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News Number
THL
VOL. 87. No. 25
REVIEW
Published Weekly.
Federated Business Publications, Inc., 420 Lexington Are., New York, N. Y. Dec. 2 2 , 1 9 2 8
Single Copies 10 Cent*
93.00 Per Year
Music Chamber Head Appeals
for More Association Interest
Hermann Irion, in Annual Message and Review of Year, Points
Out Achievements in Past and Opportunities
for Future Activities
H
ERMANN IRION, president of the
Music Industries Chamber of Com-
merce, in a message to the members of
the music industry, outlined briefly the accom-
plishments of the Chamber in the interests of
the music trade during the year just closing and
something of the plans of that organization for
1929.
In his report, which covers all phases
of the Chamber's work including legislative and
promotional, President Irion said:
A year ago the forecast of the Chamber's
work was: "1. Continuation of the important
routine work which goes on day in and day
out, and which constitutes the basic service of
the Chamber to the music industries.
"2. Promotional work through the National
Bureau for the Advancement of Music, espe-
cially school orchestra and band promotion and
fretted instrument promotion for the respective
member associations particularly interested.
"3. Legislative work, particularly with respect
to the necessity of changing the instalment sales
regulations of the Treasury Department and
opposition to attempts to revise the Copyright
Act.
"I am pleased to report that the Chamber
has been uniformly successful in carrying out
it's proposed activities during the year 1928.
"The promotional work of the National Bu-
reau for the Advancement of Music has ex-
ceeded expectations. Five hundred school
bands competed in 30 States for the prizes
offered by the National Association of Band
Instrument Manufacturers. Thirty thousand
children participated in these contests. It is
estimated that the general public contributed
toward this promotion not less than $100,000.
Three hundred orchestras competed in 19 or-
chestra contests. The fretted instrument pro-
motion along lines calculated to develop the
playing of such instruments in Summer camps,
playgrounds and in connection with social ac-
tivities of industrial organizations has been well
started.
"In addition to this promotional work which
was forecast, the Bureau has started in a very
successful manner the promotion of piano-play-
ing in the schools in co-operation with the
Music Supervisors' National Conference. This
work is made possible by funds made available
by the National Piano Manufacturers' Associa-
tion.
"The 1928 Revenue Act contained amend-
ments which took care of most of the members
of the music trade in the matter of double taxa-
tion on instalment sales. Likewise, the Chamber
was successful in preventing the passage of any
has a more interesting
document been presented to the
trade than this annual message of
Hermann Irion, president of the Mu-
sic Industries Chamber of Com-
merce. There is much of vital
interest to be had from this presen-
tation and we, therefore, urge every
member of the trade to read it most
carefully.
—The Editors.
copyright legislation inimical to the phono-
graph record and music roll companies, al-
though a bill which is not satisfactory to those
branches of the industry was reported to the
House of Representatives and is now pending.
"The forecast for 1929 is practically the same
as for 1928, namely, musical instrument promo-
tion and legislative work being the important
activities for the year, in addition to the basic
routine work of the Chamber. However, in
addition to the school orchestra, school band
and fretted instrument promotions, all of which
will be enlarged this year, a large part of the
time and energy of the National Bureau will be
devoted to the new piano promotion. Already
over 2,700 music supervisors and 550 school
superintendents have been interested in piano-
playing as an educational matter. It is ex-
pected that plans will shortly be completed
which will enable the Bureau to enlarge this
promotion and put on its staff a specialist in
group piano instruction. Much work will also
be done with the private music teachers to
show them how they can take advantage of
the group piano instruction movement, instead
of being harmed by it. Parents and others in-
terested in schools and children will be in-
terested through such organizations as parent-
teacher associations.
"The copyright legislative situation is more
acute now than ever before. The bill which is
pending before the House of Representatives
eliminates the two-cent rate now fixed in the
law, but retains the right of every mechanica'
reproducing company having access to all copy-
righted music which is released to any one com-
pany. The bill, however, is very faulty in many
particulars, and it is important that it be rem-
edied in these respects before it becomes law.
"Present indications are that before another
year rolls around Congress will take steps to
amend the present Tariff Act. In fact, hearings
have already been announced by the Ways and
Means Committee of the House of Representa-
tives which will run through January and Feb-
ruary. The Chamber has made arrangements
for appearance at these hearings, and will en-
deavor to see that the various branches of the
industry are properly protected in connection
with any revision of rates on musical products.
"The close connection which is developing
between the radio and music industries, particu-
larly through the use of the same retail dis-
tribution channels, is evidenced by the plans
completed for the conventions to be held in
Chicago at the same time in June, although at
different hotels. There will be certain joint
functions and appearance of representatives of
each industry on the other's programs.
"As time goes on, the dependence of indus-
tries upon their national trade associations
grows greater and greater and, in this respect,
the music industry is no exception. One of
the most vital problems of the industry is to
keep its associations as active as possible, and
particularly to develop the effectiveness of the
Music Industries Chamber of Commerce, which
is the operating mechanism for them all.
"In conclusion, I desire to thank the mem-
bers of the Chamber and its constituent bodies
for the splendid support they have given their
(Continued on page 5)