The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-10-19
STEALING NEW SONGS.
A Profitable business Done in Musi-
chi limitations.


business Of sCng-writing that the pIag-
iarIst and imitator can succeed better
than the originator. The same remark
can scarcely b. made of any other oscu-
patton, but evidence Of its truthfuluess
IN relation to the song writer's is 10 be
found on every side. The manner Of utiI-
ling another mans work is not so OBJ
vious as 10 bring with it grounds for
breach Of COPYRIGHT. although the imi-
tation Of popular songs is always close
enough TO gain all the advantage that
comes from a resemblance Of the orig
inaI
II would ordinarily be thought that a
song very muCh resembling one that had
been sung from one end of the country
10 the other would stand very little
tuahce OF success that the public would
already have had its till Of this particular
melody But the reverse is true and so
soon as one song has gained "a great
vogue, the publishers who are not f0-tu-
nate enough 20 have the rights to il i'm
mediatcly set some Of their house-brollen
composers to work on an imitation. which
shall be as much as possible like the 6-St
out avoid infringement. II the hired imi-
tator does his work well. the second song
Is likely 10 make as much money as the
One Of the songs heard now on all
SIDES Is direct copy with a few
changes of tempo and variations of
rhythm Of song composed Just after
subject 1t was great suCccs-$ and s,as
sung aud whistled from Maine To San
tiaEo; The copy. at present the song OF
lHt AaE, is gong 20 make lust as much
money for everybody concerned ia its
puphcauon. although il differs IN only
inc most obvious details from tho
song JnaJ inspired it. The difference.
however, IS great enough TO protect the
composer and his publishers from legal
proceed ilgS.
In this way has every popular song had
he g frf 70.
Allty was copied almost literally In an
other song that Immediately followed il
ana the same experience befeI every 9th
ct ulJty that attained more than usual
popularity So soon as the astute uIIh-
fishers see that a ballad has gone ahead
or others In its sale they Immediately set
70 WOrk to have their copy made and keen
Intlr rivals from having all the money.
me success Of these limitations is be-
neEed 70 come from the familiarity of the
public with the air when IL is heard In
the slightly changed form which Is not
likely 20 be noticed by casual hearers
VINO would not recognize a plagiarism II
/ they had heard il or care anything about
II II tney I'D Familiarity breeds in the
business Of popular songs only affection
and once the air-sOuuds known il an
pcals 70 the nearer with more force Thus
these plaglariSms Of weII-knOwn tunes are
/ successful before those that have TO make
their way as new songs: and hence the
/ taserneSs Of the publishers 10 cap the
game Of th-ir rivals.
In exploiting those more familiar songs
! the music firms are not put to The same
expense that they are compelled to sIIS-
[ tain through the introduction Of the quite
original and unknown works The dem
CustTatOr, as he is called. who JOURNEYS
from one end Of the country to the other
like kind Of musical CONNIE rUial travel
CT, is not needed 70 the same extent. and
Ihuch less Wprk IS required TO make the
song known. although one or two variety
actresses Will be- employed to sing DO in
the large cities And the demonstration on
MS rounds may have the song included
lu his repertoire.
The demonstration is an cmpIoyc Of the
publisher. and what he presumably dem
ODSt~atcs is the superiority 8f his urIu 8
publications. He will be sent to C,r-
tain region OF th- cUuuJry-Cap,- Cod. for
lgstau c'--auI he viii sing mis- way from
one end ~ 81 tU tho other Comic uT sem
tln'utai songs th"f his firm publishes Will
I hc sung I'm IN. boarding house parIors
while be viii volunteer 10 sing in the
/ churches on Sundays or at prayer me- ing
/ tho sacred tunes he has 20 sell HE nav
/ take IrC rs himself or leave the catalogue
Z 81 his firm publications. Thus the songs
are mad, known where there are no thea
tres % introduce them.
Some OF The church choirs even In the
N'w 1rF churches are said to- act as
1fTl1uSl tors or "a kind not suspected by
tha music committee Of the church. al
! though THIS charge against the Ch0irIuas-
tors may Doe Calumuy. The demonstration
has an easier job when he strikes one Of
] those oo.ies that are already more or less
1 known from their resemblance to the
original that inspired them
| 4 curious instance Of q kind OF 'caDner'r
l for song was TO D., seen as well as heard
at New York theatre the other night
! A comedian on the stage had sung the
I chorus OF rather IugubTious and seuti-
mental aItLy. The audience had taken
| very little interest in it, but looked around
| when young man arose In box near
| the stage and sang in powerful! voice
I the same lines. Then be sat down much
| 90 the relief 0f n woman IN the adjoining
/ box who had jumped out Of q window
| when She heard the singing and saw the
| attention Of the audience directed to the
/ next box The singer ended and the au-
/ diCEce which cared no more FOR him than
| for the song, was silent. Re was q dem
! CustratOr doing his cmrlOyor's work in
| trying TO impress the song on the public
| That song. moreover. happened 10 be stol-