Music Trade Review
Issue: 1927 Vol. 85 N. 12 - Page 3
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REVIEW
THE
VOL. 85. No. 12 Published Weekly. Federated Business Publications, Inc., 420 Lexington Ave., New York, N. Y., Sept. 17,1927
SIn
*j!. 0 ?£er
Merchants Control Board
Extends Promotion Work
1 9 2 8 Convention to Be Held in N e w York City and
1929 Meeting i n Either Washington or Atlantic City
— Wider Promotional Work Is Planned at Event
C. J. Roberts
LEVELAND, O., September 12.—The an-
nouncement of a definite policy on the
part of the National Association of Music
Merchants for the promotion of group piano
instruction both in the schools and in the deal-
ers' stores and piano playing contests; a resolu-
tion again condemning puzzle contests and credit
check schemes for selling pianos; the selection
of New York City for the 1928 convention of
the Association with a suggested program to
cover all phases and departments of the retail
music business and a strong resolution condemn-
ing the serving of refreshments in exhibit rooms,
were among the results of the special meeting
of the Board of Control of the National Associa-
tion of Music Merchants held at the Hotel Win-
ton here on Saturday and Sunday with a dozen
members of the Board from all sections of the
country in attendance.
The sessions started with a preliminary meet-
ing of the Executive Board held on Saturday
morning which concerned itself chiefly with the
financial affairs of the Association. This was
followed by a luncheon attended by the entire
Board of Control including the Advisory Board,
the Executive Board and the Auxiliary Board,
the latter made up of delegates from the affil-
iated state and local associations. President C.
J. Roberts, of Baltimore, presided.
The Board of Control adopted a definite policy
for the promotion of group piano instruction,
both in the schools and through dealers' stores,
and also piano playing contests to be developed
through the National Bureau for the Advance-
ment of Music in keeping with the policy
C
adopted last January at Chicago. It was re-
ported by Executive Secretary Dennis that more
than nine hundred requests from trade members
throughout the country had been received at the
association's executive office in New York City,
and passed to the Bureau, for copies of booklet
on piano playing contests. A memorandum was
presented proposing co-operation by the National
Bureau for the Advancement of Music in pro-
moting state-wide piano playing contests as a
means of stimulating local contests and toward
the ultimate end of a national piano playing
contest. The Board approved the policy of of-
fering awards to the winners of state contests
for first, second and third places, and also
awards to the schools and to the music teachers
of the winners. The Association thought
the national bureau should provide prizes in
local contests where there is sufficient interest.
These local contests must be on a city or
county-wide basis, the Bureau to be the judge.
If the contest is representative candidates will
be sent to the state meeting.
The association will provide for financing this
activity as well as the development of piano
classes and other promotional work throughout
the music trade, by the new merchants' promo-
tion stamp. The Bureau will give advice, sug-
gestions and co-operate in the development of
state and local contests, paving the way towards
a national contest and towards this end has been
gathering as complete information as possible
on all piano playing contests to date. The data
of the various contests already held is compiled
in scrapbook form, and consists of the news-
paper publicity, photos, etc. Scrapbooks of the
Detroit, Chicago and Columbus contests are
now ready and are available for loan to mem-
bers of the trade who are interested, without
charge.
The Bureau is not inclined to recommend big
money prizes for the contests, believing that the
honor and glory will be just as conducive to the
success of such contests and will obviate the
steadily growing expenses in the events and
facilitate their becoming permanent affairs. In
the promotion of piano classes through the Bu-
reau, the memorandum was approved by the
Board under the budget adopted and subject to
as rapid development as the Association revenue
from stamp collections would permit.
It was reported that an increasing number of
piano manufacturers are co-operating with the
association to collect funds through the new
merchants' stamp for the promotion work and
that the dealers are responding in increasing
numbers. It was also pointed out that the lack
of co-operation of certain manufacturers in this
stamp plan was responsible for failure of the
association to collect funds from many dealers
willing to pay. A definite drive to invite more
thorough co-operation of the manufacturers in
the merchants' plans was decided upon, through
the medium of the new merchants' stamp. The
merchants pay for this stamp for their own pur-
poses and request the piano manufacturer to
give only a little clerical assistance.
Mr. Dennis submitted a memorandum for A.
L. Smith, general manager of the Music Indus-
tries Chamber of Commerce, relative to the
status of Federal income tax matters involving
instalment regulations under a recent decision of
the Board of Tax Appeals, in which he said that
the only recourse of the trade is now in Con-
gress for the amendment of the 1926 Revenue
Act. Another memorandum, relative to copy-
right legislation, stated the position of the
Chamber in opposition to a bill amending the
copyright act of 1909 which, it is expected, will
be introduced as soon as Congress convenes.
Mr. Dennis also reported that 106 orders for
146,600 booklets: "Care of the Piano" had been
received for a new edition of that publication
which is now on the press. Previous editions
of the booklet had 550,000 circulation. This asso-
ciation service was continued by the Chamber
through the executive offices in New York. It
was also voted to continue through the asso-
ciation offices the activities formerly conducted
with respect to the retail advertising exhibit as
handled during the past five years, and also to
promote the trade participation in National
Music Week as in past years.
{Continued on page 4)
REVIEW
THE
VOL. 85. No. 12 Published Weekly. Federated Business Publications, Inc., 420 Lexington Ave., New York, N. Y., Sept. 17,1927
SIn
*j!. 0 ?£er
Merchants Control Board
Extends Promotion Work
1 9 2 8 Convention to Be Held in N e w York City and
1929 Meeting i n Either Washington or Atlantic City
— Wider Promotional Work Is Planned at Event
C. J. Roberts
LEVELAND, O., September 12.—The an-
nouncement of a definite policy on the
part of the National Association of Music
Merchants for the promotion of group piano
instruction both in the schools and in the deal-
ers' stores and piano playing contests; a resolu-
tion again condemning puzzle contests and credit
check schemes for selling pianos; the selection
of New York City for the 1928 convention of
the Association with a suggested program to
cover all phases and departments of the retail
music business and a strong resolution condemn-
ing the serving of refreshments in exhibit rooms,
were among the results of the special meeting
of the Board of Control of the National Associa-
tion of Music Merchants held at the Hotel Win-
ton here on Saturday and Sunday with a dozen
members of the Board from all sections of the
country in attendance.
The sessions started with a preliminary meet-
ing of the Executive Board held on Saturday
morning which concerned itself chiefly with the
financial affairs of the Association. This was
followed by a luncheon attended by the entire
Board of Control including the Advisory Board,
the Executive Board and the Auxiliary Board,
the latter made up of delegates from the affil-
iated state and local associations. President C.
J. Roberts, of Baltimore, presided.
The Board of Control adopted a definite policy
for the promotion of group piano instruction,
both in the schools and through dealers' stores,
and also piano playing contests to be developed
through the National Bureau for the Advance-
ment of Music in keeping with the policy
C
adopted last January at Chicago. It was re-
ported by Executive Secretary Dennis that more
than nine hundred requests from trade members
throughout the country had been received at the
association's executive office in New York City,
and passed to the Bureau, for copies of booklet
on piano playing contests. A memorandum was
presented proposing co-operation by the National
Bureau for the Advancement of Music in pro-
moting state-wide piano playing contests as a
means of stimulating local contests and toward
the ultimate end of a national piano playing
contest. The Board approved the policy of of-
fering awards to the winners of state contests
for first, second and third places, and also
awards to the schools and to the music teachers
of the winners. The Association thought
the national bureau should provide prizes in
local contests where there is sufficient interest.
These local contests must be on a city or
county-wide basis, the Bureau to be the judge.
If the contest is representative candidates will
be sent to the state meeting.
The association will provide for financing this
activity as well as the development of piano
classes and other promotional work throughout
the music trade, by the new merchants' promo-
tion stamp. The Bureau will give advice, sug-
gestions and co-operate in the development of
state and local contests, paving the way towards
a national contest and towards this end has been
gathering as complete information as possible
on all piano playing contests to date. The data
of the various contests already held is compiled
in scrapbook form, and consists of the news-
paper publicity, photos, etc. Scrapbooks of the
Detroit, Chicago and Columbus contests are
now ready and are available for loan to mem-
bers of the trade who are interested, without
charge.
The Bureau is not inclined to recommend big
money prizes for the contests, believing that the
honor and glory will be just as conducive to the
success of such contests and will obviate the
steadily growing expenses in the events and
facilitate their becoming permanent affairs. In
the promotion of piano classes through the Bu-
reau, the memorandum was approved by the
Board under the budget adopted and subject to
as rapid development as the Association revenue
from stamp collections would permit.
It was reported that an increasing number of
piano manufacturers are co-operating with the
association to collect funds through the new
merchants' stamp for the promotion work and
that the dealers are responding in increasing
numbers. It was also pointed out that the lack
of co-operation of certain manufacturers in this
stamp plan was responsible for failure of the
association to collect funds from many dealers
willing to pay. A definite drive to invite more
thorough co-operation of the manufacturers in
the merchants' plans was decided upon, through
the medium of the new merchants' stamp. The
merchants pay for this stamp for their own pur-
poses and request the piano manufacturer to
give only a little clerical assistance.
Mr. Dennis submitted a memorandum for A.
L. Smith, general manager of the Music Indus-
tries Chamber of Commerce, relative to the
status of Federal income tax matters involving
instalment regulations under a recent decision of
the Board of Tax Appeals, in which he said that
the only recourse of the trade is now in Con-
gress for the amendment of the 1926 Revenue
Act. Another memorandum, relative to copy-
right legislation, stated the position of the
Chamber in opposition to a bill amending the
copyright act of 1909 which, it is expected, will
be introduced as soon as Congress convenes.
Mr. Dennis also reported that 106 orders for
146,600 booklets: "Care of the Piano" had been
received for a new edition of that publication
which is now on the press. Previous editions
of the booklet had 550,000 circulation. This asso-
ciation service was continued by the Chamber
through the executive offices in New York. It
was also voted to continue through the asso-
ciation offices the activities formerly conducted
with respect to the retail advertising exhibit as
handled during the past five years, and also to
promote the trade participation in National
Music Week as in past years.
{Continued on page 4)
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