Presto
Issue: 1923 1917 - Page 25
t 6
April 21, 1923
COINOLAS
FOR
RESTAURANTS, CAFES and
AMUSEMENT CENTERS
Style SO
FROM THE BIGGEST
ORCHESTRION
25
TRYING TO SETTLE THE
COST FOR BROADCASTING
Demand of American Society of Composers
for Radio Royalties Starts Discussion
of Public's Rights.
One of the oldest and largest of radio broadcasting
stations has announced that it will no longer include
in its programs music copyrighted by members of
the American Society of Composers, Authors and
Publishers, says the New York Times. The latter
have demanded royalties for these performances.
They seem to be entitld to them under the law, as
they certainly are in ethics.
Other broadcasters take a different view, and are
prepared to uphold it in the courts. They argue that
they are 'performing a public service without profit,"
and consequently are infringing no copyrights. This
may be true of some of them; others derive their
profits from the manufacture or sale of receiving
sets. It may seem that the programs broadcast are
in the nature of advertising to create a demand
for the product. If this view is upheld by the courts,
the composers will get their royalties. In the mean-
time, one of the most important stations has decided
to cut down its service rather than pay the people
who produce the music which it broadcasts. Why?
Perhaps the reason is suggested by comment of
the Indianapolis News on the closing of the two
broadcasting stations in that city:
"The radio has passed the experimental stage and
those who have invested large sums in broadcasting
instruments feel that they cannot go on supporting
with their own money something that brings nothing
in return."
One of these Indiana stations had appealed for
funds, and had even started a magazine frankly to
get money to keep up broadcasting; but in vain.
The News remarks that "the owners of receiving sets
wish to listen, but they are not willing to pay for
the service given." So far, no way has been discov-
ered to make the producing end of radio pay except
by the sale of receiving sets. When the market is
saturated and the broadcasting stations can no
longer be charged to advertising expense, something
else will have to be done.
It is always easiest to begin reduction of expenses
with the author, but he is a small item in the cost of
production of any of the arts. Somehow, if there is
to be broadcasting—and with the taste already so far
developed it is too much to expect that the radio
fans will be willing to give it up—the cost must be
made up in some other way. This is perhaps not an
immediate problem, as there must be still a market
for radio sets. But considering that there is a stub-
born minority that will never buy them, the limit
must be reached some time. Then the broadcasters
will have to invent a device nullifying the receiving
power of sets already sold, which probably offers
scientific as well as moral difficulties, or must get
their pay elsewhere.
Advertising by radio has already begun. Yet
broadcasting stations will continue to be under a
double handicap. So long as they can get nothing
from the consumer but the initial cost of his receiv-
ing set—with no revenue such as the sale of records
brings to the makers of phonographs—they are in the
position of a newspaper or magazine which is not
sold but given away. That cuts off a minor but still
considerable item of revenue, and it has a more seri-
ous psychological effect on the consumer. Every
man is suspicious of something he gets free.
Furthermore, the purchaser of a newspaper or
magazine has to take the advertising in order to get
the news or fiction. The radio customer can merely
shut off what would correspond to the advertising
columns and wait till something more alluring comes
along. To make their advertising bring results radio
broadcasters are likely to be put under a serious
temptation—that of presenting an advertisement as
news, of introducing a singer, not for her singing
value, but by arrangement with her manager. In a
new art, whose workings are still vaguely understood
and whose code of ethics is not yet formulated, that
will be a problem hard to solve. The radio craze
may pass; but there is no reason to suppose that a
deep and widespread interest in radio as an amuse-
ment, aside from its other uses, will not continue.
Evidently, however, the industry, or art, or whatever
it is called, is in for transitions as great, perhaps, as
those that have been seen in the motion pictures; and
as difficult either to forecast or to deal with satis-
factorily.
SEES TRADE EXPANSION.
Expansion of nearly all industries in March, with
increased demands for all kinds of labor, was re-
ported this week by the Department of Labor. "In
certain districts," the department reports, "building
trades men available are fully employed, and short-
ages of these tradesmen already exist in some com-
munities." An increasing demand is evident, the re-
port continues, particularly in the iron aiid steel in-
dustries. Increased and widespread demand for farm
labor is evident, and from present indications the
shortage may reach serious proportions.
DEALER'S EXCELLENT DISPLAY.
One of the most alluring of all the displays at the
show in Greensburg, Pa., last week was that of the
Clark Music Store in that city, where three makes
of phonographs were exhibited. In addition to these
instruments the Bush-Lane piano was also displayed
in an attractive manner. Concerts were given daily
to the large crowds that gathered around the booth.
Mr. Clark, who is director of the Pennsylvania Or-
chestra, said a concert would be given by the enter-
tainers Thursday and Saturday nights following.
HIGH GRADE
Folding Organs
School Organs
Practice Keyboards
Dealers' Attention Solicited
A. L. WHITE MFG. CO.
215 Englewood Ave., CHICAGO, ILL.
PIONEER SCHOOL FO PIANO MEN
h
"in it's 2o* year
JPOLKSJ with
upwards of
Tiny Coinola
THE SMALLEST
KEYLESS
Manufactured by
The Operators Piano Co.
16 to 22 South Peoria St.
CHICAGO
Or.
1OOO
2tf SUCCESSFUL
fgss&l I
Facsimile Fall-
board Names of Leading Pianos
and Player-Pianos in Colors
Revised Annually
GRADUATES
ADDR.ESS
COURTHOUSE SO.
VALPARAISO. I N D j
Piano ^lajrer-Fiuio ind Organ Tuning, Repairing. ReiuU-
tinf
A Voicing.
Bett equipped
g
q p p KHOQ)
Q) in oie U. S.
D i p ^
ii
d Private
ri
twircwo and d positions
secured.
and das«
intin—tion*. both sexea.
lt thm ymmr. tttumtrmtmd tmfStmumt
In Three Parts:
1. Instruments of Established
Names and Character.
2. Instruments that bear Spe-
cial Names or Trade Marks.
3. Manufacturers of Pianos
and Player-Pianos with Chap-
ters on Piano Building and Buy-
ing designed for the guidance
of prospective purchasers.
NO PIANO DEALER OR SALESMAN
CAN AFFORD TO BE WITHOUT IT.
IF YOU DON'T CONSULT "PRESTO
BUYERS* GUIDE" YOU ARE MISSING
OPPORTUNITIES. G E T I T NOW.
Give a copy to each of your salesmen.
Price 50 cents per copy.
r*«.
POLK'S SCHOOL OF TUNING, VALPARAISO, IND
PRESTO PUBLISHING CO.
Enhanced content © 2008-2009 and presented by MBSI - The Musical Box Society International (www.mbsi.org) and the International Arcade Museum (www.arcade-museum.com).
All Rights Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with support from NAMM - The International Music Products Association (www.namm.org).
Additional enhancement, optimization, and distribution by the International Arcade Museum. An extensive collection of Presto can be found online at http://www.arcade-museum.com/library/
April 21, 1923
COINOLAS
FOR
RESTAURANTS, CAFES and
AMUSEMENT CENTERS
Style SO
FROM THE BIGGEST
ORCHESTRION
25
TRYING TO SETTLE THE
COST FOR BROADCASTING
Demand of American Society of Composers
for Radio Royalties Starts Discussion
of Public's Rights.
One of the oldest and largest of radio broadcasting
stations has announced that it will no longer include
in its programs music copyrighted by members of
the American Society of Composers, Authors and
Publishers, says the New York Times. The latter
have demanded royalties for these performances.
They seem to be entitld to them under the law, as
they certainly are in ethics.
Other broadcasters take a different view, and are
prepared to uphold it in the courts. They argue that
they are 'performing a public service without profit,"
and consequently are infringing no copyrights. This
may be true of some of them; others derive their
profits from the manufacture or sale of receiving
sets. It may seem that the programs broadcast are
in the nature of advertising to create a demand
for the product. If this view is upheld by the courts,
the composers will get their royalties. In the mean-
time, one of the most important stations has decided
to cut down its service rather than pay the people
who produce the music which it broadcasts. Why?
Perhaps the reason is suggested by comment of
the Indianapolis News on the closing of the two
broadcasting stations in that city:
"The radio has passed the experimental stage and
those who have invested large sums in broadcasting
instruments feel that they cannot go on supporting
with their own money something that brings nothing
in return."
One of these Indiana stations had appealed for
funds, and had even started a magazine frankly to
get money to keep up broadcasting; but in vain.
The News remarks that "the owners of receiving sets
wish to listen, but they are not willing to pay for
the service given." So far, no way has been discov-
ered to make the producing end of radio pay except
by the sale of receiving sets. When the market is
saturated and the broadcasting stations can no
longer be charged to advertising expense, something
else will have to be done.
It is always easiest to begin reduction of expenses
with the author, but he is a small item in the cost of
production of any of the arts. Somehow, if there is
to be broadcasting—and with the taste already so far
developed it is too much to expect that the radio
fans will be willing to give it up—the cost must be
made up in some other way. This is perhaps not an
immediate problem, as there must be still a market
for radio sets. But considering that there is a stub-
born minority that will never buy them, the limit
must be reached some time. Then the broadcasters
will have to invent a device nullifying the receiving
power of sets already sold, which probably offers
scientific as well as moral difficulties, or must get
their pay elsewhere.
Advertising by radio has already begun. Yet
broadcasting stations will continue to be under a
double handicap. So long as they can get nothing
from the consumer but the initial cost of his receiv-
ing set—with no revenue such as the sale of records
brings to the makers of phonographs—they are in the
position of a newspaper or magazine which is not
sold but given away. That cuts off a minor but still
considerable item of revenue, and it has a more seri-
ous psychological effect on the consumer. Every
man is suspicious of something he gets free.
Furthermore, the purchaser of a newspaper or
magazine has to take the advertising in order to get
the news or fiction. The radio customer can merely
shut off what would correspond to the advertising
columns and wait till something more alluring comes
along. To make their advertising bring results radio
broadcasters are likely to be put under a serious
temptation—that of presenting an advertisement as
news, of introducing a singer, not for her singing
value, but by arrangement with her manager. In a
new art, whose workings are still vaguely understood
and whose code of ethics is not yet formulated, that
will be a problem hard to solve. The radio craze
may pass; but there is no reason to suppose that a
deep and widespread interest in radio as an amuse-
ment, aside from its other uses, will not continue.
Evidently, however, the industry, or art, or whatever
it is called, is in for transitions as great, perhaps, as
those that have been seen in the motion pictures; and
as difficult either to forecast or to deal with satis-
factorily.
SEES TRADE EXPANSION.
Expansion of nearly all industries in March, with
increased demands for all kinds of labor, was re-
ported this week by the Department of Labor. "In
certain districts," the department reports, "building
trades men available are fully employed, and short-
ages of these tradesmen already exist in some com-
munities." An increasing demand is evident, the re-
port continues, particularly in the iron aiid steel in-
dustries. Increased and widespread demand for farm
labor is evident, and from present indications the
shortage may reach serious proportions.
DEALER'S EXCELLENT DISPLAY.
One of the most alluring of all the displays at the
show in Greensburg, Pa., last week was that of the
Clark Music Store in that city, where three makes
of phonographs were exhibited. In addition to these
instruments the Bush-Lane piano was also displayed
in an attractive manner. Concerts were given daily
to the large crowds that gathered around the booth.
Mr. Clark, who is director of the Pennsylvania Or-
chestra, said a concert would be given by the enter-
tainers Thursday and Saturday nights following.
HIGH GRADE
Folding Organs
School Organs
Practice Keyboards
Dealers' Attention Solicited
A. L. WHITE MFG. CO.
215 Englewood Ave., CHICAGO, ILL.
PIONEER SCHOOL FO PIANO MEN
h
"in it's 2o* year
JPOLKSJ with
upwards of
Tiny Coinola
THE SMALLEST
KEYLESS
Manufactured by
The Operators Piano Co.
16 to 22 South Peoria St.
CHICAGO
Or.
1OOO
2tf SUCCESSFUL
fgss&l I
Facsimile Fall-
board Names of Leading Pianos
and Player-Pianos in Colors
Revised Annually
GRADUATES
ADDR.ESS
COURTHOUSE SO.
VALPARAISO. I N D j
Piano ^lajrer-Fiuio ind Organ Tuning, Repairing. ReiuU-
tinf
A Voicing.
Bett equipped
g
q p p KHOQ)
Q) in oie U. S.
D i p ^
ii
d Private
ri
twircwo and d positions
secured.
and das«
intin—tion*. both sexea.
lt thm ymmr. tttumtrmtmd tmfStmumt
In Three Parts:
1. Instruments of Established
Names and Character.
2. Instruments that bear Spe-
cial Names or Trade Marks.
3. Manufacturers of Pianos
and Player-Pianos with Chap-
ters on Piano Building and Buy-
ing designed for the guidance
of prospective purchasers.
NO PIANO DEALER OR SALESMAN
CAN AFFORD TO BE WITHOUT IT.
IF YOU DON'T CONSULT "PRESTO
BUYERS* GUIDE" YOU ARE MISSING
OPPORTUNITIES. G E T I T NOW.
Give a copy to each of your salesmen.
Price 50 cents per copy.
r*«.
POLK'S SCHOOL OF TUNING, VALPARAISO, IND
PRESTO PUBLISHING CO.
Enhanced content © 2008-2009 and presented by MBSI - The Musical Box Society International (www.mbsi.org) and the International Arcade Museum (www.arcade-museum.com).
All Rights Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with support from NAMM - The International Music Products Association (www.namm.org).
Additional enhancement, optimization, and distribution by the International Arcade Museum. An extensive collection of Presto can be found online at http://www.arcade-museum.com/library/
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).