Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
JUNE 16,
MUSIC PUBLISHERS IN ANNUAL MEETING—(Continued from page 41)
ommending the more liberal use of their com-
positions to the teaching and professional buy-
ing public and thus contributing your share to-
wards 'Making America immortal with music'."
Treasurer's Report
The treasurer's report showed the finances of
the Association to be in a most healthy condi-
tion, but with collections for the Music Cham-
ber of Commerce and its activities showing a
slight deficit. This was made up from the
treasury on a motion from the floor, it being
the unanimous feeling that the obligation was
an Association one as well as an individual one.
The memberships of Paul A. Schmitt, of Min-
neapolis, and the firm of Bigelow & Main were
dropped at their request. Paul A. Schmitt has
not been active as a publisher since 1917 and
his interest in the Dealers' Association has as-
sumed importance.
Mechanical Royalties
On the question of the collection of mechani-
cal royalties in foreign countries Sam Fox, head
of the Sam Fox Publishing Co., who has just
returned from Europe and who had previously
been appointed chairman of the committee com-
posed of Messrs. Fox, Woodman and Coghill,
made a report. Mr. Fox stated that, after a
complete investigation of the English situation
and following a tour and analysis of conditions
on the continent, he had placed his European
collections in the hands of the Mechanical
Copyright & License Co., Ltd., London, Eng.,
which has affiliations with the more important
European countries. This company takes care
of all the details of collections for American
publishers, makes a complete and minute re-
port on the sources of collections and the
amounts on individual titles. It also looks after
the stamps and all other matters. The charge
for this service is 15 per cent of the collections
in England and 20 per cent on the continent.
All reports are made quarterly.
Prices on Sheet Music
Walter Fischer, head of the house of Carl
Fischer, as chairman of the committee to inves-
tigate the need and feasibility of printing the
retail selling price on publications, reported
that, following a questionnaire sent to several
hundred dealers throughout the country, the
move was favored. However, those who voted
no to the questions included the most impor-
tant retail establishments and those assumed to
be leaders. Publishers, too, while generally fa-
voring the marked "net selling price," take the
view that it could not be placed in successful
operation without practically 100 per cent co-
operation by all interested parties. At this time
this cannot be had and for that reason the move
cannot be considered feasible, although it is
hoped to carry on an educational campaign with
it in view.
Several publishing houses, including that of
the Sam Fox organization, have successfully
placed the marked selling price on orchestra-
tions and octavo editions. With the exception
of the metropolitan district this has proved suc-
cessful. Owing to the discounts on such pub-
lications being the smallest of all issues, it is
thought possible that octavos and orchestra-
tions could be used as an opening wedge for
further moves which .would finally apply to
songs and instrumental sheet music.
The Radio Question
The inevitable question of radio was again
brought to the fore. The Association's com-
mittee had previously gone on record as favor-
ing and recommending the release of a catalog
for radio broadcasting without compensation
where the name of the title, composer and pub-
lisher was mentioned in an announcement being
made containing "by permission of the publish-
er." Since that time several of the radio broad-
casting stations have brought up the point that
the mentioning of the publisher required too
much additional time and added considerably to
the length of programs. The publishers now
seem to favor mentioning title and composer
with the program credited to "by permission."
Ballots were passed around by the nominat-
ing committee and the morning session closed
for the purpose of attending a buffet luncheon
served in the meeting rooms.
Afternoon Session
J. M. Priaulx, head of the committee for the
elimination of fake music publishers, then read
a detailed report of the campaign against fake
publishers carried out under the direction of
the Better Music Bureau of the Music Indus-
tries Chamber of Commerce. The reports show
that numerous convictions have been obtained
and the majority of such fake enterprises have
been eliminated.
Theodore Presser, head of the publishing
house bearing his name, suggested that a his-
tory be written of the music publishing busi-
ness in the United States and the various organ-
izations which have taken part in building the
music publishing industry. This was brought
to mind, Mr. Presser said, by the celebration
of the fortieth anniversary of his company and
the preparation by William Arms Fisher of a
history of the firm's activities. It was also
brought out that the Oliver Ditson Co. already
has issued such literature regarding its own or-
ganization. On a motion from the floor a his-
torical committee was appointed, composed of
O. G. Sonneck, Theodore Presser and Clarence
A. Woodman, which is to file a report with the
board of directors.
The American Composer
Annually the question of preparing a uni-
versal catalog is brought forward. While there
seems to be some need for such a publication,
the work would be too voluminous and the ex-
pense too large for the purpose for which it
would be used. For that reason it is hardly
considered feasible. The supplementary ques-
tion of arranging catalogs of houses which
have less than 1,000 publications, or devoted
wholly to works of American composers, were
considered more hopefully. It cannot be said,
however, that there is any unanimous feeling
as to. their need or permanent value. Practi-
cally every publishing house is desirous of do-
ing something for the American composer. The
proposition which has been brought forward of
listing all American composers and their com-
positions or of giving the works of American
composers special identification marks was con-
sidered as one that could not be carried out
successfully. The general pushing forward of
American composers, regardless of whether
the works have exceptional merit, is not looked
upon as a constructive measure. Any unani-
mous or general move in that direction, too,
would tend to be resented by foreign com-
posers, and would jeopardize the success of
American compositions in foreign countries.
Despite the fact that there was a small def-
icit in the appropriation for the assessment to
the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce,
which was made up from the Association fund,
it was decided that for the coming year the
organization, would voluntarily increase its
quota $500, making the sum needed $4,000, in-
stead of $3,500 as heretofore arranged. A com-
mittee composed of Edgar F. Bitner, M. E
Tompkins and W. Deane Preston, Jr., was ap-
pointed to provide ways and means of collect-
ing the amount needed. This new figure will
only entail a slight increase on each individual
appropriation.
The work of the Chamber was commented
upon favorably from all sides and the National
Bureau for the Advancement of Music and its
activities came in for unusual attention.
Uniform Royalty Contract
Isidore Witmark then presented a report on
a uniform royalty contract and bill of sale. The
various problems relating to royalty contracts-
and the outright purchases were outlined. Par-
ticular thought and attention were given to the
renewal of copyright, which, under the present
copyright law, is quite involved. The best
means of protecting the publisher and com-
poser's equity in compositions were discussed
and the most successful form of contract cov-
ering standard works was presented to the As-
sociation, samples of which can be obtained
from the secretary.
Annual Election
The following were elected officers and di-
rectors for the ensuing year: George Fischer,
president; Sam Fox, vice-president; E. T. Paull,
secretary, and Harold Flammer, treasurer. The
directors are Edgar F. Bitner, Leo Feist, Inc.;
Walter Coghill, John Church Co.; Harry B.
Crosby, A. P. Schmidt Co.; Walter Fischer,
Carl Fischer Co.; R. L. Huntzinger, R. L.
Huntzinger, Inc.; C. A. Kellar, Lorenz Publish-
ing Co.; W. Dcane Preston, Jr.., B. F. Wood
Music Co.; J. T. Roach, Hinds, Hayden & El-
dredge, Inc.; M. E. Tompkins, G. Schirmer,
Inc.; Isidore Witmark, M. Witmark & Sons;
C. A. Woodman, Oliver Ditson Co.
While the attendance at this year's gathering
was not as large as some of the previous an-
nual sessions, this was due to the fact that some
of the leading dealers who have heretofore at-
tended the meetings were unable to be present.
The fact that the National Association of Sheet
Music Dealers met in Chicago the previous
week also affected the attendance.
The sessions, however, were most successful
and the work accomplished in the short space
of time established a new record for the Asso-
ciation which has been hardly equaled in its
twenty-nine years of activity.
MUSIC PUBLISHERS HOLD ANNUAL BANQUET ON TUESDAY
Carl Engel, of Congressional Library, Advocates the Preparation of a History of Music Publishing
in the United States—Paul Parks Sings—Rev. Carl Weist Talks on European Conditions
The annual banquet of the Music Publishers'
Association of the United States was held on
Tuesday evening at the Hotel Astor. Among
the prominent guests were Carl Engel, curator
of the Music Division of the Congressional
Library, and Rev. Carl Weist, who for the past
several years has devoted his energies to relief
work in Europe.
Mr. Engel had written a paper headed "The
Element of Gamble in the Music Publishing
Business." He stated, however, that due to
the fact that during the course of the dinner
he had heard some remarks from Harold Flam-
mer regarding what was the matter with the
music business, he had decided to dispense with
the reading of his paper and take for his subject
the history of the music publishing business
in the United States. This was a most timely
reference, as during the earlier meetings of the
day a proposal for the publishing of such in-
formation was seriously considered. Mr. Engel
stated that a fund of less than $10,000 would
fully cover the cost of preparation. Completion
of such a history would be a monument to
the industry. He also proposed, in addition
to the history of the various houses and fig-
ures of earlier days, that a list of songs which
have stirred the public during the last twenty-
five years be compiled with proper references.
He pleaded for old valuable and meritorious
manuscripts appropriate for the Congressional
Library.
Paul Parks, who recently won the David
Bispham prize at Carnegie Hall, sang two new
songs, which were particularly well received,
considering the critical test to which they were
exposed. An an encore he responded with a
heart-appealing negro melody, "Scandalize Ma
Name."
The Rev. Carl Weist, in his talk, made a
serious indictment against blind patriotism. His
outlining of deplorable conditions in Europe
received serious attention from the assembled
publishers at the dinner.