Presto

24
PRESTO
November 29, 1924.
SHEET MUSIC AND RADIO
HEARST'S VOTING CONTEST
Unique Character of Bright Publicity Scheme
Interests Public, Enlivens Stores and Makes
Six Songs More Popular Than Ever.
One of the most familiar things in sheet music de-
partments and and other places in music stores is
the poster advertising the unique voting contest of
Hearst Music Publishers of Toronto, New York, Chi-
cago and Vancouver and in reality every place where
an alert dealer has procured the retailing privileges
of the Hearst line.
"One Thousand Dollars for Your Opinion," is the
leading phrase, which stands out in the three-color
sheet. The reasons for holding the contest, the rules
and conditions governing it follow. There is also a
facsimile of a coupon to be procured from Hearst
dealers.
"Which of these songs do you like best? Talla-
hassee, Bobbed Head, Better Keep Away, Bringin'
Home the Bacon, It's a Wonderful World of Our
Own, or Broken Dreams."
For the opinion of the voters there are eleven
prizes: First prize, $500; second prize, $200; third
prize, $100; eight prizes of $25.
"Why do we want your opinion?" is asked by
Hearst Music Publishers, which adds this:
Because we know that the best judges of the above
well-known Hearst songs are the people who play,
sing, and dance to them, and we ask these people to
give us the benefit of their opinion.
This competition offers valuable prizes to those
who are skilled enough to forecast—most nearly—the
judgment of the music-buying public of America.
Your opinion as a song lover is of great value to
us; that is why we are prepared to pay so highly
for it.
The competition is open to everybody, therefore
the opinion of every member of your family will be
welcomed. Get these songs now; try them over; con-
sider them carefully—fill in your voting paper and
mail it to us today.
You may send in as many attempts as you like,
provided you abide by the rules and conditions in
each case—so read them over carefully.
The following reminder has been sent to dealers
by Hearst Music Publishers:
" D e a r F r i e n d : — F r o m the response already
given our voting competition just recently announced
we are assured of its success with the music dealer
and the music-buying public. Are you getting your
share of this unique sales-getting effort?
"All we ask you to do is to display the poster and
the songs, distribute the dodgers, and give the cou-
pons with your sales. This scheme shouldn't be hid-
den away in a corner; it means money in your
pocket to give it the fullest publicity in your store
and in your city. We ask your help in our effort to
put this competition over in a big way. Remember:
"A little co-operation goes a long way!
Attract
customers to your store! Display the poster and the
songs; distribute the dodgers; and give the coupons
with your sales. Don't miss this opportunity of
increasing your business."
A GREAT RADIO SHOW
All Records for Attendance, Attractiveness of
Exhibits and Enthusiasm of Visitors
Broken by Third Annual Event of
Kind at Coliseum, Chicago.
The approximate 250 exhibitors at Chicago's third
annual radio show at the Coliseum smiled happily
Wednesday night, Nov. 19, as visitors lined their
booths to ply questions. And, strange to say, the
cause of their happiness was the fact that the great
crush of Tuesday night had not been duplicated.
Such was the sentiment of several other exhibitors
approached, although all concerned directly in the ex-
position expressed elation over the several records
which went by the board opening night Tuesday,
November 18, when 10,000 persons outside were un-
able to join the 20,000 within.
More than 100 persons attended the official radio
show banquet held at the Morrison Hotel under the
auspices of the radio section of the Electric Club.
The speakers were George H. Clark, chief engineer
of the Radio Corporation of America; Maj, Andrew
J. White, of WJZ, New York; Frank C. Thomas,
publisher, and Laurence Cockaday, technical editor.
Ainslie A. Gray was toastmaster.
The show closed Sunday at midnight with the sing-
ing of "The Star Spangled Banner" by Miss Edith
Bennett, followed by "Auld Lang Syne."
Official figures showed that these records had been
made. Total business done by exhibitors, $6,500,000
against the New York record of $5,000,000. Total
attendance, 139,902, against New York's six day rec-
ord of 125,800. The attendance the last day and
night was 21,185.
HOW TO BECOME A PUBLISHER
Dealer Can Learn How and What Is Required of
Him by Consulting Rayner-Dalheim & Co.
Every music dealer may become a music publisher
without the risks that usually accompany the busi-
ness when established by one unacquainted with its
operations. But publishing music is really a part of
the music dealer's business. In fact, the music dealer
does not conduct a general music store until he in-
cludes the ability to publish music.
He may rarely or never publish a piece or a song,
but the ability, as well as the willingness, to do so
properly if required, fills out the phases of his store
and gives his business a general character. But, al-
though he may never be prompted to publish his own
composition, he may be called upon for advice and
assistance by some musical person in the community.
And by being well informed on the requirements at-
tending the publishing of music and the location of
a reliable music printing house he is enabled to pre-
sent himself as a music publisher.
The first aid to the music dealer in becoming a
music publisher or enabling some customer to get
his composition printed is a dependable music print-
ing house like Rayner-Dalheim & Co , 2054-2060 West
Lake street, Chicago. The house is the largest music
printers west of New York and its well-known phrase,
"Any publisher our reference," epitomizes its depend-
ability. The Chicago music printing house gladly fur-
nishes estimates on the printing of anything in the
music line by any process.
SHEET MUSIC TRADE NOTES
A Few Items Interesting to People in Sheet Music
Department Are Printed.
A firm in Malmo, Sweden, wants to get in touch
with American publishers of sheet music, according
to the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce.
Purchases will be made for cash.
The public library of Indianapolis has published a
request for copies of popular songs and music gen-
erally of a generation or two ago.
Teachers' supplies in sheet music and music books
are in good demand at the Earle J. Poling Co.,
Akron, O.
The song, "Colorado," published by the Edward B.
Marks Music Co., and selling successfully in Denver,
was written by two New York men who, it is said,
got their Colorado inspiration by long distance.
Bosworth & Co., Ltd., London, was founded 35
years ago by the late A. E. Bosworth. It has several
"features of special interest, not the least being the
fact that it was established at the suggestion of Sir
Arthur Sullivan.
The French composers are evidently as alert as
their American brothers to breaches of the protec-
tive copyright, according to a correspondent of
Musique et Instruments.
OPENS RADIO SCHOOL.
Free classes in radio instruction are given in the
radio department of Gimbel Brothers, Milwaukee,
for three hours every afternoon. The classes may be
attended by anyone who owns a set or who is inter-
ested in the operation of radio. Experts answer all
questions and demonstrate recent radio developments.
Otto Winsinger, chief radio instructor at the store,
also gives advice on the different circuits to those
who wish to build their own sets. The purpose of
the school is to encourage amateurs and prospective
radio set owners to investigate the possibilities of
constructing sets.
RECORDS FOR RADIO WORK.
Brunswick records are used exclusively in radio
broadcasting to the people of Holland by the Nether-
lands State Station, nenr the Hague, according to the
export department of the Brunswick-Balke-Collender
Co., New York. The plant is the largest in the
Netherlands and powerful enough to transmit radio
concerts, not only to Europe, but to America as well.
BROADCASTING SONGS
New Method of Song Plugging May Be Made
Hurtful or Helpful According to the
Methods Employed.
Songs and radio are so closely related that one
hardly thinks of one without a thought for the other.
Naturally the use of radio as a means to song plug-
ging was about the first thing suggested when radio
came into use. But the abuse of that purpose has
been condemned and circumstances arising from the
broadcasting have given cause for complaint to the
publishers and composers.
When used with discretion, broadcasting may be
made a valuable aid 1o demonstrating a song. One
can conceive no quicker means for acquainting the
public with the musical and lyrical merits of a com-
position than radio.
But there is such a thing as killing a song by too
much radio plugging. If a song is sung over and
over, from one station and another, the effects of the
first hearing are nullified. People at the receiving
end may continue to listen with pleasure to the sec-
ond and even the third performance of the song, but
their feelings change at the subsequent hearings.
Listeners get bored, tired of the repetition and in the
end so disgusted that the very title of the song is
abhorrent.
But it is clear that publishers should consider the
possibility of radio the future of which seems won-
derful. With the elimination of the static and other
objectionable sound interferences, radio should be-
come a potent means for presenting a song, by con-
trolled broadcasting, of course.
But until such a time comes the publisher using
radio should bear in mind its limitations. There are
times when the weather governs the radio sending
processes; warm periods when the air is full of static.
On hot nights, for instance, the publisher's highly
prized number is at the mercy of electrical disturb-
ances. His numerous audiences at the receivers hear
a muffled vocalization of the songs accompanied by
derisive hoots and other wierd sounds. .The weather
man as well as the broadcasting folk should be con-
sulted before a song is given to the radio audiences.
A good rule today is: Broadcast only when the
weather is favorable.
AS HUMORIST VIEWS RADIO
You Cannot Touch Any Button or Knob Without
Having It Talk Back to You.
Radio is getting so saturated with civilization that
home, sweet home is nothing more than another
broadcasting station.
Even old-fashioned family
quarrels like mother used to make are being inter-
rupted by strange microphones, says Bugs Baer in
the Chicago Herald and Examiner.
Result is that all wives are radio widows and all
husbands are amplified bachelors. You come home
at night. First thing you do is to press your electric
bell and it starts shooting Morse code back at you.
Then you use speaking tube and it pours static down
your collar. Finally, you turn your doorknob and
tune in on another home three thousand miles away.
Your dinner set consists of insulated rheostats and
you drink coffee out of vacuum tube sockets. Your
five-knob gas stove isn't working because its B bat-
teries are full of last month's bills. You cannot touch
any button or any knob without having it talk back
to you. Everything around your home is connected
up with outdoor loops and even your collar button
has grid leaks.
Just as soon as we get used to seeing apparatus
instead of furniture and learn to recognize our friends
without their earpieces, then it is possible that we
can enjoy dinner parties given exclusively to radio
mechanics and their apprentices.
N E W DE F O R E S T A P P O I N T E E S .
The Girard Phonograph Co., Broad and Berks
streets, has been appointed the local distributor of
the De Forest and the engineers are working in con-
junction with the dealers through the distributor.
They have been assigned to cover the city and state
trade covered by the local distribution house. The
De Forest has been given a prominent place in the
local radio field through the promotion work under-
taken by the manufacturers in co-operation with the
Girard Co.
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