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THE M U S I C T R A D E R E V I E W , February, 1931
PRODUCTION OF SHEET MUSIC AND BOOKS
HOLDS UP WELL ACCORDING TO CENSUS
According to a preliminary report issued
by the Bureau of Census and covering the
census of manufactures taken in 1930, sheet
music and books to the value of $15,561,885
were produced in 1929, representing a de-
crease of only 2 per cent as compared with
1927, which was moTe than offset by a de-
crease in the cost of production. The figures
covering music printing and publishing are
presented in the accompanying chart.
MUSIC PRINTING AND PUBLISHING
Per cent of
increase or
1929
1927 decrease(—)
Number of establishments
122
119
2.5
Wage earners
(average for the year) 1
796
994
—19.9
Wages 2
$1,295,143
$1,677,680
—22.8
Cost of materials, 2 fuel and purchased electric c u r r e n t 2
$1,541,565
$1,658,367
—7.0
Value of products
$15,561,885
$15,881,634
—2.0
Value added by manufacturer 3
$14,020,320
$14,223,267
—1.4
1
Not including salaried employes. The average number of wage earners is based on the numbers
reported for the several months of the year. This average somewhat exceeds the number that would
have been required for the work performed if all had been continuously employed throughout the year,
because of the fact that the numbers employed on or about the 15th day of each month, as shown by
the pay rolls, are reported, usually no account being taken of the possibility that some or all of the
wage earners may have been on part time or for some other reason may not actually have worked the
entire month. Thus in some cases the number reported for a given month exceeds the average for
that month.
2
Profits cannot be calculated from the census figures because no data are collected for certain
expense
items, such as interest on investment, rent, depreciation, taxes, insurance and advertising.
3
Value of products less cost of materials, fuel and purchased electric current.
NEW MUSIC PUBLISHER
OPENS IN CHICAGO
There is a new sheet music publishing
house in Chicago now, controlled and man-
aged by a live-wire, the widely known Ray
Hibbeler, who has opened headquarters at
64 West Randolph street, Chicago, and from
there will publish the Silver Swan music
publications.
On the opening day thirty-one floral pieces
and 217 letters of inquiry and congratula-
tion were received by Mr. Hibbeler, whose
first titles are "Lonesome Butterfly," waltz,
and "Havana Rose," fox-trot. Both songs
were written by Ray Hibbeler and Alma
Colgan. The latter is a widely known con-
cert pianist, having studied under Godowski
and Chaveaux.
Ray Hibbeler has put over such song suc-
cesses as "Tell Me You'll Forgive Me,"
"Melancholy Lou," "Only a Broken String
of Pearls," "I Crave You" and a number
of others.
Already orchestrations, professional copies
and material have been mailed to every radio
station in the country, and many of the larg-
est orchestras in Chicago are playing them.
the hoarding of money, due largely to fear,
will cease and those publishers and dealers
who have weathered the storm and are
equipped to give the best service will find
their business on a gradual increase.
"The greatest good which is derived from
depression eras such as we have just been
through is a tendency on the part of all to
direct their thoughts more along emotional
and spiritual lines than along the lines of
monetary gain. The church, the school, and
the home are receiving more attention today
than they did formerly, and this awakening
will be of national significance."
PRIZE AWARDS IN CENTURY
WINDOW DISPLAY CONTEST
The Century Music Publishing Co. has
just announced the list of prize winners in
the annual window display contest conducted
by that company and which each year serves
to stimulate interest in special displays of
Century publications and other musical prod-
ucts. The contest, which closed on December
31, 1930, was of particular interest because
the occasion marked the thirtieth anniversary
of the launching of the Century Edilion
HAROLD FLAMMER SEES
which several dealers emphasized.
GOOD PROSPECTS FOR 1931
The principal prize winners this year were
"Depressions have their good points, as Teller & Chaffee, Richmond Hill, N. Y., first
well as their bad ones. A period of decline prize, and Capitol Music Store, Passaic,
is always accompanied by caution and an N. J., second prize. Third prizes were given
analysis of business conditions, often accom- to three concerns because of the fact that
their displays were so meritorious that the
panied by some reorganization," says Harold
Flammer, of G. Schirmer, Inc. "In the pub- judges were unable to decide upon the best.
lishing field it also means that publishers The third prize winners were S. Ernest Phil-
will strive to issue less new music and to pitt & Sons, West Palm Beach, Fla.; Goetze
see to it that the music published is of a Music Co., Moberly, Mo., and Enselberg
Music Store, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Inasmuch as all the other contestants made
such a splendid showing in the arrangement
of their windows it was suggested by the
judges that special prizes be awarded them
for their efforts, a suggestion that was heart-
ily concurred in by the Board of Directors
of the Century Co. The companies thus
Will Rossiter con-
honored were: Ackerman Piano Co., Marion,
gratulating Ray Hib-
O.; Baker's Art Gallery, Hendersonville,
N. C.; Buchanan Music Shop, Rockford, 111.;
beler at the open-
Corson Melody Shop, Hood River, Ore.;
ing of the letter's
Damon Music Co., Wausau, Wis.; L. Even-
chick, Albany, N. Y.; Heim's Music Store,
new office.
Danbury, Conn.; Jahn's Music Store, Chi-
cago, HI.; Ledgerwood's Temple of Music,
Knoxville, Tenn.; Muscatine Music House,
Muscatine, la.; J. Parenzan & Co., Shamo-
kin, Pa.; Standard Music & Radio Shop,
New York City, and Superior Music Co.,
Superior, Wis.
The judges in the contest were F. C.
higher standard musically and that it re- Bruns, Federal Advertising Agency; Al
ceives more sales effort, so that the turnover Vann, Musical Merchandise; B. B. Wilson,
Music TRADE REVIEW, and A. Boylton,
is greater.
"I am of the opinion that business condi- Music Trade News.
tions will improve in 1931. This improve-
ment will no doubt be gradual, but there is
MARKS INTRODUCES
every indication that the present ''hand-to-
NEW
CUBAN NUMBER
mouth" buying will not suffice. The tre-
mendous increase in the number of orders
Following the great success of "The Pea-
and in correspondence would indicate that nut Vendor" the adaption of the Cuban num-
there is an increasing interest in music, but ber "El Manisero," the Edward B. Marks
that everyone is exercising extreme caution. Music Co. has again gone to Cuba for a new
The time is coming when demand and wear edition to the catalog which is the composi-
and tear will deplete the small stocks of
tion "Malaguena" by Ernesto Lecuona, a con-
music now on hand and when confidence will
cert number which is being played by a num-
be restored. When that point is arrived at
ber of prominent pianists.