Broadcasting (Oct 1931-Dec 1932)

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i I&OADC ASTB IN € The NEWS MAGAZINE of J^THE FIFTH ESTATE VOL. 3, NO. 11 WASHINGTON, D. C. DECEMBER 1, 1932 $3.00 PER YEAR — 15c A COPY Revitalized NAB Prepares for New Battles By SOL TAISHOFF McCosker Chosen Head With Paid Executive Promised; Powers of Schuette Extended; Loucks Reappointed President McCosker's Statement: "THE POSITION of president of the National Association of Broadcasters offers great opportunity to effect coordination in the industry. Never in radio's brief history, in my opinion, has the necessity for such coordination been so generally realized. "On arrival in St. Louis I had no idea of accepting the presidency, if offered. However, the obvious sincerity of purpose which motivated the delegates impressed me greatly. It is still early to announce policies until sufficient opportunity is provided to confer with leaders in this and other industries. "One of the outstanding characteristics of the radio broadcasting industry exists in the possibilities it presents for co-operation in practically every field of industrial, cultural, scientific and amusement activity. It is entirely possible that this advantage has not been properly appreciated or sufficiently coordinated." ALFRED J. McCOSKER WITH THE enthusiastic support of an enlightened membership, a thoroughly reorganized National Association of Broadcasters will guide the destinies of the industry for the next year with a determination to regulate from within and thereby stay the hand of governmental interference. It was with the idea of beginning a new era in broadcasting that the NAB, at its tenth annual convention in St. Louis Nov. 14, 15 and 16, adopted a vigorous program to which members pledged their unqualified support. The program calls for the employment of a man prominent in public life to lead broadcasters in unremitting battle against groups whose projects menace Broadcasting by the American plan, from the extortionate demands of the copyright owners to the petty grafts of the free radio time grabbers. Drafted to lead the industry as NAB president in its widened range of activity is Alfred J. McCosker, director of WOR, Newark, N. J., pioneer broadcaster, showman and journalist. Only after he had been importuned by leading NAB members and had won their promise that a paid executive of Smith Philip G. Loucks Ritchie-Baker calibre would be retained before 1932 ends, did Mr. McCosker accept the NAB helm. His nomination was made from the floor, and his election was by unanimous vote. It marked a departure in the procedure in which officers heretofore were nominated by a committee appointed by the outgoing president. All other offices this year were filled by ballot election. After sanctioning the proposal for retention of a paid execu tive, the association gave to Oswald F. Schuette, NAB director of copyright activities, a rousing vote of confidence, despite the failure of the recent negotiations for reduced music royalties, and ordered his continuance in office for a year. He was given greatly increased authority, not only to deal with the American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers, but to carry his campaign for equitable treatment into Congress, and even into Oswald F. Schuette the courts. His salary will remain at $18,000 a year. This action came after Isaac D. Levy, vice president of WCAU, Philadelphia, and an officer and director of CBS, made an impassioned plea for bold and deliberate action against ASCAP. A lawyer himself, Mr. Levy recommended Mr. Schuette's continuance in office and stated that from his own legal experience he knew ASCAP could be destroyed should it refuse to accord broadcasting fairer treatment. The platform adopted by the convention calls for a war chest many times greater than the present annual NAB budget of about $50,000. Networks and leading stations pledged voluntary contributions to the fund, over and above their regular dues. Despite the skepticism expressed by many broadcasters as to whether sufficient funds were in prospect to pay a high-salaried executive director, as well as Mr. Schuette and Philip G. Loucks, who was reappointed managing director for a year, and other employees, and to defray other increased expenditures occasioned by the reorganization, it was insisted that the funds would be available. All told, it is estimated that between $150,000 and $200,000 will be needed next year. May Choose in Industry : CONSIDERABLE sentiment prevails that the new chieftain of radio should be selected from within the broadcasting ranks in order to have a man cognizant of its problems. It is altogether possible that such an appointment will be made, and the names of James W. Baldwin, Radio Commission secretary; Henry A. Bellows, CBS vice president and former radio commissioner, and William S. Hedges, WMAQ, Chicago, former president of the NAB, have been prominently mentioned for the post. Though the special committee met in New York Nov. 22, action on the appointment will be deferred pending plans for raising funds. Mr. Loucks' retention as managing director, with a 10 per cent increase in salary to $10,000 per year, came after he had been complimented in addresses by a half dozen members for meritorious work in building the association to its present stature during the last two years. His powers were broadened to include ex officio membership on all committees. He was suggested for the post of paid December 1, 1932 • BROADCASTING Page 5