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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
DECEMBER 2, 1922
ITHKirWoRLD OF
CONDUCTED BY V. D. WALSH
To ask the publishers, however, to reduce
their wholesale prices in order to allow further
Threatens to Eliminate Music Department Unless Publishers Reduce Prices to Enable Sale to retail price reduction and a continuance of a
trade battle is not acceptable to some of the
Public at Twenty Cents Per Copy—Publishers Cannot Meet Reduction at Present Costs
larger publishing houses. As a matter of fact,
The popular publishers were more than a little ing in the loss of prestige, if not trade, to the reducing the wholesale price may only make it
possible for the price war to be continued and
interested last week at the announcement con-
Kresge syndicate.
tained in a letter from the S. S. Kresge Co.,
This letter was naturally being given consid- make further reductions to the public and also
which operates close to 200 stores with sheet
eration by some of the publishing houses when educate the latter into believing that most of
music departments, to the effect that the com- another letter was received from the W. T. the retail music establishments, as well as the
pany intended to discontinue its departments
Grant stores, in which it was suggested that larger publishers, are profiteering.
unless it was able to buy music at a price that
The whole situation is o-f extreme interest
three prices be arranged for the retailing of pop-
would allow it to be retailed at 20 cents.
ular songs. This latter suggestion would have to the legitimate dealer. It has only been in
According to the letter this move is made
the average popular song sell at 15 cents with the last two years that the larger volume in
necessary by the fact that in a number of cities
songs of a little better standing marked 25 cents sales of popular prints has been made across
the Kresge syndicate is in competition with
and the show numbers issued t o retail at 35 his counters. In his popular department he
had many lean years preceding this. Now, to
another chain of stores which for some time
cents.
has been retailing music at twenty cents, result-
Of particular importance, however, at the have these additional sales and profits taken
moment, is the Kresge letter, inasmuch as it away by reducing retail prices which may end
threatens, with the aid of syndicates already anywhere, even back to the old 10-cent figure,
retailing popular prints at 20 cents, to place all is, indeed, a serious outlook.
popular music in the hands of the consumer at
that price. Or, at least, if the publishers re-
TWO NEW STASNY NUMBERS
duced the wholesale price it will make it pos-
Irving Berlin's Latest,
sible for a substantial portion of popular sales "Oh! Baby" and "I've Got a Lovin' Mama," by
Greatest Song Hit
Benny Davis and Lou Herscher, Added to
to be made at that figure.
That Company's Catalog
At the time of The Review's going to press
there were several publishing houses that had
The A. J. Stasny Music Co. has added to its
not arrived at a decision as to their attitude
regarding the Kresge announcement. However, Fall catalog two songs by Benny Davis and
at least two of the larger publishing houses Lou Herscher, called "Oh! Baby" and "I've Got
Open Your Arms
intend to ignore the communication. Besides a Lovin' Mama." Davis, it will be remembered,
(My Alabamy)
the several large publishing houses who are is the writer of a long list of successes, includ-
You Know You Belong
taking the matter seriously, it is well known ing such songs as "Margie," "Angel Child," etc.
to Somebody Else
that practically 90 per cent of the smaller pub- The Stasny organization has arranged an in-
(So Why Don't You Leave Me Alone ?)
lishers have already signified it as their inten- tensive publicity and sales campaign on these
Yankee Doodle Blues
tion of meeting the new price situation. As far numbers which should be the means of making
as the smaller publishers are concerned, the de- their sales quite active.
Truly
In addition to the above, the following new
cision as to whether they are to wholesale their
Night
music at a lower price or not will, under the songs are to be featured by the professional
circumstances, be left to the decision of the department of the company: "Panama Twi-
You Tell Her I Stutter
Kresge Co. as to the continuance of its depart- light," successor to ""Rio Nights"; "Sunset
Chimes," a new novelty which is particularly
ments.
Early in the Morning (Blues)
If the Kresge organization feels that it has appropriate for the Christmas season; a ballad,
While the Years Roll By
enough publishing houses with salable works entitled "I'm Calling You"; "Lonely Hawaii,"
of hit caliber to make its departments active a melody number now popular with orchestras,
Just a Little Love Song
and are willing to accept a reduced wholesale and a typical fox-trot, called "Midsummer Night
Blues."
Choo Choo Blues
price, they, the smaller publishers, will abide
by the decision.
Send Back My Honey Man
Those publishing houses who have refused to
"HONEY" A BIG HIT
consider the matter arrive at that conclusion for
Some Sunny Day
a number of reasons. Chief among these is the Pickaninny Number Published by L. B. Curtis
Proving Very Popular
fact that they are publishers and not printers
and have merchandise of merit to sell for which
With the reorganization of the publishing
they, and they only, can dictate the wholesale
firm
of Van Alstyne & Curtis and the changing
price.
In
addition
they
point
out
the
fact
that
It's Shoesies I Need
there is no necessity for a reduction in either of that name to L. B. Curtis, music publisher,
the retail or wholesale price of better sellers. with executive offices at 1658 Broadway, New
Meritorious songs have quite large sales, some York, the company has continued the issuance
numbers, in recent months, having attained of several numbers from the old catalog.
figures as large as any number in the past Particular mention must be made, however, of
five years. They know it to be a fact that no the song, "Honey" (Dat's All). This number,
The Song Gems From
matter how good a song may be without ex- with words by Haden Gillespie and music by
IRVING BERLIN'S Second Annual
Egbert Van Alstyne, is, without doubt, one of
ploitation (which means expense) the number
would have only a minimum sale. It is the the best pickaninny songs published in years.
It undoubtedly will be heard in the concert and
energy and publicity behind a number that puts
which opened at Music Box Theatre
October 23. 1922
it in the hit class and no song is a success by vaudeville field during the coming season and,
the mere printing and its release to the trade. for that matter, it should from present indica-
Crinoline Days
The whole problem, after all, is a retailer's tions be prominent for years to come.
Lady of the Evening
problem. The fact of the matter is that one
Will She Come From the East?
syndicate reduced its retail prices and took a NEW ADDITION TO BERLIN CATALOG
smaller profit to the discomfiture of another
Pack Up Your Sins
and Go To The Devil
One of the new additions to the catalog of
syndicate store. This recently assumed larger
Porcelain Maid
proportions in Brooklyn, N. Y., where a syn- Trving Berlin, Inc., is entitled "Open Up Your
Arms" (My Alabamy). This number is by the
dicate opened up a new store and sold popular
The Little Red Lacquer Cage
prints at a loss, making the retail price 15 cents. writers of "Kentucky Home," Joe Young and
Bring On the Pepper
One of the department stores reduced its price Sam Lewis. It is already heard in vaudeville,
to 14 cents and the result is, in that particular being featured by Belle Baker and several other
territory, there is a price war which involves headliners. Another new song from the same
catalog is entitled "You Know You Belong to
several syndicates and at least one department
607 Broadway, New Yorkl store,
and possibly temporarily affects the Somebody Else" (So Why Don't You Leave
Me Alone?)
legitimate dealer.
S.S. KRESGE SEEKS TO SECURE LOWER WHOLESALE PRICES
SONGS THAT SELL
Homesick
—
—
—
Don't Bring Me Posies
HERE THEY ARE
Music Box Revue
RVING BERLIN, I n c . !