Evening star., 1933-08-30
Emusic COPYRIGHT
| FIGHT CONTINUES
Radio Stations Must Pay
More to Composers, Au-
thors and Publishers.

."HE battle of words about mu-
sic between tin pan alley and
the broadcasting fraternity
goes into its second year Fri
day at which time radio sta
tions must boost the ante ! per cent
. in their payment Of royalties to the
American Society of Composers, Au-
:thors and Publishers.
Since September. 1882, broadcasters
.have paid the society, which controls
virtually all of the popular music, ap-
.proximately s750,000 in so-called sus-
tanning fees plus 3 per cent OF their
met receipts for the right to perform the
"A. S. C. A. P. music. Stations were
.given the ultimatum OF accepting
+three-year percentage contracts or fac
ing the withdrawal of the society's mu-
:sic from the air.
The contracts provide for an increase
in the royalty to 4 per cent for the
second year, which begins September
Il, and to per cent for the third year,
plus the sustaining fees For the first
wear, it is estimated. the society col
elected between 81 100000 and S2,000.0 900
from broadcasters. Previously they
paid the society a flat fee, with no per-
~centage stipulation, based upon the
power and size of the stations. This
yielded approximately 81 100000 year.
I: Broadcasters complained they were
forced to accept the new contracts
."under duress" and that the royalties
.are "extortionate." A year ago they
.hired Newton D. Baker. former Secre-
.tary of War. as their copyright counsel.
sThey also retained Oswald F. Schuette,
famed as a trust buster as their
copyright director. Both are working
toward the common goal of getting
emusic at a more reasonable fee for
sbroadcaSting. even If 1t takes dlSsolu-
stion suit against the society. Both the
Department of Justice and the Federal
TRADE Commission are conducting eX-
~haustive inquiries to ascertain whether
"A S. C. A. P is an illegal combine
,having a monopoly on music. Broad
tcasters confidently expect the Depart
~ment to launch a suit against A. S.
&C A. P alleging restraint of trade.
!. The National Association of Broad
coasters has also formed the Radio
Program Foundation, headed by Mr..
.Schuette. which has gone into the mu-
sic business and aspires to build up
reservoir of music sufficient to take
care of radios needs.
4 X ;;
JACK PEARL and his pal "Sharlie," ="
are coming back to the microphone
on new schedule starting on
IN B. c. october 7. The broadcasts
will last for 80 minutes and come on
Saturday nights instead of the hour
xshow that ran last year on Thursdays.
sBoth Pearl and Cliff Hall. the 'Sharlie"
>sof the broadcasts, are in Hollywood
:naking movies.
"A MASS baptismal to be conducted
IA by Elder Lightfoot Solomon
Michaux in the Potomac River,
Sunday from 3 to 5 O'Clock, will be
broadcast in part by WJSV.
. II is estimated that from $4,000 to
10000 persons will gather at the waters
ledge at o and Water streets. near the
Army War College, to witness and take
part in the services.
: The massed baptismal will be the
first to be conducted by Elder Michaux
since the establishment of his unique
Church of God in Washington. His
first baptismal on a large scale was held
-on the shores Of the James River near
sNeWport News. Va. At that time the
blanks of the river were lined with thou
sands of persons from Virginia and
NEARBY States.