Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
MARCH 4, 1922
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HEAR IT NOT
THE McCRORY CONTROVERSY
Publishing Houses and Prominent Syndicate
Interests Clash Over Question of Prices—
Woolworth May Open New Departments
There is a fight on between some of the larger
publishing houses and the J. G. McCrory Stores,
the well-known syndicate which operates many
sheet music departments. It is not so much a
fight as it is a refusal on the part of the pub-
lishers in question to meet the demands of the
syndicate buyer. Some time ago the McCrory
organization sent a letter to the publishers in
which its plans to operate its departments with
a high retail selling price of 20 cents were out-
lined. In order to do this the company stated it
would be necessary for it to purchase music
at 15 cents wholesale.
Upon the publishers' refusal to have the whole-
sale prices for their products arranged by out-
siders, the McCrory organization purchased such
goods as it needed from jobbers. The publishers'
price in small lots being 18 cents, the syndicate
store, it is said, was able to purchase from the
jobbers, who buy in large quantities, at 16^2
cents.
At present the McCrory stores are selling their
music at 20 cents retail. None of the other syn-
dicates, however, has endeavored to meet this
new price, and from the present outlook it is not
thought that they will do so. The McCrory
stores, in only a very few instances, have loca-
tions where they become direct competitors with
syndicates that operate with a retailing selling
price at higher than a 10-cent price.
Apropos of this new situation there is a rumor
afloat that the Woolworth stores intend to re-
open many sheet music departments. In order
to accomplish this without changing their pres-
ent top retail price, which is 10 cents, and which
on many occasions the Woolworth syndicate has
refused to change, it is rumored that they plan
to sell the music in two parts, 10 cents for one
part and 10 cents for another. Whether this will
be carried out or not is a question. At present
the Woolworth stores now sell some goods in
two lots, 10 cents for one lot and 10 cents for the
other, neither being of much value to the pur-
chaser without the second purchase, and while
the new idea regarding music is not so feasible
it might be accomplished after the public was
educated to the new sales plan.
The publishers, of course, are not anxious to
see any reduction in prices. Their goods are
now sold, invariably, at 25 and 30 cents, and at
the 25-cent figure have sold in heavy volume.
With the present royalties to songwriters and the
cost of exploitation, any substantial reduction in
wholesale prices would necessitate a complete
change in royalties, publicity, etc.
Then, too, the legitimate sheet music dealer
who in the past three years has given much atten-
tion to his popular department will not place the
energy behind popular works at a reduced price,
and while the opening of some hundred syndi-
cate stores would at first add to the distribution,
or the points of sales outlet, the lessening of the
legitimate dealer's co-operation would probably
offset this gain.
There is hardly anything to be gained from the
publishers' viewpoint by the addition of the
Woolworth stores with a 20-cent retail figure.
The present sales of songs of exceptional pop-
ularity when exploited by the larger publishing
organizations invariably run over a million copies
and with business in other industries running on
a subnormal scale the purchasers believe that
they are getting the maximum amount of sales
under present conditions, which with the arrival
of a more normal period of business, even with
the present retail prices, will reach pre-war fig-
ures.
REMICK HITSAJ_AUTO SHOW
Billy Cripps, of the professional department
of Jerome H. Remick & Co., attended the Syra-
cuse Automobile Show, where he demonstrated
the current hits in the Remick catalog.
Harms, Inc., has purchased a new song by
Will V. Cobb and Gus Edwards entitled "When
Lips Meet Lips, When Eyes Meet Eyes." The
number was originally published by Joe Mit-
tenthal, Inc.
NEW PAULL MARCH POPULAR
"Custer's Last Charge" Being Enthusiastically
Received by the Trade
E. T. Paull's new descriptive march number,
"Custer's Last Charge," which was recently
placed on the market, is receiving an enthusias-
tic reception from the trade. Mr. Paull has
gained a national reputation for his march com-
positions and each new offering from his pen
is assured of receiving attention.
This new number ranks with the best of his
famous compositions, such as "Napoleon's Last
Charge," "Burning of Rome," ''Ben Hur Chariot
Race," "Midnight Fire Alarm," all of which are
universal favorites and have a steady sale year
after year. The special Indian effects in "Cus-
ter's Last Charge" make it particularly inter-
esting and attractive. Mr. Paull is placing a
special professional copy of this new number
in the hands of ten thousand moving picture
theatre orchestras, which will, without doubt,
give it wide and unusual publicity.
THE PHIL PONCE PUBLICATIONS
Phil Ponce, formerly sales manager of Jack
Mills, Inc., has opened up offices at 145 West
Forty-fifth street and will operate a music pub-
lishing company under the trade name of Phil
Ponce Publications. The present catalog is com-
posed of "Southern Moonlight," by Phil Ponce
and Jimmy McHugh, "Marry 'Em Young, Treat
'Em Rough and Tell 'Em Nothing," a comedy
number, and "Poor Bird of Paradise," by
Frankie Williams and George Kraus.
RICHMOND J N J H E WEST
Maurice Richmond, head of the Richmond
Music Supply Co., is in the Middle West on a
six weeks' trade trip. This is the first lengthy
trip taken by Mr. Richmond since the organi-
zation of his new distributing company.
Fred Fischer, Inc., has released a new ballad
entitled "Little Gray Sweetheart of Mine."
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One of the Season's Biggest Popular Sellers
Released on Leading Records and Rolls
Feature and Display the Song Now!
CLEVELAND
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