Music Trade Review

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Meeting of the Music Industries
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Directors at New York Meeting Decide to Carry on Chamber on
Curtailed Basis, as a Permanent Central Bureau—To Reduce
Number of Directors—All Officers to Serve for Another Year
H A T might be regarded as the
annual meeting of the Music In-
dustries Chamber of Commerce, in
view of the absence of an annual
convention, was held in New York on May
19 for the purpose of considering what had
been accomplished by the Chamber under the
difficulties it faced during the past year and
also to lay plans for the future of the or-
ganization.
It was the general consensus
of opinion that the work of the Chamber
should he carried on even though it must
of necessity be greatly curtailed. It is felt
that it is essential just now to keep alive
W
C. ALFRED WAGNER
President
some central bureau to represent the industry
in any emergency that may arise.
In view of the curtailment of the Cham-
ber's activities it was proposed that the num-
ber of directors be reduced to provide a
smaller working body, the suggestion being
made that the new board of directors con-
sist of the three past presidents of the Cham-
ber and the executive heads of the affiliated
bodies. The proposal will be put to a mail
vote of the Chamber membership before be-
ing adopted finally. Under the new lineup
the directors would consist of Mark P. Camp-
bell, Hermann lrion and Richard W. Law-
rence, the three past presidents, together
with the presidents of the National Piano
Manufacturers' Association, the National As-
sociation of Music Merchants, the National
THE
MUSIC
TRADE
Association of Sheet Music Dealers, the Na-
tional Musical Merchandise Association, the
National Piano and Music Travelers' Asso-
ciation and the National Association of Piano
Tuners.
C. Alfred Wagner, president of the Cham-
ber, presented a report covering the activities
of the year in accordance with the resolu-
tion adopted at the convention last June pro-
viding that the Chamber act solely as a clear-
ing house for the solution of such questions
or the conduct of such activities as are of
general concern to all members of the organ
ization. This resolution put an end to vari-
ous activities conducted for special divisions
of the trade.
President Wagner stated that the change in
the scope of the Chamber activities has en-
abled that body to carry on very successfully
during the year and that at the same time
had served to revive the interest of members
in their own particular association. During
the year the Chamber has provided headquar-
ters and executive administration for the
piano manufacturers, musical merchandise
manufacturers and national musical merchan-
dise associations, for the phonograph and or-
gan committees and for the liquidation com-
mittee of the Musical Supply Association and
has also provided office space for the Na-
tional Bureau for the Advancement of Music
and the National Association of Music Mer-
chants.
During the year $7,500 was provided by
the Piano Manufacturers, the musical mer-
chandise manufacturers, the liquidation com-
mittee of the Supply Association, the National
Bureau and individual members to cover the
cost of the 1931 convention and exhibit, rent,
amounting to $6,000, and $500 for miscella-
neous items.
A liability of nearly $28,000 for the rent of
the Chamber offices in New York and a con-
siderable amount due on a jeweler's bill for
merchandise supplied a member association
faced the Chamber at the beginning of the
fiscal year. Through negotiation, however,
the owner of the building housing the Cham-
ber offices agreed to waive the liability un-
der the lease providing $3,600 was paid to
cover the rent of half the present Chamber
space from July 1, 1932, to June 30, 193 3.
The jeweler's bill was also taken care of
through pledges by members of the associa-
tion in question with the result that the or-
ganization winds up its fiscal year with all
bills paid or provided for.
As is generally known, the National Bu-
reau for the Advancement of Music was last
REVIEW,
June-July,
1932
year incorporated as a separate body under
a board of control of nine members, three
representing the music industry, three from
philanthropic organizations and three music
supervisors.
Tuder this new plan the Bu-
reau has continued to function very effi-
ciently despite conditions.
The various officers who served the Cham-
ber during the past year will continue in
office for the next fiscal year. They being:
C. Alfred Wagner, New York, president;
Henry C. I.omb, New York, first vice-presi-
dent; Parham Werlein, New Orleans, sec-
ond vice-president; Julius A. White, New
HARRY MEIXELL
Secretary and General Manager
York, treasurer, and Harry Meixell, secretary
and general manager.
Those who attended the meeting included:
C. Alfred Wagner, Henry C. Lomb, Mark P.
Campbell, Ciordon G. Campbell, Richard W.
Lawrence, Hermann lrion, John C. Wick-
ham, Lucien Wulsin, C. D. Bond and Arthur
L. Wessell.
In every particular it was indicated that
the Chamber had functioned most satisfac-
torily throughout the year despite the handi-
cap of decreasing revenue and though curtail-
ments were necessary they were so carried
out that practically all the activities were
continued to some extent at least. The man-
ner in which the adjustments were effected
reflects some excellent business management on
the part of the Chamber officials.