Evening star., 1924-04-17
MUSIC INTERESTS
HIT FREE" RADIO
Publishers, Authors and Composers
Appear to Protest Dill
Measure.
SEE MENACE TO INDUSTRY
Believe Unlicensed Use of Compo-
sitions Will Eliminate Writers.

Authors, composers and music pub
fishers today presented their side of
the controversy with radio broad
casters and other unlicensed" dis
tributors of melody, before the Senate
patents committee.
The fight centers around the bill by
Senator Dill, Democrat. Washington,
proposing to relieve radio stations of
the imposition of royalties under the
copyright law for the music broad
cast without profit.
Gene Buck, president of the Ma
tional Association of Authors, Com
posers and Publishers, opened the
case for the song artists.
Victor Herbert, Irving Berlin, Au-
gustus Thomas and other leading
lights of the music and producing in
dustries were present.
Says Reward Menaced.
This bill takes away initiative
the reward for it, at least" Buck de-
clared, land if enacted will result in
the elimination of American song
writer's"
He said his organization was after
the cabaret with its cover charge"
the movie houses, which gave copy
righted music as an integral part of
their programs, and department stores
or broadcasting stations which used
music as part of their elaborate
publicity programs.
I'VE do not want a nickel, he
said, from the educational institu
ton, charity organization or munich
pal radio station"
Buck estimated the annual sales of
all branches of music aggregated
$500, 900 900 and asserted the value of
song to an author had been de-
creased SO per cent as result of
radio distribution.
ator Dill asked, between a radio
manufactures and newspaper
broadcaSter?"
Not at all, both are out for the
And hotels?" asked Chairman
"They also are after a profit" in
sisted Buck, "in the increase of good
will in their assets"
Senator Brandegee, Republican,
Connecticut, asked how broadcasting
affected the value of song.
"If heard in a theater," the witness
said, 'it leads to purchase of copies
of the song, or records, or music rolls,
l.
Radio, he said, was taking the place
of phonographS-"and we draw
royalties from the records, but none
from radio
Cites Successful Songs.
Chairman Ernst called attention to
one song, sales of which increased
tremendously after it was broadcast.
But that was a good song" ex-
planned Mr. Buck. II mean, it had
good points outside of any radio ap-
peal"
The charge that the Authors and
Composers Society comprises mo-
nopoly was denied by Buck.
Victor Herbert, vice president of
the society, said the situation threat
ening the composer was illustrated
by the experience of his own grand
father, who created dozens of popular
songs which are still sold widely, but
he never derived a cent from them"
He mentioned one recent song of
his own, which, he said, is broadcast
eight or ten times day.
mo one will buy copy of that
song now that it has been jammed
down the ears ad nauseam, he de-
clared.
e. c. Mills, also an official of the
society, argued tIdl lHe Iauio oec VI
songs violated the specific right given
under the copyright law. THE broad
casters come with the claim" he said,
that the advertising we get is full
satisfaction for our equity. They ad-
yertisc us to death"
Mills said the radio is keeping 1o,-
OoO 900 people at home. TT can't come
with clean hands," he said, until the
radio audience pays just-but it will
be nominal-price for its entertain
ment." Adverting to pronts MADE
by broadcasting stations, he said "a
newspaper proprietor, an officer in the
National Association of Broadcasters,"
had stated at the last annual meeting
of that association his view of the
great value of a station to a publi-