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THE
MUSIC TRADE
VOL.
LXXVI. No. 23. Polished Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill, Inc., at 373 Foirth Ave., New York, N. Y. June 9,1923
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1923 Conventions a Constructive Success
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1 H E Prosperity Convention of the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce and its allied divisional
associations, which opened in Chicago on June 4, justified the name which had been given it, if the
consensus of opinion among those who were in attendance is to be taken as a criterion of judgment.
The attendance was large, a general spirit of optimism permeated the manufacturers and dealers who,
without exception, look forward to good business during the remainder of the year as well as the coming one.
There was nothing of the "boom" spirit in this attitude, however. Perhaps no better synthesis of the
prevailing opinion could be given than the speech of George E. Roberts, of the National City Bank, who spoke
at the opening session of the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce and which is printed in full on another
page of this issue of The Review. Optimism tempered by sane caution, faith in the future, was the prevailing
note and this was generally reflected during the entire four days of the meetings.
As the various meetings progressed it became evident that the Musical Supply Association was in every
respect one of the live factors of the industry in the matter of accomplishment during the year, and the work
of that body in the matter of credits has been particularly noteworthy. It is evident, however, that the
organization hit a snag in an endeavor to.put into general use a standard form of contract designed to guard
against cancellations and to average deliveries more or less evenly through the twelve months of the year.
In view of the efforts that have been made by piano manufacturers and by other trade factors to influ-
ence dealers to arrange for more evenly distributed shipments covering several months at least rather than
bunching the shipments into one or two months, it seems unfortunate that the supply men as a body have not
seen fit to help the cause by adopting a form of contract calculated to accomplish the result. Perhaps when some
of the objectionable features of the standard contract are eliminated, it may be adopted by those who are hesi-
tating regarding its use.
The National Association of Sheet Music Dealers set a high mark for the character of the discussions
programmed for the association meetings, and the amount of information of actual benefit to the dealer that
was obtained from those same discussions was unquestionably great. The sheet music dealers, too, have their
credit problems and the suggestions that credits granted to retail purchasers, classing schools and teachers
under that head, should be materially curtailed are in line with good business practice.
The margin of profit in the retail sheet music business is certainly small enough, particularly when the
amount of stock that a dealer must carry and the cost of his overhead is taken into consideration, and there-
fore the extension of credit in small amounts to music buyers represents a burden that might well be curtailed,
if not entirely eliminated. A few dollars here and there soon run into a substantial sum.
Among the most interesting aspects of the meetings were the advertising exhibits which comprehen-
sively showed the advancement in retail music advertising. The contest aroused wide interest and is sure to
prove most beneficial, for the examples shown were striking.
Those who exhibited at the convention profited, for the visiting dealers ordered liberally. Most of their
interest was concentrated on reproducing pianos and small grands, with a good deal of interest in the small
upright as well.
Interest was deep in the schedule of depreciation on used pianos and there is no question that it will be
widely adopted. It was a merchandising convention pre-eminently, the interest being concentrated on those prob-
lems which The Review has been stressing in its columns for many months.
This summary of achievements has been written before the sessions have come to a close, but enough
has been already accomplished to declare the gatherings a success on the score of constructive work alone. The
music industries, confronted with many vital problems, are using their best brains for their solution and to
hasten the process of evolution towards ultimate betterment.
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