Evening star., 1933-01-02
BROADCASTERSS SHY
At GEAR SCHEME
Ardor for Proposal CooIs.
Would Select Man From
Own Ranks.
BY MARTIN CODEL.

BY MARTIN CODEL.
Their ardor somewhat cooled since
their enthusiastic convention at St.
Louis month ago, organized American
broadcasters are not SO sure now that
what their industry needs is a GEAR" Of
the prominence Of Judge Lands OF base
ball or Will Hays of the movies.
Sentiment now seems to be swaying
more toward the idea of selecting a
capable man from within their own
ranks as executive head Of their Ma
tional Associations of Broadcasters. To
pick prominent figure from the out
side, it is argued, would increase the
associations budget beyond available
4 proportions, and, however, would be
/. tacit admission that something Is radi-
cally wrong with radio that cannot be
cured from the inside.
Call Step Premature.
Though certain leading broadcasters
still insist that an overload be ap-
pointed for the sake of better self
regulation. others equally as prominent
say such step would be premature at
this time They maintain that public
opinion, readily sensed, added to the
rigid restrictions already imposed by
the Federal Radio Commission, pro-
vides sufficient regulation for the
present.
They deplore the widespread pub
.licity that was given the 'cZar" idea,
insisting the word is misnomer. They
say they had in mind leader who
would front for radio against its con-
slant critics. and not man who might
tell them what they can and what
fhpX- fn HnnU willing that
a paid executive be selected who knows
radio intimately. Names most fire.
cuently mentioned are James w. Bald
win, able young Radio Commission
secretary; Henry A. Bellows, former
radio commissioner now vice president
of Columbia Broadcasting System,
who has just been transferred by his
company from Minneapolis, where he
has been managing Station WCCO, to
Washington, and William S. Hedges,
former Chicago newspaper man, twice
president of the N. A. b., and now
manager Of WMAQ, Chicago.
ALI these men know every angle of
the radio situation. Certain men not
now in radio also know its peculiar
problems, and some broadcasters think
it would be wiser move to try to in
duce one of them TO take the job.
The question of funds then arises. The
industry as a whole has done fairly
well even through the depression, but
only small fraction Of the total sta
tions in the country can be said to
be operating with really substantial
profits.
1t is generally agreed, however, that
the N. A. B. needs bolstering in the
way Of leadership, support and in
creased membership. This is not to
impute any criticism of Philip G.
Loucks, youthful managing director of
the NJ A. B., who in two years has
boosted its membership nearly three
fold and who was accorded an enthusi-
astic vote of confidence at st. Louis.
-, The proposal is now advanced that
Z Mr.. Loucks be assigned to complete the
organization, which he built up from a
wavering social fraternity. while a paid
executive remains in Washington to
maintain it and to act as spokesman
Tor all broadcasters against the. con-
slant criticisms of those who want Gov
: eminent ownership, those who protest
that radio is oVercommercialized, those
who blame 1t as a competitor or those
who simply want wave lengths for
: themselves.
= Want More Members.
. They want the N. A. B. membership
increased from its present 200 stations
TO perhaps 400, which would embrace
about tWo-thirds Of all stations. The
present membership includes nearly ali
the more important stations, but the
big fellows" of radio now want the
little fellows" to join with them in
their common cause. One of the Bit
teTe5t fights now facing broadcasting
reVolVes around copyrights. To con-
duct that fight the N. A. B. has actu-
a!ty appointed 9 ''czaE" in the person
OF Oswald +. Schuette, noted fer his
crusade against the radio trust"
It is no misnomer to label Mr..
Schuette "czar." Only last week he
issued an edict to all broadcasters un-
der the absolute powers in copyright
activities conferred upon him at st.
Louis. He ordered a ban on song
plugging" by radio as a reprisal upon
Inc American Society of Composers.
Authors and Publishers, which recently
imposed q percentage royalty on the
net receipts from practically all radio
. programs in payment for allowing radio
10 perform its copyright music.
BroadcaSters complain the 8, and S
per cent royalties of the next three
years, added TO the nearly 1000, 600
now Delng paid annually to the copy-
right owners, is exorbitant. They are
willing to pay royalty but only on
programs actually using the society's
music. Mr.. Schuette has offered a fiat
per cent plus present fees to cover
non-comaercial programs. The OFFER
has been rejected.
Because the society restricts certain
song hits to prevent them from being
played too frequently and their life thus
shortened, at the same time asking
broadcasters to plug" other less poplI.
lar numbers. Mr.. Schuette has or
dered radio TO refuse altogether to
plug" those the society wants adver-
t-sed. This would eliminate MANY song
hts from the air Many broadcasterS
may not be willing to accede to The
order. VAC
Mr. Schuette has proposed this re-
Z prIsal; 1t remains to be seen how tba
radio people, who voted him his broad
powers but who are under no absolute