25
PRESTO
May 23, 1925.
SHEET MUSIC AND RADIO
THE QUESTION OF PRICES
Eternal One in Sheet Music Trade to Be Dis-
cussed in Many Forms at Annual
Convention in June.
The question of prices is an important one to be
discussed by the National Association of Sheet Music
Dealers, and the discussion of prices will be from
many viewpoints—prices in relation to publishers'
selling methods, prices for the trade, prices for the
teachers and prices controlled by song popularity.
In fact prices of sheet music will be a many-headed
topic for the dealers at their annual convention from
June 7 to 10 at the Hotel McAlpin, New York City.
One dealer may say that thirty or thirty-five cents
is too much for a popular song. This in many in-
stances is true, but if the number fails in its appeal
to the song buyers' fancy its lessened popularity is
reflected in sales. A good song sells readily for the
published price, and even a song not measuring up
artistically will sell if some furor gives an impetus to
sales. A song about a prune may go over in a big
way, while a song with a fine sentiment in the words
and an artistic musical setting may linger on the
shelves without being touched until the annual stock-
taking round-up. The rise and fall of the demand
for the exceptional hits are not based on price, a fact
which is proved every day in the year.
The mediocre song, the song with an evanescent
theme in the words and commonplace music; the
novelty song of the vulgar variety, in short, the
kind grouped under the head of lemon when they
stick, are difficult to stimulate in sales. It cannot be
done by lowering the prices except the figure is one
to interest the junk dealer after waste paper. But
a large increase in sales for any number at too low
a wholesale or retail price neither adds to the health
of the song-writer or the opulence of the publisher
or dealer. This phase of the song price question is
tragic.
A plea for the reduction of sheet music may be
based upon the results of sales in ten-cent stores and
other varieties of the chain store. But it is safe to
say that anybody standing up in convention to cite
the chain store instance will not agitate a return to
the ten-cent retail price of sheet music. The syndi-
cate stores may buy the songs of quick-passing fancy
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
at sacrificial prices, but they usually demand a good
proportion of good songs of wide popularity to
"leaven the lump."
The National Sheet Music Dealers' Association can
talk prices without intermission from the drop of
the gavel the first day until the good-bys on closing
day and still find the job uncompleted. The subject
involves innumerable considerations. But after all
the real problem of prices is profit. Publishers and
dealers may agree on prices, but, as has been proved
time and again, someone will always sell a little
lower in both wholesaling and retailing. Even if the
price on popular music is made fifteen cents it is pos-
sible the chain stores would soon have it down to
ten. Sales and prices are twin considerations. A
happy condition would be an increase of sales with
an increase of profits.
SHEET MUSIC TRADE NOTES
A Few Items Interesting to People in Sheet Musk
Department Are Printed.
A new ukulele instruction book has been arranged
by E. S. Hughes, known in the musical merchandise
trade as "Ukuelele Hughes." The lengthy title of
the book is "Ukulele Hughes' Gives Simplified In-
structions for Ukulele, Banjo-Ukulele and Music
Tiple."
Cliff Hess, orchestra and band manager for J. H.
Remick & Co., is a successful writer of acts for
vaudeville performers.
The name of the Melrose Bros. Music Co., Chi-
cago, has been changed to Melrose Bros., Inc., and
incorporated under the laws of Illinois.
The Williams Piano Co., Alton, 111., advertises "all
the latest hits in sheet music."
Harry Kissel, a Denver policeman, and the writer
of many popular songs, among them, "Think of the
Boys from Home, Sweet Home," "Turn Your
Thoughts to Me," "I'd Like to Rock a Cradle for a
Baby Just Like You," etc., is dead of pneumonia.
E. M. Henderson & Son recently opened a music
store at 125 Third avenue, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
The Deloine Music Shop has moved to new quar-
ters at 106 Temple street, New Haven, Conn., where
it is featuring a variety of musical instruments.
Holloway Bros, recently held the formal opening
of its new music store at 406 West Trade street,
Charlotte, N. C.
The New England Music Shop, 77 Grand street,
Waterbury, Conn., has completed remodeling both
the interior and exterior of the store.
Goldfield's furniture and music house of Bridgeport,
Conn., is now located in larger quarters at 1184
State street.
A new store was opened recently at 79 Springfield
avenue, Newark, N. J., by Messrs. Dorn and
Kerschner.
Levi W r arner has moved his business to the Mll-
stine Building, Fairport, N. Y.
Julius Koss, Waterbury, Conn., has moved his
business into his new building at 184 South Main
street.
MUSIC IN WINDOW DISPLAY.
The sheet music department of Seiberling, Lucas
Music Co., Portland, Ore., is featuring the new song
numbers, by an attractive window display and as a
result of the display several numbers are going big
at this time, including Villa Moret's "Moonlight and
Roses," Remick's "Swanee Butterfly" and Sam Fox's
"Indian Dawn."
SONG FOR CELEBRATION.
"At the Diamond Jubilee" is the name of a song
dedicated to the forthcoming California celebration,
just brought out by the City of Paris Publishing Co.,
San Francisco. It was written by Baron Keyes, the
well-known composer and pianist and is now being
featured over radio and in other wavs.
MAKE YOUR RESERVATION!
That's Advice to Sheet Music Dealers Who
Plan to Attend Annual Convention of
Trade at Hotel McAlpin.
The program for the twelfth annual convention
of the National Association of Sheet Music Dealers
June 8, 9, and 10, at the McAlpin Hotel, New
York, recently printed in Presto, is an indication of
the advancement that has been made in that depart-
ment of musical activity. It proposes that all false
prices and discounts on music be abolished without
further delay.
The association will compile for its members a
complete alphabetical list, monthly, of all new
American publications. A retail credit rating and col-
lection bureau will be established to stem the tide
of losses on worthless accounts. The long-standing
dispute on the subject of direct retail competition of
music publishers will be resumed.
A big attendance is expected. The Music Publish-
ers' Association of the United States will hold its
annual convention in New York on June 9. The
common interests of both branches of the sheet music
industry will be discussed in a friendly spirit. Upon
the welfare of the sheet music retailers depends to a
great extent the welfare of the publishers and vice
versa.
Members from distant points can purchase round-
trip tickets to Atlantic City at reduced rates. Reser-
vations at the McAlpin Hotel should be secured as
early as possible. The importance of the subjects which
will be discussed at this convention should bring
every member who can possibly come.
MILLS ENTERS CONCERT FIELD.
Jack Mills, New York publisher, is invading the
concert field with a fine catalog of English and
American high-class numbers. At the head of this
department is J. Keirn Brennan, a well-known lyric
writer, who wrote the words of "A Little Bit of
Heaven," "Good-by, Good Luck, God Bless You,"
"Turn Back the Universe and Give Me Yesterday,"
"Dear Little Boy of Mine," "That's How the Shannon
Flows," "Let the Rest of the World Go By," and
"Down Deep in an Irishman's Heart." It is Mr.
Mills intention to keep adding to this catalog the
little human songs which are so much in demand by
concert artists.
ALERT SHEET MUSIC MANAGER.
Mildred E. Watson, who went to Omaha, Neb.,
from New York city in February, to take charge of
the sheet music department of Schmoller & Mueller
Piano Company, was formerly a teacher of the piano.
"We handle both classical and popular pieces,"
she said this week. "We cater especially to teachers,
help them arrange their programs and give quick
and intelligent service." The sheet music department
of Schmoller & Mueller also gives individual help to
teachers. In the popular song department it always
orders the latest hits as early as they can be received
in Omaha.
THE RADIO CONVENTION.
A radio convention of music is to be held this eve-
ning (May 16) between 9:45 and 11 o'clock, New
York time, under the auspices of Charles D. Isaac-
son. The general public, it is anticipated, will listen
in at the time announced to hear Mr. Isaacson's re-
port on his recent tour of the country in the interest
of radio music. In connection with the convention
there will be a musical program and there will be
comments, arguments and discussion by listening
groups.
Manufacturers of
MUSIC ENSLAVE
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RADIO
Music Printers
ANY PUBLISHER
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OUR REFERENCE
BAYNEB,DALtpMfe Co:
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WORK DONE BY
ALL PROCESSES
Elgin Phonograph & Novelty Co.
Elgin, 111.
"2054-2060 W.Lake St.Xhicagalll.
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