Play Meter

Issue: 1974 December - Vol 1 Num 1

FROM THE EDI TOR
Dear Readers,
Welcome to Play Meter - a brand-new trade publication dedicated to serving the entire music and games
industry. This magazine is for everyone engaged in or associated with the coin-operated amusemen t machine
business.
Every young, fast growing, thriving industry needs at least one good publication that can adequately
provide a level of communication that is not only vital to the growth of the industry, but which also serves as
an indicator of where the industry is now, where it has been and where it is headed. Play Meter is such a
publication.
While it is the intention of this publication to keep the reader informed as to the latest developments in his
particular phase of the business, we will also attempt to broaden his knowledge of the industry, investigate its
past, evaluate its progress, examine its efforts and plan for its future.
Play Meter is designed to communicate at all levels of the industry and to form a bridge of communication
over these various levels as they relate to one another. Communicate is what we intend to do and prosperity
for the industry is what we are going to accomplish.
As a reader of this first issue you have a responsibility to yourself as a businessman and to the industry.
Because of the nature of this business, the number of advertisers who will use this medium is limited. They
alone cannot support a publication such as this. Just as they have met their responsibilities and have given us
their support, so you too must take pride in your industry and give Play Meter your support by ordering your
subscription.
Without any paid subscriptions, Play Meter cannot exist. We're now halfway home. Only you can bring us
the rest of the way.
To put the whole matter in a nutshell, the purpose of this first complimentary issue of Play Meter is to
make certain that you, t he reader, will never be caught saying to yourself, " Why didn't I subscribe to Play
Meter sooner?"
After reading this issue you will have no excuses. So send your subscription now. And enjoy the first issue!
•••
Attend MOA
Very truly yours,
Ralph C. Lally II
Publisher
Expo '74 is again shaping up t oward a "really big show" for manufacturers, operators and distributors who
will be lucky enough to make the trip to Chicago this November 1-3.
But alt hough the convention has been growing by leaps and bounds over the past several years, and all
indications are that it will again top all previous attendance records, the annual fete hosted by the Music
Operators of America still, we feel , does not reach the number of persons in the music and games industry
t hat it should .
Fortunately, membership and support for the MOA has shown signs of growth and expansion over the last
year. A big reason for that gain, no doubt, has been the membership drive undertaken by MOA President
Russell Mawdsley.
But Mawdsley himself admits wearily that the total membership in MOA encompasses only a minor
percentage of persons in the industry.
Why is this? The staff of Play Meter doesn't completely understand.
Apat hy, we believe, is no excuse. A man who doesn't care to support his own industry would likely sit by
and watch his own business deteriorate. And we certainly hope that is not the case.
This magazine therefore urges persons and firms in all facets of the music and games industry to support
MOA, and to make every effort to attend the upcoming convention.
It will certainly be worth your while. The wealth of information and guidance offered by MOA (both the
organization and the convention) will almost certainly help your business become healthier than it is now.
And the business you save may be your own. • • •
3
In one clear, loud voice
The recent victory for music operators in the battle over the revision of the copyright law is a good
indication of how much can be accomplished by joining hands and speaking in one, clear, loud voice.
And it is indeed heart-warming to the staff at Play Meter that this accomplishment came shortly
were going to press with our very first issue.
befoll~
we
Much of the credit, if not all of it, should be given to the Music Operators of America, and especially
Executive Vice President Fred Granger. It was basically the MOA who so untiringly sought out jukebox
operators throughout the nation to support the MOA-backed revisions to the original bill.
But Granger himself credits those people who responded to the call of the MOA. He says the many letters
and telephone calls received by senators asking their support of the MOA amendments were what turned the
tide toward the final victory.
We agree. After nearly 30 years of debate, the battle is finally - for all practical purposes - over. And the
difference was "caring."
This issue, we feel, proves the worth of active, progressive organizations - both on the national and state
level.
Incidentally, the bill, with its revisions, must now go back to the House of Representatives in order that
both the House and the Senate versions will coincide. The measure will not likely reach the President's desk
before the next congressional session. • • •
A new goal: Trust
In recent weeks, while compiling information for this first issue, it has become apparent to us that there
exists a lack of trust within this industry. This lack of trust seems most prominent at the operator level. Trust
also appears lacking between the operator and the distributor, among groups of distributors, and even among
manufacturers.
With everybody watching out for the other guy, who's looking to see where we're all going? We feel that if
we are all going to succeed and realize our fullest potential, we are simply going to have to start trusting one
another.
By saying all this, we certainly don't intend to dampen anyone's competitive spirit. For good, clean
competition is healthy and indeed necessary. What we are saying is that we should all trust more in each other.
Operators, or anyone else for that matter, should do what they know is right and necessary - regardless of
how the competition may react.
Did you ever stop to think that perhaps the other guy may be just as scared of you as you are of him? We
think there's a good chance he may end up being just as smart as you, too. So if you're smart enough to start
trusting him, he may be just smart enough to start trusting you, and then everybody will be happier.
So the next time you're checking a location or just buying a cup of coffee, take a little time to look a bit
closer at those coins you've been handling for so long. One of the things that all coins have in common is the
inscription of the word "trust" on each one. We hope that in the times to come, "trust" will be one of the
things we all have in common. • • •
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