27
TO
October 16, 1920.
PUBLISHER'S MOTION DISMISSED.
The motion of the Consolidated Music Corpora-
tion, New York, and co-defendants to have dismissed
the bill of complaint filed for alleged violation of the
Sherman anti-trust law, came up for hearing recently
before Judge Hough in the United States District
Court, New York. The motion was denied. In-
cluded with the Consolidated Music Corporation
were Irving Berlin, Leo Feist, Inc., T. B. Harms and
Francis Day & Hunter, Inc., Shapiro, Bernstein Co.,
Watterson, Berlin & Snyder, Inc., and M. Witmark
& Sons.
"TEN CENT" IS DEAD
Thank heaven there are signs of the perma-
nent decease of the "Ten Cent Music" foolish-
ness. Last week this paper announced the in-
crease in price of sheet music published by
several prominent producers, and now we
have the encouraging sign of a further spread
of the "reform."
The McKinley Music Company, of Chicago
and New York, has done away with the "ten
cent" standard of sheet music. It is the best
thing that could happen to the trade. Ten
cents as a fixed price was never fair to the
publishing business. It was established as
long ago as 1881, by the late Richard Saalfield,
and it has maintained its sway ever since.
Originally the cheap music was the result
of Mr. Saalfield's discovery that the reprints
of foreign standard music and popular "teach-
ing pieces" could be printed at small cost, and
without paying royalties to composers or orig-
inal publishers. In this he was followed by the
late W. F. Shaw, of Philadelphia, who was
the original sheet music pirate of the world.
Mr. Shaw's plan was not only to reprint
noncopyright music and foreign "hits," but
to watch carefully the copyright records in
Washington and pounce promptly upon any-
thing good that had not been properly pro-
tected by American publishers. In this way
he made small fortunes by reprinting, at cut
prices, everything that came forth and sold
well, and that had not been properly entered
"according to act of Congress." "One notable
instance was the one-time piano rage, "The
Shepherd Boy," by A. P. Wyman, That par-
ticular piece instantly became a great "seller."
Shaw soon discovered that the Brainards—we
think it was the Cleveland house of that day—
had neglected to have the piece properly copy-
righted. And so Shaw reaped the results of
his system of doing business. At that time,
too, there was no international copyright law
by which publishers, on either side of the At-
lantic, could protect themselves.
And so Saalfield, and the rest, had free sail-
ing, into large profits, even if they did place
a low valuation upon their prints. The Saal-
field Ten-Cent Catalgoue was a large one and
the ten-cent system has remained in force ever
since. It became absolutely necessary. The
ers do not purchase new records regularly is because
the matter is not brought forcibly enough to their
attention. Perhaps the dealer advertises his new
lists in a general way. Most phonograph owners
see by the papers the new records that are out or
are coming out. But there is no one at hand to urge
them to buy. They may be too busy to go to the
store to hear the new songs or perhaps their inter-
est in the phonograph has waned through their very
failure to keep their collections fresh. The question
of the cost is seldom the reason why so many
phonograph owners do not buy more new records.
The imaginative dealer who admits the latter fact
usually sees the way to arouse the waning interest
of one kind of owner and the way to help to a dem-
onstration the man who is too busy to visit the
store.
The Platt Music Co., Los Angeles, Calif., has been
appointed a Victor representative.
McKinley Music Company had no other way.
The industry is a large one and must meet
competition and do a very large business. But
now the McKinley Music Company has de-
cided to increase the price of the ten-cent cata-
logue to fifteen cents.
Will the result be to cut down the vol-
ume of business done? On the contrary, we
believe that the effect will be to increase the
demand for the McKinley Fifteen-Cent Mu-
sic. The demand exists. The trade knows
that nowhere else can such values be had.
And the proportion of profit to the dealer, in-
stead of being lessened, is increased.
It is a good sign that the ten-cent music is
losing place in the trade. It should never have
existed. There has not been enough in it to
justify the publishers' investment nor to in-
sure the dealers' time and trouble.
INDIANAPOLIS WONDERED.
Frank Chance, an advertising man for Charles
Mayer & Co., Indianapolis, had that city guessing
one day last week. Pedestrians who ventured
within a radius of half a mile of the Monument
heard excellent band music and looked about them
for the source. The general solution was that the
music was made by the band of the 81st Regiment
stationed on top of the monument.
But Mr.
Chance knew better, for he participated in the task
of taking a standard model talking machine from
the stock of Charles Mayer & Co., to the top of the
monument, where it originated the music that was
heard many blocks away by means of an amplifier.
WHY TEACH IMMORALITY?
All efforts to clean up songs and "movie" films
seem to result in failure, so far as the effect is seen
in the work of certain depraved producers. The
poor public is willing to have the song-makers and
producers take liberties, but wants the line drawn at
license. The "smut" in song is a perpetual offender.
Dealers who care for their reputations and want to
build up a good business, should refuse to display
the "smut" songs or to sell the prints of publishers
who put that kind of thing on the market. Choose
a clean catalogue and "feature" it. When "smut" is
called for, explain to the customer why you haven't
it in stock.
CYRIL SCOTT COMING.
Cyril Scott will leave England on October 12 to
visit the United States, where he expects to remain
about three months giving recitals of his own com-
positions, conducting some of his orchestral works,
and lecturing. He opens with the Philadelphia Or-
chestra, November 5, playing his Concerto. The
same work will be repeated in New York on No-
vember 9. His first piano recital will be given at
New York on November 23, to be followed by re-
citals at Buffalo, Chicago, etc.
STARTING CHILD RIGHT.
"Does your child sing?" is the pertinent question
asked parents generally by the J. H. Troup Music
House, Harrisburg, Pa. "Why not allow her to
hear and study the records of the greatest sopranos
and contraltos? Come in and ask us for sugges-
tions."
A. D. Simon is head of the sheet music depart-
ment of Simon's Music Store, Ottawa, 111. The de-
partment is an important and growing one in the
handsome store at 816 La Salle street.
ATTENTION MUSICIANS!
Send for a copy of "Dixie Life Rag." Full of pep.
You'll like it. Price one dime.
FRANK E. BROWN
Dept. F.
37 Burton Street, WALTON, NEW YORK
THE FACTORY ORCHESTRA.
The Edison Symphony Orchestra, Chicago, ap-
peared 100 strong upon the stage of Orchestra Hall
last week in a popular program. Commenting on the
event Maurice Rosenfeld, music critic of the Daily
News said: "'There is hardly a big mercantile corpo-
ration in the city that does not support a chorus, a
band or an orchestra or in some cases all three, made
up entirely of employes, and the general interest in
the work is truly encouraging, for the ultimate aim
—that of making America the most musical nation
in the world—is in sight of realization."
PUBLISHERS LOSE POINT.
Judge Charles M. Hough, in an opinion filed last
week in the Federal District Court. New York, de-
nied the motion made by Abraham S. Gilbert to dis-
miss the Government's complaint against his clients,
Leo Feist, the Consolidated Music Corporation and
other music publishers charged with conspiracy in
restraint of trade under the Sherman anti-trust law.
SCHEDULE FILED.
Schedules of Gilbert & Friendland, Inc., music pub-
Ushers No. 232 West 46th street, New York, show
liabilities of $48,342, of which $47,000 are unsecured
claims; and assets of $12,550, of which stock in trade
represents $5,000, and patents, copyrights and trade
marks, $6,000. Harry S. Heilheimer is attorney for
the bankrupts.
TO HELP THE SCHOOLS.
Branson De Cou, manager of Landay Bros., New-
ark, N. J., has addressed a letter to the principal of
every school in the city offering assistance in the
selection of material for the teaching and proper un-
derstanding of music in schools. With the letter is
a valuable annotated list of records that every school
should own.
The Wilkin-Redman Co., 235 S. High street, Co-
lumbus, O.. represents the Kranich & Bach piano in
central Ohio.
If you are not handling the
McKINLEY EDITION I F
10c MUSIC
Comprising Standard,
Classic and Teaching Music
you are losing an opportunity to make money
Dealers Realize
150# PROFIT
On Sales of McKinley Music
It is the most popular library of 10c music
on the market. Selections contained in this
Edition are used by the most prominent
teachers in the country — Students, Accom-
plished Musicians, and the M*usic Loving
Public in general.
It is conveniently handled; arranged in
compact form, and is labor saving fn serving
the customers.
The dealer is supplied with catalog! bear-
ing the business imprint which serves t«
bring more customers to the store than any
other advertising medium that could be em-
ployed.
WRITE US FOR SAMPLES AND PAR-
TICULARS TODAY
Our Jobbing Department is the largest and
most complete in the country. We can sup-
ply you with every want in the sheet music
line. We fill all orders the day they are
received.
McKinley Music Company
The Largest Sheet Music House
in the World
CHICAGO
NEW YORK
1501-13 E. 55th St.
146 W. 4€th St.
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