Music Trade Review

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THE
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW,
June-July, 1932
21
CODE OF ETHICS A GREAT FORWARD STEP
W
I T H O U T question the outstanding accomplish-
ment of the entire series of music trade conven-
tions this year was the final adoption of the Code
of Ethics jointly by the Music Publishers Asso-
ciation of the United States and the National Association of
Sheet Music Dealers, which, in itself, represents the culmina-
tion of several years of earnest efforts on the part of the
leaders of both associations and the development of a notable
spirit of understanding and cooperation between those who
publish music and those who sell it.
The publishers, for their part, have strongly subscribed to
the fact that the retail music dealer is essential to their busi-
ness, that without his local efforts and contacts the sale of
the better class of sheet music would show a marked deprecia-
tion and that which was sold direct would be at almost pro-
hibitive cost. With the adoption of this premise negotiations
between the publishers and the dealers were much simplified,
but for the dealer to be regarded as a vital necessity in the
sheet music business is not enough, for he himself has very
definite responsibilities. To win and hold the support of the
publishers and to avoid direct competition in his field he
must provide the sort of representation that will prove accept-
able to the publisher. For instance, he must carry an ade-
quate stock sufficient to meet normal demand without rush
orders; must employ a staff of competent sales people 1 who can
guide and cooperate with artists, teachers and students intelli-
gently and must be willing to put forth proper effort in con-
tacting every worth-while factor in this field. In other words,
unless the dealer really regards his business seriously and
acts accordingly he cannot expect the publisher to leave his
territory in an unproductive state.
It is to be admitted that a number of the publishers did
not come into the conference with clean hands, but in most
cases their excuse was that the dealers' indifference forced
them to resort to direct promotion and sales. If the dealer,
therefore, does his share in giving local representation this
excuse of the publisher will cease to hold water. Naturally
the methods long in vogue with some publishers cannot be
changed over night without serious consequences and loss, but
with a definite understanding between the tw r o trade divisions
finally arrived at publishers will be able to adjust their affairs
over a period of time to the lasting benefit of the retailer and
with a minimum loss for themselves.
It has been the plea of the publishers that there are too
few worth-while dealers, while the latter replied that direct
competition has prevented them from developing profitable
business. A mutual observance of the principles of the new
Code of Ethics could change all this by encouraging new
dealers to enter the field and those already in business to
expand and grow to a point where music selling will be done
almost exclusively by recognized dealers, with publishers con-
fining themselves to production problems.
Much credit is due to the executives of the Dealers Asso-
ciation for persisting in their endeavors until a satisfactory
result was accomplished and the association itself is worthy
of the support of every thinking dealer. It is the cooperative
effort that has made this final understanding between pub-
lisher and dealer possible and it is that same association that
can make the carrying out of the plan finally successful.
Every dealer who handles the better class of music should
write at once to Thomas J. Donlan, secretary of the National
Association of Sheet Music Dealers, 325 West Fifty-fifth
street. New York, for his copy of the Code. It is his Magna
Charta.
MUSIC PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION HOLDS
LIVE ANNUAL CONVENTION IN NEW YORK
W
H A T is declared to have been one
of the most resultful conventions
ever held by the Music Publishers
Association of the I'nited States took place
at the Hotel Roosevelt on June 7, when a
definite and workable Code of Ethics, govern-
ing the relations between publisher and dealer
in the selling field, was adopted.
One of the outstanding talks at the morn-
ing session was that of Wm. W. Anns Fisher,
president of the Oliver Uitson Co., who de-
voted much of his attention to the copyright
situation and who declared that the drop off
in sales of good music reflected general con-
ditions and not a lowering of public taste
in music.
"That the gross sale of all kinds and types
of music has fallen off is a matter of com-
mon knowledge," Mr. Fisher said, "but it
no more indicates an incipient musical degen-
eracy than does the similar drop in the sale
of art books, paintings, etc., indicate an
alarming loss in our nation of the sense of
beauty and growing atrophy of taste."
Citing the copyright entries of the twenty
leading classical music publishers from the
records of the Register of Copyrights at
Washington, showing that classical music
copyright entries are now at their lowest point
in many years, Mr. Fisher declared.
"These figures at once suggest the infer-
ence that the demand for music of the better
type has declined alarmingly, while the
ephemeral output of 'Tinpan Alley' must
have increased in equal proportion—a super-
ficial deduction that is not warranted by the
facts."
C. M. Tremaine and Kenneth Clark, of the
National Bureau for the Advancement of
Music, also talked at the session and out-
lined that great progress that had been and
was being made in the teaching of the piano
in the schools of the country and in the en-
couragement of other musical activities
among the young.
The reading of various reports was fol-
lowed by a recess for luncheon.
The afternoon session was devoted chiefly
to a discussion of the Code of Ethics which
has been before the sheet music trade for
some time past. The publishers and the deal-
ers who met with them this year were in a
frame of mind to promote full cooperation.
Each realized the problems of the other and
the result was a frank and friendly discus-
sion, following the passage of a resolution by
the publishers that they agreed in principle
with the right of the dealer to freedom from
direct publisher competition in his immediate
territory. A committee of five publishers,
headed by Harold Flammer as chairman, met
with a committee of three members of the
National Association of Sheet Music Dealers,
headed by their president, John Harden, and
the result was the adoption of the code by
both sides. It indicated an appreciation by
the publishers of the importance of the dealers
as outlets for their music and at the same
time put on the shoulders of the dealers the
responsibility of giving the publishers proper
representation in their respective territories.
Copies of the Code of Ethics may be ob-
tained by dealers from Thomas Donlan, sec-
retary of the National Association of Sheet
Music Dealers, 325 West Fifty-seventh street,
New York.
During the course of the meeting G. Ri-
cordi & Co. and the Clayton F. Summy Co.
renewed their membership in the association.
All the officers were reelected by the pub-
lishers, as follows: President, W. Deane Pres-
ton, Jr., B. F. Wood Music Co., Boston; vice-
president, Harold Flammer, G. Schirmer, Inc.,
New York; treasurer, Carl T. Fischer, J.
Fischer & Bro., and secretary, Edwin L. Gun-
ther, Schroeder & Gunther, Inc., New York.
The board of directors also remains the same
with the single exception that John Seng-
stack, of Chicago, replaces Walter Jacobs.