Broadcasting (July - Sep 1950)

U PROBLEMS TRANSIT RADIO ANNIVERSARY Johnson Urges Action UNITED EFFORT to seek a lition to FM's problems and to ivt its future was suggested by h. Ed C. Johnson (D-Col.l, chairj(n of the Senate Interstate and jreign Commerce Committee, in a '■'fer released last week. The letter gave indication of incasing activity in behalf of FM, k'ticularly with respect to instaljion of FM tuners in all tele'laion sets, ft was written to Irving R. Mei';t, director of the U. of South Ikota's KUSD Vermillion, S. D., j!o had raised the question in a fter to Sen. Johnson. i$en. Johnson said he knew of no leral agency having authority "to juire manufacturers to install ijS' particular device," but ob■tved : 't seems to me that if everybody erested in FM could and would get tether and have a frank and full Icussion of their problems and the ure of FM and come up with some ^icrete and specific policies which Present a consensus of views, there uld be a good chance of having such "\vs implemented to the extent that 'V can be by the authority of the -'mmission [FCC]. >roreover, even if their impleJitation were not within the orbit administrative action, it would m likely that they would get a re■ctfnl hearing if they did, in fact, iresent the united position of all jo are interested in the future of iReferring to the installation of 'VI tuners in TV i-eceivers, he said had "taken an interest in this Dblem" and that " in recent days ; matter has ae-ain been called to attention by Mr. Hull [Richard ' Hull, president] of the National ;sn. of Educational Broadcasters, id Morris Novik of New York i-esident of WLIB]." He also noted that he had revived a letter from the SMA Co., jicago, saying that "this firm .nufactures a tuner which is ced within the $3 to $5 estimate ide by NAB President [Justin] nier, and that they install such a ,-ier in their own TV sets." : 'It seems to me that data of that *-t miffht be helpful in your camiign," Sen. Johnson declared. iHe said it was his understanding at about 40 9f of television sets lude FM tuners. Crisler Cites Growing Profits of FM Outlets PTR Albany, N. Y., has received •tificate of appreciation from U. S. pt. of Defense for cooperation with •vice recruiting programs. RCA INSTITUTES, INC. One of the leading and oldest schools of Radio Technology In America, offers its trained Radio and Television technicians to the Broadcasting Industry. Address inquiries to Placement Director RCA INSTITUTES, INC. A Service of Radio Corporation of America 350 W. 4th St., New York 14, N. T. SOME FM stations affiliated with Transit Radio Inc., Cincinnati, currently are turning out a profit and others "are close to it," R. C. (Dick) Crisler, president of Transit Radio Inc., has revealed. He made that observation during the firm's second anniversary week July 10-17, recalling advent of the service July 10, 1948, in Covington, Ky., and adjoining areas. One hundred receiving sets were originally installed by the Cincinnati, Newport and Covington Railway. Reviewing TR's accomplishments, Mr. Crisler said national sales are running in excess of $14,000— about 10 times that of a year ago — and predicted billings would triple current figures by this December. Twenty-one transit firms now are under contract to local stations, who are represented by Transit Radio Inc., Mr. Crisler added. By September the number of radioequipped vehicles will be in excess of 4,500, he estimated. With respect to transit FM revenue, he pointed out that all transit companies, with one exception, also are reaping a profit, though original expectations for immediate successful operation were not realized without . "experience, hard selling and education." Cites Policy Change On the phases of public acceptance, Mr. Crisler noted that the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, which had editorialized against musicequipped vehicles, had withdrawn its opposition in the face of a riders' poll overwhelming favorable to the service. On the legal front, he felt that, notwithstanding petitions pending against Transit Radio before FCC, the service is "on firm ground and these petitions are not regarded as a serious threat to the business." Comparing TR to television, Mr. Crisler said transit music "cannot be affected" because "its impact is established, it delivers a certain, counted guaranteed audience and its cost per thousand is low." A study of transit radio's effectiveness as an advertising medium has been distributed to advertisers and agencies, he added. Transit FM's accomplishments were explored by the board of di SALESMAN Leading New York independent is looking for a real producer with a proven record of sales. A man who is now doing well, (possibly outside of New York), but would like to do better. We want a man who believes in radio and believes in himself. Salary and bonus. BOX 878F. BROADCASTING rectors of Transit Radio Inc., at its quarterly meeting July 11. Frank E. Pellegrin, vice president in charge of sales, reported eight new national accounts, bringing the total to 246. Presiding at the meeting, held at Burlington, Ky., was Hulbert Taft Jr., chairman of the TR board. Others present were C. L. (Chet) Thomas, KXOK St. Louis; William M. O'Neil, WJW Cleveland; Ben Strouse, WWDC Washington; Edgar Kobak, radio consultant, and David G. Gamble, of Taft, Stettinius & Hollister. RECORDING FEES Rep. Klein Plans Legislation REP. ARTHUR G. KLEIN (DN. Y.) is waiting for additional information from the American Federation of Musicians before drafting a bill which would provide for a talent charge to broadcasters for use of recordings, his office disclosed last week. The proposal, which would amend the Copyright Act to grant performing rights to musicians, also would include a provision to give talent fees to musicians from recordings broadcast. This was the issue about which AFM President James C. Petrillo waged a furious campaign in 1948. The Congressman's office has been in contact with Oliver Sabin, a New York lawyer practicing in the music and recording business and one of the founders of Music Craft Records. Mr. Sabin, who has no affiliation with AFM, told Broadcasting last week that he had proposed to Rep. Klein a hearing by a government agency or Congressional committee, which would be open to all facets of the music industry and others concerned with such a measure, to work out a bill "that would be fair to all." He said the Copyright Act was enacted in 1909 before the advent of radio, movies, TV and or POPULATION UP Preliminary Totals Issued POPULATION of the four East South Central states — Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi— increased about 6.1% between 1940 and 1950, according to a summary of preliminary totals reported last week by the Census Bureau. In the same period the population of the South Atlantic states — Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia — increased by about 17.79f. The numerical gain for the East South Central states was 658,139, increasing from 10,778,225 in 1940 to 11,436,364 in 1950. In the South Atlantic states the combined numerical gain was reported at 3,149,643 from 17,823,151 in 1940 to 20,972,794 in 1950. In the East South Central states the preliminary population totals for 1950 and 1940, respectively, were reported as: Alabama, 3,052,395 from 2,832,961; Kentucky, 2,931,588 from 2,845,627; Mississippi, 2,171,806 from 2,183,796; Tennessee, 3,280,575 from 2,915,841. For the South Atlantic states, preliminary population totals were reported for 1950 and 1940, respectively, as: Delaware, 316,709 from 266,505; District of Columbia, 792,234 from 663,091; Florida, 2,734,086 from 1,897,414, Georgia, 3,418,120 from 3,123,723; Maryland, 2,322,657 from 1,821,244; North Carolina, 4,034,858 from 3,571,623; South Carolina, 2,107,813 from 1,899,804; Virginia, 3,247,781 from 2,677,773; West Virginia, 1,998,536 from 1,901,974. ganizations which have a special interest such as ASCAP, AFM and others. As the law now reads, he explained, "a musician has no control over music once recorded." Rep. Klein's office said the pressure of business in the House Judiciary Committee, to which such a measure would be referred, has been the prime stumbling block for getting action on a bill. mi Another BMI "Pin f/p" Hit— Published by Duchess TELL HER YOU LOVE HER On Records: Vaughn Monroe-Vic. 20-3773; Rosalie Allen-Elton Britt-Vic. 21-0312; Lulubelle & Scotty_Lon. 16024; Alan RobertsDolly Darr— Abbey 15002; Connie Russell-Jack Haskell— Dec. 27062. On Transcription: Lenny Herman LangWorth; David Street — Standard. JOADCASTING • Telecasting July 24, 1950 • Page 81