Presto

24
PRESTO
November 1, 1924.
SHEET MUSIC AND RADIO
THE CHEERFUL SIGNS
Increased Interest in the New Sheet Music by
a Radio Surfeited Public Is Pleasant
Condition in Trade.
One of the most marked phases in the revival of
the music business is the eager interest given to sheet
music. The sheet music section had its summer
dullness, of course, but it was not any worse than
what is habitually expected when the world is bent on
enjoyments out of doors. Nevertheless there was an
air of depression in the business that was freely ex-
pressed during the trade conventions in New York.
Trouble with the radio people irked the publishers
and forebodings were echoed in the retail trade.
Radio has had and still is having an effect on the
sheet music trade but even the most pessimistic now
believe that radio will have no disastrous effect on
music retailing or the publishing industry. The faith
of the publishers in shown in the manner in which
they have entered the new season. Never before have
the active and ambitious publishing houses provided
such saleable lists and rarely have the numbers been
so large. The evidence that the sheet music trade is
proceeding upon its cheerful way towards good divi-
dends is gathered in every up-to-date sheet music
department.
The fears of radio have been minimized within the
past few months. It is not entirely detrimental to
the sheet music business. In certain circumstances
broadcasting of songs is beneficial to the publisher
and the dealer.
A study of the lists of new songs shows that the
efforts of the composers have been influenced by the
public's desire for a modified jazz. A great many
even show a desire to win the plaudits of the music
critics, whose opinions have been flouted in recent
years. The fox trots predominate but as a rule
they suggest propriety and decorum. The increase in
the number of fine ballads on the publishers' lists is
the most hopeful sign of the return to rationality of
a dance-mad world.
STATION KFEC HELPS SALES
That Is the Number that Distinguishes the Broad-
casting Plant of Meier & Frank, Portland, Ore.
Excellent publicity for its radio department is
achieved by the Meier & Frank Co., Portland, Ore.,
by the concerts broadcasted by the company's own
station, KFEC. But it is not the radio department
alone that receives effective advertising from the con-
cert, but the entire music section as well.
' Charles Williams is in charge of the new radio de-
partment under William Hodercker, general man-
ager of the talking machine department, who acts as
operator of the concerts and other numbers broad-
casted by the Meier & Frank Co.'s station.
The Thursday night concert of the company is
highly appreciated by the radio owners in Portland
and adjoining territory. Notable people in the
music field contribute to these admirable affairs. In
addition to the Children's Hour on Saturday morn-
ing, a weather report is broadcasted at noon every
day and a phonograph program is given from 4 to 5
each day.
EFFECT OF COPYRIGHT RULINGS
Recent Decisions in Cases Tried in Federal Court of
i "Philadelphia May Prove Deterrents.
The ruling in a federal court in Philadelphia re-
cently in which the judge decided for the plaintiffs
in a case brought by music publishers against movie
managers who use copyrighted music in their theater
without paying royalties, is now well known to mo-
tion picture and other theater owners all over the
country. The decision was clear. The Court held
that music contributes directly to the pleasure of
movie patrons, puts spectators "in tune" with what
is done on the screen, interprets the events pictured
and has a powerful effect on the emotions the pictures
stir.
Because of these things—its pleasure to patrons in
particular—the court held that the music is used for
profit. Unquestionably this is true. A movie house
wtt-h^ut music would have scant patronage alongside
Jbose with music. The judicial opinion covers thirty-
"nine suits brought by the American Society of Com-
posers, Authors and Publishers, which represented
the music producers.
The decision in the Philadelphia Court may dis-
courage orchestra conductors and movie pianists
with easy consciences to forego the playing of copy-
righted music without paying the lawful fees. Per-
haps nothing is so frequently pirated as copyrighted
music. Musicians all over the country use popular
copyrighted music for dances and dinners and other
occasions, and do it for profit. Only by payment of
a copyright fee, have they a legal right to use a com-
poser's or a publisher's airs. They own the music
they sell and its psychological effect on those who
hear it in all cases in which the music is rendered
with a view to profit, direct or indirect. When an
individual buys a piece of copyrighted music he has
a right to use it for the pleasure of himself and his
friends—but not as a means of financial profit.
NEW RADIO ENTERPRISES
Latest Additions to the Incorporations Designed to
Extend the Industries in Various Branches.
National Radio Panel Co., Manhattan; radio panels;
$10,000; J. and S. and P. Sprung. Attorney, S.
Sprung, 291 Broadway.
Modern Radio Sales Co. of New York, Manhattan;
$10,000; A. Finkelstein, S. Halpert, T. R. Battista.
Attorney, J. Rolinick, 154 Nassau street.
Natural Voice Talking Machine and Radio Cabinet
Co., Oneida; $175,000; F. Wyker, B. and R. Ferrara.
Attorney, W. W. Wilcox, Oneida, New York.
World Loud Speaker Manufacturing Corp., Man-
hattan; radio instruments; $20,000; I. Sherman, B.
Greenspan, H. Morris. Attorneys, Greenspahn &
Morris, 305 Broadway, New York.
Melodyne Co., Manhattan, radio sets, $10,000; E.
Hajos, H. Kirshbaum, F. Melson. (Attorneys, Kurtz
& Ruby, 141 Broadway, New York.)
D. A. Sanders, Nyack, radio apparatus; $10,000;
D. A. and L. S. Sanders. (Attorney, E. W. Hof-
statter, Nyack, N. Y.)
RADIO MUSIC CHOICE
Inquiring Reporter Asked Crowd at Busy Chicago
Street Corner, with Results Quoted Below.
The Inquiring Reporter of the Chicago Tribune
recently asked chance passers by this question:
"Which do you prefer to hear over the radio, the
old time music or the popular numbers of today?"
The replies follow:
Dwight H. Wulf, Morrison, 111., freight handler—
I prefer something snappy, like the latest jazz; some-
thing that's a diversion after a day's work. A good
song by a good singer comes in nice for a change.
Sometimes the classical stuff that I don't understand
sounds well.
x\lrs. Stanley H. Fields, 5400 Eastview park, house-
wife—Popular music. I like to dance, and I often
tune out other numbers to pick up a dance orchestra.
The classical numbers I like to hear in person, not
over the radio. But I do wish they could arrange
to broadcast the opera.
Fred Reichert, 3570 Archer avenue, passenger
brakeman—Popular music, songs like "Doodle Doo
Do," or whatever it is, and jazz—jazz for mine.
Nearly every night I go around picking out the dance
numbers. Once in a while I like a political talk;
once in a while anything at all.
Mrs. Adeline Kunasz, 600 East Marquette road,
matron, county jail—The old time numbers. They
are more musical than the popular ones of today, as
a rule. I enjoy classical music; and the opera, that's
great—we don't have enough of that. But no jazz
for me—we hear too much of that.
Paul Sikorsk, 2046 North Laporte avenue, superin-
tendent—The popular numbers I think are the best.
There is more snap to them than to the old time
music. I like to dance, and a person hardly need
know how to dance to dance to the latest music. You
can dance to it without being an expert.
FILES INFRINGEMENT SUIT.
Irving Berlin, Inc., New York, has filed suit in
he Federal Court of East St. Louis against Harry
ftedmon, manager of Redmon's Majestic Theater
for violation of the copyright law by playing "Lazy,"
a musical composition published by the plaintiff. The
allegation is that the theater orchestra played the
music in accompaniment to a vocalist without the re-
quired permission. A similar suit was recently won
by Irving Berlin, Inc., in Philadelphia.
Stephen Simonson Mapes, formerly of the Mapes
Piano String Co., New York, but since 1907 an offi-
cial of a bank in Beacon, N. Y., died last week at
St. Luke's Hospital.
PIANO FOR BROADCASTING
Martin Music Co., Los Angeles, Provides Two-
Hour Program Over Radio Every Month,
Using Station KHJ.
John Martin, head of the Martin Music Co., Los
Angeles, has sent a radiogram to "all music dealers"
to tell what his company is doing over radio (station
KHJ) with the Gulbransen Registering Piano, in
two-hour programs the last Saturday night in every
month:
"The accompaniments are played on the Register-
ing Piano and I also play some solos. Announce-
ments are made before and after each number stat-
ing that the Gulbransen Registering Piano is being
used. From twelve to fifteen times during the pro-
gram this statement is made. We have received let-
ters from as far as Philadelphia commenting on our
programs. Programs are booked two months in ad-
vance over this station and our concerts have been
so interesting that when any cancellations are made
we have been given preference in filling the date.
On the 18th of this month we fill one of these en-
gagements, and then on the 28th which is our regular
night. I thought this would be especially interesting
to you in view of the fact that playerpianos and talk-
ing machines are barred from stations of this class.
"We had to furnish positive proof that we had in
the Gulbransen personal touch and that our programs
would be of the highest class before we could qualify.
The test that we were put to was made by a real
musician and the unqualified indorsement after the
test and still greater approval of the instrument after
four concerts have been given, give us a greater
victory that we can conceive of at first thought.
It is estimated that three million people listen in to
this station on a Sunday evening. Our piano solos
go over big. The operator holds the microphone just
behind the piano and the tone goes over even better
than it does from the grands. We send cards out to
all our customers and friends to listen in on our pro-
grams. During one of our programs one of our deal-
ers sold a Suburban to a party he invited to his store
to listen in. The demonstration over the radio did
the business.
"I know you will be pleased that we are able to do
this and now that cooler weather is coming and
longer distance can be reached without so much
static, perhaps a lot of Gulbransen dealers would try
to tune in to our programs if they knew just when]
they were given. The novelty of it might appeal tol
them and should they hear well, added respect forl
the instrument would be a natural consequence. Ourl
folks back in Kansas City and Wichita hear this[
station with marked success. We have the best tal-
ent obtainable in these concerts, and we feel we are|
acquainting a mighty big audience with the fact that
the Gulbransen Registering Piano is some pumpkins."!
NOW MAORI FOLK MUSIC.
Now America will get a taste of Maori music aii(
folk songs. The Maoris are the aboriginal inhabij
tants of New Zealand and classed as Polynesianl
"Waiata Poi" is one of the most typical folk song.f
of these interesting people, and it has become populaJ
in many countries. The "Poi" is danced by Maori
maidens, and is exceedingly graceful and attractive]
A highly oriental orchestral version of the Maori foil
song and dance, transcribed by the Australian coml
poser, Alfred Hill, was first brought to this countrj
by the conductor of tha Minneapolis Symphon;
Orchestra.
FINE RADIO EXHIBIT.
An unusual radio exhibit was arranged this wee]
by Wade-Twitchell Co., 307 South Wabash avenui
Chicago, in which a late Garod creation is shown i|
impressive style. The set is placed in the rear of
large cone-shaped structure and is illuminated again*
a white background and reflects on the beautiful fir
ish of the set. In addition to the Garod display, tlj
company has a fine showing of other standard make
ADDS SERVICE TO RADIO SECTION.
Under the management of H. Wood, the new radj
department of the Boggs & Buhl Department Stoj
in Pittsburgh, Pa., is attaining great prominen*
among the radio owners by reason of the servij
features recently added. The service promised is ej
tensive and thoroughness by a corps of experts
assured. Ware neutrodyne sets are carried by tj
house.
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