Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THL
VOL.
LXXIX. No. 4
REVIEW
Published Every Saturday. Edward Lyman Bill, Inc., 383 Madison Ave., New York, N.Y. July 26, 1924
Single Copies 10 Cents
92.00 Per Year
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Making the Code of Ethics Work
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A COMPETENT committee representing the National Association of Music Merchants and headed by a
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past president of that organization, recently spent several months in drafting a Code of Ethics for
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the guidance of music merchants. The code was a comprehensive document, breathed high ideals,
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^ smacked of the principles of high-class business men's organizations, such as the Rotary and
Kiwariis Clubs, and altogether represented a guide which, strictly followed, should lead the music merchant
continually and safely along the straight and narrow path.
!
The code was adopted with considerable enthusiasm at the annual convention of the Merchant's Asso-
ciation last month for it was a good one from the preamble to the last paragraph, describing the ideal music
merchant as follows:
"The head of the business shall be a moral man, of sound integrity, of good reputation, unquestioned
honesty and thoroughly trained and experienced in the vocation of music merchant. On the purely social side
he shall be kindly, courteous and sincerely friendly.
"He shall consider his business an honorable occupation and realize that it affords him a distinct op-
portunity to serve society.
"He shall keep himself informed on music ideals, principles, and practices through subscriptions to
leading trade magazines; attending and promoting concerts, operas and musical organizations; be alert to
utilize new and progressive ideas for the betterment of his business and willingly co-operate with others in
aiding the advancement of the music industry as a whole."
This is written not in the spirit of criticism of the code, for there is no room for criticism, but rather
in the spirit of contemplation as to just what this latest Code of Ethics is going to accomplish for the music
industry as a whole. It cannot be forgotten that there have been codes adopted by the Association in the
past—codes of procedure likely to discourage the dishonest merchant or the one inclined toward questional
and sensational practices from proving a thorn in the side of the trade, if for no other reason than that he
would stand out so strongly in contrast to those who follow the written rules.
Various and sundry resolutions have also been adopted which have found a place in the minutes of the
Association and then to all intents and purposes have been forgotten.
A Code of Ethics very probably proves of value to some merchants new in the field and who seek to
conduct their affairs in a manner that meets with the approval of the other members of the industry of which
they are a part. . However, the difficulty lies in making the code apply to those who are already steeped in sin
so far as business practices go, and who are not deeply impressed with the written word, nor likely to follow
its teachings.
The great obstacle is primarily in the fact that, although a worthwhile organization in many respects,
the National Association of Music Merchants includes in its active membership only a comparatively small
percentage of the members of the retail trade, a percentage not sufficiently large to wield a power of con-
demnation and ostracism against those who by their business methods seek to tear down rather than to build up
the industry.
If those who supply the products and very frequently the cash to make possible the establishment and
conduct of a retail music business can be moved to subscribe to this Code of Ethics of the merchants, and
through thus subscribing be induced to bring pressure to bear against violators of the code, it would not be
many moons before 90 per cent of the trade would be lily-white, so to speak, and immune to criticism.
Judging from past experience, in the matter of Better Business Bureau work for instance, where the
interest of the supplier has been in moving instruments rather than in the manner in which they are moved,
this co-operation of the trade powers is likely to be far in the future.
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