Music Trade Review
Issue: 1906 Vol. 42 N. 16 - Page 46
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE:
WHAT PUBLISHERS ARE DOING.
Easter Sales Quite Up to the Average—Price
Cutting Has Not Been a Disturbing Factor
Recently—Comments Upon the Trade Situa-
tion.
With the close of last week business was what
may be termed satisfactory, but that is not what
publishers consider is their due. Of course, nat-
ural conditions account for this, and now that a
general improvement is looked for in matters the-
atrical, the music people count upon an increased
demand for all lines of medium grade melodies
and the strictly lighter airs. Up to the present
time the quantity of new titles announced have
been sufficient. Yet, in point of number, they
do not equal the product of the same period last
year with the leading firms. The later comers
have appeared with a list that was expected to
score, but with few exceptions they have fallen
comparatively flat and been relegated to the ob-
livion vouchsafed by the junk heap.
Publishers of serious, classic and educational
music, as well as the better class of songs and
ballads, whose sales of church and general devo-
tional compositions are above the average dur-
ing the Lenten season, report the movement of the
regular Easter lines up to the average. Not much
new music of this description has been sold, the
preference being for the well-known standard
goods. Tfre remainder of the season is regarded
favorably, and as price-cutting is not a disturb-
ing factor, these anticipations are likely to be
realized.
The suit brought against practically all the
prominent publishers of the highest class music
in the country, on the ground of alleged con-
spiracy, by another publisher whose chief rev-
enue is admittedly gained by the renting of musi-
cal scores, which the owners of the copyrights
contend is a violation of their legal rights,
created something of a sensation. The salient
facts and allegations appeared exclusively in last
week's Review, and the outcome of the litigation,
if issue is joined, will be awaited with interest.
Commenting on the general situation, the chief
of a large publishing house said to The Review:
"Notwithstanding the really demoralized condi-
tion of the trade so far as prices and selling
methods go, business has been fairly good so far
as volume is concerned. You know the last week
in Lent, when musical plays are poorly patron-
ized, as well as the lighter entertainments, of
Complete vocal score and Separate Numbers of
"THE ROSE OF THE ALHAMBRA"
Book and Lyrics by CHAS. EMERSON COOK.
Music by LUCIUS HOSMER.
Featuring the well-known prlma donna,
Mme. LILLIAN BLAUVELT.
Supplementary Songs In the following productions :
EDNA MAY'S New Musical Play,
"THE CATCH OF THE SEASON."
"RAINING"
By Jerome D. Kern
SHUBERT BROS.' English Musical Comedy Success,
"THE EARL AND THE GIRL."
"HOW'D YOU LIKE TO SPOON WITH ME."
Max. C. Eugene's hit, "IN ROSELAND" Intermezzo
MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
which songs, etc., are the chief attraction, sales
fall off. Houses with catalogues of any strength
or magnitude, however, made a good showing on
their regular lines, and that is as much as could
be expected. We believe trade will pick up right
along, and so far our expectations are materializ-
ing. Never before has there been such excellent
music—of all kinds, descriptions and variety—
been known in the American market, and were
merchandizing conditions only on a better basis,
there would be no room for the slightest com-
plaint."
BRIEF ITEMS OF INTEREST
For the Busy Publisher.
The Moore Music Co., Inc., has succeded the
Moore Music Co. The new concern expects to
put the business in good shape, but evidently as-
sumes no obligations of its predecessor, which
does not augur well. A publishing house with
a financial black eye seldom recovers from the
blow. But this may be an exception.
When the Vienna Society of Music Friends re-
cently offered a prize for a composition of real
merit, no award was made, as the society did
not consider any of the works up to standard.
Even the popular song offered was low grade.
What a muddle it all is, this copyright busi-
ness! remarks an English publication. "It is, per
haps, a kindly ordering of Providence that the
v.orks of composers are rarely worth quarreling
about while those who produced them are yet
alive." This is unkind, to say the least.
( Spi'chil lo Tilt 1 Keview .)
Boston, April 16, 1906.
George \V. Kumiss, the copyright expert, is
now traveling New York State for the Oliver Dit-
son Co. P. Desmond, of the same firm, returned
last week from his Pacific Coast trip. J. P.
Donlan, also of the O. D. Co.. the head of the
advertising department, sails for a two months'
vacation abroad June 1.
B. F. Wood, of the B. F. Wood Co., goes to
England Wednesday (18th), and will attend the
Music Publishers' International Convention at
Milan, Italy, in June. He will probably not be
home before August.
After listening to testimony for three days Jus-
tice Dugro, in special term, Part VI., of the Su-
preme Court, New York, Friday last, dismissed
a suit brought by Morris Tauber, of Toronto,
Canada, against J. Fred Helf and Frederick W.
Hager. composing the firm of Helf & Hager, pub-
lishers, for an injunction to restrain the firm
from publishing the song, "Mamma's Boy." Coun-
sel for the defendants said that the song in ques-
tion was written by Helf. The plaintiff, Tauber,
asserted that he wrote the song to fit some words
written by Helf. Sol Bloom, the publisher, as-
serts that the court decided that Tauber wrote
the lyric, and at the time Helf, who supplied the
music, was under contract with him and there-
fore the court accredited the property to him.
Charlie Clark, end man in Austin & Stone's
Minstrels, is putting on an entirely new line of
Mark Stern songs for the new year. They In-
clude the great Boston song favorite, "Nobodj
Has More Trouble Than Me," with an entire
chorus working it up. His other numbers In-
C. Goodman, director of Chappell & Co., Ltd., clude "You're Crazy With the Heat" and "Nancy
the celebrated music publishing house of Lon- Mclntosh," a new waltz song.
don, Eng., arrived in New York on the steamship
"Majestic," of the White Star Line, last week.
r Francis, Day fit Hunter's
He is accompanied by one of his business asso-
MARCH "NEW ISSUES'*
ciates, and both are making their headquarters at
Boosey & Co.'s, their American representatives,
Coming through the Rye. Jennie Mine
Huvli. M.trvh Smu:
and their stay here will be brief.
YES.
DEAR
A Beautiful Itallail liv Arthur I-nmb
Vesta Victoria's repertoire, which is hers ex-
clusively while in this country, is a big card
with her publishers, Francis, Day & Hunter.
These include "Waiting at the Church," "It's All
Right in the Summer Time" and "The Next Horse
1 Ride On." A big sale is expected on these num-
bers when released. Fred Day, the versatile and
capable manager, is rapidly enlarging the busi-
ness of his firm in the United States, both on
theirs and his own prints. He is something of a
writer himself, and under the pen name of "Ed-
ward Montago," has composed a comic opera,
"Trixie in Search of a Title," and a number of
popular ballads and other melodies. The profes-
sional department has been increased by two as-
sistants to the hustling Sam Gross, the chief.
SONG OR LYRIC, WHICH?
Published by
We AU Walked Into the Shop
''
S
When You're U|> In the World
DEVOTION Waltz
fPlnye.1 liy nil th« l.ea.llnif < >r.h»»tra.s)
Send for particulars of special prices to subscribers.
PUBLISHERS
. FRANCIS, DAY & HUNTER, 15 W. 30th St.. New York
3 REAL SELLING HITS 3
" C O M E BACK"
The Dainty
Novell;
tidilad
Success
of A merle*.
"GOOD-BYE 'DIXIE' DEAR"
The March Ballad Hit of America.
"NEiTH THE SPREADING CHESTNUT TREE"
The Descriptive Rustic Ballad Hit of America.
T. B. HARMS CO.
126 West 44th St.
COPYRIGHT EXPERT RETURNS.
NEW YORK
"The Housm Melodious."
GUS EDWARDS
MUSIC PUBLISHING CO.
Publishers of Lillian Russell's and the Sea-
sons Song Hits,
" I f a Girl Like You Loved a Boy Like Me."
"Somebody's Sweetheart I Want to Be,"
and "Napoli," and Italian Love Story.
Our New Issues
"Pocahontas" (Tammany's sister). " I n a little Canoe
with Y o u " being featured by all the leading acts in
Vaudeville. "When the Green Leaves turn to Gold' •
Beautiful Rustic Ballad.
Gus Edwards Music Pub. Co.
1512 Broadway, New York.
From current trade statistics the question
arises, are pawnbrokers prone to indulge in
song or lyric writing. Not a few following their
bent drop into poetry, like Silas Wegg, in n
friendly way. possibly, but more likely with the
belief of catching on in a more substantial man-
ner. Then again, persons in that line are known
to be interested financially in publishing ven-
tures, and being in a position to spring their
songs on the unsuspecting public willy nilly, do
not hesitate in the performance. Having the
wherewith they need not worry about the im-
mediate results, being often satisfied to see their
names appear in print as the writer. That is
sufficient glory, though the practical returns are
by no means despised. In other words:
'"Honor and fame from no condition rise,
Act well your purt, thero all tho glory lies."
Sand for Our MBW Oatmlogumm.
SOL BLOOM,
PUBLI8HED BY
New York
LOOK!
HAPPY HEINLE
IS THE MOST TALKED OF
MARCH T W O - S T E P .
Do you play it ?
JEROME H. REMICK & CO.
45 West 28th Street,
New York
THE:
WHAT PUBLISHERS ARE DOING.
Easter Sales Quite Up to the Average—Price
Cutting Has Not Been a Disturbing Factor
Recently—Comments Upon the Trade Situa-
tion.
With the close of last week business was what
may be termed satisfactory, but that is not what
publishers consider is their due. Of course, nat-
ural conditions account for this, and now that a
general improvement is looked for in matters the-
atrical, the music people count upon an increased
demand for all lines of medium grade melodies
and the strictly lighter airs. Up to the present
time the quantity of new titles announced have
been sufficient. Yet, in point of number, they
do not equal the product of the same period last
year with the leading firms. The later comers
have appeared with a list that was expected to
score, but with few exceptions they have fallen
comparatively flat and been relegated to the ob-
livion vouchsafed by the junk heap.
Publishers of serious, classic and educational
music, as well as the better class of songs and
ballads, whose sales of church and general devo-
tional compositions are above the average dur-
ing the Lenten season, report the movement of the
regular Easter lines up to the average. Not much
new music of this description has been sold, the
preference being for the well-known standard
goods. Tfre remainder of the season is regarded
favorably, and as price-cutting is not a disturb-
ing factor, these anticipations are likely to be
realized.
The suit brought against practically all the
prominent publishers of the highest class music
in the country, on the ground of alleged con-
spiracy, by another publisher whose chief rev-
enue is admittedly gained by the renting of musi-
cal scores, which the owners of the copyrights
contend is a violation of their legal rights,
created something of a sensation. The salient
facts and allegations appeared exclusively in last
week's Review, and the outcome of the litigation,
if issue is joined, will be awaited with interest.
Commenting on the general situation, the chief
of a large publishing house said to The Review:
"Notwithstanding the really demoralized condi-
tion of the trade so far as prices and selling
methods go, business has been fairly good so far
as volume is concerned. You know the last week
in Lent, when musical plays are poorly patron-
ized, as well as the lighter entertainments, of
Complete vocal score and Separate Numbers of
"THE ROSE OF THE ALHAMBRA"
Book and Lyrics by CHAS. EMERSON COOK.
Music by LUCIUS HOSMER.
Featuring the well-known prlma donna,
Mme. LILLIAN BLAUVELT.
Supplementary Songs In the following productions :
EDNA MAY'S New Musical Play,
"THE CATCH OF THE SEASON."
"RAINING"
By Jerome D. Kern
SHUBERT BROS.' English Musical Comedy Success,
"THE EARL AND THE GIRL."
"HOW'D YOU LIKE TO SPOON WITH ME."
Max. C. Eugene's hit, "IN ROSELAND" Intermezzo
MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
which songs, etc., are the chief attraction, sales
fall off. Houses with catalogues of any strength
or magnitude, however, made a good showing on
their regular lines, and that is as much as could
be expected. We believe trade will pick up right
along, and so far our expectations are materializ-
ing. Never before has there been such excellent
music—of all kinds, descriptions and variety—
been known in the American market, and were
merchandizing conditions only on a better basis,
there would be no room for the slightest com-
plaint."
BRIEF ITEMS OF INTEREST
For the Busy Publisher.
The Moore Music Co., Inc., has succeded the
Moore Music Co. The new concern expects to
put the business in good shape, but evidently as-
sumes no obligations of its predecessor, which
does not augur well. A publishing house with
a financial black eye seldom recovers from the
blow. But this may be an exception.
When the Vienna Society of Music Friends re-
cently offered a prize for a composition of real
merit, no award was made, as the society did
not consider any of the works up to standard.
Even the popular song offered was low grade.
What a muddle it all is, this copyright busi-
ness! remarks an English publication. "It is, per
haps, a kindly ordering of Providence that the
v.orks of composers are rarely worth quarreling
about while those who produced them are yet
alive." This is unkind, to say the least.
( Spi'chil lo Tilt 1 Keview .)
Boston, April 16, 1906.
George \V. Kumiss, the copyright expert, is
now traveling New York State for the Oliver Dit-
son Co. P. Desmond, of the same firm, returned
last week from his Pacific Coast trip. J. P.
Donlan, also of the O. D. Co.. the head of the
advertising department, sails for a two months'
vacation abroad June 1.
B. F. Wood, of the B. F. Wood Co., goes to
England Wednesday (18th), and will attend the
Music Publishers' International Convention at
Milan, Italy, in June. He will probably not be
home before August.
After listening to testimony for three days Jus-
tice Dugro, in special term, Part VI., of the Su-
preme Court, New York, Friday last, dismissed
a suit brought by Morris Tauber, of Toronto,
Canada, against J. Fred Helf and Frederick W.
Hager. composing the firm of Helf & Hager, pub-
lishers, for an injunction to restrain the firm
from publishing the song, "Mamma's Boy." Coun-
sel for the defendants said that the song in ques-
tion was written by Helf. The plaintiff, Tauber,
asserted that he wrote the song to fit some words
written by Helf. Sol Bloom, the publisher, as-
serts that the court decided that Tauber wrote
the lyric, and at the time Helf, who supplied the
music, was under contract with him and there-
fore the court accredited the property to him.
Charlie Clark, end man in Austin & Stone's
Minstrels, is putting on an entirely new line of
Mark Stern songs for the new year. They In-
clude the great Boston song favorite, "Nobodj
Has More Trouble Than Me," with an entire
chorus working it up. His other numbers In-
C. Goodman, director of Chappell & Co., Ltd., clude "You're Crazy With the Heat" and "Nancy
the celebrated music publishing house of Lon- Mclntosh," a new waltz song.
don, Eng., arrived in New York on the steamship
"Majestic," of the White Star Line, last week.
r Francis, Day fit Hunter's
He is accompanied by one of his business asso-
MARCH "NEW ISSUES'*
ciates, and both are making their headquarters at
Boosey & Co.'s, their American representatives,
Coming through the Rye. Jennie Mine
Huvli. M.trvh Smu:
and their stay here will be brief.
YES.
DEAR
A Beautiful Itallail liv Arthur I-nmb
Vesta Victoria's repertoire, which is hers ex-
clusively while in this country, is a big card
with her publishers, Francis, Day & Hunter.
These include "Waiting at the Church," "It's All
Right in the Summer Time" and "The Next Horse
1 Ride On." A big sale is expected on these num-
bers when released. Fred Day, the versatile and
capable manager, is rapidly enlarging the busi-
ness of his firm in the United States, both on
theirs and his own prints. He is something of a
writer himself, and under the pen name of "Ed-
ward Montago," has composed a comic opera,
"Trixie in Search of a Title," and a number of
popular ballads and other melodies. The profes-
sional department has been increased by two as-
sistants to the hustling Sam Gross, the chief.
SONG OR LYRIC, WHICH?
Published by
We AU Walked Into the Shop
''
S
When You're U|> In the World
DEVOTION Waltz
fPlnye.1 liy nil th« l.ea.llnif < >r.h»»tra.s)
Send for particulars of special prices to subscribers.
PUBLISHERS
. FRANCIS, DAY & HUNTER, 15 W. 30th St.. New York
3 REAL SELLING HITS 3
" C O M E BACK"
The Dainty
Novell;
tidilad
Success
of A merle*.
"GOOD-BYE 'DIXIE' DEAR"
The March Ballad Hit of America.
"NEiTH THE SPREADING CHESTNUT TREE"
The Descriptive Rustic Ballad Hit of America.
T. B. HARMS CO.
126 West 44th St.
COPYRIGHT EXPERT RETURNS.
NEW YORK
"The Housm Melodious."
GUS EDWARDS
MUSIC PUBLISHING CO.
Publishers of Lillian Russell's and the Sea-
sons Song Hits,
" I f a Girl Like You Loved a Boy Like Me."
"Somebody's Sweetheart I Want to Be,"
and "Napoli," and Italian Love Story.
Our New Issues
"Pocahontas" (Tammany's sister). " I n a little Canoe
with Y o u " being featured by all the leading acts in
Vaudeville. "When the Green Leaves turn to Gold' •
Beautiful Rustic Ballad.
Gus Edwards Music Pub. Co.
1512 Broadway, New York.
From current trade statistics the question
arises, are pawnbrokers prone to indulge in
song or lyric writing. Not a few following their
bent drop into poetry, like Silas Wegg, in n
friendly way. possibly, but more likely with the
belief of catching on in a more substantial man-
ner. Then again, persons in that line are known
to be interested financially in publishing ven-
tures, and being in a position to spring their
songs on the unsuspecting public willy nilly, do
not hesitate in the performance. Having the
wherewith they need not worry about the im-
mediate results, being often satisfied to see their
names appear in print as the writer. That is
sufficient glory, though the practical returns are
by no means despised. In other words:
'"Honor and fame from no condition rise,
Act well your purt, thero all tho glory lies."
Sand for Our MBW Oatmlogumm.
SOL BLOOM,
PUBLI8HED BY
New York
LOOK!
HAPPY HEINLE
IS THE MOST TALKED OF
MARCH T W O - S T E P .
Do you play it ?
JEROME H. REMICK & CO.
45 West 28th Street,
New York
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