The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-01-30
GROWTH OF THE SONG BUSINESS
The Large Incomes Made By Writers
and Publishers.
(NeW York SUM-


The publishing Of popular -
said a song writer, lis an impo 1t
American industry. At least five big
houses are Interested heavily in the
popular song business, with offices in
New York and several other cities, and
they give employment to hundreds of
persons. There are several printers
who print songs almost exclusively;
more paper is consumed in a year in
the business than is used by many
newspapers, and many thousands OF
dollars are spent yearly for advertis-
ing. Few good songs come today from
England, which once practically sup
piled the market, but American songs
are sold there in large numbers and
thousands of copies go every year to
Germany. All this is a comparatively
recent development. Fifteen years ago
there was little money in the popular
song business, but today there is
fortune in it for a man with two or
three catchy songs, a, little money and
brains.
The man who wrote the words and
music of Break the News to Mother is
credited with having made 900 out
Of it. He is his own publisher, and has
his headquarters in a western city and
offices in New York and two other cit
les. He writes threa or four songs a
year, publishes half a dozen or so OF
the songs of other writer's, and is in re-
ceipt of an income that is very close to
So, 00e. Yet hardly six years ago, when
he wrote, After the Ball. he was IN
known and poor. He is said to have
offered that song for almost nothing to
several firms, and at last could only
get it published by borrowing money
and printing it himself. 1t became very
popular and its success made its au-
thor
The Oldest firm in the business start
ed a dozen years ago in d little store in
which there was scarcely standing room
for a desk and piano. The father and
sons who composed the firm worked
hard for success and got it, and today
they occupy a three-stOry building and
do yearly business of 100000. A few
years ago two young men wrote a
fearful song, entitled, My Mother Was
a Lady and published it with crafty
ing success. They have written four
songs since then, but the publishing of
other peoples songs keeps them so busy
now that they have little time to write
themselves Lately they have removed
into new and larger quarters. and ap-
parently are making a good deal Of
We're unknown men, with a few hun
bred dollars of capital.
about eighteen months ago man
who is now perhaps the most popular
song writer in tie country. had his first
song sung by q minstrel company. Its
success encouraged him to stick to the
business. and he has written since that
time nearly a hundred songs. After
having made the fortunes Of two pub
about four years ago with two young
men with enterprise and some capital (
and the success of the three partners is |
If the removal from small I
offices to large quarters is sign of
success. then this firm is enjoying it. /
One Of its rivals is a man who writes /
as well as publishes. He started out I
for himself about the time his 'Rastus I
)n Parade was written, and has fol- |
lowed up that great hit with A Geor- (
gia Camp Meeting which, arranged as I
an instrumental piece, is a wonderful 1
success, and viii probably be played for 1
years. The man whose name has been I
mentioned in connection with the man /
cement Of one of the newer boxers is |
Il the popular song business, and has /
TO score hit with each of /
he six songs ne has written. He was /
lot so well known three years ago. and |
lighters with. too. Today ii is different |
md his income from songs is a hand !
'ome one. The newest firm of publishers I
las been in business hardly a year, but /
[ has issued several hits and viii end /
ne year with big profit.
The position today of the song
writer is far better than it used to be.
There was a time when he sold his
'ongs outright for SO or So and was
slad TO get that much. for if they were
published on royalty he seldom saw
-ent Of what was due to him. Now.
here are no irresponsible publishers
md writer receives 50 many cents a
opy on all copies sold of his songs
There are, perhaps, twenty men who
make every year at the present time
ncre than $4,000 by writing songs, and
few of them average $780, 1t will be
cen that the writing and publishing of
ocular songs is a profitable business"