New York Clipper (Jun 1923)

18 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER June 6. 1923 MUSIC MEN AT LOSS TO EXPLAIN RADIO'S EFFECT ON SONG SALES Questionnaire Out to Music and nionograph Dealers May Solve Matter—Many Condemn Broadcasting While Others Declare It b a Boost for Song Sales "Is Radio Hurting or Helping Your Business," is the title of a questionnaire being sent to all music and phonograph dealers, and some music publishers, by "The Wireless Age." a radio publica- tion of which J. Andrew White is ed- itor, which is seeking to prepare a com- prehensive article on the subject, in ef- fort to arrive at a satisfactory conclu- sion as to whether the sales of records and songs have actually increased or gone down as a result of broadcasting stations. The questionnaire reads in part: "Some phonograph dealers think that radio hurts the sale of records. Some think it helps them. What does it do in your case? This is a vital question that concerns both talking machine and radio industries." It is further ex- plained that the dealers' co-operation is asked so that the question may be decided and the total' of the answers and remarks presented to the press. Questions asked of the dealers and publishers '-are: "Do customers buy records they have heard by radio? How many records have yon sold in that way? Are such sales made with or without demonstration? If without, how many hours of selling time have you saved? What class of- record is most in demand by radio fans? "Do you know of any definite case in which radio has prevented the isale of machine or records? How many? When you balance sales lost by radio against sales gained through radio, what is the net result, a gain or loss?" Other questions ask what make of machine is handled by the dealer, kind of records, and whether or not they sell radio parts, and other merchandise. Ad- ditional remarks may be added by the one filling out the blank, and their views of the whole situation is sought and their co-operation in getting first band in- formatioiL Although the claim has been made that approximately 20 per cent, of the sales of phonograh records has fallen off, tnany -publishers are 'anxiously waiting to hear the results of the ques- tionnaire sent out by the "Wireless Age," some of them being of the opin- ion that radio does not materially help to decrease the sales of records or music Many targe publishers, on the contrary, believe that radio is the best possible means of letting the people know a new number is on the market, and in no other way could they do it as well and completely as by radio. One of the chief arguments put up by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, in their cam- paign to make radio broadcasting sta- tions _ secure Society licenses for per- forming music for profit is that the sales of sheet music and phonograph records have fallen oCF and so in turn taken that much in revenue away from the authors, composers and publishers. A few of the music publishers, how- ever, and among them are some of the leaders declare that the radio is a great boost for songs. That it places the new number immediately before mil- lions that could not be reached through the ordinary _ publicity mediums in months, that it is a genuine quick ac- . tion publicity stunt which gives the en- fctire worM 'the tune, words and title of Jhe newest number almost as soon as it 7s off the press and creates a buying demand. MILLS AN ENTERTAINER A copy of the Atlantic Edition of the London Daily Mail, published on board the S. S. Berengaria, reached here last we^' and contained a tribute to Jack Mills in its story of the Ship's concert for the benefit of British and American Seaman's Insu'tutes, which was held in the- First Class Lounge. The story read in part: "Iff. Jack MiBs proved that he could entertain as a singer as successfully as he can publish songs and make them popular. . . ." Joe Young, song-writer, assisted with the en- tertainment also, and rendered syncopated songs. Mr. Mills is at present in London. FRANCES GENDERING TO MARRY Fiances Gendering, for years private secretary to Philip Komheiser, professional manager of Leo Feist Inc., vnll on Satur- day night of this week at her home at No. 10319 One Hundred and Twelfth street, Richmond Hill, L. I., be married to Edward Alberts, a non-professional. Miss Gendering has a wide acquaintance among singers and music people and num- bers her friends in the music world by the hundreds. SOLLY COHN3 FATHER DIES Rev. Wolff Cohn. well known among songwriters and music men, died at his home at No tiOl West 162nd Street on Thursday night of last week. The fun- eral services were held on Friday. He was the father of Solly Cohn. assis- tant professional manager for Leo Feist, Inc. WrrMARKS IN NEW HOME After occupying their own building in West 37th street for a period of twenty ]^ears, M. Witmark & Sons leased the fifth and sixth floors of the reccmly erected office building at 1650 Broadway, taking possession of the new premises early this week. They have a fifteen year lease on both floors which have a total floor space of 14,000 square feet, approxi> mately 2,000 feet more than in the 37th street building, which was sold a short time ago. While all departments are now housed at the Broadway address permanent ar- rangements are not expecteid to be com- pleted for about two weeks. Everything making for the most modem and con- veniently equipped publishing house has . been installed, and fire-proofed when pos- sible. The professional, mechanical, concert, sales and commissary departments are lo- cated on the fifth floor as well as the executive offices. On the sixth floor is the band and orchestra department, ac> counting, shipping, arranging, sheet music stock, library and other departments. All the various departments are arranged for the grestest possible efliciency, bringing to- gether those that should be near each other and allow for no lost motion in han- dling stock or anything else. The professional department which has been next to the Palace Theatre building for about eight years moved over on Tues- - day morning. At present there are seven piano studios leading almost fan shape from the reception room, laid out according to the plans of Julius Witmark, and is consid- ered a wonderful space saver for them. The reception room is but a few feet from ' the elevator. New fnanos have been in- stalled, and the rooms are ventilated by a new system. The studios are also ab- solutely sound proof, two and three way windows and doors having been built for the purpose. Tlie band and orchestra de- partment which has been located for about two years' at 1658 Broadway has also moved over and is on the sixth floor. When all -departments are finally set- tled and things running smoothly, mem- bers of the concern believe that they will have one of the most modem and efficient music publishing houses in the country. MUSIC MEN AFTER CARNIVALS All forms of out-door amusements such as carnivals, circuses, country fairs, etc., will be required to take out a license for playing copjrrigfated music for profit shortly, the American Society of Com- ppsers,_ .'\uthors and-Publishers having no- tified its various representatives through- out the country on Monday to check up on that type of show and gather evidence ol infringement of copyri^t of the so- ciety's music. Up until now the out-door shows have not been asked by the society to take out licenses for the use of its music but from now on. according to officials of the com- posers and-authors' organizations, an ac- tive campaign against these shows will be undertaken at once. Gathering evidence against such trav- ing shows will probably be one of the most dilfiicult tasks ever set for the so- ciety representatives being that the shows travel from one state to another, etc, and the question of how many people the show plays to is also a factor that will prove a disadvantage being^ that the license fees are based on the seating capacity of shows. Carnival showmen declare, however, that only a few of the larger circuses ac- tualljr come imder the classification of "playing music for profit." and that music is aibout the last thing of importance in their shows, being that in most ca.<%s any Standard numbers will serve their purpose. NOVELTY SONG PLACED Willy Raskin. Lew Pollack and Sidney Mitchell, have placed their new song "She May Be the Life of the Party, but Shell be KAY^STERN CO. REORGANIZED The Kay-Stem Music Company, which was formerly reorganized and incorporated, after which it will take over the firm of Pinkard & Schafer, music publishers who recently opened offices in the Hilton build- ing. 'The Pinkard firm had the catalogue of Kay-Stera which has been in existence over a year and since acquired a trade value thought to be an advantage over a new name which would have to be made. Two of the incorporators and officers of the new organization will be Maceo Pinkard and Abner Greenberg. attorney, who was at one time connected with Jerome H. Remick & Co. SONGWRITERS' SHOW NETS $7.000 The Songwriters' Benefit staged at the Centtny theatre on Sunday night recently netted $7,000 for the writers' fund. One of the biggest shows of the year was staged in the big playhouse for the song- writers and it could have been even greater Judging from the enthusiasm shown by the big vaudeville acts, all of whom were anxious to go on. When the curtain rang down at eleven thirty over a dozen big time acts were on the stage ready to go on if asked, irrespec- tive of the hour. NEW PEASE-NELSON SONGS Harry Pease and Ed G. Nelson have placed two new songs with Leo Feist, Inc., for early release. They are "When the Moon Shines on the C6w Shed" and "I Don't Care Whose Manmia You Were iMarttB»^w)/'eoj PLAN SUITS AGAINST BROADCASTE The .-^jncrican Society of Composers. Authors and Publishers, through it's legal department, is gathering evidence for a concerted drive on radio broadcasting sta- tions, and expects to file suits for in- fringement of cop>Tight in wholesale num- bers within the next ten days. Many of these sutions against which suit will be brought will be in and around New York and Newark, etc. A test case near New York would give Nathan Burkan, general counsel of the Society, an opportunity xo personally take charge of the case, and this is being sought. According to J. C. Rosenthal, general manager of the A. S. C. A. & P., the cam- laign will be the most energetic ever car- ried out by the Society and representa- tives of the organiaztion all over die coun- try have been instructed to gather evi- dence against infringing stations in their respective territory. Mr. Rosenthal char- acterized the various organizations to fight the Society as small time outfits that could either play the Society's music or let it alone, but if the former is done without a license being secured, the law provided for the protection of the composers and authors, and infringers would be dealt with. Not only will steps be taken against the radio stations but against orchestras who assist in the violation of the sections ot* the Copyright Act. These will be noti- fied to refrain from doing anything that would harm the writers and publishers of songs. Such notice was recently served on Vincent Lopez who was broadcasting at the Hotel Pennsylvania through a re- lay wire to station WJZ in Newark. Lopez immediately consiented to aid the Society. Orchestras that persist in infringing at radio stations, Mr. Rosenthal pointed out, were in reality helping to ultimately bring about their own downfall, according to an authority he quoted from a musicians' paper. For in time, the radio station would do away with the need of nine or- chestras out of ten if not more. "Eventually, every station that sends out the Society's copyrighted music without permisskm or a license will have to come to terms," said Mr. Rosenthal, "unless the laws of the United States as eiiactcd by Confess do not mean anything.'' In its commg fight with the -radio people, which is expected to, bte. but a matter of days, the Society will iise all of its resources and if necessary - its surplus lying in the treasury said to amount to several htm- dred thousands of dollars. -In addition to this the quarterly dividend of approximate- ly $40,000 could also be appropriated if the members saw fit However, the So- ciety officials believe that this will not be necessary, and that after the first test case the rest of the stations of any importance at all will fall in line and secure a. license from the Society. The Society is asking for a license fee of a minimum of $250 per year up to $3,000, according to the part popular mu- sic plays in the part of the stations' pro- gram ^id if the music sent out constitutes a "performance for profit" The chief ar- gument centers about what constitutes a public performance for profit. The Society maintains that, while the stations do not actually charge for the programmes sent out, they make their money from selling radio equipment, etc The radio people, on the other hand contend that their broad- casting of music cannot be proven "a per- formance for profit" inasmtrch as they absolutely do not diarge for their con- certs. COHAN RETURNING TO COAST Philip Cohen, Los Angeles, representa- tive of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, is leaving New York this week after a ten-day visit on business.^ Mr. Cohen is known as the most active and hustling of the society repre- sentatives, his territory being nearer 100 per cent licensed than any other in the " tduntry.