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MUSIC MERCHANTS ASS'N
HOLDS ANNUAL MEETING
One Day Convention in New York Proves Very Fruitful of
Results—Trade Trends Are Discussed—Officers to Continue
T
HE annual meeting of the Board of
Control of the National Association of
Music Merchants, held at the Hotel Com-
modore in New York on June 9, took on
the aspect of a real miniature trade conven-
tion for the reason that in the absence of a
general national convention this year the
members of the association at large had been
invited to attend the sessions and a number
of them accepted. The result was a general
round-table discussion at the afternoon ses-
sion that proved distinctly interesting.
THE
lematical one of its career. I can assure
you that the answers to the questionnaire
sent out to our membership as to the ad-
visability of holding a convention this year
made me sore of heart since the large major-
ity of these favored a 'moratorium' for a
year, for during the four years of my mem-
bership in the organization I have come to
look upon these convocations as being most
enjoyable as well as most helpful affairs,
and it was difficult, indeed, for me to give
up the thought that this was the time of
all others when the exchange of thought
between the leading music merchants of the
country was most needed, and so while it
proved impossible to carry out this thought,
I am glad that we can have this 'Junior
Convention' and that some of us at least
can gather as of yore to fan and keep alive
an ember that we are all so hopeful sooner
or later will burst into flame."
PRESIDENT'S REPORT
The board meeting proper was held in
the morning, opening with the annual report
of President Edwin R. Weeks, who, after
stating that he had derived much pleasure
from the office despite the prevailing business
conditions and accompanying problems, paid
high tribute to the cooperation given him-
self and the association by Executive Sec-
retary Delbert I.. I.oomis, whose attitude he
declared was a real inspiration. Mr. Weeks
also commented upon the various trips
throughout the country he had made with
Mr. Loomis for the purpose of maintaining
contact with the association members, as has
been duly reported in T H E REVIEW.
In commenting on his tours, Mr. Weeks
stated that he found the music dealers had
added electric refrigerators, washing ma-
chines and vacuum cleaners to their line and
that some others of the trade had criticized
such a move. Of this he said:
"I have been asked what right has a
music dealer to go fussing around in people's
kitchens when his training has been in the
field of music. In the first place, I can say
from experience that when the money re-
ceived from the sale of an electric refrigera-
tor goes into the cash register, it is as nice
music as one wants to hear. Beyond that,
it can be truthfully said that the music mer-
chant is a pioneer in this type of selling
and therefore should be well versed in this
part of the game. We found some music
merchants in these visitations who are still
sticking to the piano, exclusively, not even
having gone into radio selling, but it would
appear that a majority of the larger dealers
who have large salesrooms and correspond
ing overhead have now become interested in
the kitchen as well as the living room.
"It is hard to estimate or measure the
future of the music business with the yard
stick of today, since the figures on the
yardstick are so smeared up by the grimy
hands of old man depression. To the casual
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY'S REPORT
EDWIN R. WEEKS
President, N. A. M. M.
observer it would appear that the moving
picture industry is going along successfully,
but when we see that the stock of the three
biggest picture corporations, Warner, Eox and
Paramount, has slumped down to less than
two dollars a share, and when we learn
that the Warner Corporation's losses were
ten million dollars, and that the Fox Films
have asked to be adjudged as bankrupt, we
can see what makes the yardstick so grimy.
As we travel along the highways the num-
ber of automobiles that we pass, or pass us,
make it appear that the motor car industry
is a going one, but when we study Henry
Ford's financial report for the past year and
see that his losses were over fifty-three
million dollars, we think to ourselves that
the car industry is not only a going one, but
almost gone.
"From the best information that I can
obtain, the number of pianos made and sold
last year was a third, or possibly a fourth,
of the results of three years previous. If
we take into consideration the matter of
the player-piano, which has in a large way
been supplanted by radio, the showing made
by the straight piano will compare favor-
ably with the showing of a whole lot of
other things.
"As we look about and see what has hap-
pened to most organizations, both of a social
and business nature, it is not to be won
dered at that our organization has passed
through what I believe is the most prob-
THE
MUSIC
In his annual report, Executive Secretary
Loomis said, in part:
"Lack of funds, as can readily be under-
stood, seriously handicapped the operation
of the executive office during the past year.
It was possible, nevertheless, to carry out
certain items included in the work program
presented by your executive secretary at the
last meeting of this board, held in Chicago,
at the annual convention, June 8, 1931.
"Beginning with September, a series of
advertisements, institutional in character, and
devoted to both the piano and musical mer-
chandise, were sent to members with the
monthly bulletins. Illustrations, original in
design, were provided in mat form. The
response from members was immediate and
distinctly favorable. The cost of prepara-
tion and mailing of this material was $499.40
during the fiscal year ending April 30, 1932,
as appears in the auditor's report. No
specific charge to members was made for
this service. Letters and daily paper clip
pings on file in the office show that the
advertisements were used regularly by a
large number of members. The suggestion
has been made that a charge might properly
be made for this service, which could be
advantageously extended in order to give
members advertisements at least twice each
month with the possible exception of the
summer months.
"Another item in the work program sug-
gested by your executive secretary, that of
making trips in company with the president
for the purpose of holding conference com-
TRADE
REVIEW.
June-July,
1932