Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1925 Vol. 80 N. 10

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
MARCH 7,
THE MUSIC THADE REVIEW
1925
51
IN THE WORLD OF MUSIC PUBLISHING
Conducted By V. D. Walsh
Heavy Popular Production Largely Due
to Orchestral Demand for New Material
Tendency to Consider Good Melody Only Two or Three Weeks Old as Old Number on the Part
of Orchestra Conductors a Fallacy That Is Injurious to the Entire Trade
ffORTUNATELY for the sheet music, talking
machine record and player-roll industries,
popular songs, which do so much to bring cus-
tomers into music establisfiments, are not found
wanting in merit at present. There are some
outstanding successes on the market, not one
or two but close to a dozen active big sellers
and a fair proportion of second best offerings.
There is, however, a weakness in present-day
publishing, exploitation and distribution meth-
ods, the cause of which does not lie wholly with
the publishers who are responsible for the issu-
ance of voluminous number of prints. It is
more fundamental.
Naturally, there is a good reason for the great
number of offerings and some of the factors
that arc responsible do not emanate from pub-
lishing circles. Indeed, the conditions that
bring this situation about have several reasons
and up to this time the publishers have no way
of controlling the situation but have found it
necessary to ride along with the tide rather
than to bring fortli an issue that might require
some unity of action which undoubtedly would
be hard to obtain.
One of the prime causes of this situation is
the constant and increasing demand of orches-
tras, particularly of the dance variety, for new
tunes.
In the eyes and ears of these musical com-
binations any good melody three or four weeks
old becomes passe. It is true that once a num-
ber is accepted as a hit they frequently overdo
it so the many renditions lead them to believe
that the public feels the same way about the
number as they do. This is not always so as
experience shows.
After a dance tune has been efficiently intro-
duced, say over a week's period, it might be
well that the inclusion of that particular number
in the program be made less frequent. In this
manner not only would it be unnecessary for
the orchestra itself to be constantly looking for
new material for its own and the jaded ears
of the dancers, but all would be better pleased
over a longer period. This would certainly
serve to lengthen the popularity of a song and
give the writers and the publishers as well as
the talking machine record and player-roll co'm-
panies a chance to cash in to better advantage
on its popularity.
To-day the band and orchestra departments
of popular publishers receive visits from the
musicians of the same orchestras day after day,
always looking for new material. By no stretch
of the imagination would it be possible for such
organizations after daily visits to from twelve
to twenty publishing companies to present
properly the new offerings procured, not to say
that they could give a reasonable amount of
publicity to all the orchestrations already in
their books.
Publishers who have done more than their
share to make possible the large salaries re-
ceived by the members of the modern dance or-
chestra allow these organizations to make de-
mands upon them to their loss. It is time to
call a halt on the demands of orchestras for
new material. They are the real cause for the
over-supply of popular songs and they are the
real cause for the failure of many popular suc-
cesses to attain a proper sales total. If the
orchestras were to play, commencing to-day,
the popular orchestrations that they now have
in their books they would find enough material
to last well into the Summer season with an
occasional but not daily inclusion of some more
timely number.
There have been not a few instances during
the past year where a number has been intro-
duced for a short period by orchestras and then
discarded. It happens in these several cases,
however, that the publishers of the number
felt that there was a little more body to the
song than had been brought out in the initial
campaign. The number was therefore nursed
along without orchestra aid for several months
with the result that, in song form and through
theatre exploitation, interest was revived and it
was properly presented as an acknowledged
success.
The orchestras can play a wide variety of
numbers without daily incursions for new mate-
rial. If they will give going numbers a better
chance they probably will please their audiences
just as well and certainly they will make more
sales for the publisher, record manufacturer and
the player-roll company.
Consult the Universal Want Directory of
The Review. In it advertisements are inserted
free of charge for men who desire positions.
Feist Plans Campaign
on New Snodgrass Song
"The Moonlight, a Waltz and You," by Widely
Known Radio and Brunswick Artists, to Be
Featured
Harry Snodgrass, who has been named "King
of the Ivories" and who gained original recog-
nition through his broadcasting of piano compo-
sitions over station WOS, Jefferson City, Mo.,
is the writer of two songs, "The Moonlight, a
Waltz and You," published by Leo Feist, Inc.,
and "On the Air," published by the South Bend
Music Publishing Co., Inc.
The Feist organization plan to give wide pub-
licity to "The Moonlight, a Waltz and You."
The professional band and orchestra depart-
ment, the various Feist offices and its represent-
atives everywhere will take part in the cam-
paign on this song.
Harry M. Snodgrass has signed a contract
with the Orpheum Circuit to appear in vaude-
ville for a two-year period and he is now play-
ing to packed houses in all the cities he visits.
The unusual publicity he has received through
his radio work and the fact that he has been
elected the most popular radio artist in the
country, as well as his unique entertaining play-
ing at the piano, will all serve to add to the
publicity and sales of "The Moonlight, a Waltz
and You."
If It Wasn't
For You
let ft Rain^ i WOULDNT IT1M S O ! One Else
fU Be
V&iffoa
, ,
The Morning A
A Dixie Fbx Trot S o ^ '
With a Great Melodu
ou Cant
II All
Nil If
A Great Son#
Dandy Fox Trot;
Go Wrong
A Neu) Ballad by
the Mbers ^'Why
Should I Cry Ofer WA
[(And III Hade Someone
After You're Gone)
Fox Trot Sond
With Any FEIST' Song
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
52
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
MARCH 7, 1925
You Carit Go Wrong
mhATEISTS
best
tunes in the Book/
chandise carried in all lines, it is a success.
Rather a humorous incident happened while
I was in the Robelen store. Their porter was
late the morning I was there and Mr. Kurtz
said, "You are about an hour late this morning,
Maurice Richmond, of the Richmond Music Supply Corp., New York, Tells of the Situation in the Sam." "Yes. sah, I was kicked by a mule on
Sheet Music Trade in Wilmington—Written Exclusively for The Review
my way, sah." "That ought not to have de-
tained you an hour, Sam," said Mr. Kurtz.
The Robelen Piano Co. is fifty years young, "Well, you see, Boss, he kicked me the other
VlflLMINGTON, Delaware, March 3.—Wil-
* * mington, "the First City of the First having been founded in 1871 by Harry and way."
State," is the slogan used, the ideal city to William Robelen. The present officers of the
J. B. Wilson
manufacture in, to work in and to live in, all company are William E. Holland, president,
J. B. Wilson occupies a small store on
good roads lead to Wil- who has been associated with this company Orange street in the form of a studio, where he
mington.
Population over a quarter of a century and is so well personally teaches the younger generation,
given in 1924 is about spoken of in the community; and Edward R. specializing on the saxophone and the ukulele.
120,000. The city is Kurtz, the secretary and treasurer, whom I The many youngsters I encountered while in
very proud of its hos- have known for many years, and who has also Mr. Wilson's store appeared very happy and
telry, the well-known been connected with this company for twenty- highly elated that they can be classified as
Hotel DuPont, one of five years. Its feature lines are the American musicians as they grow up. In this studio a
the finest hotels in Piano Co. products, also the Behning line of splendid display of musical instruments is evi-
America. Its principal Autopiano and various other makes. The Vic- dent, grouped nicely to attract the eye, and a
industries are glazed tor is featured, and a representative stock of selected line of methods and studies that are
kid, leather and steel, player-rolls, records, likewise a selected stock required for the teaching of various wind and
with many others too of the most important requirements of sheet string instruments is carried in stock at all
numerous to mention. music and music books. Schirmer Library as times. Young Wilson is of the energetic type,
Maurice Richmond
The DuPont family well as other standard editions is carried in personally acquainted with the local musicians.
has played an important part in building up slock, with "Century Edition" and a complete
this spotless town. Its growth dates back to line of Witmark "Black and White" songs. An
1636, when a handful of settlers recognized the attractive corner is given up to the modern up-
geographic and economic advantages of this to-date popular songs of the day. The location at
point within such a short distance of the At- 710 Market street displays an inviting frontage
lantic. The DuPonts located in Wilmington in the most important part of this city, and Upon His Return Finds Feist Organization in
the Midst of Its Great Spring Drive
more than a hundred years ago. The first pow- has all the appearance of a high-class store in
djr mills situated along the historic Brandy- a much larger city. It is the only complete
Kmporium of Music in the State. Mr. Kurtz is
Edgar F. Bitner, general manager of Leo
wine produced the explosives that made pos- the type of individual whom once you meet you
sible the victory of Lake Erie in the War of will always remember, a congenial sort, the Feist, Inc., who, accompanied by his wife, made
a several weeks' tour of the West Indies, re-
1812.
kind that makes you feel at home. I speak with turned to his desk last week. This was Mr.
WATCH YOUR CALLS F0R~ authority for I have enjoyed his hospitality in Hitner's first vacation. Upon his return he found
a very pleasing manner every time I have come the Feist catalog in the throes of a great Spring
in contact with him. The building is a struc- clriv'e.
sV>*
BETWEEN
ture three stories high and basement twenty-
The numbers that it had been decided on to
three feet by one hundred and ten feet.
exploit just prior to Mr. Bitner's departure are
The firm also handles the famous Brunswick all moving along at a rapid rate, including
line of phonographs and records, the best in Isham Jones and Gus Kahn's "I'll Sec You in
radio, and a complete and selective line of My Dreams," which is already acknowledged
one of the big hits of the season; "Will You
musical instruments and musical sundries.
Mr. Kurtz said in just three words: "Our Remember Me," a natural hit; "O Katharina,"
business has been built upon high grade prin- from "Chauve Souris"; "Let it Rain, Let it
ciples, square dealings, a satisfied customer Pour," "If It Wasn't for You I Wouldn't Be
which can be illustrated in this manner—a noise Crying Now," "I'm So Ashamed," "I Had Some
is not a noise unless there is an ear to hear; One Else Before I Had You" (and I'll Have
a sale is not a successful sale until the buyer Someone After You're Gone), and the new num-
and seller are both satisfied; as lovers would ber by Harry Snodgrass, "The Moonlight, a
say, it take two hearts to be really happy when Waltz and You." These numbers, together
they are in harmony both in the same tempo. with a healthy list of songs now nearing their
In business, disappointments are placed in our peak, will be the features of Feist Spring ac-
way to test our courage and stamina. If suc- tivities.
cess in any line were easy tramps would be
handing out gold pieces for tips, and the able
and ambitious would be shoveling snow."
There is much pride in the reputation this
Charles Raymond, 3118 South Springfield ave-
firm enjoys and which it so well deserves. nue, Chicago, 111., has been appointed Western
Known in the community for its dignity, integ- manager for the new Independent Music Pub-
BROADWAY MUSIC CORP.
rity, aggressiveness and customer-friendship, lishing Co., 622 Pauline street, New Orleans,
WILL VON TILZER. President
coupled with quality of highest scope of mer- La.
723 Seventh Ave.
New York City
How Things Are Among the Sheet Music
Merchants of the City of Wilmington
E. F. Bitner Back From
West Indies Vacation
§WEETIE%t1E
To Be Western Manager

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