Music Trade Review
Issue: 1908 Vol. 46 N. 23 - Page 54
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
50
EDWARD LYMAN BILL • Editor afld Proprietor
J. B. SPILLANE, Managing Editor
J. HAYDEN-CLARENDON, Editor
Published Every Saturday at 1 Madison Avenue, New York
SUBSCRIPTION, (including postage), United States and
Mexico, $2.00 per year; Canada, $3.50; all other coun-
tries. $4.00.
Telephones—Numbers 4677 and 4678 G r a m e r c y
Connecting all D e p a r t m e n t s
NEW
YORK, JUNE 6, 1908
COMMENTS B Y - „
So important has the slide-making industry
become as an adjunct to song publishing, that
we make no apology for again taking up the sub-
ject, feeling as we do, that although a number of
decided improvements in the administration of
the slide departments of the various publishing
houses have taken place within the past month,
a great deal may yet be done to remedy the vari-
ous abuses which for some time past have been
apparent to the publishing fraternity. To the
astute manager of the slide department of a
well-known publishing house is due a sweeping
innovation by which performers are now being
charged the very moderate rental of $1 per week
for the use of song slides. In a characteristic
letter to a brother publisher this enterprising
department manager says: "My scheme is a
pronounced success. I am recognizing absolutely
no one so far as free slides are concerned, turn-
ing my best friends down, and I am getting un-
precedented results. For instance, performers to
whom in the past I gave slides without a de-
posit, I still recognize, charging them no deposit,
but I am making one and all pay $1 a week for
the use of our slides. Others who in the past
paid $5 deposit are still doing so, but I deduct
$1 per week as a rental fee." Of course it is
superfluous for the writer to add that this is the
right idea, and it is cheering to know that many
first-class publishing houses have adopted, or
intend to adopt this plan to protect themselves
against that common enemy—the performer who
is continually looking for something for nothing.
A Singer Sang a Song.
So much of what is confidential is imparted
to the writer each week by the publishing fra-
ternity that a t times it becomes difficult to sift
the wheat of what is intended for publicity from
the chaff of confidential information. Still it
cannot be regarded as any breach of trust to re-
count the fact that the payment of singers for
exploiting songs is a practice fast becoming obso-
lete. The writer who has access to the figures
of at least two representative publishing houses
has watched the experiment of paying singers
with considerable interest, and is still convinced
that the public cannot be forced into buying a
song that it does not want. This fact has now
been verified by actual returns. If a song has
that nebulous merit which makes it "popular,"
the legitimate singer (who, to do him justice, is
usually a good judge of a singable song), will
use it without any remuneration save that which
he legitimately earns for his professional serv-
ices. Sincerely does The Review hope that before
very long it may write the epitaph over the
subsidized singer, "Mali principii malus finis."
refuses to buy both, rather than feel that some-
thing is being purchased which he does not re-
quire. It is seldom that two or more pieces in
a combination appeal to the same person, and
they therefore claim that song cycles should be
published under separate covers and with sepa-
rate names. On the face of it this appears rea-
sonable, and we publish it for the excellent reason
that we have received this complaint from vari-
ous quarters.
CANNOT RESTRICT PRICE
Of Copyrighted Book Says the Supreme Court
in the Bobbs-Merrill-Macy Suit.
(Special to The Review.)
Washington, June 1, 1908.
The Supreme Court to-day in the case of the
Bobbs-Merrill Co. (book publishers) vs.' R. H.
Maey & Co. and Isidor and Nathan Straus, decid-
ed in favor of Macy & Co. The question was
whether the sale by a retail dealer of a copy-
righted book below the price fixed by the pub-
lishers is an infringment of copyright.
The Bobbs-Merrill Co. published a novel and
stipulated in a printed notice that it should not
be sold for less than $1 per copy. The house of
Macy sold the work for 80 cents, and suit was
brought in the United States Circuit Court in
New York, but the bill was dismissed. A like
The Chicago Rate War.
Most joyfully do we make the announcement result followed when the case was appealed to
that our gloomy prediction regarding a Chicago the Circuit Court of Appeals. The suit was based
rate war has not been verified. For a time the on the theory that the right to dispose of a
outlook there was undoubtedly black, but the lat- copyrighted work gives the owner the right to
est advices from the "Windy City" contain the place restrictions on its sales.
cheering news that prices are soaring to a re-
It appeared that the Publishers' Association
spectable figure. Let it be recorded that by the requires firms dealing in their copyrighted books
example set by Jerome H. Remick a rate war was to enter into a contract to maintain fixed prices
averted. The Detroit "Colossus" rarely escapes for a year and not to sell to any one who would
any blame that is coming his way, but on the cut prices. The Circuit Court of Appeals decid-
other hand it might be said that he also escapes ed against the publishers in both instances.
a deal of credit which is undoubtedly due to him.
•
• • •
The above is of more than passing interest to
A Canadian Growl.
publishers of sheet music, as they are undoubt-
Canadian retail music dealers are bitterly com- edly governed by similar conditions.
plaining of the practice of certain music pub-
lishers who put upon the market "song cycles"
AVON F. ADAMS OFF TO EUROPE.
containing two or more numbers in the same
outer cover. They do not approve of the plan,
A. F. Adams, general manager of the John
as they claim that they lose many sales on ac- Church Co., sailed for Europe last Saturday on
count of it. They say that a salable number business connected with the London branch. Mr.
will often be combined with one that does not Adams will return to New York about the middle
prove attractive, and as a result the purchaser of July.
c
M
DEALERS WILL FIND OUR LATEST
PUBLICATION
Francis, Day 6 Hunter
"THE MOST POPULAR
PIANO DANCE FOLIO"
HAVE REMOVED TO
One of the Best Folios in Our Series and the Only
Actually Complete Dance Folio Published.
1364 Broadway, NEW YORK
f&~ We Have Interesting Introductory Rates.
Write for descriplive circular and prices.
THE TRADE WILL PLEASE NOTICE
THANKS
T o All My
TRADE FRIENDS
for their
GOOD
WISHES
•X-
Write To-Day for Samples and Special Offer
McKIHLET MUSIC GO. WM. McKIHLEY, Pres.
158 Harrison St., Chicago
74 5th Ave., N. Y.
GAe
TEDDY
BEARS'
PICNIC"
HINDS, NOBLE & ELDREDGE
31-33-35 W. 15th St.
NEW YORK CITY
OUR NEW ISSUE PROPOSITION
is of great interest to every live Dealer. We
Bill our Monthly New Issues at 5 cents per
copy.
Subscribe now. The folio
lowing are
some of our best sellers:
"MOONBEAMS AND DREAMS OF YOU"—"A LITTLE
COZY FLAT "—* MONTEREY"—- NIGHT AND DAY"
—-WHILE YOU ARE MINE"—-MORNING CY*
-FOREST KING" March.
Write us To-day
VICTOR KREMER CO.
24 E. 21st St.,
Costs You 3 Cents
152 Lake Street
CHICAGO
B JOHN W. BRATTON
Without a doubt the greatest
characteriatique Two - Step Hit
since "THK MOSQUITOES'
PARADE."
MR. DEALER—
It may not have reached your
vicinity as yet, but it won't take
long before it arrives. Be pre-
pared; stock up. You're sure
to have calls for it.
M. WITMARK ® SONS
144 West 37th Street,
New York
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
50
EDWARD LYMAN BILL • Editor afld Proprietor
J. B. SPILLANE, Managing Editor
J. HAYDEN-CLARENDON, Editor
Published Every Saturday at 1 Madison Avenue, New York
SUBSCRIPTION, (including postage), United States and
Mexico, $2.00 per year; Canada, $3.50; all other coun-
tries. $4.00.
Telephones—Numbers 4677 and 4678 G r a m e r c y
Connecting all D e p a r t m e n t s
NEW
YORK, JUNE 6, 1908
COMMENTS B Y - „
So important has the slide-making industry
become as an adjunct to song publishing, that
we make no apology for again taking up the sub-
ject, feeling as we do, that although a number of
decided improvements in the administration of
the slide departments of the various publishing
houses have taken place within the past month,
a great deal may yet be done to remedy the vari-
ous abuses which for some time past have been
apparent to the publishing fraternity. To the
astute manager of the slide department of a
well-known publishing house is due a sweeping
innovation by which performers are now being
charged the very moderate rental of $1 per week
for the use of song slides. In a characteristic
letter to a brother publisher this enterprising
department manager says: "My scheme is a
pronounced success. I am recognizing absolutely
no one so far as free slides are concerned, turn-
ing my best friends down, and I am getting un-
precedented results. For instance, performers to
whom in the past I gave slides without a de-
posit, I still recognize, charging them no deposit,
but I am making one and all pay $1 a week for
the use of our slides. Others who in the past
paid $5 deposit are still doing so, but I deduct
$1 per week as a rental fee." Of course it is
superfluous for the writer to add that this is the
right idea, and it is cheering to know that many
first-class publishing houses have adopted, or
intend to adopt this plan to protect themselves
against that common enemy—the performer who
is continually looking for something for nothing.
A Singer Sang a Song.
So much of what is confidential is imparted
to the writer each week by the publishing fra-
ternity that a t times it becomes difficult to sift
the wheat of what is intended for publicity from
the chaff of confidential information. Still it
cannot be regarded as any breach of trust to re-
count the fact that the payment of singers for
exploiting songs is a practice fast becoming obso-
lete. The writer who has access to the figures
of at least two representative publishing houses
has watched the experiment of paying singers
with considerable interest, and is still convinced
that the public cannot be forced into buying a
song that it does not want. This fact has now
been verified by actual returns. If a song has
that nebulous merit which makes it "popular,"
the legitimate singer (who, to do him justice, is
usually a good judge of a singable song), will
use it without any remuneration save that which
he legitimately earns for his professional serv-
ices. Sincerely does The Review hope that before
very long it may write the epitaph over the
subsidized singer, "Mali principii malus finis."
refuses to buy both, rather than feel that some-
thing is being purchased which he does not re-
quire. It is seldom that two or more pieces in
a combination appeal to the same person, and
they therefore claim that song cycles should be
published under separate covers and with sepa-
rate names. On the face of it this appears rea-
sonable, and we publish it for the excellent reason
that we have received this complaint from vari-
ous quarters.
CANNOT RESTRICT PRICE
Of Copyrighted Book Says the Supreme Court
in the Bobbs-Merrill-Macy Suit.
(Special to The Review.)
Washington, June 1, 1908.
The Supreme Court to-day in the case of the
Bobbs-Merrill Co. (book publishers) vs.' R. H.
Maey & Co. and Isidor and Nathan Straus, decid-
ed in favor of Macy & Co. The question was
whether the sale by a retail dealer of a copy-
righted book below the price fixed by the pub-
lishers is an infringment of copyright.
The Bobbs-Merrill Co. published a novel and
stipulated in a printed notice that it should not
be sold for less than $1 per copy. The house of
Macy sold the work for 80 cents, and suit was
brought in the United States Circuit Court in
New York, but the bill was dismissed. A like
The Chicago Rate War.
Most joyfully do we make the announcement result followed when the case was appealed to
that our gloomy prediction regarding a Chicago the Circuit Court of Appeals. The suit was based
rate war has not been verified. For a time the on the theory that the right to dispose of a
outlook there was undoubtedly black, but the lat- copyrighted work gives the owner the right to
est advices from the "Windy City" contain the place restrictions on its sales.
cheering news that prices are soaring to a re-
It appeared that the Publishers' Association
spectable figure. Let it be recorded that by the requires firms dealing in their copyrighted books
example set by Jerome H. Remick a rate war was to enter into a contract to maintain fixed prices
averted. The Detroit "Colossus" rarely escapes for a year and not to sell to any one who would
any blame that is coming his way, but on the cut prices. The Circuit Court of Appeals decid-
other hand it might be said that he also escapes ed against the publishers in both instances.
a deal of credit which is undoubtedly due to him.
•
• • •
The above is of more than passing interest to
A Canadian Growl.
publishers of sheet music, as they are undoubt-
Canadian retail music dealers are bitterly com- edly governed by similar conditions.
plaining of the practice of certain music pub-
lishers who put upon the market "song cycles"
AVON F. ADAMS OFF TO EUROPE.
containing two or more numbers in the same
outer cover. They do not approve of the plan,
A. F. Adams, general manager of the John
as they claim that they lose many sales on ac- Church Co., sailed for Europe last Saturday on
count of it. They say that a salable number business connected with the London branch. Mr.
will often be combined with one that does not Adams will return to New York about the middle
prove attractive, and as a result the purchaser of July.
c
M
DEALERS WILL FIND OUR LATEST
PUBLICATION
Francis, Day 6 Hunter
"THE MOST POPULAR
PIANO DANCE FOLIO"
HAVE REMOVED TO
One of the Best Folios in Our Series and the Only
Actually Complete Dance Folio Published.
1364 Broadway, NEW YORK
f&~ We Have Interesting Introductory Rates.
Write for descriplive circular and prices.
THE TRADE WILL PLEASE NOTICE
THANKS
T o All My
TRADE FRIENDS
for their
GOOD
WISHES
•X-
Write To-Day for Samples and Special Offer
McKIHLET MUSIC GO. WM. McKIHLEY, Pres.
158 Harrison St., Chicago
74 5th Ave., N. Y.
GAe
TEDDY
BEARS'
PICNIC"
HINDS, NOBLE & ELDREDGE
31-33-35 W. 15th St.
NEW YORK CITY
OUR NEW ISSUE PROPOSITION
is of great interest to every live Dealer. We
Bill our Monthly New Issues at 5 cents per
copy.
Subscribe now. The folio
lowing are
some of our best sellers:
"MOONBEAMS AND DREAMS OF YOU"—"A LITTLE
COZY FLAT "—* MONTEREY"—- NIGHT AND DAY"
—-WHILE YOU ARE MINE"—-MORNING CY*
-FOREST KING" March.
Write us To-day
VICTOR KREMER CO.
24 E. 21st St.,
Costs You 3 Cents
152 Lake Street
CHICAGO
B JOHN W. BRATTON
Without a doubt the greatest
characteriatique Two - Step Hit
since "THK MOSQUITOES'
PARADE."
MR. DEALER—
It may not have reached your
vicinity as yet, but it won't take
long before it arrives. Be pre-
pared; stock up. You're sure
to have calls for it.
M. WITMARK ® SONS
144 West 37th Street,
New York
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