Music Trade Review

Issue: 1922 Vol. 75 N. 13

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
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THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
SEPTEMBER 23,
1922
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DRIVE TO PLACE SHEET MUSIC IN PHONOGRAPH STORES
Music Protective Association Soon to Inaugurate Campaign to Interest Talking Machine Dealers
in Opening Sheet Music Departments—Co-operating with Sheet Music Jobbers
The Music Protective Association will in a
very short time inaugurate a campaign for the
purpose of interesting talking machine retailers
in the distribution of sheet music. This plan
has been given consideration over a period of
months and it is only now that the entire mem-
bership will allow the arrangement for the ex-
ploitation of songs through the new channel to
be consummated.
Over 8,000 talking machine dealers in various
parts of the country will receive literature carry-
ing propaganda, including attractive advertising
material, calling their attention to the value of
installing sheet music departments in their
stores.
It is understood that the Association is work-
ing with the music jobbers and is planning to
place a small stock of music costing $100 or
less with every talking machine dealer in the
country. By special arrangements the sale of
the initial order is to be guaranteed so the talk-
ing machine dealer is not in any way obligated
over any period to handle the products he has
been induced to stock at the outset.
It is the music publishers' opinion that there
are thousands of talking machine stores
throughout the country where music could be
sold at a profit to the dealer and at the same
time serve to boost his aggregate sales of mer-
chandise. This opinion is based on the knowl-
edge of some of the distributors who have felt
out the market and have found a desire on the
part of talking machine dealers to stock such
products.
The discontinuance of the sale of sheet music
by some of the syndicate stores has no doubt
lent weight to the proposition as outlined above.
This, together with the fact that many talking
machine dealers have found the installation of
music an attraction as well as a profitable move,
influenced the Association to present the plan.
Particular credit was given to the phonograph
dealer in the issuance of the material by the
Association wherein it states that in most in-
stances the stores operated by talking machine
dealers are of the more aggressive type in com-
parison with those of the average sheet music
dealers. It is the publishers' contention that
with proper sales methods the talking machine
dealer, as well as the sheet music dealer, can
find not only direct profit, but he can make
sheet music of the popular variety an advertis-
ing asset to his establishment.
They, the publishers, further contend that the
sheet music dealer operating in most commu-
nities does little or nothing of a co-operative
nature to assist the publisher in exploiting his
songs. The publishers further contend that if
the legitimate dealer did give the proper atten-
tion to the popular sheet music trade he would
find that it is not only profitable, but that it
would make his store most active.
Publishers catering to the wants of the legiti-
mate sheet music dealer bear in mind the fact
that the standard field is the one more often
than not uppermost in the dealer's mind. In
this channel he finds the music teacher, the con-
servatory and the applicants for the better type
of music generally. However, it is only in a
few exceptional instances that it is possible for
him to "cash in" in a large way on such
products.
In order to hold such a clientele it is neces-
sary to stock goods for which there is little or
no call during a period of from three to six
months, or often longer. However, dealers do
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PUBLISHED BY
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New York, N. Y.
JACK MILLS, Inc.,
152-4 West 45th St.
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stock such prints and, while there is little or
no profit in the carrying of such goods, they
charge it to service and advertising, for they
contend that it is the handling of such musical
numbers that makes their stores real music
centers.
That is all true and is not to be disputed
here. We, of course, know that carrying cer-
tain numbers for from one to three years is
not profitable; though the dealer has purchased
them at 20 cents and sold them for 60 cents at
the end of two years he in no wise makes a
profit on his investment. He has, however, as
the average dealer states, advertised his store.
The fact that the public can purchase obsolete
or very-little-called-for numbers from his estab-
lishment has a value, but advertising and over-
head are too greatly increased thereby.
We mention all this because the average sheet
music dealer does not give enough attention to
his popular sheet music department and if it is
profitable, considering costs, to stock a number
that is called for only at long intervals whv
should he not give more consideration to the
popular music field which has a quick turnover
and which, if anything, will attract more busi-
ness to his store? He will have a larger clien-
tele, for he can appeal to the people who do the
bulk of the buying.
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Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
SEPTEMBER 23, 1922
47
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
"You cant Ao wrong,
Vith any 'FEIST song"
The popular publishers, in preparing for a
broader distribution of their products, make the
claim that the present limited distribution of
sheet music curtails sales. And when it is con-
sidered that there are somewhat over 17,000
stores selling talking machine records and close
to 5,000 stores selling pianos and accessories,
the quoted figure of somewhat over 2,000 legiti-
mate sheet music stores is very small. This
particularly, considering that sheet music is,
after all, the basis upon which pianos, talking
machine records and rolls are sold.
Bearing all this in mind the publishers feel
that the present distribution of current popular
numbers is not being exploited advantageously.
They even go so far as to say that despite the
fact that they have a little over 2,000 points of
distribution at present the retailers fail lament-
ably to carry out the campaigns inaugurated by
the popular publishers at great expense.
The publishers point out that the average talk-
ing machine store is always a greater center of
musical attraction than the legitimate sheet
music establishment, and this fact should tend,
eventually, to place the sale of current sheet
music largely in the hands of such active re-
tailers.
The thing for the legitimate sheet music
dealer to do under the present circumstances is
to place his popular sheet music counter in the
forward part of the store, and in his window
displays and in other manners give conspicuous
notice to such offerings. If he does not he may
be sure that the majority of sales of current
popular numbers which allow quick profits and
turnover will be captured by those whom he
now considers strictly record and talking ma
chine dealers.
-V.
*.<*'•-:::
BILLY LLOYD IN PORTLAND
Pacific Northwest Representative of Leo Feist,
Inc., Doing Well With the Hits
We are presenting herewith a photograph of
Billy Lloyd, Pacific Northwest representative
for Feist, looking over a copy of "Three o'Clock
in the Morning" about 3 o'clock one afternoon
bers by his presentation of them. He admits
that he loves his business and He sings as
though he loved to sing and he says, "The hospi-
tality of the music men of the West is wonder-
ful. The trade people, music and theatre man-
agers have proven a great help to me in my
successes."
MAX MAYER RETURNS
Treasurer of Richmond Corp. Optimistic Over
Fall Prospects
Max Mayer, treasurer of the Richmond Music
Supply Corp., recently returned from a four
weeks' motor tiip in which he combined busi-
ness with pleasure. He states that every dealer
throughout the New England States, without
exception, is very optimistic concerning the Fall
season, and all look forward to the most profit-
able sheet music sales they have had for years.
He was gratified to learn that the dealers are
more and more coming to realize the importance
and profitability of a sheet music department,
and this has induced them to exert greater
efforts.
"YANKEE PRINCESS" TO OPEN
A. L. Erlanger's first musical production will
be the "Yankee Princess," opening at the Knick-
erbocker Theatre on October 2. The show is
adapted from the German success, "Die Baja-
dere." The music is by Emmerick Kalman, com-
poser of "Miss Springtime" and other successes.
The American book is the work of William Le
Baron, and Bud de Sylva wrote the lyrics.
Billy Lloyd
in Portland, Ore., where he spent two weeks
singing "Three o'Clock," "Coal Black Mammy,"
The Tama Music Publishing Corp. will pub- "Georgia" and "Why Should I Cry Over You?"
lish the score of the new Shubert production, to the great delight of the large audiences of
"Lady in Ermine." This musical show was the Rivoli and Liberty theatres.
quite a success in London, playing under the
Mr. Lloyd sang at all the performances and
title "The Lady of the Rose."
created a greater demand for these popular num-
TAMA CORP. TO PUBLISH SCORE
PARADISE ALLEY" OPENS
"Paradise Alley," the new Carl Carle-ton pro-
duction, opened in Providence, R. I., on Mon-
day of this week. In the cast are. Mabel
Wightee, Bernard Brandell, Frank Farnum and
Raymond Pash. The music is by Harry Archer
and will be published by Leo Feist, Inc.
THE GREAT NEW FOX TROT SUCCESS
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THE WRITERS OF*
BENNY DAVIS *^MJlr€jrJtlM**
%^JrMMMLJL9
SILVER ABNER
M . W I T M A R K £ SONS - Publishers - Wihnark Building - /NEW Y O R K

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