Radio and Television Today (Jan-Nov 1941)

MUSIC OF RECORD DEALERS WELCOME THE TIMELY PICK-UP IN DISC SALES "I'm fixing up the record department so it will be cooler — I'm going to be darned careful that my stocks are complete. I'm expecting a good, strong volume in discs for the rest of the summer!" These are the sentiments of one record dealer who has learned about the profits from recorded music. And he would probably have said more, but for the fact that even then, a customer was asking for a new album. Other retailers, too, who are giving more attention to merchandise which may be supplied more promptly than some of the radio sets, have turned to the record department with an "expansion" gleam in their eye. During these months when dealers hasten to get more irons in the fire, the flourishing demand for "music to order" is a matter for retail action. MOOD FOR MUSIC Many of the merchandisers are thinking of how the increased buying power of the public means more buying of full sets of classical records. They're thinking, too, of the established "traffic value" of a well-stocked record department. And they're not forgetting that there's good money to be made from the sale of needles, pick-ups, record racks, etc. All of these considerations are showing up in addition to the main trend in record selling, which has to do with "music in a war-torn world." A retailer in New England reports that "this war trend is important." In this store, recorded music is definitely being sold in greater volume because the buyers regard it as emotional relief from the worries of war Good Safes Bets Among the New Records JOAN MERRILL with orchestra singing Daddy — Bluebird B11171. ROY SMECK and his Serenaders playing Yours, with VC by Jerry Wayne — Decca 3739. HARRY HARDEN'S Musette orchestra playing Aurora — Decca 3741. GLENN MILLER and his orchestra playing The Boonlie Wooglie Piggy, with VR by Tex Beneke and The Mod"i naircs— Bluebird B11163. ARTIE SHAW and his orchestra playing Blues — Victor 27411. MERRY MACS singing The Hut-Sut Sony, — Decca 3810. SAMMY KAYE and his orchestra playing Aurora, with VR by Maury Cross, Three Kadets and chorus — Victor 27433. KATE SMITH with Jack Miller orchestra singing Until Tomorrow — Columbia 36210. GINNY SIMMS with George Duning orchestra singing Kiss the Boys Goodbye— Okeh 6282. Record buyers in Philadelphia like the idea of stepping in here, for the latest recordings. It's a sunny, home-like place, The Record Shop. times. The manager says that this "relaxation" value of records was first noted when the salesmen noticed that physicians were, as a class, enthusiastic record fans. When this trend was investigated locally, it was found that the doctors used the records as the perfect "after hours" relaxation. The music is played effortlessly and yet it is stimulating and diverting; there's no eyestrain, and no fatigue. The same theory applies to the people who are distressed and troubled by the constant spectacle of international butchery. They crave an "escape" that is smooth and interesting, and recorded music is the answer. A trend toward the more classical (and more profitable) sectors of the record shelves is also noted by this merchandiser. He believes that the tendency to swing the classics has helped the public acquaintance with them, and has developed a "classical appetite" among the younger folks. And albums of all kinds are going great, he says. All in all, the sales tips for midsummer seem to add up like this: (1) Provide your customers with demonstration facilities that are comfortable and convenient, (2) Revise your stocking system to take care of extra demand for classical numbers, (3) Get your accessories out where people can see them and do an aggressive job of "suggestive" selling, (4) Do a better promotion job on albums of all kinds. New Sales-Getters for Columbia Records News from Columbia Recording Corp., Bridgeport, Conn., concerns a large number of aggressive promotions, contests, sales aids, national ads, etc., planned for the increasing volume in records done by CRC dealers and distributors. Columbia sales manager Paul Southard announced the Stock Anticipation ! Order plan for 1941, designed so that "dealers can anticipate their wants and protect themselves against rising costs and possible shortages." The plan applies to Masterworks and popular "C" albums. Regarding the C albums, of which Columbia has issued more than 50, Mr. Southard revealed in another announcement that sales of these $2.50 items were up 120 per cent for the first six months of this year. The CRC exec cited three factors in these gains — varied repertoire, popular prices, and attractive packaging. Impressive releases of new Masterworks records for this month and August are featured in full-page color ads in national magazines, and dealers will get new tie-in promotion kits. New Masterworks releases are now being announced via a "News of the Month" publication, giving dealers quick information on the record. Popular Record Catalog for Your Customers A move to increase record sales by bringing a new catalog of all Victor and Bluebird popular records within reach of all popular record fans has been announced by W. W. Early, Victor record sales manager. The new catalog is inexpensive and therefore dealers may get them into all homes in their areas, and thus .increase their sales volume. Also ready is a new catalog of 'Old Familiar Tunes." Both books are specially designed for attractiveness and convenience. "Record Bar" in New Disc Trend "We are filling our orders promptly," reports A. Bitter, of A. Bitter Construction Corp., Brewster Bldg., Long Island City, N. Y., in a statement to Radio Today, on how his company can help radio dealers in their expansion of record departments. It was noted by Mr.' Bitter that many retailers are now giving more attention to disc merchandising, because of shortages in some types of radios. "In these efforts to keep store profits up," Mr. Bitter said, "the 'Record Bar' plays a big part and can be installed promptly in record shops of all sizes." (Continued on page 40) 2 0 RADIO TOD A Y