Music Trade Review
Issue: 1910 Vol. 50 N. 24 - Page 48
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE:
EDWARD LYMAN BILL - Editor and Proprietor
J. B. SP1LLANE, Muaglng Editor
R. W . SIMMONS. Editor M u s i c S e c t i o n
Published Every Saturday at 1 MadlMa Avenue. New Y*rk
SUISCRIPTION. (Including portage), United 8rate* and
Mexico. $2.00 per year; Canada. M.BO; all •ther coun
trim. $4.00.
Telephones-Numbers 4677 and 4678 Gramerey
Connection all Departments
NEW YORK, JUNE 11, 1910
All matter of every nature intended
for this department should be addressed
The Editor Music Section Music Trade
Review, 1 Madison Avenue, New York.
COMMENTS B Y -
A course of the treatment which department
stores administer to themselves occasionally
would soon be marked by sickening symptoms
of financial disintegration among the regular
music dealers if it were indulged in by them.
This fact, of course, is well known, but it comes
to mind again after perusal of recent advertise-
ments of some of the local department stores
announcing retail sales of sheet music at six and
seven cents per copy. One such establishment
announced for last Saturday a veritable selling
debauch at which various undeniable popular
hits were offered at seven cents per copy. In
addition a concert feast was to be provided by a
quartet of fairly well-known singers, with a
composer at the piano. The other store, not to
be outdone, advertised the same songs at six
cents per copy, although it did not feel called
upon to add the vocal music to the rest of the
orgy. At this late day it is to be hoped that
necessity does not call for repetition of the fact
that a buyer who entered the sheet music de-
MUSIC
TRADE
REIVIEIW
partment of either of these stores and bought case with the publishers, and whether or no they
only some oi the six or seven-cent music would will ever cease running circles around them-
be as welcome to the management as if he had selves—which means finding fault with their own
the smallpox. Most of the music offered at the methods and never changing them—the plainest
prices mentioned cost the stores more than the thing except the sun is that the regular music
figures at which they were to be sold. The idea dealers require and will have some remedy for
of the advertised sale feature was, and always the unhealthy conditions that exist. In brief,
is, to get buyers into the sheet music department, what they want is a higher scale of retail prices,
with the justifiable expectation that in addition and, briefer still, they are not likely to get it. To
to the popular music bargains the customers obtain it would require a general agreement
would purchase production or classical numbers, among publishers to raise wholesale prices and
not to mention the various objects that tempted maintain the higher level. But even the pub-
their purses as they traversed the great aisles lishers who concede this need to exist admit
that the action will not be taken. John Smith
of other departments.
must raise some cash quickly, and he jumps at
Profits Swept Away by Price-Cutting.
As a matter of fact, the cutting of prices on an offer of six or seven cents for ten thousand or
sheet music is diametrically opposite to the twenty thousand copies. Thus the department
treatment which the regular dealers require for or ten-cent store is supplied, and the secret of the
the upbuilding of their business. This situa- permanence of present wholesale prices is told.
tion prevails with more relentless exactitude The chance of a mutual agreement being reached
to-day than ever before. Higher prices, if any among publishers has gone forever.
changes are to eventuate, are the order of the
Turning to Classical Music for Relief.
day. Such a change, however, has many compli-
All the above, of course, applies only to the
cations that would have to be straightened out publishers of popular music. Those who have
before the higher level of average prices could not contributed to the existing order of things
obtain. More and more often is heard the regu- are affected by the acts of others. There is a
lar dealer's cry of protest that his profits are change coming, nevertheless, and it is making
kept down or swept away by the retail figures itself slowly felt. It is coming from the dealers
which he is required to quote. The lower fig- themselves. They have taken the matter into
ures which prevail now as compared with those their own hands, those of them who have read
of a few years ago are due, of course, to the com- the signs aright. What they have done and are
petition of the ten-cent stores. These establish- doing is to increase their stocks of standard and
ments, moreover, have been aided and abetted also classical music, for which they receive full
by music publishers, not quite without excep- price. Even the department stores have seen the
tion, but almost. Now the publishers are begin- change that has gradually pervaded the industry
ning to taste the bitterness of tne fruit whose of selling sheet music. At Macy's, for instance,
seed they sowed. With wry faces they are mak- a newly enlarged department is provided with a
ing confused suggestions as to what antidote line of classical musical complete throughout,
should be applied. It is true that a certain few with an expert on such music in charge. Abra-
among the publishers of popular music are mak- ham & Straus, in Brooklyn, have recently in-
ing a success of their business. This is partly stalled a classical department complete in every
the result of co-operation with the dealers, as we particular.
Wanamaker's shelves exhibit a
have remarked in these columns in times past, greater amount of classical music than ever be-
and partly because of peculiar conditions of low fore. Sales of such are untainted by the fool-
cost of output and other business details.
hardy methods observed in offering popular
music. Jerome H. Remick & Co. are buying
More Active Search for the Remedy.
Under certain conditions a publisher of popular more classical music for their stores than ever
music can make his business very profitable to- before. Charles K. Harris is adding high-grade
day. Most publishers cannot create those condi- numbers to his publications. Leo Feist puts out
tions, and consequently the majority can hardly standard and high-grade music, and now adds a
make income equal outgo. But whatever is the grand opera to his list. The Witmarks find their
SOME OF OUR REAL HITS
MESSRS. CHAPPELL & CO., Ltd.
"THE
CUBANOLA
G L I D E " (, nss ? rnu Ven?a.)
"MY
SOUTHERN
ROSE"
song
" K E E P YOUR FOOT ON T H E SOFT P E D A L " s ons
"THE
YIDDISHA
R A G " ( lnss ? rnu ° ma en?a.)
"HIP-HIP-HYPNOTIZE
M E " son a
" G I V E M Y R E G A R D S T O M A B E L "
are the publisher* of
THE REIGNING MUSICAL SUCCESS
THE ARCADIANS
Music by Talbot and Monckton
(Produced by Mr. Charlea Frohman)
HARRY VON TILZER MUSIC PUBLISHING COMPANY
FRANZ LEHAR'S NEW OPERA
THE MAN WITH THREE WIVES
AD D R
N E W YORK-OTFICE™
125 West 4 3 d Street, New York City
(To be produced shortly by Messrs. Shubert)
IVAN CARYLL AND LIONEL MONCKTOWS
SUCCESSFUL MUSICAL PLAY
OUR MISS GIBBS
(To be produced shortly by Mr. Charles Frohman)
LONDON'S LATEST CRAZE
THE BALKAN PRINCESS
A Musical Play by Paul A. Rubens
(To be produced by Mr. W. A. Brady)
CHAPPELL & CO., Ltd.
37 W. 17lh St.
-
-
NEW YORK
THE MOST POPULAR PIANO DANCE^FOLIO
THEODORE MORSE'S NEW HITS !
"MOLLY LEE"
"KITTY CRAY"
"HE'S A COLLEGE BOY"
"RED CLOVER" (Song and Intermezzo)
"BLUE FEATHER" (Song and Intermezzo)
You could have had these once for 5 cents. Take
our new issues and you'll get better ones.
m^KT"
9^V
PHONOGRAPH RECORDS ARE - ^ M f t
MADE FOR ALL OUR SONGS ^ ^ f i
Theodore Morse Music Co.
1367 Broadway, New York
c SHEET MUSIC
DEPARTMENT
This collection will fill
a niche quite of its own
in musical literature as
being the only folio of
standard dance m u s i c
which can lay claim to
being complete. An even
casual glance at the con-
tents cannot fail to con-
vince the lover of piano
music in the lighter vein,
that it is the ideal collec-
tion of piano dance music,
including every _ known
style of dance, in each
case represented by a
composition from the pen
of some past master_ of
dance music composition.
Price 75 cents.
Published by
HINDS, NOBLE & ELDREDGE, 31-35 West 15th Street, New York
WILL ATTRACT MORE CUSTOMERS TO YOUR STORE THAN
ANY OTHER MEDIUM YOU COULD EMPLOY
Write for catalogue and particulars as to how to
make a sheet music department a money-maker
Address nearest office
McKINLEY MUSIC CO., 185 Harrison St., Chicago, III.
NO. 80 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, N. Y.
THE:
EDWARD LYMAN BILL - Editor and Proprietor
J. B. SP1LLANE, Muaglng Editor
R. W . SIMMONS. Editor M u s i c S e c t i o n
Published Every Saturday at 1 MadlMa Avenue. New Y*rk
SUISCRIPTION. (Including portage), United 8rate* and
Mexico. $2.00 per year; Canada. M.BO; all •ther coun
trim. $4.00.
Telephones-Numbers 4677 and 4678 Gramerey
Connection all Departments
NEW YORK, JUNE 11, 1910
All matter of every nature intended
for this department should be addressed
The Editor Music Section Music Trade
Review, 1 Madison Avenue, New York.
COMMENTS B Y -
A course of the treatment which department
stores administer to themselves occasionally
would soon be marked by sickening symptoms
of financial disintegration among the regular
music dealers if it were indulged in by them.
This fact, of course, is well known, but it comes
to mind again after perusal of recent advertise-
ments of some of the local department stores
announcing retail sales of sheet music at six and
seven cents per copy. One such establishment
announced for last Saturday a veritable selling
debauch at which various undeniable popular
hits were offered at seven cents per copy. In
addition a concert feast was to be provided by a
quartet of fairly well-known singers, with a
composer at the piano. The other store, not to
be outdone, advertised the same songs at six
cents per copy, although it did not feel called
upon to add the vocal music to the rest of the
orgy. At this late day it is to be hoped that
necessity does not call for repetition of the fact
that a buyer who entered the sheet music de-
MUSIC
TRADE
REIVIEIW
partment of either of these stores and bought case with the publishers, and whether or no they
only some oi the six or seven-cent music would will ever cease running circles around them-
be as welcome to the management as if he had selves—which means finding fault with their own
the smallpox. Most of the music offered at the methods and never changing them—the plainest
prices mentioned cost the stores more than the thing except the sun is that the regular music
figures at which they were to be sold. The idea dealers require and will have some remedy for
of the advertised sale feature was, and always the unhealthy conditions that exist. In brief,
is, to get buyers into the sheet music department, what they want is a higher scale of retail prices,
with the justifiable expectation that in addition and, briefer still, they are not likely to get it. To
to the popular music bargains the customers obtain it would require a general agreement
would purchase production or classical numbers, among publishers to raise wholesale prices and
not to mention the various objects that tempted maintain the higher level. But even the pub-
their purses as they traversed the great aisles lishers who concede this need to exist admit
that the action will not be taken. John Smith
of other departments.
must raise some cash quickly, and he jumps at
Profits Swept Away by Price-Cutting.
As a matter of fact, the cutting of prices on an offer of six or seven cents for ten thousand or
sheet music is diametrically opposite to the twenty thousand copies. Thus the department
treatment which the regular dealers require for or ten-cent store is supplied, and the secret of the
the upbuilding of their business. This situa- permanence of present wholesale prices is told.
tion prevails with more relentless exactitude The chance of a mutual agreement being reached
to-day than ever before. Higher prices, if any among publishers has gone forever.
changes are to eventuate, are the order of the
Turning to Classical Music for Relief.
day. Such a change, however, has many compli-
All the above, of course, applies only to the
cations that would have to be straightened out publishers of popular music. Those who have
before the higher level of average prices could not contributed to the existing order of things
obtain. More and more often is heard the regu- are affected by the acts of others. There is a
lar dealer's cry of protest that his profits are change coming, nevertheless, and it is making
kept down or swept away by the retail figures itself slowly felt. It is coming from the dealers
which he is required to quote. The lower fig- themselves. They have taken the matter into
ures which prevail now as compared with those their own hands, those of them who have read
of a few years ago are due, of course, to the com- the signs aright. What they have done and are
petition of the ten-cent stores. These establish- doing is to increase their stocks of standard and
ments, moreover, have been aided and abetted also classical music, for which they receive full
by music publishers, not quite without excep- price. Even the department stores have seen the
tion, but almost. Now the publishers are begin- change that has gradually pervaded the industry
ning to taste the bitterness of tne fruit whose of selling sheet music. At Macy's, for instance,
seed they sowed. With wry faces they are mak- a newly enlarged department is provided with a
ing confused suggestions as to what antidote line of classical musical complete throughout,
should be applied. It is true that a certain few with an expert on such music in charge. Abra-
among the publishers of popular music are mak- ham & Straus, in Brooklyn, have recently in-
ing a success of their business. This is partly stalled a classical department complete in every
the result of co-operation with the dealers, as we particular.
Wanamaker's shelves exhibit a
have remarked in these columns in times past, greater amount of classical music than ever be-
and partly because of peculiar conditions of low fore. Sales of such are untainted by the fool-
cost of output and other business details.
hardy methods observed in offering popular
music. Jerome H. Remick & Co. are buying
More Active Search for the Remedy.
Under certain conditions a publisher of popular more classical music for their stores than ever
music can make his business very profitable to- before. Charles K. Harris is adding high-grade
day. Most publishers cannot create those condi- numbers to his publications. Leo Feist puts out
tions, and consequently the majority can hardly standard and high-grade music, and now adds a
make income equal outgo. But whatever is the grand opera to his list. The Witmarks find their
SOME OF OUR REAL HITS
MESSRS. CHAPPELL & CO., Ltd.
"THE
CUBANOLA
G L I D E " (, nss ? rnu Ven?a.)
"MY
SOUTHERN
ROSE"
song
" K E E P YOUR FOOT ON T H E SOFT P E D A L " s ons
"THE
YIDDISHA
R A G " ( lnss ? rnu ° ma en?a.)
"HIP-HIP-HYPNOTIZE
M E " son a
" G I V E M Y R E G A R D S T O M A B E L "
are the publisher* of
THE REIGNING MUSICAL SUCCESS
THE ARCADIANS
Music by Talbot and Monckton
(Produced by Mr. Charlea Frohman)
HARRY VON TILZER MUSIC PUBLISHING COMPANY
FRANZ LEHAR'S NEW OPERA
THE MAN WITH THREE WIVES
AD D R
N E W YORK-OTFICE™
125 West 4 3 d Street, New York City
(To be produced shortly by Messrs. Shubert)
IVAN CARYLL AND LIONEL MONCKTOWS
SUCCESSFUL MUSICAL PLAY
OUR MISS GIBBS
(To be produced shortly by Mr. Charles Frohman)
LONDON'S LATEST CRAZE
THE BALKAN PRINCESS
A Musical Play by Paul A. Rubens
(To be produced by Mr. W. A. Brady)
CHAPPELL & CO., Ltd.
37 W. 17lh St.
-
-
NEW YORK
THE MOST POPULAR PIANO DANCE^FOLIO
THEODORE MORSE'S NEW HITS !
"MOLLY LEE"
"KITTY CRAY"
"HE'S A COLLEGE BOY"
"RED CLOVER" (Song and Intermezzo)
"BLUE FEATHER" (Song and Intermezzo)
You could have had these once for 5 cents. Take
our new issues and you'll get better ones.
m^KT"
9^V
PHONOGRAPH RECORDS ARE - ^ M f t
MADE FOR ALL OUR SONGS ^ ^ f i
Theodore Morse Music Co.
1367 Broadway, New York
c SHEET MUSIC
DEPARTMENT
This collection will fill
a niche quite of its own
in musical literature as
being the only folio of
standard dance m u s i c
which can lay claim to
being complete. An even
casual glance at the con-
tents cannot fail to con-
vince the lover of piano
music in the lighter vein,
that it is the ideal collec-
tion of piano dance music,
including every _ known
style of dance, in each
case represented by a
composition from the pen
of some past master_ of
dance music composition.
Price 75 cents.
Published by
HINDS, NOBLE & ELDREDGE, 31-35 West 15th Street, New York
WILL ATTRACT MORE CUSTOMERS TO YOUR STORE THAN
ANY OTHER MEDIUM YOU COULD EMPLOY
Write for catalogue and particulars as to how to
make a sheet music department a money-maker
Address nearest office
McKINLEY MUSIC CO., 185 Harrison St., Chicago, III.
NO. 80 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, N. Y.
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).