Music Trade Review
Issue: 1921 Vol. 72 N. 13 - Page 62
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE
58
REVIEW
MARCH 26, 1921
Songs That Sell - Melodies That Are In The Air
C±£x4 m
^•\to< / \~
I
i~W^T{^
-M— « \ ^ #
T ^*/
^ P os ^^ ve sensation. It caught on over night.
Tf'c being
Kpino- called
railpH for
for by
hv the
the* public
niihlir wherever
wlierpver music
music is
is played.
nlav
It's
(A Melody easy to remember.)
I ^y 4r Y\
-•- ^* v X X
^^\"
t c O CY* ^ l e ^ e s t dance recoI "d in the Victor February list.
k-/ %~ I V c l ^
Danced and played everywhere—everybody is talking about it.
(Song and Piano Solo)
Underneath The Dreamy Oriental Moon
t V/IEfcflOtfS
The orchestras are all playing this one.
An Irish Ballad—A crood seller
J # ^^/<> o Jfeyi0siCCO.
1015 Walnut Street
KANSAS CITY, MO.
Can Be Obtained From Any Jobber or the Publisher.
THE PLAYER-PIANO AND THE SALE OF SHEET MUSIC
COGHILX GOING TO LONDON
The Impression Which Prevails in Some Quar ers That the Popularity of the Player^Piano Is JEastern Manager of John Church Co. Tells of
Causing a Falling Off of Sheet Music SUes Is Unwarranted, as Facts Will Show
Increasing Demand for Good Music
Discussion, following the action of the Mu-
sic Publishers' Protective Association in re-
fusing to grant a reduction in the royalty now
received from player-roll manufacturers, shows
that there are quite a number of interested par-
ties in the music publishing field who are labor-
ing under the impression that the player roll,
particularly in its present form, injures the sale
of sheet music.
Invariably it is the contention of those hav-
ing such beliefs to call attention to the fact
that the piano factories are to-day turning out
a larger proportion of player-pianos than
straight pianos. The progress of the player
has been so rapid and its vogue appears so
permanent that the publishers who do not close-
ly analyze the situation receive the impression
that there are few other pianos manufactured.
If it takes a straight piano to sell sheet music,
and there are many, many buyers of sheet mu-
sic who have player-pianos, then figures show-
ing the production of such instruments each
year should have some value in arriving at a
conclusion regarding the loss of sales, if any,
through the success of the player.
There are approximately 150,000 straight
pianos made a year. Of these 50,000 are grands
and baby grands, which leaves approximately
a total of 100,000 upright pianos (not players)
going into the market and probably sold each
year.
Then, too, in arriving at the possible sales
through the aid of the piano it must be re-
membered that a straight piano does not become
obsolete in a generation. In fact, all the pianos
made in the last decade and more are still
salable merchandise if they are not now in the
homes and being used. The only instrument
that is really obsolete is the square piano and
e\en these are found in remote communities.
The player-piano has only taken leadership
in point of sales during the past five years and,
each year, although during this period there
have been seasons when the player production
was the greater, straight pianos also have been
manufactured on a larger scale. Pianos other
than players probably comprise one-third of the
output of present-day production. •
So in arriving at the figures showing the pos-
sible loss of sales through the player, as con-
tended, or the loss of sales in comparison of,
say, 1916, consideration must be given to the
fact that practically all, 'the straight pianos
made prior to 1916 are still in use and since then
there have been well over 400,000 straight
pianos manufactured.
Because one has a player-piano in the home
does not say that sheet music is not purchased.
Often the purchase of a player-piano is made
with the idea of giving entertainment to the
family on one hand and at the same time it
is available as a straight piano and used by
members of the family on which to play manu-
ally the music of the latest song or instrumental
number. Hence practically every player-piano
can be utilized as a straight piano when desired.
It is pretty havd to prove just what effect
the player roll has on the sale of sheet music.
While in some instances, no doubt, it does cre-
ate a loss of the sale of sheet music, on the other
hand it invariably gives publicity to numbers,
particularly to the reigning hits.
W. L. Coghill, Eastern manager of the John
Church Co., recently was in Cincinnati taking
up matters in connection with a trip he is plan-
ning to make to the London branch of the
company in the next few weeks. Mr. Coghill,
in commenting on the wonderful showing made
by the publishing department of the Church
Co., says it is beginning to reap its reward for
the years it has devoted to the developing of
American music. Music, he says, has become
a very large part of American life and people are
beginning to realize there are good things in
American music and naturally are turning to the
Church Co. among others for the things worth
while. The Church Co. has always had faith
in American music, Mr. Coghill states, and in
the increasing interest being shown in its works
by the public he sees a large opportunity for
the man back of the counter to cultivate this
interest, which will be an advantage both to him
and the music-loving public.
ENTERTAIN JWTED ARTISTS
At a party given by Mary Garden recently at
the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, New York, at which
were present Lina Cavalieri, Muratore, the
French tenor; Signor Gorgio Polacco and
others. Creamer and Layton, the well-known
song writers, entertained with various popular
songs, but the decided hit of the evening was
"Strut, Miss Lizzie," their newest novelty fox-
trot. "Strut, Miss Lizzie" made such a decided
impression that it was encored time and time
again. "Strut, Miss Lizzie," is published by Jack
Mills, Inc.
Another Smashing Hit
"Do You Ever
Think of Me"
Successor to "Whispering"
Sweeping the country from Coast to Coast.
To be had on most records and player rolls.
Published by
Sherman Hay &Ca
San Francisco
Other Big Hits
Are
"Coral Sea"
'Til Keep on
Loving You"
"Wandering
Home'
"My Wonder Girl'
"Idling"
THE MUSIC TRADE
58
REVIEW
MARCH 26, 1921
Songs That Sell - Melodies That Are In The Air
C±£x4 m
^•\to< / \~
I
i~W^T{^
-M— « \ ^ #
T ^*/
^ P os ^^ ve sensation. It caught on over night.
Tf'c being
Kpino- called
railpH for
for by
hv the
the* public
niihlir wherever
wlierpver music
music is
is played.
nlav
It's
(A Melody easy to remember.)
I ^y 4r Y\
-•- ^* v X X
^^\"
t c O CY* ^ l e ^ e s t dance recoI "d in the Victor February list.
k-/ %~ I V c l ^
Danced and played everywhere—everybody is talking about it.
(Song and Piano Solo)
Underneath The Dreamy Oriental Moon
t V/IEfcflOtfS
The orchestras are all playing this one.
An Irish Ballad—A crood seller
J # ^^/<> o Jfeyi0siCCO.
1015 Walnut Street
KANSAS CITY, MO.
Can Be Obtained From Any Jobber or the Publisher.
THE PLAYER-PIANO AND THE SALE OF SHEET MUSIC
COGHILX GOING TO LONDON
The Impression Which Prevails in Some Quar ers That the Popularity of the Player^Piano Is JEastern Manager of John Church Co. Tells of
Causing a Falling Off of Sheet Music SUes Is Unwarranted, as Facts Will Show
Increasing Demand for Good Music
Discussion, following the action of the Mu-
sic Publishers' Protective Association in re-
fusing to grant a reduction in the royalty now
received from player-roll manufacturers, shows
that there are quite a number of interested par-
ties in the music publishing field who are labor-
ing under the impression that the player roll,
particularly in its present form, injures the sale
of sheet music.
Invariably it is the contention of those hav-
ing such beliefs to call attention to the fact
that the piano factories are to-day turning out
a larger proportion of player-pianos than
straight pianos. The progress of the player
has been so rapid and its vogue appears so
permanent that the publishers who do not close-
ly analyze the situation receive the impression
that there are few other pianos manufactured.
If it takes a straight piano to sell sheet music,
and there are many, many buyers of sheet mu-
sic who have player-pianos, then figures show-
ing the production of such instruments each
year should have some value in arriving at a
conclusion regarding the loss of sales, if any,
through the success of the player.
There are approximately 150,000 straight
pianos made a year. Of these 50,000 are grands
and baby grands, which leaves approximately
a total of 100,000 upright pianos (not players)
going into the market and probably sold each
year.
Then, too, in arriving at the possible sales
through the aid of the piano it must be re-
membered that a straight piano does not become
obsolete in a generation. In fact, all the pianos
made in the last decade and more are still
salable merchandise if they are not now in the
homes and being used. The only instrument
that is really obsolete is the square piano and
e\en these are found in remote communities.
The player-piano has only taken leadership
in point of sales during the past five years and,
each year, although during this period there
have been seasons when the player production
was the greater, straight pianos also have been
manufactured on a larger scale. Pianos other
than players probably comprise one-third of the
output of present-day production. •
So in arriving at the figures showing the pos-
sible loss of sales through the player, as con-
tended, or the loss of sales in comparison of,
say, 1916, consideration must be given to the
fact that practically all, 'the straight pianos
made prior to 1916 are still in use and since then
there have been well over 400,000 straight
pianos manufactured.
Because one has a player-piano in the home
does not say that sheet music is not purchased.
Often the purchase of a player-piano is made
with the idea of giving entertainment to the
family on one hand and at the same time it
is available as a straight piano and used by
members of the family on which to play manu-
ally the music of the latest song or instrumental
number. Hence practically every player-piano
can be utilized as a straight piano when desired.
It is pretty havd to prove just what effect
the player roll has on the sale of sheet music.
While in some instances, no doubt, it does cre-
ate a loss of the sale of sheet music, on the other
hand it invariably gives publicity to numbers,
particularly to the reigning hits.
W. L. Coghill, Eastern manager of the John
Church Co., recently was in Cincinnati taking
up matters in connection with a trip he is plan-
ning to make to the London branch of the
company in the next few weeks. Mr. Coghill,
in commenting on the wonderful showing made
by the publishing department of the Church
Co., says it is beginning to reap its reward for
the years it has devoted to the developing of
American music. Music, he says, has become
a very large part of American life and people are
beginning to realize there are good things in
American music and naturally are turning to the
Church Co. among others for the things worth
while. The Church Co. has always had faith
in American music, Mr. Coghill states, and in
the increasing interest being shown in its works
by the public he sees a large opportunity for
the man back of the counter to cultivate this
interest, which will be an advantage both to him
and the music-loving public.
ENTERTAIN JWTED ARTISTS
At a party given by Mary Garden recently at
the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, New York, at which
were present Lina Cavalieri, Muratore, the
French tenor; Signor Gorgio Polacco and
others. Creamer and Layton, the well-known
song writers, entertained with various popular
songs, but the decided hit of the evening was
"Strut, Miss Lizzie," their newest novelty fox-
trot. "Strut, Miss Lizzie" made such a decided
impression that it was encored time and time
again. "Strut, Miss Lizzie," is published by Jack
Mills, Inc.
Another Smashing Hit
"Do You Ever
Think of Me"
Successor to "Whispering"
Sweeping the country from Coast to Coast.
To be had on most records and player rolls.
Published by
Sherman Hay &Ca
San Francisco
Other Big Hits
Are
"Coral Sea"
'Til Keep on
Loving You"
"Wandering
Home'
"My Wonder Girl'
"Idling"
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).