El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-06-13
. HE annual meeting Of the Music
Publishers association, opening

today in New York, will give
consideration to the question of rails
ing the standard of American music
and the possibility of lessening the
number of poor compositions with
which the markets are flooded. Despite
the criticisms as to the quality Of
much Of the newer music put out by
American publishers, the enormous in
crease in the music publication bust
ness has now made it an important in
dustry in the country
The Music Publishers association of
America, is an outgrowth Of the old
Board of Music trade which for half
century dominated the publication
OF American music. 1t was organized
In 1895 and at first included only Is
music publishers. 1t has now multi
piled its membership several times and
has become active in the development
of everything pertaining to the music
industry.
Protecting American Music.
The association first took up the
question of an international music
copyright law which would protect
American music from the encroach-
ments Of foreign trade Shortly after
the publication Of the Sousa marches
in New York. a firm in the City of
American papers at the rate of five
cents per copy. at a time when their
copyright price in America was 40
cents. Several publishers in Montreal
did the same thing with other Ameri-
.'an productions, causing great loss
both TO the authors and publishers At
first the music publishers invoked the
aid OF the postoffice authorities in the
enforcement of a law which confiscat-
ed music copyrighted in America that
was sent into this country under vio-
iation OF the law. This process was
a tedious one, however 1t did not
solve the problem and the American
music publishers constantly suffered
loss by the dishonesty of foreigners
The new copyright law which has
lately been put into effect gives full
protection from this piraticaI eompeti-
tion- The application for a copyright
on sheet music at the Congressional
library in Washington is duplicated in
Montreal and Mexico, and in Europe
II desired. The date and the hour are
stated so that a copyright which be-
comes effective on certain day at
IL o'clock in the morning at Washing
ton is also in force in the other coun-
tries at the same date and hour. It
is believed that there will be no extern
sive violations of this law.
Must Cater TO Popular Taste.
In music, as in literature, publishers
must cater to the popular taste. How
ever much a conscientious publisher
may wish to supply good music to the
public. the exigencies Of trade compel
him TO consider what is submitted
The publishers are rather unjustly
blamed for the great amount Of bad
music put forth in America It is
90 81 frl~-
published now than quarter of cen
fury ago because modern mechanical
methods have, greatly reduced the ex-
pense. When there were only a dozen
music publishers available a compo-
position must have possessed some merit
TO warrant the cost of its production.
which was usually at the expense of
the publisher. Now it is as easy for
a musician to rush into print as it is
for writer. If first class publisher
does not buy the music or at least
publish II upon its merits, giving the
composer royalty, there are plenty
Of other publishers who are willing to
put any kind of a composition on the
market at the authors expense. and it
requires much less money to do this
than it did few years ago.
Pooling the Music Writers.
The last ten years have developed a
number of music publishers who in
crease their trade by misleading adj
vertisements. They collect many mu-
steal manuscripts for publication at
prices which give them an extortionate
profit They also collect songs which
they employ low grade musicians TO
set to music Such advertisements as
There may be a fortune in a song.
Send us your manuscript. II it is mer-
torious we will supply the music and
publish 1t for you at low rates" have |
become well known throughout the !
country. The ambitious song writer |
sends in his manuscript and is prompt
v Informed that it is very meritorious. |
Then follows the offer to publish it /
or a price which may range from SIS