Presto

25
PRESTO
May 16, 1925.
SHEET MUSIC AND RADIO
SHEET MUSIC
DEALERS TO MEET
And Foremost Among the Topics for Discus-
sion at McAlpin Hotel, June 8 to 10, Is
That of False Prices and Discounts
of Some Publishers.
IS A TEACHER A DEALER?
Some Publishing Houses Reply in the Affirmative
and Answer Will Evoke Hot Comment at
Convention Sessions.
A large attendance is assured for the twelfth an-
nual convention of the National Association of Sheet
Music Dealers at the Hotel McAlpin, New York City,
June 8, 9 and 10. Never before in the history of the
association has the interest in trade topics been so
keen and plans for their discussion in a compre-
hensive way will be satisfyingly carried out, accord-
ing to E. Grant Ege, president of the association.
In addition to the scheduled inducements for busi-
ness and social events many facilities for cheaper
traveling to the convention city have been made
available through the efforts of the association offi-
cials, among whom Thomas J. Donlan, secretary, is
most active. Members from distant points can pur-
chase round-trip tickets to Atlantic City at reduced
rates. Reservations at the McAlpin Hotel should be
secured as early as possible. The importance of the
subjects that will be discussed at this convention
should bring every member who can possibly come.
The Price Question.
Prominent among the topics that concern sheet
music dealers is that of prices. The retail sheet music
dealers of the United States and Canada have been
endeavoring to eliminate false prices and false dis-
counts, in conformity with the resolution of the
music publishers, which resolution was approved by
the Federal Trade Commission. Some publishers,
however, are said to be still offering their own pub-
lications at retail at prices which are lower than their
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
printed selling prices. The condition is alluded to in
an announcement of the officials mailed this week:
Officially Stated.
"These publishers say that teachers are dealers, or
that teachers are entitled to a discount, or that they
offer discounts because other publishers and dealers
do the same.
"No publisher or retailer can be forced to accept
more profit than he needs. It is a simple matter for
the publisher to print on his publications the prices
at which he intends to sell them at retail under con-
ditions of normal competition. There was nothing
said about teachers in the publishers' resolution re-
ferred to above. Normal competition in the sheet
music business is the selling of music and books to
teachers and to schools. No distinction has been
made in favor of teachers. Printed prices from which
discounts are being allowed at retail under condi-
tions of normal competition are, therefore, false
prices. Discounts which are allowed to everybody
are false discounts.
Force of Decisions.
"The Federal Trade Commission's decisions have
all the force of law. Either the publishers will have
to print their retail selling price or the Federal Trade
Commission will have to rescind its approval of the
resolution of the music publishers. The matter as it
stands is in the nature of a paradox. No retailer can
afford to give a discount from the present selling
prices of copyright music. No retailer will concede
that teachers are dealers. In spite of the promise
held out by the publishers' own resolution, the sheet
music trade is deadlocked again. This time, how-
ever, the federal government has to be reckoned with
and the federal government has absolute control over
all interstate commerce.
Other Topics.
The subject will be one of the most interesting to
be discussed fully and frankly at the convention.
Other subjects to be discussed at the convention
art the following:
1. The raising of the membership dues. The pro-
tection of the interests of sheet music retailers and
the trade association activities to be undertaken re-
quire more funds than are available at the present
low rates.
2. The issuing of a monthly bulletin of all new
American music publications, alphabetically arranged
for quick reference.
3. The establishing of a credit rating and collec-
tion bureau.
4. The placing of all music and books without fur-
ther delay on a selling price basis and the printing or
rubber-stamping of a capital "R" on all sheet music
and editions.
5. The soliciting of direct retail orders by pub-
lishers in sections of the country where they are ade-
quately represented by retailers.
6. Long-time credits and music on sale to teachers
and schools. This is a perennial subject. Does a
publisher gain or lose by loading up prospective re-
tail purchasers of music with vast quantities that may
be returned at the end of the season?
7. Business methods. Do dealers know whether
their sheet music business is profitable or unprofit-
able? Should sheet music be merely an adjunct to
a general music store to serve as a feeder for piano
or musical instrument purchasers? Should the dealer
who desires a profit on music be protected from the
dealer who does not?
8. Advertising of sheet music and books. Another
perennial subject. Is there any good reason why
music cannot be advertised the same as are other
kinds of merchandise?
9. Popular music. Do music dealers secure an
appreciable share of this business, or is it sold mostly
outside of the legitimate trade?
10. Participation by the sheet music trade in the
promotional work of the other branches of the music
EXPLAINING REMICK FAVOR
Reason for Big Call for "Old Pal" Is Plain, but
"Lucky Kentucky" Cause Not So Obvious.
"Old Pal," the new hit of J. H. Remick & Co., was
reported as a best seller in three cities last week and
other large centers are yet to be heard from. Den-
ver, Buffalo and Portland saw unmistakable evi-
dences of the run on the new Egbert Van Alstyne
ballad in the Remick list. Organists in many cities
have made the song a theater feature, showing how
a really musical tune can be readily arranged for the
organ. All the organists have recognized the tune-
ful possibilities of "Old Pal."
In Buffalo, Henry B. Murtagh, organist of the
Lafayette Theater, used the Remick song in a feature
that caused a long waiting line at every performance.
In this he was assisted by William McDermott, Rem-
ick manager in that city. Mr. McDermott in the cos-
tume and character of the "singing deckhand," did
full justice to the song in his magnificent voice.
"Lucky Kentucky" was a warm seller in Chicago,
Cincinnati and Indianapolis last week and favor for
the Remick hit may have been stimulated by the
general newspaper mention of Louisville, the Derby
and Churchill Downs. Anyway, the call for the song
was marked in all three cities and whether caused
by the racing talk or not is something to be decided
by the psychoanalysts of the advertising field.
RADIO OUTLOOK GOOD
Leaders in the Industry Look for Greatly Increased
Trade When Fall Season Opens.
E. N. Rauland. president of the All American
Radio Corporation, New York, states that although
this is the quiet season of the year in the radio indus-
try the outlook for the coming season, which usually
begins in August, is exceedingly encouraging, and
he believes that the industry will enjoy the best busi-
ness of its history this fall.
The export business has grown rapidly and it is
beiieved foreign shipments for May will be about
double those of April. Large shipments have recently
been made to Japan, England, Australia and other
foreign countries.
industry, such as National Music Week, Better Homes
Week, etc.
11. Does radio broadcasting tend to increase the
sale of music?
Extensive Program Planned.
A big program has been planned. The president
will allot the above and other subjects to members
who will prepare papers to be read at the convention.
A paper on the new mail and parcel post rates will
be read.
The present rate of dues will apply to all new mem-
bers who shall be enrolled before the opening of the
annual convention. Every member is urged to try
to bring in at least one new member during the next
few weeks.
The Officers.
The following arc the officers of the association:
President, W. Grant Ege, Kansas City, Mo.; vice-
president, Paul A. Schmitt; secretary and treasurer,
Thomas J. Donlan.
The following comprise the list of directors: Rob-
ert T. Stanton, J. Elmer Harvey, Charles W.
Homeyer, William H. Levis, Holmes R. Maddock,
Leslie E. Miller, S. Ernest Philpitt, Edward P. Little,
Joseph M. Priaulx, J. Edgar Robinson, William
Gamble, Laurence Sundquist, William L. Belrose,
W. H. Witt and Harvey J. Woods.
Manufacturers of
RADIO
Tables
Cabinets
Consoles
Elgin Phonograph & Novelty Co.
Elgin, III.
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