the evils that have de-
veloped in the trade and which have been al-
lowed to linger and grow because the publishers
were too busy to attend to them sooner. The
popular houses for years have been doing busi-
ness to a great extent with syndicate organiza-
tions, who have been most prompt in the pay-
ment of their bills. With the branching out of
the publishers into the 30-cent field a greater
part of the distribution of their popular numbers
has gone into the hands of legitimate sheet
music dealers and the publishers have been con-
fronted with a situation whereby operations had
to be financed over a longer period than was
necessary when the largest volume of their
business was done through the syndicate stores.
Good Association Work
Many of the present problems of the popular
field are being handled by the Music Publishers'
Protective Association, an organization which
has been doing much constructive work in re-
cent months. It is their intention to eliminate
price cutting, to improve the situation in re-
gard to returns and to establish credits on a
thirty-day basis. An effort will also be made to
standardize the wholesale prices. In much of
this work they will have the co-operation of the
new organization, composed of the leading music
jobbers of the country who are arranging to
carry out plans along the same lines.
The abuse connected with returns was made
more pointed during the recent slump which hit
the sheet music business. Especially was this
true in the case of a number of the syndicate
stores when they found their music depart-
Illllll
ments were completely overstocked with medio-
cre numbers.
Orchestras Popularizing Music
Several years ago, when the publishers issued
a number which they thought had great possi-
bilities and wished to make an immediate cam-
paign to popularize it, they at once attempted
to place the song in the programs of a long
list of vaudeville acts, numbering anywhere
from one to six hundred performers. The
situation has changed somewhat and much of
the credit for the success of present-day songs is
attributed to the initial efforts made in the
band and orchestra field. A very large percent-
age of the hits in the past two years has re-
ceived much of original popularity through the
medium of the orchestra. Such numbers as
"Hindustan," "Smiles," "Beautiful Ohio," "Tell
Me," "Vamp," "By the Campfire," "Dardanella,"
"Kentucky Dreams" and a host of "blue" num-
bers are credited to such sources. This is not
to say that the vaudeville field is not still an
important factor in popularizing works, for it is
decidedly important in many respects, but we
cannot overlook the importance that the band
and orchestra field has assumed in popularizing
numbers. The vaudeville field is still the popu-
larizer of the ballads. Such numbers as "Oh!
What a Pal Was Mary," "I'm Always Falling
in Love With the Other Fellow's Girl" and
novelties such as "Oh! By Jingo," "The Hen
and the Cow" and all such works in that cate-
gory are still developed into successes through
the medium of the vaudeville field.
10-Cent Catalogs Dying Hard
Much has been said from time to time regard-
ing the elimination of 10-cent catalogs. In some
respects they are dying hard. One thing cer-
tain is that the new 30-cent popular edition is a
success and has come to stay. But many of the
publishers and, of course, the exclusive 10-cent
syndicates, are not letting the large distribution
that redounds to the benefit of the popular 10-
cent number pass without misgivings. Despite
the fact that it is admitted on all sides that
there is practically no money in 10-cent cata-
logs under present conditions, some publishers
would lose money in order to continue to enjoy
the large volume of business received from that
source". It seems to be a mistake, but how great
a mistake is only judged by the number of suc-
cesses that the firms in question have in their
30-cent departments. The more 30-cent suc-
cesses, seemingly, the less mistake.
Publishers Meeting Problems
The popular fellows are going ahead stand-
ardizing wholesale prices, improving and often
eliminating the return copy problem, and form-
ing a credit bureau, giving excellent service,
which, no doubt, will be a benefit to both pub-
lisher and dealer. While the standard houses
have many of the same problems, theirs is a
business that has had permanence for years,
and while they, too, are improving conditions
Illllllllll
they are not in a position to take the impul-
sive actions that the popular houses can afford
to take in what is to them a new field.
The Musical Comedy Field
The musical comedies, like all other factors of
the show business of the present season, have
had a most successful year, but on the whole
they have not contributed their usual quota of
song successes. Of late there has been an im-
provement shown in this situation and we have
some successful musical shows that are con-
spicuous by the absence of jazz. The outlook
for the coming season is most promising, the
revival of Leslie Stuart's "Florodora" having
paved the way.
Jazz Still Proving Popular
There has been talk in some circles that jazz
is on the decline, but this change can hardly
be observed". Certainly the "shimmy" rage is
about over and no doubt the summer months
will give us some novelty to take its place. The
number of jazz bands is increasing, if any-
thing, so we can look forward to more jazz.
British Publishers Invade United States
According to recent announcements, two Eng-
lish firms will enter the American field. One
of them has already had a representative here
and this firm's decision to open up an individual
branch shows that the English firms look for-
ward to a greater consumption of high-class
music in this country. While some of the
American branches of English houses have had
a most prosperous year as far as sales are con-
cerned, it appears, judging from the reports, that
the profits after paying abnormal taxes in this
country and at home have been greatly reduced.
American Music Popular in England
American publications are certainly selling
well in English territory, a great increase in
the demand for American popular work being
discerned abroad. The London representatives
of American publishers have shown much ac-
tivity and they seemingly have created a de-
mand far beyond expectations.
Anent the New Copyright Law
Much attention is given to the proposal of a
new or an improved copyright law covering
mechanical royalties. The publishers, of course,
feel the royalties, as they now stand, should be
increased. There will be some support lost on
this proposal in the popular publishing circles,
but the standard houses will certainly he united
in any effor.t to put the royalty question on a
new basis.
The Work of the Teachers
The music teacher, on the whole, seems to
have had a most prosperous year. Publishers of
teaching music report a splendid increase in
sales in that field. The recent move encouraging
teachers in summer school work is having good
results and with the proper educational cam-
paign as carried out during the early months of
this year there should not be many seasons pass
before such work will become permanent.