The talking machine world (Jan-June 1928)

The Talking Machine World, Ne%v York, April, 1928 99 House Committee Holds Hearings on New Vestal Copyright Bill Publishers and Record Manufacturing Companies Represented at Hearings Held by House Committee on Patents — Seek General Agreement on Terms Washington, D. C, April 5. — An amendment to the Copyright Law designed to permit authors and composers to "bargain" with the companies using their copyrighted works for mechanical reproduction as to the royalties to be paid was argued before the House Committee on Patents, which has the Vestal "mechanical copyright" bill under consideration, this week. Arguments for the measure were submitted by E. C. Mills and Gene Buck, representing the American Society of Authors, Composers and Publishers, who declared that the royalty of two cents fixed by the Copyright Law in 1909 was a hardship. It was pointed out by Mr. Buck that in the case of Herbert's "Kiss in the Dark," for instance, the composer, the lyricist and the publisher or agent receive two cents for the records sold, while the artist who made the records could bargain and might get several times as much for his work. "All we are asking for," he told the committee, "is that the law be amended so as to permit the creators of a work the right to make an arrangement or contract with the producers of records for the rate they are to be paid. We believe there should be a field of open trade for the creator of the material." Those who presented the case for the record companies included A. f.. Smith, manager of the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce; George W. Case, Jr., representing the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co.; Henry Lanahan, counsel for Thos. A. Edison, Inc., and others. Mr. Case declared that the public must pay for any change in the existing copyright law covering royalties and mechanical reproduction. He maintained that there was no constitutional Velour Background Is Aid to Display RCA Window Displays Are Simple but Effective and Retailers Are Finding Them Excellent in Sales Promotion How a simple background of velour adds dignity to the dealer's window, is shown in the illustration herewith of a new RCA display. In Effective RCA Display the center of the background one of the velour curtains is hung to serve as a background for the new Nickel-a-Day poster and Radiola 30. The other two pieces are draped over packing boxes to serve as pedestals for Radiola 17 and Radiola 16. If the center piece of velour is black and the other pieces a second color, such as green, the effect is still more striking. The Talking Machine and Radio Men, Inc., held their regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, April 11, at the Cafe Boulevard, New York, right to invention or creative art, but merely a direction for Congress to grant copyrights in the interest of the public. After all, he said, the primary consideration of Congress is the protection of public interest. Mr. Smith declared that the record industry had been developed on the basis of the twocent royalty charge and could be continued only on such a basis, and with his confreres urged that the compensation should be limited so much per record, excluding lump sum and percentage basis settlements. Mr. Smith also expressed surprise at the form that had been suggested for the bill, as presented at the hearing. "When we left here last year," he said, "it was understood that a compromise bill would be worked out, and now we find a bill submitted which we have not had an opportunity to study, and a bill has been introduced to which we cannot wholly subscribe." Referring to the testimony taken at the hearings held last year, it was shown that both sides had agreed that legislation should be drafted to provide "that a mechanical license under the copyright law, if granted to one licensee, shall be granted to any responsible applicant at the same rate of royalty under a proper and workable scheme insuring an accurate accounting for and prompt payment of royalties, with provision of adequate penalties in case of fraud." It was announced by the Committee that, if a general agreement on the language and terms of the bill could be reached by the interested parties, the committee would take up the measure in executive session to frame its recommendations. Extend Life of the Radio Commission President Signs Radio Bill Making It Law — Equal Distribution of Stations, Wave Lengths and Power Required Washington, D. C, March 29. — The radio bill extending the life of tlu Federal Radio Commission was signed by President Coolidge yesterday, after many weeks ol uncertainty and delay, and became a law, effective immediately. The law, briefly summarized, extends the life of the Commission until March 16, 1929, allows broadcasting licenses to be issued for periods of three months only, and requires equal distribution, as nearly as possible, of broadcasting stations, wave lengths, power and hours of operation among the five radio zones and equitable distribution among States on a population basis. The law also provides that when the lull power is nut applied for within the State or zone, unused facilities may be "borrowed" by stations in other States or zones. Such licenses for "borrowed" power and wave lengths can be issued for only ninety-day periods, and are subject to withdrawal when application is made for their use by the State originally entitled to the facilities. The Radio Commission, soon after the signing of the bill, announced a number of changes regarding locations, frequency and the sharing of time in the South and West and stated that in view of the new law many changes will be necessary and in all probability some stations in New York and Chicago will be eliminated. During the past month Congress confirmed Sam Pickard, of Kansas; Harold A. Lafount, of Utah; Ira E. Robinson, of West Virginia, and Orestes E. Caldwell, of New York, as members of the Federal Radio Commission. Mr. Robinson, the new member and chairman of the Commission, was appointed to succeed Rear Admiral W. H. G. Bullard, who died several months ago. Gange, Columbia Artist, Starts Tour Well-known Concert and Recording Artist to Make Extensive Tour of Australia and New Zealand — New Recordings Fraser Gange, British baritone and Columbia celebrity artist, sailed March 21 from San Francisco for a ten-week tour of New Zealand, Fraser Gange after which he will make a similar tour of Australia, which country he has visited before and where he is widely known. Before leaving for this tour, he recorded five new couplings fof Columbia which will shortly be released. P. W. Carlson Is Now With the Victor Co. Paul W. Carlson, in charge of the wholesale Victor department of Chas. H. Ditson & Co., and a member of the Board of Control of that company, resigned on April 1, to take an important post that had been created for him with the Victor Talking Machine Co., Camden, N. J., details of which will be forthcoming shortly. Mr. Carlson will take up his new duties after April 15, and in the interim will enjoy a vacation with his family. Joseph C. May, who has been connected with the Victor department of Chas. H. Ditson & Co. for the past eighteen years as traveling representative, and who is well and favorably known in the Eastern trade, has been promoted to succeed Mr. Carlson in charge of the department, the personnel of which will remain unchanged. Mr. Carlson is being widely congratulated upon his new connection with the Victor Co., for he has a wide knowledge of the company's product and its policies, and his executive abilities have been widely recognized. He received his early training with Henry A. Winkelman, manager of the wholesale Victor department of the Oliver Ditson Co., and is a distinctly popular member of the Victor wholesale trade. Alexander Kipnis, celebrated bass singer, world-famed as an interpreter of Wagnerian bass roles, recently recorded the "Serenade Mephistopheles" and the "Veau d'Or" (Calf of Gold) from Faust for the Columbia Phonograph Co. catalog. Mr. Kipnis was heard on the Columbia Bayreuth recordings,