Music Trade Review
Issue: 1910 Vol. 50 N. 19 - Page 49
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE: REVIEW '
49
furnished the composer, the name of the com-
position for which he obtained them, the name
of the publisher to whom he delivered them. The
Music Publisher Adopts Original Method Whereby Composers and Authors Are Assured of Fair publisher's receipt, taken in connection with the
Dealing—They Will Even Be Confident of This Themselves—Something Entirety New in guild record, would furnish the double record.
The Publishing World Which Will Interest Our Readers.
The most solicitous interests involved are the
reputable publishers themselves, who desire to
Nevermore need a composer or author of a doubt the honesty of practically all the publish- purge the business of that element of publishers
song feel dubious as to the sum of money paid ers, and it was in justice to the honest ones that who have been the danger mark of the business.
him in royalties, irrespective of whether his Mr. Feist conceived this plan.
Mr. Feist's plan will doubtless create a sensa-
"Under the new plan a copy of music found tion and be hailed as the beginning of a new
doubt be justified. Never, that is, as far as Leo
Feist, music publisher of this city, is concerned, anywhere without the stamp must either be a era in American music publishing, as well as
and it is probable that other publishers will pirated copy or an unofficial copy—such copies, abroad.
adopt a plan similar to one which Mr. Feist has whenever found, to be confiscated by the pub-
The "book authors" should be keenly inter-
lisher, the writers or their agents, although it is
just put into operation.
ested in the outcome, and they might well form
The new plan is for the composer whose work expected that the dealers will not handle any an organization among themselves for the same
Mr. Feist undertakes to publish to provide music not bearing the official royalty stamp.
object, the same purpose, and the same hoped-
"In making his periodical settlement of royal- for results.
stamps made according to a registered device of
the composer's, one of which is to be glued on a ties the publisher will pay royalty on as many
special space on each copy of music that the pub- copies as there are stamps used, and as the
lisher sells. The stamp will correspond, in a stamps can be furnished only by the composer, WHAT THE RECENT OPERA DEAL MEANS.
way, to the revenue stamps that the government an exact adjustment cannot be avoided.
The announcement made last week that Oscar
has placed on packages of cigars, say, although,
"The reform this plan must inevitably bring
Hammerstein
retires from the grand opera field
of course, no revenue is involved in the use of about is as important to the honest publisher as it
the music stamps themselves. The idea is that will be unwelcome to the dishonest one. Its sim- in favor of the Metropolitan Opera Co., means
each copy of music sold must have a stamp at- plicity obviously will exact fair dealings remorse- that there is now an opera "trust," to use a word
tached, and for the stamps that the publisher lessly. The rumored unfair manipulation in the which is overworked, because none other has yet
does not return to the composer on "settling business which has been perpetrated heretofore been coined of equal expressiveness. Mr. Ham-
day" he must pay a sum as royalty correspond- by some publishers ceases immediately this sys- merstein is now believed to have received $1,000,-
ing to the fixed value of such stamps not re- tem is in effect. There can be no understate- 000 instead of the $2,000,000 at first reported.
turned. Originally, of course, the composer or ment of sales to composers, and the royalties per The former Manhattan singers will sing at the
author hands over to the publisher the stamps copy to be paid will naturally have to be esti- Chicago and Philadelphia houses, and possibly in
to be used as described. In announcing this mated and agreed upon on a business basis con- Baltimore, as well as at the Metropolitan Opera
plan, which is an innovation that may revolu- sistent with the price at which the goods are re- House. When the season opens next fall the
Metropolitan, through its working agreement
tionize royalty contract making, the house of Leo. tailed.
Feist makes this statement:
"Under the present system it has been pos- with the Boston Opera Co., and its stock owner-
"This plan should work a far-reaching and sible for some publishers to command the mar- ship giving it absolute control of the newly
long-needed reform and correct abuse by which ket by offering royalties ridiculously high—too formed Chicago Grand Opera Co., will be dictat-
the unscrupulous few have brought much dis- high for any publisher who makes a true ac- ing to composers, singers, conductors, musicians
credit upon the honest many in the music pub- counting. The publishers, therefore, who have and all others whose livelihod comes from the giv-
lishing industry. The fact that a few publish- lived up to their contracts and have paid the ing of grand opera.
ers have given dishonest royalty statements to agreed upon royalty on each and every copy
F. H. Burt, of the local Remick forces, has
composers has caused almost every writer to sold have been at a great disadvantage. To this
real impediment to honest and fair dealing, often been away on an extensive business trip.
crippling the upright publisher, was added the
annoyance of the shady reputation given the
music publishing business generally."
Mr. Feist's plan, we learn further, contem-
plates a double-barreled protection. In the first
place the composer may register the stamp of his
device in the United States Patent Office, as a
trade-mark, and any attempt to counterfeit his
stamp will become exceedingly dangerous, as the
offense, contemplating fraud, is decidedly crim-
inal. Ultimately, or as soon as he has tried it
out thoroughly in his own dealings, Mr. Feist
contemplates enlisting the composers in the or-
ganization of a protective guild which would fur-
nish all members With its own regi tered stamp
device for the purpose just described. There
would then be a double check on all transactions.
The guild would record the number of stamps
By AL PIANTADOSI,
Creator of Italian Character Songs.
FEIST'S ROYALTY PLAN AN INNOVATION.
Read what The Evening
Mail, America's Best even-
ing paper, has to say about
the Famous
THAT
ITALIAN
RAG
CENTURY
EDITION
TEN-CENT SHEET MUSIC
"Easily the best proposition in
the musical world; none better
at any price."
Can be had wherever music is sold.
CENTURY MUSIC PUBLISHING CO.
1 178 BROADWAY, NEW YORK
A Hit of Hits!
ii
EVERY LITTLE
MOVEMENT"
By OTTO HAUERBACH and KARL HOSCHNA
The reigning Musical Hit from
"MADAME SHERRY"
H E A D HAS HITS
(George W. Head, Jr.)
WORLD'S GREATEST BALLAD
"Without You The World
Don't Seem The Same"
An Endless Chain of Sales of This Song Will Start
From First Purchase.
Best Ballad Since the Time of Jenny Lind
THE HEAD MUSIC PUBLISHING CO.
U16 Broadway, Cor. 39th Street,
New York
Now Playing at Colonial Theatre,
Chicago
Sung, Whistled and Hummed Everywhere
A POSITIVE HIT!
A PROVED SELLER!
Orders poured in the very day after this
song was first sung at Hammerstein's
Victoria Theater.
GOING STRONGER EVERY D A Y !
BY
LEO. FEIST, NEW YORK
SONGS FOR EVERYBODY!
"PLAYTHINGS
THAT'S ALL"
By John W. Bratton.
"MOTHER"
By Cooper & Frederics.
" I N THE SAME OLD WAY"
Greatly in Demand.
Order Now
By Nat D. Mann.
"WHEN YOU DREAM OF THE GIRL YOU LOVE"
By Leo Edwards.
M. WITMARK & SONS, Publishers
NEW YORK
CHICAGO
LONDON
PARIS
"GO ON, GOOD-A-BYE "
By Brown & Murphy.
VICTOR KREMER COMPANY
108-1 10 Randolph Straet, CHICAGO, ILL.
(Opposite Garrick Theatre)
THE MUSIC TRADE: REVIEW '
49
furnished the composer, the name of the com-
position for which he obtained them, the name
of the publisher to whom he delivered them. The
Music Publisher Adopts Original Method Whereby Composers and Authors Are Assured of Fair publisher's receipt, taken in connection with the
Dealing—They Will Even Be Confident of This Themselves—Something Entirety New in guild record, would furnish the double record.
The Publishing World Which Will Interest Our Readers.
The most solicitous interests involved are the
reputable publishers themselves, who desire to
Nevermore need a composer or author of a doubt the honesty of practically all the publish- purge the business of that element of publishers
song feel dubious as to the sum of money paid ers, and it was in justice to the honest ones that who have been the danger mark of the business.
him in royalties, irrespective of whether his Mr. Feist conceived this plan.
Mr. Feist's plan will doubtless create a sensa-
"Under the new plan a copy of music found tion and be hailed as the beginning of a new
doubt be justified. Never, that is, as far as Leo
Feist, music publisher of this city, is concerned, anywhere without the stamp must either be a era in American music publishing, as well as
and it is probable that other publishers will pirated copy or an unofficial copy—such copies, abroad.
adopt a plan similar to one which Mr. Feist has whenever found, to be confiscated by the pub-
The "book authors" should be keenly inter-
lisher, the writers or their agents, although it is
just put into operation.
ested in the outcome, and they might well form
The new plan is for the composer whose work expected that the dealers will not handle any an organization among themselves for the same
Mr. Feist undertakes to publish to provide music not bearing the official royalty stamp.
object, the same purpose, and the same hoped-
"In making his periodical settlement of royal- for results.
stamps made according to a registered device of
the composer's, one of which is to be glued on a ties the publisher will pay royalty on as many
special space on each copy of music that the pub- copies as there are stamps used, and as the
lisher sells. The stamp will correspond, in a stamps can be furnished only by the composer, WHAT THE RECENT OPERA DEAL MEANS.
way, to the revenue stamps that the government an exact adjustment cannot be avoided.
The announcement made last week that Oscar
has placed on packages of cigars, say, although,
"The reform this plan must inevitably bring
Hammerstein
retires from the grand opera field
of course, no revenue is involved in the use of about is as important to the honest publisher as it
the music stamps themselves. The idea is that will be unwelcome to the dishonest one. Its sim- in favor of the Metropolitan Opera Co., means
each copy of music sold must have a stamp at- plicity obviously will exact fair dealings remorse- that there is now an opera "trust," to use a word
tached, and for the stamps that the publisher lessly. The rumored unfair manipulation in the which is overworked, because none other has yet
does not return to the composer on "settling business which has been perpetrated heretofore been coined of equal expressiveness. Mr. Ham-
day" he must pay a sum as royalty correspond- by some publishers ceases immediately this sys- merstein is now believed to have received $1,000,-
ing to the fixed value of such stamps not re- tem is in effect. There can be no understate- 000 instead of the $2,000,000 at first reported.
turned. Originally, of course, the composer or ment of sales to composers, and the royalties per The former Manhattan singers will sing at the
author hands over to the publisher the stamps copy to be paid will naturally have to be esti- Chicago and Philadelphia houses, and possibly in
to be used as described. In announcing this mated and agreed upon on a business basis con- Baltimore, as well as at the Metropolitan Opera
plan, which is an innovation that may revolu- sistent with the price at which the goods are re- House. When the season opens next fall the
Metropolitan, through its working agreement
tionize royalty contract making, the house of Leo. tailed.
Feist makes this statement:
"Under the present system it has been pos- with the Boston Opera Co., and its stock owner-
"This plan should work a far-reaching and sible for some publishers to command the mar- ship giving it absolute control of the newly
long-needed reform and correct abuse by which ket by offering royalties ridiculously high—too formed Chicago Grand Opera Co., will be dictat-
the unscrupulous few have brought much dis- high for any publisher who makes a true ac- ing to composers, singers, conductors, musicians
credit upon the honest many in the music pub- counting. The publishers, therefore, who have and all others whose livelihod comes from the giv-
lishing industry. The fact that a few publish- lived up to their contracts and have paid the ing of grand opera.
ers have given dishonest royalty statements to agreed upon royalty on each and every copy
F. H. Burt, of the local Remick forces, has
composers has caused almost every writer to sold have been at a great disadvantage. To this
real impediment to honest and fair dealing, often been away on an extensive business trip.
crippling the upright publisher, was added the
annoyance of the shady reputation given the
music publishing business generally."
Mr. Feist's plan, we learn further, contem-
plates a double-barreled protection. In the first
place the composer may register the stamp of his
device in the United States Patent Office, as a
trade-mark, and any attempt to counterfeit his
stamp will become exceedingly dangerous, as the
offense, contemplating fraud, is decidedly crim-
inal. Ultimately, or as soon as he has tried it
out thoroughly in his own dealings, Mr. Feist
contemplates enlisting the composers in the or-
ganization of a protective guild which would fur-
nish all members With its own regi tered stamp
device for the purpose just described. There
would then be a double check on all transactions.
The guild would record the number of stamps
By AL PIANTADOSI,
Creator of Italian Character Songs.
FEIST'S ROYALTY PLAN AN INNOVATION.
Read what The Evening
Mail, America's Best even-
ing paper, has to say about
the Famous
THAT
ITALIAN
RAG
CENTURY
EDITION
TEN-CENT SHEET MUSIC
"Easily the best proposition in
the musical world; none better
at any price."
Can be had wherever music is sold.
CENTURY MUSIC PUBLISHING CO.
1 178 BROADWAY, NEW YORK
A Hit of Hits!
ii
EVERY LITTLE
MOVEMENT"
By OTTO HAUERBACH and KARL HOSCHNA
The reigning Musical Hit from
"MADAME SHERRY"
H E A D HAS HITS
(George W. Head, Jr.)
WORLD'S GREATEST BALLAD
"Without You The World
Don't Seem The Same"
An Endless Chain of Sales of This Song Will Start
From First Purchase.
Best Ballad Since the Time of Jenny Lind
THE HEAD MUSIC PUBLISHING CO.
U16 Broadway, Cor. 39th Street,
New York
Now Playing at Colonial Theatre,
Chicago
Sung, Whistled and Hummed Everywhere
A POSITIVE HIT!
A PROVED SELLER!
Orders poured in the very day after this
song was first sung at Hammerstein's
Victoria Theater.
GOING STRONGER EVERY D A Y !
BY
LEO. FEIST, NEW YORK
SONGS FOR EVERYBODY!
"PLAYTHINGS
THAT'S ALL"
By John W. Bratton.
"MOTHER"
By Cooper & Frederics.
" I N THE SAME OLD WAY"
Greatly in Demand.
Order Now
By Nat D. Mann.
"WHEN YOU DREAM OF THE GIRL YOU LOVE"
By Leo Edwards.
M. WITMARK & SONS, Publishers
NEW YORK
CHICAGO
LONDON
PARIS
"GO ON, GOOD-A-BYE "
By Brown & Murphy.
VICTOR KREMER COMPANY
108-1 10 Randolph Straet, CHICAGO, ILL.
(Opposite Garrick Theatre)
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).