24
PRESTO
music may again come to their place. But the "mills
of the gods" (of Hit Alley) grind always, and
what they grind (out) seems to be "exceeding small."
And all this leads to the inquiry: If "Hit Alley" is
giving the people what they want, why this apology
from the dealers? Why this hue and cry of the
associations?
Have We a Moral Standard?
On this different people have different views. But,
taking all into consideration, it seems entirely pos-
sible that interesting songs could be written without
reeking with "sex interest," and that humor could be
expressed without suggestion, obscenity, and smut;
that pleasure could be gained from a verse set to
music.
Are the public demanding more than seven hun-
dred "blue" songs? In the last three years Hit
Alley has dyed indigo over seven hundred different
subjects. Is it a wonder that the public is blue?
Would there be a riot or an insurrection if the
popular press should turn from the force of propa-
ganda, and try the forces of human nature and hu-
man interest? There would be a riot to get the new
music, and an insurrection that would give the public
again the chance to make a song a "hit."
The "Song Game" and the Trade.
We have passed, in twenty-five years, through
many stages of propaganda. First, the controlled
stage. Then the controlled dealer; the publisher-
owned department store counter; and have arrived
at the present association, which seeks to control
the air above, and does control the seats on which
we sit, the songs we hear, and the songs we buy.
This is an- age of combinations. As an economic
factor this association has power to do a world of
good—in place of doing the world, good! There is
no rule of law, business or ethics, that would pre-
vent furnishing the trade and the public with the best
in songs and music. Should they do so, it is entirely
supposable that this idea would pay as well as the
feverish fight for the unique in song monstrosity. If
they should put out the best obtainable, it is con-
ceivable that the trade will get behind and push.
The Song Business.
But the powers that be (in New York City) don't
seem to want to use their power to give the people
the best in their power. They don't do it. They
give the people what THEY want and make the peo-
ple think it is what the people themselves want.
That they are doing so is the real reason why
half the piano stores do not handle sheet music.
That is why hundreds who would handle "music,"
if they could get it, are not now in the trade; and
also this is the reason why dealers are not interested
in anything outside the associated offerings,
But, because this is so, a turn has come in the
tide of things pertaining to popular music. The
movie exhibitors have sent out the call, and the In-
dependents are responding.
Now, should it transpire that the Independents
will heed the warning, if they will study the reason
why they are now called into the song business, in
place of -being allowed to uselessly attempt to force
themselves into the "song game," they will not try
to copy either the product or methods of "Hit Alley,"
but will offer only those things that will appeal to
the real heart-interest of the public body.
And should the dealer, who is not a cog in the
present propaganda, and the person who is so situ-
ated that he could be a dealer with pleasure to him-
self and profit to his business, take on the wares of
the whole trade—controlled and independent alike—
on the basis of merit, power to please, or fitness, then
we would have a song business.
The far-sighted dealer is the real pivot of the
song business. He was but a cog in the "song
FOUR NEW SONQS ARE HITS
game."
We shall watch with pleasure the development of
the song business in the United States. That it can Dealers, Theater Leaders, and Public Make Success
be developed is absolutely certain.
of Jerome Remick Company's Publications.
There's always a reason when a song becomes a
SAYS "JAZZ" IS PASSING
"hit." The reason may be a systematized course of
boosting in one way or another and any of the ways
Syncopation Losing Favor as Better Taste Is Mak- cost money. The reason may be that the song is
opportune to a momentous occasion. But the reason
ing Itself Felt, Says Domrosch.
for sales of a song that composer and publisher
"Jazz, which is music by the way, notwithstanding should be most proud is merit in the composition.
what some critics may say, although music of a de-
It is not mere luck nor extensive "plugging,"
based kind—is going. Its day is nearly done, not which has resulted in big hits for the Jerome Remick
only in the United States, but in England, Germany & Co. of New York and Chicago. It is excellent
and wherever else it has had a vogue for some years," judgment and the big sales of Remick favorites is a
was the statement by Frank Domrosch, director, most eloquent tribute to that judgment.
Institute of Musical Art of the City of New York,
"Sweet Indiana Home," "Dixie Highway," and
distributed by the Cosmopolitan News Service this others,
of the most alluring quality. They give
week. "We can well afford to see it disappear, and dealers are
and the sheet music buying public an edge
to speed its going," Mr. Domrosch continued:
for more. And when "Silver Swanee" and "Cali-
"But just as all mankind should not be condemned fornia" were announced the market was won in ad-
for the sins of a few, so jazz has its degrees of good vance.
and bad. Many of the famed Negro melodies, many
Remick is a name which is magic in song circles.
of which are altogether admirable, and which have
you will see it on nearly every leader's stand in
been so popular for many years, are jazz, but with And
the
theaters.
sting absent. No one can find fault with these.
"The syncopation which accompanies many of
them is both harmless and attractive, but the 'modern
idea' has laid its hold upon such music and so low-
ered, degraded and vitiated it for the entertainment
of many of the thoughtless that its very name implies
something lowering.
Directly or Indirectly Interested in
"What may take its place I have no means of
knowing, but it certainly cannot well be anything of
Pianos, Phonographs or the General
a less elevating character."
Music Trade
EVERY MAN. WHETHER
TRIANGLE'S PLUG SONG.
"I'm Getting So Now I Don't Care" is the title of
a new melody waltz issued by the Triangle Music
Company, of 1658 Broadway, New York. The Tri-
angle Company announces that this number is to be
its "plug waltz," very shortly, and a special advertis-
ing and publicity campaign is being planned in sup-
port of it. A novel feature of the regular song
copies of "I'm Getting So Now I Don't Care" is a
photograph of Rodolph Valentino, which adorns the
cover. It is expected that the picture of the popular
screen idol will result in the sale of thousands of
copies to movie fans, who desire a photograph of him.
A FEW NOTES.
The Topeka Music Co., is a new firm established
recently at Topeka, Kans.
The Goldsmith Co., 25 East State street, Columbus,
O., recently supplied a Hardman Grand to the Bexley
High School in that city.
The George L. Cobban Music Co., Astoria, Ore.,
had an exhibit at the Clakop County Fair recently
held in Astoria.
The Thiedemann Music Co., Milwaukee, Wis., is
advertising its repair and tuning department.
The firm of Sisson Brothers, Nelsonville, Ohio, has
discontinued the piano business.
The Arthur Jordan Piano Co., Washington, D. C,
is satisfied with the excellent effects on sales of the
Ampico Week recently held by the company.
The Bush & Lane line of pianos has been added to
the retail offerings of the Schaff Bros. Piano Co.'s
retail store in Huntington, Ind.
A new upright and a new playerpiano style have
been announced by the Schaff Bros. Co., Huntington,
Ind.
CABLE-NELSON PIANO CO
Manufactures fine pianos and player-pianos and
Wholesales them at fair prices and terms.
The agency is a source of both profit and prestige.
209 S. State St., Republic Bldg., CHICAGO
ADAM SCHAAF, Inc.
Established 1873
MANUFACTURERS OF HIGH-GRADE
GRANDS, UPRIGHTS and PLAYER -PIANOS
C Bt
Factory:
St
£T. F R! R?" '
- TlK*» a
__, . .
^ ~
CH1CAQO
October 21, 1923.
Should have the three booklets compris-
ing
PRESTO TRADE LISTS
No. 1—Directory of the Music Trades—
the Dealers List.
No. 2—The Phonograph Directory—the
Talking Machine List.
No. 3—Directory of the Music Industries
(Manufacturers, Supplies, etc., of
all kinds).
Price, each book, 25 cents.
The three books combined contain the
only complete addresses and classified
lists of all the various depart-
ments of the music indus-
tries and trades.
Choice of these books and also a copy of
the indispensable "Presto Buyer's Guide,"
will be sent free of charge to new sub-
scribers to Presto, the American Music
Trade Weekly, at $2 a year.
You want Presto; you want the Presto
Trade Lists. They cost little and return
much, Why not have them?
Published fcy
Presto Publishing Co.
407 So. Dearborn St,
CHICAGO, ILL.
Kindler & Collins Sss
THE NECESSARY WANTS
If you want a Salesman or Workers
in any branch of the Business; if
you want a Factory, try a Want Ad
and get it. Presto Want Ads get
results and get them quick.
Officeai. Calesrooms
321 So. Wabash A^nue
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