Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
PUBLISHED BY EDWARD LYMAN BILL, Inc.
President aad Treasurer, C. L. Bill, 373 Fourth Ave., New York; Vice-President,
J. B. Spillane, 373 Fourth Ave., New York; Second Vice-president, Raymond Bill, 373
Fourth Ave., New York; Secretary, Edward Lyman Bill, 373 Fourth Ave., New York;
Assistant Treasurer, Wm. A. Low.
J. B. SPILLANE, Editor
RAY BILL, B. B. WILSON, BRAID WHITE, Associate Editors
WILSON D. BUSH, Managing Editor
CARLETON CHACE, Business Manager
L. E. BOWERS, Circulation Manager
Executive and Rcportorial Stafi
Published Every Saturday at 373 Fourth Avenue, New York
Entered as second-class matter September 10, 1892, at the post office at New York, N. Y.,
under the Act of March 3, 1879.
SUBSCRIPTION (including postage), United States and Mexico, $2.00 per year;
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ADVERTISEMENTS, $6.00 per inch, single column, per insertion. On quarterly or
yearly contracts a special discount is allowed. Advertising pages, $150.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency forms, should be made payable to Edward
Lyman Bill, Inc.
Departments conducted by an expert wherein all ques-
PI an A anil
tions of a technical nature relating to the tuning,
" ! lallU OlIU
regulating and repairing of pianos and player-pianos
TeCnniCal lleparinieiltS
a r e dealt
with, will be found in another section of
this paper. We also publish a number of reliable technical works, information concerning
which will be cheerfully given upon request.
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
Grand Prix
Paris Exposition, 1900
Silver Medal... .Charleston Exposition, 1902
Diploma ....Pan-American Exposition, 1901
Gold Medal
St. Louis Exposition, 1904
Gold Medal— Lewis-Clark Exposition, 1905
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONES—NUMBERS 6982—8983 MADISON SQ.
Connecting- all Departments
Cable Address: "Elbill, New York"
Vol. LXXIV
NEW YORK, MAY 13, 1922
No. 19
A CONSTRUCTIVE CONVENTION PROGRAM
T
H E plans for the forthcoming conventions of the Music Indus-
tries Chamber of Commerce and the various trade associations
allied with it, to be held at the Hotel Commodore during the week of
June 5, are progressing rapidly and are sufficiently advanced to lead
to the belief that the program, covering both the business sessions
and the entertainment of the many visitors, will measure up fully to
what has gone before at other conventions, including even the very
successful Chicago meeting last year. One thing that is certain is
that the addresses and discussions offered in the business sessions
will be of a distinctly practical sort and well suited to the times and
the condition of the music industry and business generally. As a
matter of fact, this would appear to be one year when business prob-
lems should receive the most earnest consideration from conven-
tion delegates, with entertainment getting second place. In the words
of the negro earthquake victim, "It ain't no time for foolin'."
The entertainment program has by no means been neglected, how-
ever, and convention visitors are assured of an enjoyable time during
their entire stay, but the lighter side of the gathering has properly
been subordinated to the vastly more important features connected
with the discussion of topics of vital and practical benefit to the trade.
AN ENCOURAGING ANNUAL REPORT
THE DANGER OF FALSE RUMORS
H E rumormonger is again abroad in the trade and is display-
ing an exceptional amount of energy because, apparently, gen-
eral conditions lend themselves to the spreading of rumors regarding
this or that concern or probable developments affecting several busi-
ness houses.
The individual who sees in every private conversation of two
or three prominent trade members the starting or development of a
new combination is able to point to several such moves of importance
during the past few months in support of his attitude, but he fails to
see that unless there is some basis for his statements they may cause
irreparable damage to the interests of those who are wrestling with
problems of their own.
Particularly dangerous are the rumors regarding the business
and financial difficulties of various trade concerns, most of them with
little or no foundation, but calculated, if widely spread, to cause
serious embarrassment to the concerns mentioned and perhaps put
them in a position that would appear to justify the rumor. More
than one company has been forced to the wall because of the careless
talk of disinterested parties which caused unnecessary and unexpected
pressure to be brought by creditors.
Even in normal times there are enough real business troubles to
talk about without conjuring up possible difficulties, and the practice
of rumormonging is particularly reprehensible just now when the
confidence of the trade requires building up rather than shaking.
T
EDUCATING THE PUBLIC
F
OLLOWING the lead of several progressive player-piano manu-
facturers, a number of music merchants have seen the light and
are advertising, in one way or another, to teach owners and prospec-
tive owners of player-pianos the proper method of playing the rolls
and regulating the interpretative devices with a view to getting really
musical results.
There is no question but that the ignorant and careless player-
pianist, the type who cares not a whit for tempo or expression and
13, 1922
considers speed and loudness as his chief objects, has done much to
hinder the advance of player-piano selling. It often happens that a
person will be loud in condemnation of the player-piano simply
because some neighbor has for weeks or months been torturing him
with music rolls run through the player much as the weekly wash is
ground through the wringer. To persuade such a person to con-
sider the player-piano seriously as an instrument with musical possi-
bilities is a far more difficult task than to sell the individual who is not
biased.
The reproducing piano and the expression player, so-called,
which are calculated to eliminate the human equation almost com-
pletely in the interpretation of the player roll, will undoubtedly do
much to offset the damage done by those player owners who favor
speed and noise rather than music, but nevertheless any move that
will serve to develop a proper understanding of the handling of the
ordinary player-piano is to be welcomed and encouraged.
EDWAKD VAK HAKLINGEN, V. D. WALSH, E. B. MUNCH, LEE ROBINSON, C. R. TIGHE,
EOWABD LYMAN BILL, SCOTT KINGWILL, THOS. W. BKE»NAHAN, A. J. NICKLIN
W E S T E R N DIVISION:
BOSTON OFFICE:
Republic Bldg., 209 So. State St., Chicago.
JOHN H. WILSON, 324 Washington St.
Telephone, Wabash 5242-5243.
Telephone, Main 6950.
LONDON, ENGLAND: 1 Gresham Buildings, Basinghall St., D. C.
N E W S SERVICE I S S U P P L I E D WEEKLY B Y OUR CORRESPONDENTS
LOCATED I N T H E LEADING CITIES THROUGHOUT AMERICA.
MAY
I
N the face of various reports and comments regarding poor busi-
ness and the lack of interest in musical instruments on the part
of the public, despite what was regarded as a growing appreciation
of the art resulting from advancement of music propaganda, there
comes the encouraging annual report of the Victor Talking Machine
Co., one of the substantial factors of the music industry, showing
that the company's output of talking machines and records during
1921 was about equal to that of 1920, while the total assets showed a
very substantial increase.
The report is significant from numerous angles, indicating for
one thing a sound and progressive business policy that has justified
itself in results, and also that the demand for music is still alive and
can be capitalized through proper effort.
It is maintained by those in close touch with business conditions
that we have passed through the worst part of the depression period,
and it is significant that at least one concern in the industry has been
able to report a better than even break in business during that period.
Some other interests in the industry might with profit study Victor
Co. methods and the results thereof.
A CONNECTION OF MUCH PROMISE
T
H E announcement last week by the American Piano Co. of the
completion of arrangements for the incorporation of the Ampico
in the Fischer pianos made by J. & C. Fischer, the latest of the sev-
eral important developments in trade circles recently, is particularly
interesting and significant for the possibilities that it offers. The
Fischer piano is an instrument of honorable record in the industry,
and in addition to providing a new medium and, through its repre-
sentatives, a new field for the exploitation of the Ampico, which has
already won its position among reproducing instruments, the Fischer
line will also profit itself through the new connection, for the repro-
ducing piano, together with the small grand, has been little short of a
lifesaver for the industry during the past few months. Further de-
velopments in the new connection of the Ampico and the Fischer will
be awaited with interest.