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DECEMBER 9,
THE
1922
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW
THE QUESTION OF PRICE REDUCTIONS ON SHEET MUSIC
Some Problems of Increased Production Costs Calculated to Dissuade the Average Publisher
From Acceding to the Demand of Syndicate Stores for Lower Wholesale Prices
The agitation by a number of syndicates for
a reduction in the retail and wholesale price
of popular music and which is concurred in by
a number of music publishers, and no doubt by
a few legitimate dealers and, as usual, all the
general public, will seemingly lie dormant for
the time bein^ as far as results in that direc-
tion are concerned.
The majority of the larger popular publishing
houses have either ignored the campaign or
have responded with the plea that any reduc-
tions at the present time are impossible. They
point out that sheet music must be exploited
and the cost of such exploitation has not in
any manner been reduced. The printing of pop-
ular numbers is, where great quantities are in-
volved, one of the smallest costs per copy that
a publisher must assume. It must be remem-
bered, however, that printing costs are the same
as those of 1919, with slight increases. These
cannot be reduced, as the present arrangement
with the printing crafts has some time to run.
Another important item that would have to
undergo revision is that of royalties now paid
songwriters. These are higher than the actual
cost of printing music and the writers will
hardly stand for a reduction without a fight.
All other costs are as high, if not higher, than
at any other period in the history of music
publishing.
In the last issue of The Review was printed
the Department of Commerce report made to
the Bureau of Census, the figures of which
would still further point to more or less recent
added costs and the impossibility of any radical
reductions. While it is true that this report is
for the period of 1921 and makes comparisons
with 1919, the figures all favor the earlier year
and it is believed that 1922 business has not
improved to any appreciable extent. In fact,
the majority of publishers will show losses when
final reports have been prepared.
An important feature of the 1921 report was
the decrease in the value of products reported,
in production, the number of persons employed
and small reductions in the cost of materials
used. It is pointed out, however, the amount
paid for salaries and wages increased 3.2 per
cent despite a decrease of 9.7 per cent in the
number of wage earners. There, seemingly, is
one rise in cost which did not decrease during
1922 and which, according to some members of
the industry, will show substantial increases.
The Department of Commerce figures, which
are more or less basic, verify the contention of
those who see the inadvisability of lowering
prices. It is, of course, possible to decrease
both wholesale and retail prices if cuts are
made in expenditures in all lines of activities
indulged in by a successful publisher, including
wages, the cost of exploitation, etc. The pub-
lishers, however, who have operated their busi-
nesses practically along the lines at present in
vogue for years, even as far back as the day
when music retailed at 10 cents and wholesaled
at 6 l A cents, can hardly consider it a healthy
move to cut down appropriations which have
made their establishments successful for a long
period of years. Any such move to them would
be "jumping off into the unknown."
ENJOYING RECORD BUSINESS
NEW MOTION PICTURE MUSIC
Jack Mills, Inc., Doubled Professional, Business
and Sales Staffs in Last Three Months—
Many Hits to the Credit of This House
Loose-leaf Collection of Twenty-four Numbers
to Be Ready After First of Year
Owing to the great success of "Gordon's Mo-
Jack Mills, head of the publishing house tion Picture Collection," by Sol P. Levy, its
which bears his name and which has made publisher has decided to issue another motion
great strides in the past few years in the pop- picture collection to supplement that work.
The new collection to be issued after Jan-
ular music field, in speaking of the activity of
uary 1 is by Walter C. Simon, who has had
his catalog, recently said: "Business has never
considerable experience both in writing and
been better with us. This is not a bromide, but
a true statement of facts. In the past three playing for motion pictures. He knows the re-
months we have doubled our professional, busi- quirements of the motion picture organist and
ness and sales staffs and at least five of our musician thoroughly, so the new work is ex-
pected to satisfy their demands. It is already
numbers are among the most active sellers of
the season." This record is evidence of the being asked for by many, an indication of the
widespread necessity of a collection of this
judgment exercised in selecting numbers.
particular character.
Among the songs in the Jack Mills catalog
The collection will be in loose-leaf form and
which are particularly active are "Oh, Mr. Gal-
lagher and Mr. Shean," "Kitten on the Keys," will be issued in twenty-four separate numbers
"When You and I Were Young, Maggie, Blues," and also in two volumes, entitled "Gordon's
"Stop Your Kiddin'," "Deedle, Deedle, Dum," Loose-Leaf Motion Picture Collection."
Each volume will contain twelve loose-leaf
"I'll Stand Beneath Your Window To-night and
Whistle" and "When Those Finafe Hoppers numbers such as agitatos, comedies, plaintive,
oriental, Indian, intermezzo, etc.
Start Hopping Around."
AN INSTANTANEOUS SUCCESS
I SHALL KNOW
SONG
P
IANO
LEASURES
A Series of Folios for
a Thousand Purposes
100% Profit
Home Entertainment
Retail 50c
Photoplay Accompaniment
Your Price 25c
Educational Purposes
TONE POEMS
CONTENTS
Bleeding Hearti —Sol. P. l*vy
Love'i Golden Arrow* —Walter W. Smith
Chant D'Amour— H. I.'. Frommel
Chant Erotique—Irenoe Berne
Barcarolle Amoureute—Itohcit Casadesus
Chanson Melancolique l'iitiicia Collinw
i
ti
10
14
17
21
INTERMEZZOS
CONTENTS
Flirty Flirt*—Sol. P. Levy
Fragrance of Spring—Alma Handera
Sunshine and Rotet— C as ton Borch
Birdi and Butterfliei—Sol. P. Levy
Air De Ballet—Irrne Varley
l
5
g
15
20
CHARACTERISTIC
CONCERT PIECES
CONTENTS
Lovelette—Sol. P. i*vy
Babillage—G. del Castillo
Phantom Vitiont—Ellsworth Stevenson
Adolescence—F. C. CollinKr
Suite Tyroliennc—Stefano di Ktefano
Cannibal Carnival-Sol p. I,PVV
1
5
g
13
16
20
REVERIES
C0NTENT8
Falling Roie Leaves Alma Sanders
Love's Sweet Hour—Adorjan Otvos
Love in May—Louis Itreau
Autumn Gold—Al Morton
Love Among Flowers - I I . ('. Froinmcl
Thoughts at Twilight ICriwin Kendall
1
4
8
14
IT
21
CONCERT SONGS
CONTENTS
The World It a Beautiful Song -Louis Ilrcau
Paradise It Mine--Maurin- Karon
Because You Say Goodbye—Sol. P. Levy
Little Girl of Long Ago—Msuirir-e. Huron
Queen of My Heart--Mnurire Baron
1
4
12
16
19
SERENADES AND
ROMANCES
CONTENTS
Budding Spring—Eugene PlaUman
A Legend of Erin—Eleanor Johnson
Serenade Lointaine—Irenee Bei-Kc
By the Garden Gate—S. Nathan
May Dreams—Oaston Tiorch
Rendezvous D'Amour—Len Kdwards
1
5
8
12
IT
21
MAURICE BARON'S
COMPOSITIONS
CONTENTS
Dainty Damtel
Revet d'Orient
Idylle Japonaiin
Whims of Love
Frivolette
1
6
IS
16
20
CAPRICES
CONTENTS
Capriciout Annette—Gaston Horch
First Courtship—Chas. Lindsreen
Recuerdos—J. Santos
Caprice Joyeaux—Edwina SeellRson
Capricietta—Irene Varley
Floretta—Paul Tlcnneberg
1
6
9
14
IT
21
MARCHES
CONTENTS
America United—Sam A. Perry
Acet H igh—Ed. Tloborts
Bjue Devils—Sol. P. Levy
Fighting Tommies—John Boulton
Yankee Tar»—John Boulton
1
5
8
11
14
CONCERT WALTZES
MANA-ZUCCA
Published ior low, medium and high voices with violin obbligato
Featured by Charles Hackett, Nina Morgana, Dmitry Dobkin,
Arthur Hackett, Charles Meader, Max Kaplick and others.
56 EAST 34th
145
STREET
NEW YORK
Also at London, Paris, Melbourne and Toronto
CONTENTS
Mysterious Nights—S. M. Bern
Sleeping Rose—Gaston Borch
Moonlight Shadows—Maurice Baron
Kathleen—S. M. Bern
Valte Moderne—George Rosey
1
S
10
16
20
BELWIN, Inc.
Music Publishers
701 Seventh Ave.
New York City