April 18, 1925.
25
PRESTO
SHEET MUSIC AND RADIO
HELPS FOR MUSIC DEALER
Publishers Supply Effective Kinds and Rely on
Retailer to Use Them in Increasing the
Volume of Sheet Music Sales.
No trade today is so competitive as that of sheet
music. The statement was made by a speaker at the
last convention of sheet music dealers but neither the
thought nor the words were original. A great many
dealers have that view and are free to express it with
words of great warmth and occasionally of profanity.
The highly competitive condition is one too that
affects the publisher a°d the dealer.
The observant publisher has a thorough knowl-
edge of the position of the dealer—the man who
comes into final contact with the ultimate consumer.
It is this man who either makes sales for the pub-
lisher or lets his publications arrive at a premature
old age in dust-gathering inactivity on the shelf.
For this reason the dealer is encouraged to practice
modern methods of display and the most effective
means of publicity and demonstration. The success-
ful music dealer must be attuned to the present
generation, is the publisher's belief.
The music publisher sensibly interested in sales
realizes that the most important cogs in the machin-
ery of selling are the salesman and the saleswoman.
It is the man or woman behind the counter who
puts into effect the helpful suggestions of the pub-
lisher. It is they who meet each change in the times
with the up-to-date ammunition to "get" the cus-
tomer. The eye-catching window display; the proper
and persistent distribution of printed matter supplied
by the publisher; the intelligent demonstration are
the essentials for creating the desire leading to sheet
music sales, on which the publisher relies for profits
on any number.
The publisher feels it his duty to help the sheet
music dealer who handles his product and that is why
he provides him with catalogs, folders, special slips,
posters, window strips and other printed matter which
costs big money. The publisher directs the attention
of the dealer to the opportunities in presenting cer-
tain folios and books. If more than a million saxo-
phones are sold within a year it is an obvious fact
that a great many owners will require books in a
REMICK SONG HITS
I Can't Stop Babying You
Why Couldn't It Be Poor Little Me
Swanee Butterfly
By the Light of the Stars
Old Pal
Somebody Like You
Sweet Georgia Brown
Me and the Boy Friend
My Best Girl
Dreams
Lucky Kentucky
Just Lonesome
Isn't She the Sweetest Thing
Don't Bring Lulu
Take Me Back to Your Heart
J. H. REMICK & CO.
New York
Chicago
Detroit
course of study. The popularity of other instruments
like the ukulele, banjo, mandolin and guitar suggest
other opportunities for sales. In fact the sheet music
and music book business will always be good to those
who strive to make it good.
RATES ON RADIO
Recent Hearing to Oppose Increase Expected to Be
Effective, But Not Yet Settled.
The hearings of the Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion before Examiner Flynn on the proposal of the
railroads to increase the rates on radio sets and
phonographs with radio installation 50 per cent on
less than carload shipments, and to make seriouV^
changes which will increase freight costs on carload
shipments, occupied all of Tuesday, Wednesday and
Thursday, April 7, 8, 9.
While the result of the hearings will not be known
for some little time, nevertheless the case presented
against the increass was apparently a very strong one,
and the phonograph and radio representatives con-
fidently hope for success on some if not all of their
points.
REMICK VICTORY IN APPEAL
U. S. Court in Cincinnati Reverses Ruling of Lower
Court in Crosley Suit.
Holding that the broadcasting by radio of a copy-
righted musical composition is an infringement of the
copyright act, the United States Circuit Court
of Appeals last week reversed the judgment of Judge
Smith Hickenlooper of the United States District
Court, Cincinnati, O., dismissing the suit of Jerome
H. Remick & Co. against the Crosley Radio Cor-
poration.
The original action sought to enjoin the defendant
from broadcasting the musical composition, "Dream
Melody," copyrighted by the Remick Company. In
reversing the lower court the Court of Appeals said:
"While the fact that the radio was not developed
at the time the copyright act was enacted in 1909
may raise some question as to whether it properly
comes within the purview of the statute, it is not by
the fact excluded from the statute. In other words,
the statute may be applied to a situation not antici-
pated by congress."
AUSTRALIA BEST RADIO MARKET.
An increase of over 300 per cent in exports of
radio sets and parts from the United States to Asia,
Africa, and Australia during 1924 is reflected in ship-
ments in that direction amounting to $1,541,222, as
compared with $336,369 for 1923, according to the de-
partment of commerce. Australia is the leading mar-
ket for American radio manufacturers in these areas,
Japan being second in importance and New Zealand
third—from the standpoint of total purchases during
1924. Australia was the recipient of approximately 68
per cent of all radio apparatus shipped from the
United States during 1924 to the markets under con-
sideration.
NATIONAL SONG IN LATIN.
Three professors of the Northwestern University,
Evanston, 111., sang "The Star Spangled Banner" in
Latin at Iowa City, where middle west authorities on
classical languages met. Prof. R. C. Flickinger, who
is seeking to make Latin a live language translated
the song, and he was assisted in singing it by Prof.
John Scott and Prof. J. C. Murley.
"STAND BY" EXPLAINED.
British listeners-in are extremely puzzled by the
American announcers' expression "stand by." In
response to many letters of inquiry the explanation
was published, showing that the term was based on
the fact that most announcers were trained as ship
operators.
REMICKS AND PROFITS
Notable Successes of Recent Songs from Jer-
ome H. Remick & Co. Being Repeated
in Satisfactory Way by Latest Numbers.
Some of the newer numbers on the list of Jerome
H. Remick & Co. are commanding the attention of
sheet music buyers in the same way that character-
ized the calls for the big favorites of the past two
years. In most cities "By the Light of the Stars"
has been accorded to position of prime favorite but,
in many places, it is crowded, in the number of sales,
by "Isn't She the Sweetest Thing" and "Don't Bring
Lulu."
A satisfactory feature in the Remick songs is the
length of the period of popularity of the numbers.
That character, in the Remick songs, is in the nature
of an insurance of continuity that provides safety to
the dealers handling the Remick line. A common
source of operating losses with sheet music dealers
is the so-called popular song of the evanescent kind.
Big sellers of a short time past are, from one cause
or another, as dead today as last year's leaves. Be-
tween ordering and receiving the shipment, the hot
favor wanes, so that opening the package is in the
nature of a post mortem examination.
A review of songs published by Jerome H. Remick
& Co. discloses no number on which dealers have
been caught long on the goods and short on the pros-
pects of selling them. The name Remick has been
associated with the biggest song successes in recent
years, and this fact is an assurance of profitable han-
dling when new numbers are announced.
BUSINESS IN PORTABLES.
More portable receivers will be used this year than
ever before. Superpower broadcasting stations will
permit hearing the broadcast concerts above the
static level, while nearly all of the stations will
continue with programs throughout the summer. The
number of broadcasting stations scattered through-
out the country makes it possible to tune-in to one of
them regardless of where the user may be with his
portable receiver.
NEW SHEET MUSIC SHOP.
A sheet music department has been opened in con-
junction with the Hager Music Shop, at Monroe ave-
nue and Division street, Grand Rapids, Mich., by
Nick Woltjer, a prominent local orchestra leader
and known as the "King of the Marimba." He
handles a complete line of the latest popular num-
bers as well as a library of standard selections.
Harold Weeks, of Portland, Ore., composer and
manager of the Brunswick Shop there, is sponsoring
a song writing contest which will be closed June 1.
Manufacturers of
RADIO
Tables
Cabinets
Consoles
Elgin Phonograph & Novelty Co.
Elgin, 111.
ADVERTISING SONG BOOKS
Editor Presto: One of our customers inquires
about a collection of old-fashioned songs, suitable for
giving out to prospects and the general public. If
you can inform us where these are printed, you will
confer a great favor, and incidentally boost the piano
business, as it is a foregone conclusion that every-
one receiving a book will need a piano on which to
produce the accompaniments.—A Jobber.
Reply: About the best book of the kind within
our knowledge is put forth in quantities by the Illi-
nois State Register of Springfield, III. We believe
if you write to that concern you will get a sample of
about what you want.—Presto.
Over 50 SOUKS, words and music for 4 voices and piano,
82 p.p., 6x9, in editions with special illuminated cover
printed to order as wanted. Mention Presto.
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