Music Trade Review

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
JITNK
7,
113
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
1924
ll These Song Hits arc the talk of the town.| IlilU
John McCormack's
WHIN LIGHTS
LOVE
YOU*
MEWHERE
WTHEWOMD
Me Melody
Song hit from
LITTLE JLSSIE
' You can't
go wrong
n™,
THE 1924 WALTZ
HIT/
JAMES"
with any
FEIST
song*
National Sheet Music Dealer Executives
Actual Prices Likely to
Be
Receive Congratulations on Past Y e a r
Outstanding Topic
Dealers Unanimous in Opinion That Action of Federal Trade Commission in Requiring Actual
Prices Marked on Sheet Music Is a Move That Will Benefit All
*T*HE officers and directors of the National
Association of Sheet Music Dealers are re-
ceiving numerous congratulatory epistles from
non-members on the achievements of the past
year. The writers are all retail sheet music
dealers. They are unanimous in their opinions
that the Federal Trade Commission's decision
on the printing of actual selling prices on all
music publications is a master stroke, the crown-
ing event of the Association's ten years' exist-
ence.
These non-members express the hope that the
Association will continue its good work. One
of them writes: "I would like to be in New York
to help the fight. If every dealer would line up
en this the musicians will come to realize that
they are only human beings, instead of some
special earthly deities who are an exception to
all rules of business." Another writes: "I hope
the time will come when there will be a one-
price system on all lines of merchandise so that
the buying public can step into any place of
business without thinking it is paying more
than its neighbors." "Keep us informed of
progress" is the tenor of all the communications.
The fight is over. The public that buys sheet
music can to-day step into any music store with-
out the danger of being charged more than its
neighbors. The Association has kept the entire
sheet music trade informed of progress, both In-
direct notification and through the splendid co-
operation of the trade press. The rank and file
of the sheet music trade are realizing that to
the untiring efforts of the National Association
is due the present status of the sheet music busi-
ness. The day is not far distant when member-
ship in the Association will be the hall-mark of
efficiency in the handling of music and music
books.
It is perhaps to be expected that dealers hesi-
tate to enter a purely voluntary association of
this kind. The non-member shares the benefits
which accrue from the labors of the members.
He is glad that the day is past when music teach
ers and music schools could tell of the special
arrangements they had with music publishers,
special terms, etc. The teacher or school that
did not have special terms was the exception.
The sheet music retailer had to content himself
with transient trade. The syndicate store got
most of the sales of popular music. There was
a note of tragedy in the thing. Men grew heart-
sick with hope deferred year after year that
business would change for the better. It is said
that more money went into sheet music than
ever came out of it.
The advance announcements of this year's
convention of the National Association of Sheet
Music Dealers to be held at the Waldorf-Astoria
Hotel. New York, June 9, indicate that very
Sufficient Number of Standard Houses Already
Conforming to Practice to Make New Method
an Actual Fact
definite inducements are being planned to secure
as members those dealers who are not yet en-
rolled on the organization's roster. A clearing
house is on the program for discussion, a gen-
eral supply and information bureau for the sheet
music trade. Dealers and publishers alike know
the need of some means that will lessen the
number of sales lost through failure to procure
publications within a reasonable time.
A proposed retail credit and collection bureau
is under consideration for the protection of
dealers' accounts with customers. Every dealer
must extend credit. Heretofore there has been
no safeguard against the purchaser of sheet
music who does not pay his accounts. Credit is
the cornerstone of modern business. Without
it the transacting of business on any large scale,
either over the counter or by mail, is impossible.
Sheet music is taking its place in the ranks
with the other music industries. It is co-operat-
ing more and more with the Music Industries
Chamber of Commerce and the National Bureau
for the Advancement of Music. The Trade
Service and Better Business Bureaus of the
Chamber will collaborate with the sheet music
association in the retail sheet music distribution
survey to be undertaken shortly.
At the convention of the National Associa-
tion of Sheet Music Dealers next week at the
Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York City, the
outstanding topic of discussion will undoubtedly
be, as has been previously commented upon, the
marking of the actual sales price on sheet music.
There has been a sufficient number of standard
houses conforming to the recommendation of
the Federal Trade Commission to make the new
price marking an accomplished fact.
It is true that there arc some dissenting opin-
ions regarding the advisability of following the
recommendation and those holding these views
are divided into two classes. The publishing
organizations that do a large mail-order busi-
ness, particularly with teachers, and who take
a most selfish viewpoint regarding the proposed
change. The other publishers who have not
followed out the recommendation are houses
with comparatively small catalogs who feel there
is no necessity for changes in their cases or
those who do a large Canadian business who
fail to see the value of marking publications at
SO cents retail, a necessity owing to foreign
royalties, which would invariably place a higher
retail figure on such issues than prevailed with
other houses.
The former class is interested in continuing
its large mail-order activities and in taking busi-
ness out of dealers' territory wherever possible,
while the latter are endeavoring to work with
the dealer in a way which they contend will not
Opens Offices in the Lyon & Healy Building,
lessen the volume of sales of their issues
Chicago, and Will Feature His Own Com-
through the dealer.
positions—Plans Tour of West
The former intend to fight actively the Fed-
CHICAGO, III., May 31.—Ambrose Wyrick, well- eral Trade Commission's recommendation and
known tenor and Gennett record artist and the latter wish to conform to the ruling in some
composer, has entered into the music publish- manner and at the same time protect their in-
ing business to publish his own numbers, open- terests.
The Federal Trade Commission is already
ing a suite of studios in the I.yon & Healy
prosecuting one publisher who does a large mail-
Building.
Mr. Wyrick has been in concert work for order business and who takes the first viewpoint.
over fourteen years and is well known to the Undoubtedly publishers who do a large mail-
trade as a Gennett record artist. At the present order business will not fall into line until there
time he is planning a tour of the mid-West and is a decision on the Federal Trade Commission's
will feature the numbers that the Wyrick Music ruling. All other publishing houses that have
Publishers have published, including "Under the not followed the recommendation are amenable
Western Sky," "Dans La Nuit" (Last Night to reason, and undoubtedly by the time the com-
Beloved), "Mother," "My Hawaiian Maiden" ing publishers' and dealers' sessions are com-
and "Oklahoma," composed by Ambrose Wy- pleted a way will be decided upon to mark their
rick. On June 10 he will sing at a special re- music which will be favorable to both them-
selves and the dealer.
ception given by Mrs. Calvin Coolidge.
Ambrose Wyrick, the Tenor,
Becomes Music Publisher
You can*t go wrong with this number
"Moonlight Makes Me Long for You"
FRANK H. GILLESPIE
A*«««C
Publisher
Sweet, tender wordt—mel-
ody simple, yet beautiful.
No. 5513 Q R S R o l l -
Clark Orch. Roll No. 5513
1112 Forbes Street, Pittsburgh, Pa.