Music Trade Review

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44
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
JUNE 18, 1921
CONDUCTED BY V. D. WALSH
9
Convention of Publishers Association
Twenty-seventh Annual Gathering of the Music Publishers' Association of the United States Attended
ative Publishers From All Sections of the Country—George Fischer Elected President—Important
Problems Discussed—Convention Closes With Enjoyable Banquet at the Hotel Astor
The twenty-seventh annual convention of the
Music Publishers' Association of the United
States was held on Tuesday of this week at the
Hotel Astor, New York, with a large attendance
that was representative of the several divisions
of the publishing trade and included publishers
from several sections of the country. President
S. Ernest Philpitt, of the National Association
of Sheet Music Dealers, was present with several
members of that organization in order to confer
with the publishers regarding problems brought
up at the annual convention of the dealers held
in Chicago last week.
The publishers showed an inclination to meet
the present problems of the industry fairly and
squarely and to arrive at some conclusion re-
garding the best means for meeting th6se prob-
lems. The result was that the several discus-
sions were direct and to the point.
President Woodman's Able Address
Following the reading of the minutes of the
last quarterly meeting of the Association Presi-
dent C. A. Woodman delivered his annual ad-
dress, which was unanimously endorsed as one
of the best papers presented before the Associa-
tion in many years. Mr. Woodman sounded as
a keynote in his ad'dress the necessity for the
publishers coming in closer contact with musical
authorities and particularly with the supervisors
of music with a view to stimulating a demand
both for sheet music suitable for teaching pur-
poses as well as for music books of educational
value. Mr. Woodman's address will be found
in full on page 19 of this issue.
Good Financial Report
Charles K. Harris, treasurer of the Associa-
tion, next presented his report, which indicated
that the financial affairs of the Association were
in very satisfactory condition.
The Committee on Resolutions presented a
memorial resolution on the death of Arthur P.
Schmidt, of Boston, which was adopted unani-
mously.
Protest Third-Class Mail Restrictions
The present third-class mail restrictions against
sheet music came up for discussion at the meet-
ing and were strongly condemned, a resolution
being adopted urging Congress to bring about
the abolishment of those restrictions which place
a heavy burden upon both the music publisher
and dealer in the matter of mailing costs. This
same question was brought up at the dealers'
convention in Chicago last week, when a similar
resolution was adopted.
C. Evelyn Boosey Introduced
Michael Keane, manager of the New York
house of Boosey & Co., London, took occasion
George Fischer
during the session to introduce to the members
of the Association Mr. C. Evelyn Boosey, cousin
of Leslie Boosey, the present head of the house
of Boosey & Co.
Afternoon Session
One of the first matters to come up at the
afternoon session was that of the practice by
publishers of charging for packing cases. A
number of the dealers have protested to various
publishers over the charges made for the con-
tainers, and the latter took the opportunity at
the meeting to justify the separate charge on
the basis that the cost of the packing case repre-
sented a distinct loss to the publisher. Although
by Represent-
Trade
the matter was thoroughly discussed, no definite
decision was arrived at.
Question of Individual Copyright
Another matter of importance discussed was
that of the advisability of copyrighting sepa-
rately each number in folios or books, and it
was finally decided that individual copyright
provided the safest means for protecting such
numbers. It was also decided that separate
copyright could be secured on various arrange-
ments, including those for bands and orches-
tras. A letter was read from George W. Pound,
general counsel of the Music Industries Cham-
ber of Commerce, in which he advised that in-
d vidual numbers be re-registered when they are
published separately following their original
issue in folio form, and that the original date
of copyright be adhered to.
Marking the Net Selling Price
The question of marking publications with the
net selling price was thoroughly discussed.
There has been some doubt in the minds of the
publishers whether it would be wise and legal
to mark all goods with the net selling price. It
seemed to be the opinion of many of the pub-
lishers and of their counsel that to mark goods
with the true price and not a false or exaggerat-
ed price was the proper method and this was
recommended to the Association.
The question of mechanical royalties was re-
ferred to the Music Publishers' Protective As'
sociation.
Discuss Chamber of Commerce
A lengthy discussion was held regarding the
advisability of continuing the organization's
membership in the Music Industries Chamber
of Commerce and the amount of support the
Association should give that organization. Cards
were passed out to those present and sealed
envelopes were placed in the hands of the secre-
tary stating the amount the various companies
would give to the Chamber of Commerce work.
Costs 38.8 Per Cent to Do Business
The dealers' recommendation that the trade be
protected regarding discounts was considered.
It was pointed out by Paul H. Schmitt, as a rep-
USINESS is good with the dealer who carries stock that is called for.
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