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46
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
MAY
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10, 1924
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Effect of Actual Prices
Upon the Canadian Trade
A. Golding, of Golding's Music Co., Winnipeg,
Canada, Points Out Difficulties Created by
New Marking Plan for Dominion Trade
A. Golding, of Golding's Music Co., of
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, in a recent let-
ter to this department, makes some timely
comment regarding the marking of the actual
retail price on sheet music, which, to a great
extent, will be put into effect by standard pub-
lishing houses after June 1. He brings up a
very important question from the Canadian
viewpoint which should be taken care of by the
standard publishing houses, in other than a
makeshift arrangement. He makes two sugges-
tions to meet this situation, the second of which
has already been in operation by one American
publishing house, and as this has proven suc-
cessful it should be given the greater considera-
tion, particularly inasmuch as it appears more
businesslike.
"It is with considerable irony we note the
complete disregard given the Canadian dealers
by American publishing houses throughout
their 'investigations' and 'decision' with regard
to the proposed retail repricing of sheet music
and music books at a reduction of from 20 to
30 per cent," he writes. "Not once has a single
thought been manifested, despite the fact that
reports from the Dominion Bureau of Statistics
at Ottawa show that the sheet-music imports
from the U. S. A. in 1923 aggregated half a mil-
lion dollars.
"Is this due to ignorance or a wilful disregard
of the well-known fact that the music trade in
Canada is compelled to shoulder an additional
25 per cent in operating expenses, over and
above that of the U. S. A. dealer?
"This consists of: 10 per cent customs duty;
5 per cent sales tax on the cost of the merchan-
dise, plus duty; and 4 per cent depreciation of
the Canadian dollar. It is therefore patent, to
all that to print only the U. S. A. net retail prices
on music will prove disastrous to the extreme
for the Canadian sheet music dealer.
"I suppose some brilliant individual will
hasten to suggest that this is easily combated
by 'rubber stamping' the Canadian prices. This
sloppy time-wasting method cannot be enter-
tained for a moment, for it invites adverse criti-
cism from the buying public, who, as is well
known, always look askance at locally altered
prices.
"The repricing of music for Canadian con-
sumption must necessarily be a distinct proposi-
tion from that of the U. S. A.—especially so
when it must be remembered that the American
music publishing houses continue to invade the
dealers' territory.
"There are two fair and businesslike alterna-
tives that will adequately take care of the situa-
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tion: No. 1—Imprinting all music with the
words, .'These prices void in Canada'; No. 2—
Imprinting all music with the words, 'Prices in
Canada 20 to 25 per cent higher.'
"Method No. 2 was adopted by the Sam Fox
Publishing Co. on its own initiative some three
years ago—an example that should be followed
by all progressive music publishing houses." •
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Feist Uses Full Page
In New York Tribune
Features "Six Big Song Hits From Six Big
Show Hits" in Full-page Rotogravure Copy
Last Sunday
In the rotogravure section of the New York
Sunday Tribune, issue of May 4, Leo Feist, Inc.,
inserted a full-page advertisement on several
songs from this season's successful musical com-
edies for which that house publishes the music.
The caption of the ad read "Six Rig Song Hits
From Six Big Show Hits." The preferential posi-
tion was given to "Paradise Alley," the new Carle
Carlton show which recently opened at the
Casino Theatre, New York City, and, undoubt-
edly, is due for a run for the balance of the
year. The two leading song numbers of this
offering, "Paradise Alley" and "Friendship" ap-
peared in good size with thematic reproductions.
The first of these numbers has music by Harry
Archer, who is also responsible for "I Love
You" and all the other songs in "Little Jessie
James." "Kid Boots," now playing at the Earl
Carroll Theatre, was featured with "Someone
Loves You After All" and "Polly Put the Kettle
On," and the national success, "Little Jessie
Tamos" appeared with "T Love You" and "Sup-
pose T Had Never Met You." The title pages
of this show music appeared in center positions
and, in smaller type, adjacent the supplementary
songs of the show were given.
"Girl Shy" Written About
New Harold Lloyd Film
New Number Has Music by Elizabeth Church
Merrill and Lyrics by Charles K. Harris—
Also Issued in Fox-trot Form
"Girl Shy," written around Harold Lloyd's
newest feature photoplay of the same name,
with music by Elizabeth Church Merrill and
lyrics by Charles K. Harris, is now ready for
distribution. The title page contains a large
photograph of Mr. Lloyd in colors. This, to-
gether with the publicity of the photoplay and
the merits of the song, should add considerably
to the sales of the number. In addition to the
above the song is issued in fox-trot time, which
makes it available for all orchestras, many of
which have shown it favor. The song will be
closely linked up with the showing of the photo-
play, "Girl Shy," and unusual co-operation has
been promised by exhibitors everywhere.
New Charles K. Harris Song
Charles K. Harris is the writer of a new song
entitled "No One to Kiss You Goodnight." This
ballad is of the type that has made some of the
Harris offerings universal favorites,