Music Trade Review

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OCTOBER 11,
THE
1921
MUSIC TRADE
47
REVIEW
MUSIC STORE VS. CHAIN STORE
Detroit Music House Has Some Pertinent Com-
ments to Make on the Threatened Increase in
Number of Syndicates Handling Music
A prominent retail music concern in Detroit
has the following comment to make regarding
the report of the formation of several syndicates
to enter the chain store field and to handle sheet
music and talking machine records, as well as
other producis, and also the moves of organized
chains to expand their activities to take in these
additional lines:
"We have read the article, 'Chain Stores to
Invade the Sheet Music Field,' in The Music
Trade Review of October 8. 'Invade' seems to
I'C the proper term and the music publisher
knows Webster's definition of 'invade.' We are
;ilso told that several publishers have been ap-
proached by financial interests with a view to
inducing these publishers to open up chains of
retail music stores. If you are in the sheet
music business you most likely have received a
letter from Leo Feist, Inc., saying that Feist
is not in any way interested in forming chain
retail stores for the sale of sheet music, giving
the following reason:
" 'It is our firm belief that in most cities there
are already a sufficient number of places at
which sheet music may be purchased without ac-
quiring any additional outlets. The same atti-
tude most likely will be taken by the other big
publishers.'
"The article in The Review tells us, also, that
the Piggley Wiggley stores are now about to
open up 'miscellaneous' stores, carrying sheet
music departments similar to those operated by
Kress and Kresge, and that many other corpo-
rations are carrying on negotiations for the pur-
pose of opening tin chain stores.
"Naturally, this w'll have to cut the sales of
Ihe legitimate music dealer without benefiting
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the publisher to any great extent if he is already
properly represented in the respective city. The
publisher undoubtedly will, when properly repre-
sented, take the same stand that record and roll
companies have taken for the mutual benefit of
all concerned and advise the new concern that
all available copies have been used to keep their
regular customers supplied. The sheet music
business will be very much more satisfactory
to all if it is always handled, as far as prices and
distribution are concerned, on the same basis
as other musical merchandise.
"The claim that the music dealer is not co-
operating with the publisher is wholly un-
founded. Any live dealer will sell as much as
he can; of course, he likes to sell at a profit. You
do not hear record or roll manufacturers com-
plain that the retail dealer is not co-operating
with them. He co-operates with them and they
take care of him in good shape. They are pro-
tecting the dealer; they see that their goods are
Zhe7iostZaMe sold at the right price and that he gets a fair
profit. Have the publishers print the price at
which sheet music should be sold, or at least let
your dealers know what the selling price is. If
any of the dealers are injuring the product by
not abiding by the rule stop selling to them."
A NEW SHERMAN, CLAY & CO. HIT
Sherman, Clay & Co.'s fox-trot song, "Have
You Forgotten?", is one of the most successful
numbers that have ever appeared in that firm's
catalog. The number was written by Kerr, Rurt-
nett and Cooper, writers of "Do You Ever Think
of Me?", and bears indications of being a worthy
successor to that famous hit.
Chris Smith, writer of "The Dark Town Strut-
ter's Ball,'" and one of the most versatile colored
composers, is the writer of a new novelty called
"The Missing Link."
s/Wce'MISSOURI WALTZ"
MISSISSIPPI
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Rock me in my Mis-sis-sip-pi Cra
L e t me look in - to my mam-mys eyes;
Published
by tbcpublnhcr
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MUSIC PUBLISHER INC.
Z 3 5 SOUTH WABASH AVE .
or'MISSOUftl WALTZ," 7YAUGHTY WALTZ;JWEETAMDLOW, KI55~A MISS