Presto

SHEET MUSIC TRADE
SHEET MUSIC'S TURN
On Monday of This Week Waldorf-Astoria,
New York, Was Scene of Eleventh An-
nual Convention of National Asso-
ciation of Sheet Music Dealers.
VITAL TOPICS DISCUSSED
Prices, Discounts, Distribution, Catalogs and Clear-
ing Houses Provide Themes for Able Addresses
by Experienced Dealers.
The annual convention of the National Association
of Sheet Music Dealers was held on Monday and
Tuesday of this week at the Waldorf-Astoria, New
York. There was an unusually large attendance.
Many of the music merchants attending the music
trades convention at the same place last week re-
mained for the sheet music dealers annual meeting.
The first session was opened on Monday morning by
President Edward P. Little, who welcomed mem-
bers to the eleventh annual convention, which he said
would prove to be the most important gathering of
the organization ever held. Continuing, Mr. Little
said:
President Little's View.
''The future looks most promising for all of us,
although at this time there is more or less uncertainty
over the recent 'net' no discount ruling of the Fed-
eral trade Commission. This situation is being han-
dled by most publishers in a manner that will enable
the dealers to make an honorable profit, although
there are still certain publishers who apparently do
not understand the needs of the retail dealer and are
more or less uncertain what to do. We earnestly re-
quest all publishers to consider carefully the welfare
of their dealers and 1 hope that before we leave this
meeting that they will know definitely just what we
want.
"In our deliberations I trust we will in turn also
show due consideration for the publishers' problems
and prove to them our desire to co-operate in every
possible way.
"In speaking of our association work the past
year, I want to say that whatever credit is due the
officers should be given to our more efficient secre-
tary, Thos. Donlan, who has labored faithfully and
unceasingly in our behalf. Frankly, I have been un-
able to give him much help, and recommend that
when you elect your next president that you choose
a man much nearer to the center of activities than I
am. We have at every meeting promised faithfully
that we would co-operate with our officers to the
fullest extent and I am not at this time going to
take any of you to task for lack of co-operation, for
some of our directors and members have given up a
great deal of time and spent much money journeying
hack and forth from New York to help solve the
problems that have confronted us."
The Catalog Discussed.
The complete catalog of American music was a
topic of interest treated by Chas. W. Homeyer in
his able way. He outlined the way such a catalog
might be published and asked the meeting for sug-
gestions. Is it advisable? What will the cost be?
Who will get it up? are questions for the association
to answer he said, and continued:
"In the first place, in compiling a catalog of this
type we could readily omit the Schirmcr and Ditson
catalogs, as they are large volumes in themselves,
but a third volume containing the best from the
publications of the remaining publishers would be
very practical and very useful. I do not know how
many titles this third volume would comprise, but,
for a guess, about one hundred to one hundred and
fifty thousand titles.
"How much this catalog would cost I haven't any
idea, but that it would have to be sold goes without
saying or the cost be covered by charging a certain
amount for every title entered. For instance 150,000
titles at one cent each would net $1,500, but that
amount would not be enough; but 200 copies sold at
$10 each in addition would be quite certain to meet
the expense."
J. E. Robinson Speaks.
The relation of the dealer to the publisher and the
dependence of one upon the other provided a topic
for J. Edgar Robinson, who said in part:
"Such publishers who have given the subject thor-
ough study- and have sincerely tried to practice a
policy of fair dealing with the retailer, concede that
the dealer is the best means of reaching the con-
sumer. Assistance on the part of the publishers is
not only desirable but necessary. Any attempt on
the part of the publisher to do any more than assist
is an impediment to the progress of the dealer toward
sheet music distribution.
"From every possible viewpoint the dealer is
entitled to utmost consideration in sheet music dis T
tribution if music supply is to reach its highest pin-
nacle and the dealer and publishers to be thoroughly
successful in their enterprise."
Mr. Philpitt on Distribution.
S. Ernest Philpitt talked about music distribution
which involved many considerations. Among them
that of price, price maintenance and interference of
the publisher with the dealer's rights were important
ones. The most aggravating feature of the pub-
lishers' dealers is that in some instances upon re-
ceiving inquiries they proceed to quote prices instead
of referring the customer to the dealer and endeavor-
ing to strengthen his hand, said Mr. Philpitt, who
closed as follows:
"The point to bring out is that there should be
closer co-operation between the retail section of the
publishing house and the dealer and in this manner
the dealer's hand could be strengthened and his
prestige unimpaired, if the consumer is given to
understand that the dealer is in position to fulfill
their requirements. It can be done, for it is done
by some houses.
"I therefore offer this as a resolution to be pre-
sented to the publishers, that they do not quote prices
in territory adjacent to the dealers, but endeavor to
bring such inquiries to the attention of the dealer and
work out their problem together to their mutual ad-
vantage. For the small dealer will always be a small
dealer if he is not properly fostered and protected by
the producer whose publications and wares he
dispenses."
Suggests a Clearing House.
Laurence Sundquist said he believed a clearing
house for dealers was more practical than a general
catalog.
"This clearing house would naturally be located in
New York city in the center of the music publishing
industry. It would require the services of a com-
petent sheet music man and of course the necessary
amount of clerical help. First, a card index catalog
of all the music published in America and abroad
would be compiled. The clearing house would not
carry any stock, but would pick up or procure all
orders and send same to the dealer or else transfer
the orders to the correct publisher," said Mr. Sund-
quist, who also suggested two methods of financing
the scheme.
Edward J. Walt, speaking on the subject of credits
wondered if sheet music dealers are not too lenient
with teachers and colleges in carrying accounts for
an indefinite time and advised music merchants to
"dismiss the idea of making your sheet music depart-
ment a feeder for your piano department. Make it a
paying one, and you will find that this in itself will
bring the teachers and those of musical influence to
vour store."
- 9est /
Music Printers (
WestbfNewYorkV X
ANY PUBLISHER
OUR REFERENCE
25
PRESTO
June 14, 1924.
y
^
WORK DONE BY
ALL PROCESSES
CLASSICAL MUSIC FAVORED
Compositions of the Masters and Old Time Ameri-
can Songs Most Desired in Radio.
Classical music is more desired by radio fans than
any other kind, according to Kolin Hager, chief an-
nouncer, Radiocast WGY, Schenectady, N. Y., who
says:
"My faith in the future of this development is in
part due to the sensible letters we receive. The type
of our audience is, I believe, superior to that of the
average theater. The better things are preferred, and
even strongly urged.
"It may surprise many to know that we have five
times as many requests for classical music—the com-
positions of the masters and old-time American songs
—as we have for popular, present-day music. The
general opinion seems to be that popular dance music
is the all desirable thing, but, according to the re-
quests we receive, it is the reverse. I believe, too,
that this is a representative judgment. WGY's mail
will shortly approach a quarter of a million com-
munications of one kind or other, cablegrams, tele-
grams, letters, and post cards. Doesn't it seem logi-
cal that if the people want better music, they also
want other features of high quality?"
SHEET MUSIC TRADE NOTES
A Few Items Interesting to People in Sheet Music
Department Are Printed.
Herman Fiess is the new manager of the sheet
music department of the S. H. Sterchi Music Store,
Terre Haute, Ind.
The Oliver Ditson Co., Boston, has announced a
second edition of "The Fundamentals of Music" to
be issued soon.
Henry Grobe, music dealer, 135 Kearney street,
San Francisco, has built up a large sheet music mail
order business by energetic methods of keeping eter-
nally advertising efficient service. Sheet music pub-
lished anywhere may be procured by the firm for its
patrons.
The Olympia Studio & Music Bureau, Inc., musi-
cal instruments, recently moved from 970 to 749 Pur-
chase street, New Bedford, Mass.
The Terry Music Shop recently secured articles of
incorporation to conduct a business in El Dorado,
Ark.
Francois Salabert, New York city, is the title of a
publishing firm recently incorporated under the laws
of the state. The firm, with a capitalization of
$25,000, is the American representative of a well-
known firm of French music publishers.
The Woodfil Jewelry Co., Nevada, Mo., recently
sold its sheet music store to the Martin Bros. Piano
Co., Springfield, Mo.
A sheet music department has been added by
Allbright's Drug Store, North Central street, Knox-
ville, Tenn.
EXPELLING JAZZ PLAYERS.
American jazz players in Paris have been served
with writs of expulsion and ordered to quit French
territory. No reason is offered by the government;
but it is supposed that the popularity of American
musicians in France has stirred up the French musi-
cians to action.
REMICK SONG HITS
Where the Lazy Daisies Grow
I Wonder Who's Dancing with You
Tonight
There's Yes Yes in Your Eyes
Hula Hula Dream Girl
It Had to Be You
Mandalay
Bring Back the Old Fashioned Waltz
Until Tomorrow
Twilight Rose
Watchin' the Moonrise
Counting the Days
Not Yet Susette
Arizona Stars
If You'll Come Back
Land of Broken Dreams
J. H. REMICK & CO.
New York
Chicago
Deti »it
3.4-2060 W.Lake St., Chicago, 111.
Enhanced content © 2008-2009 and presented by MBSI - The Musical Box Society International (www.mbsi.org) and the International Arcade Museum (www.arcade-museum.com).
All Rights Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with support from NAMM - The International Music Products Association (www.namm.org).
Additional enhancement, optimization, and distribution by the International Arcade Museum. An extensive collection of Presto can be found online at http://www.arcade-museum.com/library/