Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1924 1992

Page 22 Text:

P R E S TC
22
SHEET MUSIC TRADE
SHEET MUSIC PROFITS
They Are in the Staple as Well as the Popular
Numbers When Dealers Are Keen to
See Opportunities.
It is claimed by a prominent retail sheet music
department manager that there never has been a
period in the history of the trade in which the oppor-
tunities for selling sheet music was as good as today;
never before has the chance to make profits on sales
of sheet music been equal to that of the present time.
Every year, he points out, the number of sheet music
buyers shows increase and influences that result in
sheet music sales in 1924 were not present or thought
of a generation ago.
"It is not so very long ago since the sheet music
dealer was dependent for sales on a limited few. The
teachers of piano and voice, the students of music of
all kinds and the musically cultured people who
bought regularly or intermittently as the case might
be. All were included within the musical circle,"
said the veteran sheet music man this week.
"Today the number of teachers, students, profes-
sional musicians and the musically cultured is in-
finitely greater than that of a few generations ago and
compares favorably with the numbers five, ten or
fifteen years ago. Vast numbers of people who do
not claim to be 'musical' are big buyers of sheet
music. Classical music is made known to the masses
by bands, orchestras and choral organizations every-
where. Schools are spreading the knowledge of the
finest music among the pupils. The Music Memory
Contests organized by the National Bureau for the
Advancement of Music spread the appreciation of the
best compositions. Other agencies affecting the pub-
lic including the pianos, organs and orchestras in the
motion picture shows encourage the familiarity of
the young and not so young with the fine music of
all lands and all times.
"The prominence of the so-called popular music,
the song-dance numbers that succeed one another
in great profusion, should not distract the music
dealer from the more stable things, the sale of which
make profits for him. Many piano dealers and pho-
nograph dealers who have added a sheet music
counter seem to think the sheet music demands are
limited to the song hits of the day. They cater only
to the dancing folk whose only desires are for the
"latest" hit regardless of its merits.
"Even in this seemingly sure business the sheet
- music dealer of that kind gets stung too often.
Sometimes a feverish run on a number induces him
to order an extra dozen or so of copies. Suddenly
the hit fans' interest is expressed for something newer
and often rottener and the dozen extra is in the dis-
card, part of the growing pile of dead ones that repre-
sent the dealer's trust in the ephemeral.
"When a sheet music department handles only the
music for which many calls are made immediately
following its publication, the people behind the coun-
ter become mechanical machines, wrapping clerks in-
stead of salesmen and saleswomen. Real salesmen
and saleswomen are required to sell the music on
which continuous profits are made."
NO "TRUST" ORGANS.
A little paper printed in the East is termed "The
Trust Organ," by a correspondent, who asks Presto
for an opinion. This paper doesn't believe that the
"trust" has any "organ," and certainly if they had it
would be one of more importance than that indi-
cated. The "trust" in the sheet music business, if
there is one, is not impressive, and recent changes in
plans of marketing music have taken most of the
string out of the buzzing insect known as the "com-
bination of thirteen."
"ROYALTY" STIR SUBSIDES.
Since the death of Victor Herbert the newspaper
talk about the rights of ."composers" to royalties
from radio, singers, movies and other sources of
popularity and song promotion have become vastly
less than formerly. Possibly the publishers are find-
ing that the more the tax upon singers and melody
popularizers is discussed, the less their songs are
sung and, in consequence, the smaller the demand.
Victor Herbert was the "mountain" that resisted the
"royalty free" performances, as he had a perfect
right to be.
SLIPPERY SONG SHARKS.
There has been an appreciable decimation of the
"song sharks" during the past two years. The inno-
September 27, 1924.
HEARST SONG QUALITIES
Three New Numbers Just Issued Character-
ized by the Merits that Achieved Success
for Previous Winners.
Three new songs have just been issued by Hearst
Music Publishers of Canada, Ltd., for which the pub-
lishers and the dealers who have received them an-
ticipate big sales. They are "Tallahasse," "Bobbed
Head" and "Better Keep Away." The publishers are
assured of the success of the songs because of the
methods of the company in the matter of selecting
its songs. The dealers who make money in their
business are the ones whose opinion the Hearst
house values when the sales possibilities of a number
are being considered. The trade is unanimous about
the winning chances of the three songs named.
The opinion of the trade, prominent musicians and
experts on the merits of musical compositions is con-
firmatory of the judgment of the experienced heads
of the Hearst Music Publishers of Canada, Ltd. The
reason why there are no "dead ones" among the
Hearst publications is because the methods of the
publishers minimize the chances of publishing a
song that misses fire. Originality is the watchword
of the company, and that quality in the Hearst pub-
lications is a big factor towards success. Timeliness
of theme is another feature that distinguishes the
Hearst numbers. "Bobbed Head" is an instance in
point.
But originality and timeliness, while admirable
qualities, would not put the songs across without the
essential characteristics of good music and good lyrics.
The musical merits of the Hearst songs and their
HEARST SONGS
A R E BACKED BY THOUSANDS
O F DOLLARS ADVERTISING.
We adverKse-You ^et the Busings
HEARST SONGS
Make your Dollars
Work Faster
HEARST SONGS
like a Bill Collector
attractive lyrical qualities combine with other things
to make the Hearst songs easy selling and profitable.
The songs have snap in words and music which is
always pleasing and in good taste. The three new
songs have all the qualities that make for a successful
song.
cent amateur song writers are not being swindled so
freely as formerly. It was by the efforts of Presto
that they were first apprehended, and their schemes
exposed. Several of the worst of the sharks were
sent to prisons, others were routed out of their shal-
lows and the fake schemes made unprofitable. Still,
there are some of them left, as letters that come to
Presto every week or so indicate. Song writers with
real songs should apply to established publishers,
unless they want to take the risk of a small invest-
ment on their own account.
MODEL SHEET MUSIC DEPARTMENT.
The methods of stocking and showing sheet music
in the store of the Traford Company, Mason City,
Iowa, are worthy of emulation by dealers eager to
brace up their sheet music departments. The influ-
ences of a good sheet music and music book depart-
ment in a music store are matters for enthusiastic
comment by George T. Elsham, the head of the firm.
The music is in a good position towards the front of
the handsome store, and good service for customers
and economy of space is effected. The constant use
of a show window for the sheet music stock keeps
sales stimulated.
A fire, starting in the repair shop of Blue's Music
Store, on North Court street, Montgomery, Ala., re-
cently did serious damage to the contents, the loss
being estimated at several hundred dollars,
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/

Page 23 Text:

September 27, 1924.
23
PRESTO
PUBLISHERS' PAPER SUPPLY
Player Music Roll Makers and Others Interested in a
Problem of United States.
"How the United States Can Meet Its Present and
Future Pulpwood Requirements," is a government
booklet that deals with a forestry problem that in-
terests the manufacturers of music rolls and printers
of sheet music as well as the publishers of news-
papers, trade journals and books.
The pulpwood problem is one touching our intel-
lectual progress and independence. We are one of
the most progressive nations partly because we con-
sume nearly 60 per cent of the world's paper pro-
duction. The doubling of paper requirements each
decade for 40 years is indicative of our progress. But
unfortunately this growth has already resulted in im-
ports of more than half our paper or its raw mate-
rials, in spite of our 470 million acres of forest land.
It is certain the future requirements of the music
roll makers and sheet music printers will be greater
than at present so that the plans to furnish pulp-
wood which interests the government also interests
every individual in the music trade.
American paper requirements have nearly quad-
Apple Tree," "Blue Bell," "Waltz Me Around Again,
Willie," "Under the Bamboo Tree," "Wait Till the
Sun Shines, Nellie." These were real hits of their
time and the duration of their popularity was more
extended than the period of popularity of hits today.
The songs named, sung in good old vocal quartette
style are combined in a new Gennett record recently
issued by the Starr Piano Co., Richmond, Ind. The
record was made by the Criterion Quartette.
HEARST SONGS
are sungiplayed everywhere
from Coast to Coast
HEflRST MUSIC PUBLISHERS
Assured DemandlOtf Profit
• V.
INAWONDERFUL"
WORLD OF OUR OWN*
.-•
',
WALTZ
; • > V.. -wtmtonymsfatm
•
HERRST MUSIC PUBIISHERS
V
LIMITED
"••;;.':•'• W:
'F0RGET,, FOx W
HEARST MUSIC PUBLISHERS
V
LIMITED
V
rupled since 1899 and now exceed eight million tons
a year. They constituted 56 per cent of the world's
paper consumption in 1920. Our per capita consump-
tion is double that of any other country.
Other things being equal, growth in population
would in itself mean a proportionate increase in re-
quirements. The present population of the United
States is approximately 110 million. By 1950, ac-
cording to the best authorities, our population should
approximate 150 million. If the per capita con-
sumption remains stationary, this would mean
an
increase in requirements by 1950 to about \\ X A mil-
lion tons.
RECALLING HITS OF THE PAST
To Measure Their Musical and Lyrical Values Com-
pare The Pops Today.
u
Do "y° remember when "After the Ball" was the
popular song of the day? Not so long ago if you
consider fche early nineties a rather recent period.
You may remember the days when other songs
were popular and, hearing them, conjure up memo-
ries of incidents more or less pleasurable. A great
number of young people who are regular customers
of the hits of today may understand the feelings of
Dad when he recalls how he made the welkin ring
with "In the Good Old Summer Time" about twenty
or so years ago, when he tenored or bassoed in the
Steenth Ward Repocratic Quartette.
Here are other old favorites: "Down Where the
Cotton Blossoms Grow," "In the Shade of the Old
LIMITED
' "; / • - " V ' V
AN ATTRACTIVE SHOWING
///!<>ers /on? infwrMp/nory-
:>:••• V
SELLS EASILY &
. : .
STEADILY
f'i/LL OF
>/ SNAP - PEP -RHYTHM " I|M
BRINGIN'HOME
- T H E BACON"
mean-QuickTuniover
,
^always
„
Bring Home the Bacon
BOOKS FOR TEACHERS.
A line of books and manuals for music supervisors,
and band and orchestra teachers and directors has
been prepared by the Music Department of C. G.
HEARST SONGS
M E'NOTBATIAD
WITH AN APPEAL THAT
HEARST SONGS
Conn, Ltd., Elkhart, Ind. In addition to the teach-
ers' books the company is ready to supply the trade
with saxophone solos, duets, trios, quartettes and sex-
tettes and other arrangements for the instrument.
"The Universal Teacher" for orchestra and band
instruments by Maddy and Giddings, and published
by the C. G. Conn, Ltd., is a method adapted for
class or private lessons. "The Teacher's Manual,"
by R. N. Carr has chapters by J. E. Maddy and F. P.
Giddings. A complete treatment of the organization
and conduct of instrumental classes, orchestras and
bands with detailed instructions for using the "Uni-
versal Teacher."
WINDOW CONTEST WINNERS.
The Daynes-Beebe Music Co., Salt Lake City, Utah,
was the. winner in the recent sheet music window dis-
play, promoted by the Century Music Publishing
Co., New York. The second prize was won by Dave
Frank, New Orleans, and the winners of the other
prizes follow in the order named: Brunswick Music
Shop, Chicago; S. J. Basta, Cleveland; Carl Richard,
Richmond, Cal.; M. Doyle Marks, Elmira, N. Y.;
Weeks & Dickinson, Binghamton, N. Y., and J.
Bayer, St. Louis.
A USEFUL BOOKLET.
"New School Material for the Supervisor" is the
title of a booklet issued by the Chart Music Publish-
ing House, 136 W. Lake street, Chicago. The book-
let gives the lists of the instrumental music, songs,
choruses, quartets, comic sketches and books of in-
struction for the violin carried by the company.
Several pages of the booklet are devoted to music
writing books, pads and paper, pitch pipes and other
accessories for the music student and music teacher.
REMICK SONG HITS.
New Remick numbers that have been favorably
received by the music lovers of Portland, Ore., are
"Follow the Swallow," "That Lbst Sweetheart of
Mine," and "Dreamer of Dreams." The new Remick
ballade, "Old Pal," is having a good run, but "Man-
dalay" and "There's Yes, Yes in Your Eyes" still
hold first place in the sales.
The Late Successes and Song "Hits" of the Hearst
Music Publishers, Inc.
For force and attention-challenging prominence on
the printed page it would be difficult to recall any-
thing more complete than the display made in this
issue of Presto by the Hearst Music Publishers, Inc.,
of Winnipeg and Toronto, Canada, and a number of
cities on this side the St. Lawrence, including Chi-
cago. The Hearst display is so completely "spread"
that it cannot escape the most casual reader.
Every dealer in sheet music must be interested in
the songs of this enterprising publishing house. It
is one of the most resourceful in the business, and
its publications are so attractively gotten out and
afford such a splendid variety that no music store
can well be without some, if not all, of them. Hearst
songs are carefully edited, and in the list set forth
this week there are several which are having a re-
markable call and others which are destined to be
no less successful.
ANOTHER APPLE SONG.
A favorite theme with song writers of the foot-
lights order is that of Adam and the apple, with
Eve on the side. A new one is "Oh, Adam, Why
Did You Eat the Apple?" It is better than most of
them, has no particularly suggestive lines, and sings
along easily. "Stoige" singers may find it useful, and
the title page, displaying Eve in the original evening
wear, in confab with his snakeship, may please the
boys who please their audiences. Moreau & Buten-
ers, publishers, San Francisco, Cal.
MUSIC SALES IN CHINA.
There is a good demand for sheet music in Hong-
Kong, says United States Consul Leroy Webber in
a recent report. Dealers report a marked improve-
ment in this line during the past few years. Prac-
tically all of the sales are confined to the foreign resi-
dents of the colony and the more prosperous class of
Chinese. Jazz music is increasing in popularity
among the latter, which is attributed to the return to
this district of large numbers of Chinese who have
been educated in Europe and the United States.
G. D. LOTTMAN WITH RODEMICH CORP.
George D. Lottman, who recently resigned his
office with Jack Mills, Inc., music publishers, after
four years with that concern as advertising and pub-
licity manager, has joined the newly organized Gene
Rodemich Music Pwblishing Corporation in the capac-
ity of eastern office manager, with headquarters at
150 West 46th street, New York City.
"Mandalay," the Remick winner, continues as best
seller in the Adams Music Co., Wichita, Kans., ac-
cording to Miss Middagh, the manager of the sheet
music department.
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/

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