Variety (January 1953)

Wednesday, January 14, 1953 OKCHKSTRAS-MUSVC S9 SHOWTUNES DUE FOR BIG RIDE Juke Ops Rebuff ASCAP Efforts For Copyright Change Powwows Efforts of the American-Society-f of Composers, Authors & Publish- ‘ et\s to reach an understanding with •jukebox operators on a new Copy- right Law ,‘have been sharply re- buffed. It's understood that the Music Operators of America, juke op association, refused to discuss the problem with ASCAP after the latter had invited the MOA to sit down for a friendly powwow. The juke ops are evidently afraid that any revision of the Copyright Law is bound to hit di- rectly at them and therefore they are flatly opposed to any amend- ments. ASCAP and other .music biz organizations are seeking to get performance fees from 'jukebox plays. ASCAP made the overture to the jukebox operators at the sug- gestion of Congressional support- ers of revisions in the Copyright Law. After some suggested amend- ments were killed in committee last year, some Congressional lead- ers suggested that ASCAP get to- gether with the juke ops and disk manufacturers on reaching an equitable solution to the problem of juke performance fees. The movement for amending the Copyright Law will be renewed again this year and ASCAP now finds itself in a stronger moral po- sition since it has made the neces- sary moves for an amicable settle- ment. Music Biz Viewing Video as Source Of ‘Personality’ Tunes The music publishing fraternity now is looking at tele as a source for new material as well as a grow- ing hit-building medium. With an increasing number of TV’s musical shows going in for original song material, the pubs are steadily scouting the shows for click poten- tials. Interest in original tele tunes was kicked off recently when Jane Frohman introduced “I Believe” on her CBS-TV show, “U. S. A. Can- teen.” Song was penned by Ervin Drake, Jimmy Shirl, Irvin Graham and A1 Stillpian (the show’s writers! to fit into the story line and created immediate publisher interest. Howie Richmond nabbed it for his Cromwell Music firm and several disk companies have set re- cording dates including a Jane Fro- man slice for Capitol. The pubs expect that most tele producer^ will follow the line taken by Irving Mansfield <he produces Miss’ Fro- man’s.show) arid give new tunes a well-produced TV showcasing. Pubs also foresee a time when they’ll again be subsidizing tune- smiths to create new songs for stars. Practice died with vaude but a resurgence is indicated with the steady growth of tele personali- ties. Many tradesters believe that as tele develops as a potent tune- builder and song-showcaser, the biz will leave the hands of the record companies and return to the pub- lishers.’ Hampton’s 28|G Gross For Earle, Philly, Date Lionel Hampton's band, which has been racking up solid theatre and one-niter grosses for the ^ast year, closed 1952 on a strong b.o. note by hitting a $28,500 gross at the Earle Theatre in Philadelphia. Hampton’s net for the date was $12,500. Hale marked the 15th anni of ampton’s formation of his own band after leaving Benny Good- man s organization. Hampton, in- cidentally, has been set to play at G Inaugural Ball and Festival in Washington, D. C., with Guy Lom- bardo’s orch next week. Col’s Terre Haute Plant Pointing up Columbia; Records’ biz upbeat during last year, the diskery has purchased a building in Terre Haute, Ind., which it ul- timately plans to turn into a man- ufacturing plant. Until equipment can be installed, the building will be used as a warehouse. Columbia bought the building from the Eaton O’Neill Co., furni- ture outfit in Terre Haute. Switch in occupancy is set for this sum- mer. Col Inks Miller ToNew5-Yr.Deal Mitch Miller, Columbia Records artists & repertoire chief and the key figure in the “new sounds” trend on wax in recent years, has been renewed to a five-year con- tract by Col prexy Jim Conkling. Miller came to Columbia from Mer- cury three years ago after Manie Saeks moved over to RCA as tal- ent relations chief. Coin involved is understood to be over $25,000 annually. Since his joining Columbia, Mil- ler has turned the label into the disk industry’s pacesetter with his use of horns, echo chambers, other gimmicks and new personalities such as Johnnie Ray, Tony Bennett and Guy Mitchell. Miller’s new longterm deal with Col precludes his exiting the company for an- other diskery. Miller is currently on the Coast with pop album director George Avakian. They are due back to the N. Y. homeoffice next week. WHITE, NEGRO TOOTERS NEAR COAST MERGER Hollywood, Jan. 13. Trustees of Negro AFM local 767 are arranging a meeting with execs of local 47 to work out details of merger, voted by local 767 mem- bers over weekend. Membership of local 47 had pre- viously* sanctioned merger. Pre- vious ballot at 767 was against merger, but the favorable vote of local 47 apparently swayed the ear- lier dissidents. MPCE Opens Talks For New Contract Music Publishers Contact Em- ployees kicked/ off its negotiations for a new publisher pact last week with confabs with Broadcast Music, Inc., and execs of the Music Pub- lishers Protective Assn, Both meets were only preliminary seshes and further discussion dates are being set. Another MPCE-MPPA confab already has been skedded for Jan. 20. The MPCE negotiating board is headed up by Bob Miller, union prez. AFM’s Quadrennial Cuffo Chicago, Jan. 13. * James C. Petrillo is putting the music tab for the inaugural pa- rade and balls in Washington next week on the cuff. Practice was started with the inauguration of the late President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Petrillo, head of the American Federation of Musicians, is a Dem- ocrat, who campaigned for Adlai Stevenson. SIX MUSICALS SET F Eugene Conley, Met Opera tenor, has signed with Columbia Artists Mgt. Conley will be under per- sonal direction of veepee Andre A bumper crop of showtunes will hit the market next month with the opening of a flock of legituners. Although the 1952-53. musicoriiedy season got off to a sluggish start, trade anticipates that the- show- tune field will get off its back with the output of several of Tin Pan Alley’s top songsmiths who’ve penned scores for the upcoming shows. The scramble already is on for rights to originaLr-cast albums, and the publishers and disk com- panies are gearing themselves for a big push on the scores. «. Six musicals are skedded to preem on Broadway within the next five months, beginning with “Hazel Flagg” Feb, 9. Score was written by Jule Styne and Bob Hil- liard. RCA Victor has nabbed the original cast album rights and Vic- tor pactee Eddie Fisher is kicking off the show’s plug tune, “How Do You Speak to an Angel?” Other tunesmiths who’ll be repped on the last half of the ’52- ’53 musicomedv season are Betty Comden-Adolph Green teamed with Leonard Bernstein ( “Wonderful Town”); William Roy (“Maggie”); Cole Porter (“Can Can”); James Vam Heusen-Johnny Burke (“Car- nival in Flanders*’) and Richard Rodgers-Oscar Hammerstein 2d (“Me and Juliet”). Also skedded, but with no definite date set, is the Harry Revel-Milton Pascal score for the revue, “Saddle and Go.” First half of the season brought in only two revues (“New Faces of 1952” and “Two’s Company”) and two musicals (“Wish You Were Here” and “My Darlin’ Aida”). Only one tune, 'title song from “Wish You Were Here,” stepped out as a pop click via Eddie Fish- er’s Victor waxing. Victor latched on to original cast- album rights for “New Faces.” “Wish You \\ere Here” and “Two’s Company” and had priority rights on “Aida,” but held off cutting the album until the show’s b.o. potential could be ascertained. “Aida” shuttered Sun- day (11), which presumably elim- inates an album probability since a diskery seldom cuts an original cast album after a show has fold- ed'.’ “New Faces” and “Wish You Were Here” were big sellers for Victor. “Company” has not yet been released. Although showtunes have had little impact on the music market in the past few years the impres- sive list of topflight writers com- ing up with new scores is seen as an important factor in reversing the trend. The clicko pace set by Eddie Fisher’s waxing of Harold Rome’s “Wish You Were Here” in- dicated that there’s public accept- ance for showtunes and has helped do away with some record company resistance in waxing tunes from legit scores. Sacks to See What Everyone Can Do Before Making Changes at RCA Shearing’s UN Combo Joe Roland on vibes left George Shearing quintet at end of last week’s engagement at the Copa in Pittsburgh and is being replaced by Cal Yjad- er, which • probably gives Shearing the most remarkably international combo in the world. Yjader conies from Sweden; Shearing of course is an Eng- lishman; Jon Tilrnan on guitar is a Belgian; A1 Mckibbon, bas- sist, hails from Morocco ,, and Bill Clark, the drummer, is from the U. S. A. Even the outfit’s property manager, Gene Rigenko, adds to the ver- itable United Nations that Shearing has assembled; he’s a Russian. RCA Royalties To Pubs in 16% Hike RCA Victor’s disk business began j pointing upwards during the end of last year and royalties paid to the majpr publishers for the quar- ter ending Nov. 30 rose 16% over the previous year. Quarterly pay- ment also showed a spectacular improvement over the ' preceding period vFith pubs getting 84% more coin. Payments cover the publish- ers who collect through the Harry Fox office of the Music Publishers Protective Assn. Main reason for the Victor jump is ascribed to the introduction of the new 45 rpm Extended Play disks. The EP’s have been moving at a potent sales clip. ‘DANNY AT THE PALACE’ GETS DECCA RELEASE Timed for Danny Kaye's opening at the Palace Sunday (18), Decca Records is releasing a new album, “Danny At the Palace,” next week. Set will, include Kaye standards such as “Anatole of Paris.” “Good Old' 49” and “Tchaikowsky.” Mean- time, Kaye’s current J)ecca album of the Frank Loesser" score of the Samuel Goldwyn pic, “Hans Chris- tian Andersen,” has gone over the 100,000 sales marker. Decca in issuing the Kaye set as result of the good play it got on its “Judy At The Palace” album when Judy Garland played the Broadway theatre over a year ago. Capitol Corrals Ballet Theatre Orch Sparked by the growing interest in ballet music around the country, Capitol Records recently Inked the Ballet Theatre orch to a longterm pact, Orch will be under the baton’ of Joseph Levine, Ballet Theatre’s regular conductor. Cap will-release the platters on long-play disks. Initial release, which will hit the market next week, includes Chopin's “Les Sylphides,” Leonard Bernstein’s “Fancy Free,” Tschaikovysky’s “Princess Aurora” and Aaron Cop- land’s “Rodeo.” Decca Records, incidentally, recently released the Ballet Theatre orch’s waxing Df “Fancy Free.” ' Cap distribs will work in con- junction with the Ballet Theatre, 1 currently on a cross-country tour, in promoting the disks, Irwin New M-G-M Rep M-G-M Records named W. H. Irwin as its Wichita distrib rep. Wichita territory previously had been handled by Thomas Wolfe out of Oklahoma City. Wolfe will con- tinue as the diskery’s Oklahoma City area distrib. Meyer Davis to Preem ‘Mr. President’ on Ike Day Meyer Davis 'has composed a song for next week’s (20) Inaugu- ral Ball In Washington, titled “Mr. President.” He*ll preem it at the ball, where he’s to conduct. He’s signed Julian Patrick, Virginia Davis and the Mariners to sing with his orch. Davis has'also pacted with the U. S. Lines, starting Jan. 20, to handle music for the SS America. He’ll place three orchs on the ship, similar to the three-band setup on the SS United States. Manie Sacks, RCA Victor’s new general manager, will maintain the status quo in the diskery, as far as personnel is concerned, for the time being. Sacks said that the only changes he contemplates at present involve carpentry, meaning that he plans to shift some offices around on J;he 32d floor of the Interna- tional Building in Rockefeller Cen- ter. the diskery’s headquarters. In the key artists & repertoire posts at Victor, Sacks will ride with the current lineup of George R. Marek, pop-longhair a&r chief who- is liaison with the sales de- partment; Dave Kapp, pop record- ing manager; and Henri Rene, as- sistant to Kapp. The sales depart- nent will continue under Larry Kanaga. Although it’s understood that Sacks will eventually revamp Vic- tor’s Coast setup, he stated that he would make no changes' there at present. Sacks goes to the Coast Jan. 23 with RCA prexy Frank M. Folsom to o.- o. the company’s disk and radio-TV picture there. A1 Miller, who replaced Rene when the latter moved east, is currently heading Victor’s Coast department. Sacks said that h \Vants “to see what everybody can do” before making any personnel switches. That reference applies especially to the second-line echelons which Sacks will attempt to revitalize. Sacks has already addressed the N. Y. office staff and will pitch a more intensified theme for field- men and distribs before heading for the Coast. Paul A. Barkmeier, who stepped out of the RCA diskery top spot* has moved into another top RCA post as vice-prexy in charge of regional offices of the RCA Victor division. In this role, lie will be the top distribution chief and will re- sume • his role as a merchandising expert. Barkmeier formerly worked in such capacity at Montgomery Ward and Goldblatt Bros, in Chi- cago where Folsom also was lo- cated in the old days.. Barkmeier will be in eharge of RCA’s ex- panded airconditioning and stove business and will probably have a decisive voice in the disk distri- bution setup. Griff Williams Retires Chicago, Jan. 13. Griff Williams is retiring from the band business after 20 years, 18 as bandleader. Currently at the Edgewater Beach Hotel here, he winds up Jan. 22, after which he becomes a representative for Hay- wood Publishers, Chicago. Maestro started with the Anson Week band, and formed his own orchestra, debuting at the Mark Hopkins, San Francisco, in 1934. Oddly enough, he ends his musical career at the same spot he made his first Chicago appearance, the Edgewater Beach; RCA’s 500G Plant In Spain in Expansion Of Global Output RCA will expand its global pro- duction setup by opening a new factory in Spain this year for the manufacture of disks, record play- ers and television receivers. RCA will operate the new 322,000- squarerfoot site-*,';! near Madrid in partnership with Gabriel Soria, prexy and managing, director of Industria Electronica, RCA’s asso- ciate company in Spain. Soria is currently in the U. S. for talks with RCA prex Frank M. Folsom. Initial investment in the plant, which will be completed this year, is $500,000. New factory is part of RCA’s policy of having nationals of foreign countries as partners. RCA now has plants in Chile, Ar- gentina, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, Australia and Greece. Latter fac- tory now makes only small radios but will start disk production shortly. RCA is also planning to set up a plant in Italy in May. The Madrid factory will make only 45 rpm disks and machines at first due to their cheapness and trouble-free operation. Folsom said the plant would help 5 in the cul- tural exchange between tjie U. S. and Spain and said that he is look- ing forward to “telecast of im- mortal paintings in the Prado mu- seum and other art centers of Spain.” Besides Folsom and Soria, who will act as administrative head of the new factory, the board of direc- tors will include the latter’s broth-, er, Antonio Soria, and Meade Bru-, net, RCA vice prexy and managing director of its international divi- sion.