Music Trade Review

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VOL. LXXXI. No. 24 Pibliihed Every Satirday. Edward Lyman Bill, Inc., 383 Madison Ave., New York, N. Y. Dec. 12,1925
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Retrospect and Prospect
The Twelve Months That Are Coming to a Close Marked With Many Changes
in the Music Industries — A Year of Widely Fluctuating Demand —
Some of the Outstanding Events of the Period in All the Trade*s Branches
T
AKEN as a whole, it is believed that the year 1925 will go
down in music trade history as one of satisfactory business,
although, unfortunately, that business was done largely within
the period of a few months, which left considerable stretches dur-
ing which the volume of sales proved more or less discouraging.
In many respects the distribution of the year's business followed
somewhat along the lines of 1924, with great activity in the open-
ing and closing months with a period of lull in between. In no
respect has this situation been normal in the music trade, and it is
earnestly hoped by members of the industry that it will not in any
sense become chronic.
An Active Fall
Fortunately for all concerned, the prophesies regarding an
active Fall have been amply fulfilled and, what is more important,
there is every indication that a demand for musical instruments of
all types is here, which will continue well into the new year. Already
various factors of the industry report a volume of orders on hand
that will require months to fill, and it is quite evident that these
orders will be filled for the reason that retail stocks have been
kept at low ebb for many months and, even with recent accessions,
have proved inadequate for current demands.
The Shortage Again
The trade was advised in the Summer, for instance, that there
would be a shortage of pianos during the Fall unless the retailers,
or a fair proportion of them, were willing to gamble a bit on the
future and place advance orders covering at least a portion of their
requirements, so that factories might be kept busy in building up
reserves during the inactive season. As usual, the warning was
ignored in many cases, and dealers, as a consequence, have suf-
fered, discovering that plants operating on a short-time basis during
several months of the year cannot be put on an overtime schedule
over night, for factory organizations cannot be handled that way.
Need for Confidence
The year has demonstrated once again the real need for confi-
dence on the part of the retail trade in the future of the industry,
and a willingness to back that confidence with an investment of
capital in adequate reserve stocks. The producers of pianos are
manufacturers, and not warehouse men. The investments made by
individual dealers in stocks for future use are comparatively small
when figured in units, but grow to tremendous proportions in the
aggregate when the manufacturer must finance the carrying of
those goods. Certainly here is a matter that is receiving, and
should continue to receive, the earnest consideration of the industry,
for it is the most important factor in insuring trade stability.
Diversified
Demand
It is significant that during the year the demand for musical
instruments has been well diversified, which is an excellent sign.
At certain periods and in certain localities, of course, the demand
has run to the more expensive types, particularly in reproducing
pianos, and then there has been the augmented call for small grands.
But while the figures resulting from such sales are impressive, from
a dollars-and-cents standpoint, it is significant that the real bulk of
the demand from the unit standpoint, when analyzed, is confined
to straight uprights and regular player-pianos.
The Upright Revival
A number of manufacturers have taken occasion during the
past few months to call attention, and properly, to a very sub-
stantial market for uprights, some of them declaring that instru-
ment is the real foundation of the piano business. It is a sensible
campaign in that the upright fits into a very definite field, and to
neglect the sales possibilities of that field means the turnover of
the trade will be further curtailed. In catering to all purses and
all desires, the dealers are in a position to obtain maximum returns.
New Case Styles
In the matter of piano cases, too, there is an increasing inclina-
tion on the part of manufacturers to cater to the desires of those
who seek something out of the ordinary and who want to get away
from piano cases in plain wood finishes. Period styles, in many
instances remarkably true to the schools upon which the decorative
effects are based, are becoming increasingly popular, and in a great
many instances instruments of period design have been made part
of the regular lines, which in itself is proof of progress in the
tastes of piano purchasers.
The Painted Case
A more interesting development, however, is the tendency of a
number of manufacturers to supply pianos with painted cases in
various color combinations. There are those who have referred to
them, facetiously, as "college-boy" colors, but the fact remains that
some highly artistic effects have been produced, and a fair propor-
tion of the buying public seems to be highly in favor of the new
idea, for they, at least, are buying the instruments. A few years
Entered as second-class matter September 10, 1892, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of Congress of March 3, 1879.