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56
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
MAY
6, 1922
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SYNDICATE COMPETITION
GAINS IN BUSINESS FOR APRIL
GUILD CONCERT HELD
W. H. Hammack Expresses Some Pertinent
Thoughts Regarding Twenty-cent Music
Attitude of Manufacturers and Wholesalers
Changing, Says Report of J. H. Tregoe
American Works Heard at Concert of American
Music Guild
Wm. H. Hammack, Hagerstown, Md., dealer
and publisher, who has had over forty-five years'
experience as a retailer, in a recent letter to The
Review stated that he thought it an appropriate
time for the popular music publishers to take
some action to relieve dealers from the necessity
of competing with the ten-cent stores which in
some territories are retailing popular works for
twenty cents, charging ten cents for the title page
and ten cents for the insert.
Naturally the dealer in those localities who
must pay eighteen cents for his popular goods
and retails them at twenty cents to meet the
competition does so at a loss. Of course, Mr.
Hammack realizes that some of the larger pub-
lishers have taken individual action in an effort
to meet the situation, but the fact that such syn-
dicates are still able to purchase songs at a price
making it possible to retail the goods at twenty
cents is still felt by the dealer.
Mr. Hammack's letter was full of constructive
criticism and no doubt these and other problems
will be taken up at the coming conventions of
both the National Association of Sheet Music
Dealers and the Music Publishers' Association of
the United States.
Improved business conditions in April and a
changed mental attitude among manufacturers
and wholesalers in various sections are indi-
cated by figures made public last week by J.
H. Tregoe, of the National Association of
Credit Men, in his observations on trade condi-
tions contained in his May monthly letter now
on the way to members of the Association.
From a questionnaire sent to leading manu-
facturers and wholesalers in various sections the
following conclusions have been noted by the
Association:
"Comparing sales in dollars for March, 1922,
with those of February, 1922, seventy-eight per
cent reported better sales, thirteen per (cent
stationary and nine per cent worse.
"In the collections of March, 1922, as com-
pared with February, 1922, fifty-nine per cent
reported improvement, thirty-four per cent sta-
tionary and seven per cent worse.
"Comparing sales in units for March, 1922,
with those of February, 1922, seventy-six per
cent reported improvement, fifteen per cent sta-
tionary and nine per cent worse."
The "favorable factors" are summed up as
follows:
"A further increase in the prices of farm prod-
ucts and a stability in the prices of . other
products.
"Increase in employment and a reduction in
some wage rates. An increase in per capita
earnings, which means increased buying power
for the whole country.
"An increase in the production of basic com-
modities, such as iron and steel, copper, etc. This
was very evident in the past month.
"Tremendous increases in construction, as re-
flected, not only by figures for contracts awarded,
but by the orders for railroad equipment and
other construction items.
"The net earnings of railroads show an im-
provement. In February the net earnings showed
a return of four and one-half per cent.
"The Genoa conference, which, for the first
time since the armistice, is bringing together in
conference allied and neutral nations with Ger-
many and Russia. Although the reports of this
conference are confusing, and we fail to under-
stand the attitude of France, except perhaps that
she is exhibiting a racial defect—penuriousness
—yet on the whole the prospects are good."
Here are the "unfavorable factors":
"The coal strike, which at this time shows no
sign of settlement, and the unadjusted textile
strike.
"The impending bonus legislation, which, in
spite of the President's declaration, seems likely
to be passed by the Senate.
"The impending tariff legislation.
"The continued inability of farmers to buy in
former quantities."
The American Music Guild gave its second
concert of compositions by its members at the
MacDowell Club, 108 West Fifty-fifth street, on
Saturday evening of last week.
The organization, which was formed for the
purpose of encouraging original effort among
American composers by performing their works
in public, has a membership of the following
nine:
Albert Stoessel, conductor of the New York
Oratorio Society; Harold Morris, pianist-com-
poser, whose music is becoming widely known
through recital and orchestral performance;
Louis Gruenberg, who won the Flagler $1,000
prize last year with his tone poem for orchestra,
"Hills of Dreams"; Deems Taylor, composer, and
critic of the New York World; Frederick Jacobi,
Charles Haubiel, A. Walter Kramer, Sandar
Harmati and Marion Bauer.
It is the intention of the guild not to confine
its performances only to the compositions of its
members, but also to bring out such works of
other American composers as may be considered
worthy.
INJUNCTION DENIED
Fred Fisher, Inc., Refused Preliminary Injunc-
tion in Alleged Infringement Case
The application by Fred Fisher, Inc., for a pre-
liminary injunction restraining Charles Dilling-
ham and others from continuing an alleged in-
fringement of the copyright of the song "Dar-
danella" by using certain bars of it in the song
"Ka-lu-a," sung 'in the musical comedy, "Good
Morning, Dearie," was denied this week by Fed-
eral Judge Knox.
In the opinion, the court stated that each
melody is accompanied by an obstinate or re-
curring left-hand series of bass notes, and that it
is upon these that the charge of piracy rests. The
court stated that the defendants were solvent
and would be responsible for any liability im-
posed upon them as the result of the suit.
Ludwig & Co., music dealers, of Wilkes-Barre,
Pa., have added a line of radio phones to their
musical instrument stock. The store adjoining
the headquarters at 50 South Main street has
been taken and all departments, including the
piano department, will be considerably enlarged.
TWO SELLING SONGS
"When You Gave Your Heart to Me"
(a wonderful ballad)
and
"The Mooch"
(that different Fox-trot)
The Metro Music Co.
1591 BROADWAY
NEW YORK CITY
USING NEWJSERLIN NUMBER
Van and Schenck Featuring "Can He Love Me
Like Kelly Can?" at Palace Theatre
Van and Schenck. the well-known musical
comedy and vaudeville performers, have been
appearing at the Palace Theatre, New York, for
the past two weeks. One of the songs they in-
troduced was entitled "Can He Love Me Like
Kelly Can?" by Sam Lewis, Joe Young and Pete
Wendling. Irving Berlin, Inc., is the publisher.
Sherman,||iay & Go.
SAN FRANCISCO
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