Music Trade Review
Issue: 1921 Vol. 73 N. 13 - Page 3
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
PLAYER SECTON
NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 24, 1921
a^i^Bi*maftmmmflBi^^
Some Thoughts on the World Situation as Far as It Affects Business Gen-
erally and Its Application to Selling Conditions in the Music Trade Field—The
Correct Nature and Function of Music Merchandising Interestingly Analyzed
The music industries have for a good many
years occupied the not entirely happy position
of general trade barometer. They have been
used by statistically minded economists as in-
dex scales on which to read, from time to time,
the direction of economic events. Regarded, and
quite incorrectly so, as luxury trades, they have
supposedly been prosperous when money has
been easy and depressed when money has been
relatively tight. They have differed in this from
other industries, however, only in their sup-
posedly greater sensitiveness. It has been gener-
ally supposed, in fact, that the music industries
will always show a decline before any of the
others and, conversely, that advancing prosperity
is reflected in their condition earlier than in the
states of their rivals.
The World Situation
Plausible as this idea is, it contains, never-
theless, very little truth. At the present mo-
ment trade conditions all over the world are
reflecting the direction and purpose of events,
' with which commerce as such has nothing what-
ever to do. The provisions of the Treaty of
Sevres, for instance, appear superficially to have
nothing to do with the piano trade of the United
States. Yet, in fact, the settlement of the
Near East is affecting the channels of trade and
finance all over the world and is exerting an
influence extremely strong, though hardly rec-
ognized, upon the entire matter of world recov-
ery. Whatever the music industries, therefore,
may seem to be doing at the present moment,
we must seek far below the surface for any
probable causes.
Plain Speaking
It is a time for plain speaking. No matter
though one recognizes one's own imperfections
the duty is plain, not merely to think soundly,
but to proclaim the results of one's own think-
ing. Even though one cannot always put into
immediate practice the truths which are dis-
closed as the result of clear thinking, one can
at least discuss them, for only by free and open
discussion may valuable results be gained.
Mass Purchasing Power
Upon whatever else we may disagree, we shall
all certainly agree upon the statement that we
all want business, and as much of it as possible.
This is as true of the music industries as of the
steel industry or the coal industry. Moreover,
when we come to think about it, we shall see
that the music industries are just as important
to the welfare of the nation as the steel or coal
industries, for if the music industries be unduly
depressed those who are occupied in them are world situation is at the bottom of the trouble,
unable to furnish their proportion of the pur- without a doubt, but the world situation in our
chasing power of the nation. That united pur- case is not the whole situation. There is an
chasing power it is which keeps a nation run- internal trouble, which we can meet by clear
ning. Purchase is simply another word for ex- thinking and by courageous action based upon
change. Group A has wants and so has Group the thinking. Let us analyze it.
The internal trouble from which we are all
B. So have Groups C, D and E. Each group
produces a part of the common stock of an- suffering is of long standing. It arises from
swers to individual wants which makes up the a misconception widely held throughout our
output of a community or nation. Each in- industry as to the nature and function of music
merchandising. So long as this basic error per-
dividual in each group produces his share and
obtains for it payment in some medium of ex- sists and is held to be truth the music indus-
change. With this he obtains a purchasing tries will fail to develop themselves as they
power, which, of course, has actually come as have the right to. They will always more or
the direct result of his own labor. His labor, less stagnate; in good times as well as in times
not so good. If this basic error were removed
then, is purchasing power, with which ••_
changes his own labor for the labor ot others from the consciousness of the piano trade gener-
in the other groups. And so the whole prore?- ally there would be such an internal improve-
goes on in a circle. Whatever affects at any ment that the world situation would be. for-
point the free flow of labor, of product and of gotten. And when the world situation cleared
exchange affects the happiness, the freedom and up, as some day it will clear up, the music indus-
tries would find themselves in a condition of
the prosperity of the entire circle.
prosperity such as they have never been able to
The Two World Groups
What is the matter with the exchange process reach, even in the war times of 1916-1919.
The Basic Error
to-day? Mainly the matter is that the war has
This basic error is the belief that music mer-
split the nations artificially into two economic
groups. One of these groups holds enormous chandising consists in making, buying and selling
pieces of furniture. Why the piano and player
quantities of securities issued by members of
the other group in payment for purchases of trade should imagine itself to be in the fur-
war materials. This state of affairs prevents the niture business may be hard to explain, but the
realization of our hopes for immediate world- fact remains that the selling of musical instru-
betterment in trade. For the masses of undi- ments, and especially of pianos in all their
gested securities disturb the conditions of ex- forms, has gradually degenerated into the sell-
change and make -it impossible for one nation ing of expensive and not particularly beautiful
to buy from another freely. That fact; and pieces of furniture—pieces which, incidentally,
that alone, a fact for which no one is to blame, of course, can be used for the purpose of pro-
but which everyone must take into account, ducing music. This is the basic error of which
explains the condition of business in this coun- we have been speaking.
Observing, en passant, that the criticism here
try. That condition must be bettered by some
sort of general understanding among the na- made is not of universal application and that
tions, and until it is bettered there will not be certain talking machine interests have shown a
the freedom and rapidity of trade circulation wonderful example of the right thing to do, we
must insist that the piano trade and player
which we need.
The music industries are no worse off than trades have shown themselves consistently
guilty of holding this basic error and of ex-
any others. In fact, they are better off than
they have, by the old reasoning, any right to be. ternalizing it in their actions. No wonder the
But we must take our share of the medicine. player makers and sellers ask what is the mat-
ter with business. Allowing for all that de-
When that much is realized we all shall feel
creased purchasing power of the people, of
happier and calmer.
which we spoke above, the fact remains that
Our Internal Condition
But that does not mean to say that business we have been doing everything we could to
is necessarily to be hopelessly bad. On the con- make the player-piano (to take the worst ex-
trary, we have an extraordinary internal condi- ample) impossible as an article of merchandise.
tion which is causing a good deal of the depres- We have talked about everything concerning
{Continued on page 5)
sion from which we have been suffering. The
PLAYER SECTON
NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 24, 1921
a^i^Bi*maftmmmflBi^^
Some Thoughts on the World Situation as Far as It Affects Business Gen-
erally and Its Application to Selling Conditions in the Music Trade Field—The
Correct Nature and Function of Music Merchandising Interestingly Analyzed
The music industries have for a good many
years occupied the not entirely happy position
of general trade barometer. They have been
used by statistically minded economists as in-
dex scales on which to read, from time to time,
the direction of economic events. Regarded, and
quite incorrectly so, as luxury trades, they have
supposedly been prosperous when money has
been easy and depressed when money has been
relatively tight. They have differed in this from
other industries, however, only in their sup-
posedly greater sensitiveness. It has been gener-
ally supposed, in fact, that the music industries
will always show a decline before any of the
others and, conversely, that advancing prosperity
is reflected in their condition earlier than in the
states of their rivals.
The World Situation
Plausible as this idea is, it contains, never-
theless, very little truth. At the present mo-
ment trade conditions all over the world are
reflecting the direction and purpose of events,
' with which commerce as such has nothing what-
ever to do. The provisions of the Treaty of
Sevres, for instance, appear superficially to have
nothing to do with the piano trade of the United
States. Yet, in fact, the settlement of the
Near East is affecting the channels of trade and
finance all over the world and is exerting an
influence extremely strong, though hardly rec-
ognized, upon the entire matter of world recov-
ery. Whatever the music industries, therefore,
may seem to be doing at the present moment,
we must seek far below the surface for any
probable causes.
Plain Speaking
It is a time for plain speaking. No matter
though one recognizes one's own imperfections
the duty is plain, not merely to think soundly,
but to proclaim the results of one's own think-
ing. Even though one cannot always put into
immediate practice the truths which are dis-
closed as the result of clear thinking, one can
at least discuss them, for only by free and open
discussion may valuable results be gained.
Mass Purchasing Power
Upon whatever else we may disagree, we shall
all certainly agree upon the statement that we
all want business, and as much of it as possible.
This is as true of the music industries as of the
steel industry or the coal industry. Moreover,
when we come to think about it, we shall see
that the music industries are just as important
to the welfare of the nation as the steel or coal
industries, for if the music industries be unduly
depressed those who are occupied in them are world situation is at the bottom of the trouble,
unable to furnish their proportion of the pur- without a doubt, but the world situation in our
chasing power of the nation. That united pur- case is not the whole situation. There is an
chasing power it is which keeps a nation run- internal trouble, which we can meet by clear
ning. Purchase is simply another word for ex- thinking and by courageous action based upon
change. Group A has wants and so has Group the thinking. Let us analyze it.
The internal trouble from which we are all
B. So have Groups C, D and E. Each group
produces a part of the common stock of an- suffering is of long standing. It arises from
swers to individual wants which makes up the a misconception widely held throughout our
output of a community or nation. Each in- industry as to the nature and function of music
merchandising. So long as this basic error per-
dividual in each group produces his share and
obtains for it payment in some medium of ex- sists and is held to be truth the music indus-
change. With this he obtains a purchasing tries will fail to develop themselves as they
power, which, of course, has actually come as have the right to. They will always more or
the direct result of his own labor. His labor, less stagnate; in good times as well as in times
not so good. If this basic error were removed
then, is purchasing power, with which ••_
changes his own labor for the labor ot others from the consciousness of the piano trade gener-
in the other groups. And so the whole prore?- ally there would be such an internal improve-
goes on in a circle. Whatever affects at any ment that the world situation would be. for-
point the free flow of labor, of product and of gotten. And when the world situation cleared
exchange affects the happiness, the freedom and up, as some day it will clear up, the music indus-
tries would find themselves in a condition of
the prosperity of the entire circle.
prosperity such as they have never been able to
The Two World Groups
What is the matter with the exchange process reach, even in the war times of 1916-1919.
The Basic Error
to-day? Mainly the matter is that the war has
This basic error is the belief that music mer-
split the nations artificially into two economic
groups. One of these groups holds enormous chandising consists in making, buying and selling
pieces of furniture. Why the piano and player
quantities of securities issued by members of
the other group in payment for purchases of trade should imagine itself to be in the fur-
war materials. This state of affairs prevents the niture business may be hard to explain, but the
realization of our hopes for immediate world- fact remains that the selling of musical instru-
betterment in trade. For the masses of undi- ments, and especially of pianos in all their
gested securities disturb the conditions of ex- forms, has gradually degenerated into the sell-
change and make -it impossible for one nation ing of expensive and not particularly beautiful
to buy from another freely. That fact; and pieces of furniture—pieces which, incidentally,
that alone, a fact for which no one is to blame, of course, can be used for the purpose of pro-
but which everyone must take into account, ducing music. This is the basic error of which
explains the condition of business in this coun- we have been speaking.
Observing, en passant, that the criticism here
try. That condition must be bettered by some
sort of general understanding among the na- made is not of universal application and that
tions, and until it is bettered there will not be certain talking machine interests have shown a
the freedom and rapidity of trade circulation wonderful example of the right thing to do, we
must insist that the piano trade and player
which we need.
The music industries are no worse off than trades have shown themselves consistently
guilty of holding this basic error and of ex-
any others. In fact, they are better off than
they have, by the old reasoning, any right to be. ternalizing it in their actions. No wonder the
But we must take our share of the medicine. player makers and sellers ask what is the mat-
ter with business. Allowing for all that de-
When that much is realized we all shall feel
creased purchasing power of the people, of
happier and calmer.
which we spoke above, the fact remains that
Our Internal Condition
But that does not mean to say that business we have been doing everything we could to
is necessarily to be hopelessly bad. On the con- make the player-piano (to take the worst ex-
trary, we have an extraordinary internal condi- ample) impossible as an article of merchandise.
tion which is causing a good deal of the depres- We have talked about everything concerning
{Continued on page 5)
sion from which we have been suffering. The
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