Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1931 Vol. 90 N. 7

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
Convention of the Music Industries
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
A
T the annual meeting of the Music
Industries Chamber of Commerce held
at the Palmer House, Chicago, on
June 10, it was announced that a new finan-
cial set-up foT the Chamber had been devised
and adopted whereby the fixed overhead
could be materially reduced and a definite
income for operating commercial and pro-
motional work insured. Under the new plan
the operating overhead of the Chamber for
the coming year is not to exceed $7,500.
This being made possible largely through a
material saving in Tent. Moreover, all af-
filiated organizations making use of Chamber
facilities will be required to give definite
written' contracts for such use of space and
personnel as they! require.
The new plan will eliminate much of the
uncertainty that has existed in the past and
will moreover release for the general and
promotional work of the Chamber a consid-
erable sum of money heretofore absorbed in
office overhead. In short, it insures the con-
tinuance of the Chamber activities on a sound
business basis with a possibility of their ma-
terial enlargement.
PRESIDENT WAGNER'S REPORT
President C. Alfred Wagner, in a com-
prehensive -report of twenty-four printed
pages which was distributed to all members
of the Chamber, reviewed the work of the
organization for the past year and made
some important recommendations.
He first called attention to the fact that the
music industries have not been unique , in
suffering from current economic conditions,
but, along with almost every other line of
American industry, have been a victim of
world-wide business depression. However,
governmental and business authorities are of
the opinion that the worst is past and that
the future will be upward, which has en-
(Continued from page 5)
MUSICAL MERCHANDISE
The' National Musical Merchandise Asso-
ciation of the United States decided to reor-
ganize, take care of the present obligation to
the Chamber, and to profit by the credit serv-
MUSIC
HARRY MEIXELL
Secretary and General Manager •
couraged the members of the trade to fight
harder and more intelligently for the right
to live and grow.
The activities of the Chamber for the year
are divided into three groups, namely: 1—
Musical promotional activities handled by the
National Bureau for the Advancement of
Music. 2—Commercial activities conducted
by the Chamber proper. 3—Supervisory and
administrative activities taken care of by the
Chamber proper for affiliated organizations.
WORK OF THE NATIONAL BUREAU
The National Bureau for the Advancement
of Music was reorganized on November 1,
1930, and has since been operated under a
board of control consisting of three representa-
tives of the music industry, three of the
ASSOCIATION
The decision to liquidate the affairs of
the Musical Supply Association of America
did not come as a big surprise to those
familiar with the affairs of the industry, but
it is to be hoped that some bureau at least
will be set up for taking care of piano manu-
facturers and others in distress without the
waste usually attending court action.
THE
PARTICIPATION IN RADIO CAMPAIGN
ice offered by th-e secretary of that association
which has proven so successful in other divi-
sions of the industry. This same organiza-
tion reorganized last year so that it is becom-
ing more or less of a habit.
WHAT HAPPENED AT
THE CONVENTIONS
SUPPLY
music supervisors and three of philanthropic
organizations. The result has been a broad-
ening of the Bureau's activities in the cause
of music generally rather than in the inter-
est of special groups and, what is equally im-
portant, has brought to its support during the
year $10,000 from the Carjiegie Foundation
with promises of larger support from out-
side sources during the year to come. This is
the outstanding feature of the Bureau's ac-
complishment during the year, for it spells
national recognition as a factor in the de-
velopment of the arts.
TRADE
THE EXHIBITS
Some few months ago when the convention
was first mentioned and with it the plan to
have the usual trade exhibits, there was
much skepticism as to the showing that
could he made under existing conditions. The
pessimists, however, were disappointed in
Chicago, for over twoscore members of the
piano and musical merchandise and radin
trades took advantage of the opportunity to
display their products with an aggregate re-
sult that was distinctly impressive. The dis-
plays, which in unit value and attractiveness
compared favorably with those seen at any
REVIEW,
July, 1931
Mr. Wagner also went into some detail re-
garding the participation of the industry in
the "Keys to Happiness" and "Music in
the Air" programs being broadcast by the
National Broadcasting Co. and with which
the trade is generally familiar.
So far as the commercial activities of the
Chamber are concerned the President re-
ferred particularly to the credit service, the
collection department and the co-ordination
of effort of various trade bodies under the
direction of the Chamber. Then followed
brief reports of the activities of the various
organizations affiliated with the Chamber.
In his recommendations President Wagner
urged that the various associations function
independently with their own offices, official
and clerical staffs, maintain separate bank
accounts, prepare their own work programs
and budgets and pay their bills directly.
Under this plan the Chamber itself will func-
tion solely as a clearing house for problems
and promotion work affecting the industry as
a whole. In other words, the associations
are to be likened to states and the Chamber
to the federal government.
{Please turn to page 8)
previous convention, occupied practically the
entire eighth floor of the Palmer House.
Nor did the exhibits go unnoticed for the
corridors and the rooms themselves were
well filled with dealers throughout the period
of the convention. Those manufacturers and
wholesalers with something new, worth while
and interesting to show reported a very sat-
isfactory volume of orders; in fact, the rep-
resentatives of several concerns were dis-
tinctly enthusiastic over the business booked.
This is to be taken not only as an indication
of present improvement in the music busi-
ness, but of a distinct confidence in the fu-
ture.
Altogether, it was a fine convention from
the standpoint of earnestness and accomplish-
ment and the work of the association execu-
tives in planning and carrying out the pro-
gram was well worth while.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
MUSIC
NATIONAL PIANO MANUFACTURERS'
ASSOCIATION ADOPTS O W N STAMPS
T
HE outstanding feature of the annual
meeting of the National Piano Manufac-
turers' Association held on June 8 was
the decision to discontinue the use of the com-
bination stamp that has been placed on pianos
for some years past for the purpose of rais-
stamp fund computed on the basis of ship-
ments made.
The money raised through the sale of
stamps and paid into the fund in cash will
remain entirely in the hands of the manufac-
turers' association for the carrying on of pro-
motional work and other objects. Annual
dues of $50 per year will continue.
At the meeting the Baldwin Piano Co.,
which has been a consistent supporter of the
association's activities, became affiliated with
the association as a member.
Officers elected for the coming year are:
president, Gordon C. Campbell, Kohler-
Brambach Piano Co., New York; first vice-
president, Lucien Wulsin, Baldwin Piano Co.,
Cincinnati; second vice-president, Otto
S O R D O N G. CAMPBELL
The New President
ing funds in support of the Music Industries
Chamber of Commerce and particularly of
the National Bureau for the Advancement of
Music. This combination stamp was priced
at a dollar, half going to the manufacturers
and the other half to the dealers. A con-
siderable controversy has been developed as
to a proper division of the funds.
Under the new plan the manufacturers
have adopted their own stamp, the purchase
of which will be obligatory upon all mem-
bers of the Association. In order that the
burden may be equitably divided the new
set-up provides that stamps valued at 50
cents be placed on pianos wholesaling under
$300; stamps of a value of 75 cents on
pianos wholesaling from $300 to $600, and
stamps of a value of $1.50 on pianos whole-
saling at over $600. Members of the Manu-
facturers' Association, in lieu of buying
stamps may, with the consent of the officers
of the association, make cash payment to the
CONVENTION OF CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE
(Continued from page 7)
During the course of the annual meeting
the Chamber moved to renew its membership
in the Chamber of Commerce in the United
States.
Plans for the Century of Progress World's
Fair to be held in Chicago, in 1933, were
presented by representatives of the fair.
They include a number of imposing musical
features including series of concerts by
bands, choruses and other musical groups to
be carried along right through the period of
the fair. There will also be exhibits of
FRED. P. BASSETT
Retiring President
Schulz, Jr., M. Schulz Co., Chicago; treas-
urer, C. Albert Jacob, Jr., Jacob Bros., New
York; honorary secretary, Herbert W. Hill,
and secretary, Harry Meixell.
A distinctly unusual event occurred dur-
ing the installation of officers when President
Campbell was formally presented the gavel
by his father, Mark P. Campbell, a former
president of the association. The occasion
served to emphasize the rise of a new gen-
eration in trade association affairs.
musical instruments of all types on a non-
competitive basis.
. In order that music and the music trade
be properly represented the President of the
Chamber was authorized to appoint a com-
mittee of twenty-five members to develop
plans for the participation of the industry
in this important event.
The plans for the celebration of the Bi-
Centennial of George Washington's birth in
1932 were endorsed.
TRIBUTE TO IR1ON
President Wagner paid high tribute to the
earnest work of Hermann Irion as chairman
of the board of control of the National Bu-
reau for the Advancement of Music. C.
TRADE
REVIEW,
July, 1931
M. Tremaine, director of the Bureau, was
also complimented.
Harry Meixell, secretary and general man-
ager of the Chamber, in a brief report of the
financial affairs announced that the organiza-
tion went into the new .fiscal year free of
debt. This was followed by the reading of
the treasurer's report by Gordon Campbell.
Before the election of directors for the com-
ing year it was explained that the direc-
torate would include the three most recent
past presidents, the presidents of affiliated
organizations, and eight directors at large,
four to be replaced each year. The directors
from affiliated associations will be named on
the following basis: one director from each
organization contributing up to $10,000 to the
Chamber and one more director for each
additional $15,000 contributed.
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS ELECTED
The directors elected and appointed for
the year are as follows: Past presidents E.
R. Jacobson, Hermann Irion and Mark P.
Campbell. For the piano manufacturers,
Gordon G. Campbell; for the music mer-
chants, Edwin R. Weeks; for the phonograph
trade, W. W. Clark; for the organ indus-
try, George W. Catlin; sheet music dealers,
John Harden; national musical merchandise
association, H. C. Lornb; piano and music
travelers, Jacob Schiller; piano tuners, Mels
C Boe; National Association of Musical In-
strument and Accessories Manufacturers,
Harry Simson; for the supply industry, Ar-
thur L. Wessell and John Wickham, and di-
rectors at large, Louis Sterling, A. L. Smith.
I.ucian Wulsin, R. W. Lawrence, G. C. Kav-
anagh, Jay Grinnell, C. Alfred Wagner and
Parhatn Werlein. Additional directors made
possible through additional Chamber contri-
butions are: for the National Piano Manu-
facturers' Association, W. E. Guylee and C.
D. Bond, and for the Music Merchants, Otto
B. Heaton.
Following the election of directors all of-
ficers of the Chamber were re-elected with
one exception, Julius White replacing Gor-
don G. Campbell as treasurer. The officers
for the ensuing year are therefore: President,
C. Alfred Wagner, New York; first vice-
president, Henry C. Lomb, Long Island City,
N. Y.; second vice-president, Parham Wer-
lein, New Orleans; treasurer, Julius White,
New York, and secretary anil general man-
ager, Harry Meixell, New York.
MUSICAL SUPPLY ASS'N
TO LIQUIDATE AFFAIRS
At its annual meeting in Chicago, on June
8, of the Musical Supply Association of
America it was agreed to dissolve the or-
ganization and put its affairs in the hands
of the Music Industries Chamber of Com-
merce for liquidation. The reason given was
that the membership in the association had
shrunken to such an extent that there was
no necessity for continuing it.
The liquidation committee consists of two
members from the East, W. A. Mennie and
Arthur L. Wessell, and two from the West,
John Wickham and James E. Platt, with
Harry Meixell, secretary of the association, as
chairman. Th.e assets of the association were
to be used to liquidate all claims against it,
the balance to be turned over to the National
Bureau for the Advancement of Music.

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