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SHEET MUSIC and BOOKS
RADIO MUSIC CO. SUBSIDIARIES
RETURN TO INDEPENDENT STATUS
N
EGOTIATIONS have been completed
whereby, effective as of January 1,
1932, Radio Music Co. disposes of
its stock holdings in Carl Fischer, Inc., and
Leo Feist, Inc., two of its subsidiary com-
panies. Each of these firms resumes its
original status as a completely independently
operated music publisher; W. S. Fischer at
the head of his firm, and E. F. Bitner at
the head of Leo Feist, Inc.
No substantial change in the internal or-
ganization of either of the companies results
from this transfer of stock ownership, inas-
much as since they have been associated
with the Radio Music Co. they have operated
practically as independent units.
The Radio Music Co. was organized at
the beginning of 1930. The results antici-
pated at that time as likely to eventuate
from such mergers were, due to the general
business depression, not realized in regard
to any of them and it is predicted through-
out the industry that all of the merged
publishing organizations then set up will now
probably be separated into original units.
Said E. C. Mills, president of the Radio
Music Co.: "Two years of accumulated ex-
perience indicates in the case of practically
all substantial mergers of music publishing
units that the application of this modern
business procedure to the very highly special-
ized business of music publishing will not
work with the same effect that it does in
routine business of general manufacturing
and merchandising operations.
"The production of musical works by
composers and authors, the relationship be-
tween these creators and their publisher, and
the exploitation of their works by the latter,
involves such highly individualized and per-
sonal efforts and relationships as makes im-
practicable subjection to the formulae of
practice which underlie the theory and opera-
tion of merged organizations.
"It is therefore believed that the best in-
terest of all concerned will result from the
negotiations now completed between Radio
Music Co. and its Fischer and Feist units
to return these firms to their original owner-
ship and status."
PUBLISHERS AND WRITERS
GETTING NEAR AGREEMENT
waltz plug song, "How Long Will It Last,"
by Max Lief and Joseph Meyer; Joan Craw-
ford's hit in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer pic-
ture, "Possessed," "I'm Sorry, Dear," and
"There's Something in Your Eyes," the Euro-
pean song sensation recently brought back to
this country by Mr. Robbins.
As the result of several conferences be-
tween representatives of the Songwriters'
Protective Association and the Music Pub-
lishers' Protective Association, following the
recent rejection of the songwriters' demands
by the members of the latter organization,
an agreement between the two interests ap-
pears to be in sight, with the writers with-
drawing most of their original demands.
At the latest meeting the songwriters agreed
that the publishers should continue to hold
the copyright and that the writers should
receive one-third of the income from the
mechanicals, as formerly. They also waived
the demand for guaranteed royalties and
agreed to accept a standard contract very
similar to that offered by a majority of
publishers at the present time.
The hitch now rests on the matter of the
closed shop. The publishers have refused to
agree to accept songs only from members of
the Songwriters' Association and this matter
will be further debated. It is expected that
the remaining features of the agreement be-
tween writers and publishers will be ratified
by their respective organizations.
ROBBINS MUSIC CORP.
CATALOG FOR THE SEASON
The catalog of the Robbins Music Corp.
until further notice has been announced to be
as follows: "Just Friends," by Sam Lewis and
John Klemmer; No. 1 fox-trot plug song,
'^Cuban Love Song," by Herbert Stothart and
Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields; No. 1
THE
MUSIC
TRADE
SCIENCE OF TUNING AND
THE FUTURE OF THE ART
which are gone. Come, come, gentlemen, do
not leave me in the lurch. We have been
comrades and friends for many years. Let
us continue to be friends and comrades.
Write to me and let our readers have the
benefit of vour wit and wisdom.
JOHN HARDEN CONDEMNS
COMPETITION WITH DEALERS
John Harden, president of the National
Association of Sheet Music Dealers, last
month sent a letter to members of that or-
ganization emphasizing the fact that although
the work of the Ethics Committee was
strongly endorsed at the Chicago Convention
last year, little had been done to improve the
conditions which the committee sought to
remedy. He commented upon the falling off
of wholesale music business, and asserted that
an increase could be realized only if pub-
lishers would cease the practice of consigning
music to schools and teachers with an unlim-
ited return privilege. Under such conditions
dealers could not see their way clear to invest
in substantial stocks because there was no
way by which they could compete with the
publisher's direct activities.
After summing up the situation Mr.
Harden urged that sheet music dealers gen-
erally get up and sign petitions to the pub-
lishers urging that they do their distributing
exclusively through recognized retail chan-
nels and not by direct mail. Action along
this line, it was declared, would prove the
solution of the problem.
NATIONAL BAND CONTEST
POSTPONED TO NEXT YEAR
There will be no national school band and
orchestra contest this year ow'ing to prevail-
{Continued from page 22)
ing conditions. This decision was reached at
fairs is not improving nor likely to improve. a meeting of the National School Band and
He thinks furthermore that no special efforts Orchestra Association held in Urban, III.,
last month, following the suggestions of
ought to be made at the present time to edu-
cate men for the art and practice of tuning. school superintendents from many sections of
He believes that one school for tuner stu- the country. The next contest will be held
in 1932 in Chicago.
dents, specifically the school managed by
At the meeting A. R. McAllister, of Joliet,
Oliver Faust in Boston, can more than sup-
111., was re-elected president; L. Bruce Jones,
ply the need for the time being. In regard
to Mr. Faust's school and his ability as a Little Rock, Ark., first vice-president; Ralph
teacher I am in hearty agreement. As to E. Rush, Cleveland, O., second vice-president.
H. C. Wegner, Waupun, Wis., was elected
whether Mr. Very is right in his other ideas
secretary to succeed C. M. Tremaine, director
I leave my readers to decide.
of the National Bureau for the Advancement
of Music, who resigned that post.
' S . O . S.
The clinic in connection with the meeting
Incidentally will L. M. Poarch please rise
was
devoted to a study of various composi-
and explain why he is not sending in his
contributions on various matters concerning tions to determine their value as contest num-
which he has been making vain, and, I be- bers, the band of the University of Illinois
gin to suspect, deceiving promises for a long playing the various selections.
time past? We need him. Will he step
forward please?
Robert Teller Sons & Dorner
And Mr. Veaco. Has he dropped out?
Music Engravers and Printers
And Mr. Kringel. Where is he? Where
too is Mr. Hale and where that veteran
SEND MANUSCRIPT ANT) IDEA OF
English tuner whose name escapes me, but
TITLE FOR ESTIMATE
who promised some time ago to send me
New York City
311
West
43rd St.
some of his reminiscences of the great days
REVIEW,
February, 1932
23