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VOL. LXXlX. No. 5 Published Every Saturday. Edward Lyman Bill, Inc., 383 Madison Ave., New York, N.Y. Aug. 2, 1924
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A New Association in the Field
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H E formation of the Western Music Trades Association at the gatherings of the Pacific Coast and
Mountain States music trade in San Francisco last week marks a long step forward in the develop-
ment of local Association work which has been placed high in the program adopted by the National
Association of Music Merchants.
The new Association represents a section of the trade which emphatically has its own problems of
specific interest which the National Association can not handle efficiently. This has been demonstrated by the
success which has marked the formation and development of the two music trades associations which already
exist in California and which will be component parts of the new body. It was also again demonstrated by
the program of the San Francisco meeting and the attitude which marked the treatment of the various topics
that were discussed during the three days of sessions.
There are those, of course, who will declare that the tendency in the music trade is towards over-or-
ganization. But those who take that viewpoint have not sufficiently considered conditions.
Over-organization is not to be feared; but lack of co-ordination between the various existing associa-
tions may be. If the National Association's program of local organization is to be carried out, and for the
benefit of the music industries in general it is to be hoped that it will be, this question of co-ordination must
be given the most serious of consideration. It is not the number of local associations that may be brought
into existence that is of paramount importance, but rather the way in which they may be linked together to
work towards a common end.
The first task which confronts the new Western Music Trades Association is also a question of local
organization. This was shown at first session when music merchants from many cities pledged themselves to
work towards the organization of the other merchants in their various localities to the end that city associa-
tions may come into being as component parts of the sectional body. The Pacific Coast already possesses a
striking example of this work in the divisional organization of the Music Trades Assocation of Southern Cali-
fornia which has practically taken in that entire section of the State.
The men who for years have given their time, energy and money towards the maintenance of the
National Association of Music Merchants should feel that at the present day all their effort is finally coming
to fruition. During much of this time it would have been impossible to carry on the work of the National
Association on any basis save that of individual memberships. Under this handicap the National Associa-
tion has built up a remarkable record of achievement which has made possible the present tendency towards
proper organization in the trade. To the men of foresight in the trade to-day, the National Association stands
as a co-ordinating body made up of affiliated divisional memberships, and in that form of organization its
capacity for usefulness will be infinitely increased.
The Pacific Coast trade is to be congratulated upon the way in which it carried through the program
of the first of its meetings. In varied interest of the topics which were discussed, in the calibre of the papers
which were read before the various sessions, in the subordination of entertainment to actual business, it has set
a standard which will be difficult for future conventions to surpass. No problem confronting the retail music
merchant was neglected, and those who attended undoubtedly took home with them information that more than
justified the expense they went to in attending the meeting.
The Western Music Trades Association starts with every indication of being a power for good in that
section of the retail music trade of the country which it represents. The executive personnel which was chosen
more than justifies that statement. That it fills a real need was shown by the large attendance at the meeting
and the enthusiasm and interest manifested. It starts on its career with the best wishes of the entire industry
and its achievements in the future will be followed with interest in every section of the country.
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