The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1938-12-08
Sound Films, Radio
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with 16 per cent for technical workers
in industry. Again, in Vienna in 1887,
it was estimated that 80 per cent of
musicians were without work.
Smaller Market for Phonograph
Records
The report admitted that phono-
graph recording and radio broadcast
ing were only partly responsible for
these conditions, and that the general
effects of the depression were also
largely to blame. Nevertheless, it
called attention to the fact that while
in most branches of industries, the
depression has been characterized by
obvious underconsumption, "never in
history has the public listened to so
much music and to so many entertain
ments as today when interpretative
artists are so grievously affected by
unemployment"
AS regards employment opportuni-
ties deriving from the preparation of
phonograph records and the organiza-
tion Of radio broadcasts, the report
held that these are far from making
up for the loss resulting from COM
petition with direct performances be-
fore the public Moreover, it pointed
out that while phonograph competition
was, for several years, offset to some
extent by the growing demand for new
records, which resulted in large pay
ments to recording artists, the recent
decrease in the demand for records
caused by radio competition with the
phonograph has further complicated
the situation. .. 49, .-.,...
In this connection, it revealed that
manufacturers receipts from records
sold in the United States dropped from
$47,O00,O00 in 1921 to $3,628,016 in
1885; while between 1925 and 1882 the
number Of radio listeners increased
from 100000 to 60,000,O0O, and be,
tween 1925 and 1929 receipts from
sales of radio sets rose from $685.
O00,O0 to $592,0O0,0O0
PhonOgraph Records Decrease
Employment
AS result, said the report, not only
has employment previously provided
for interpretative artists in phono.
graph recording been greatly curtail-
ed, but the frequent use of phono-
graph records for broadcasting
amounting sometimes to as much as
100 per cent in the case of small sta
tions, has replaced the living artist
in the studio and deprived him of an,
other possibility of employment.
That many broadcastipg companies
could not function without phonograpf
records, and could not offer to the
public the programs they now provide
the report acknowledged. 1t explain.
ed:
"The money saved by the use OF
phonograph records is considerable
and the funds at the disposal of tht
broadcasting establishments are afs,
from enabling t. to EMPLOY III,
artist himself on,s egular and con
| tinuous basis
Nevertheless, it cited case in tht
United States where, after a broad
casting company had paid $4,000 to {
famous orchestra for transmission O.
a program, rival concern bough
several records made by the same or
chestra and was able to broadcast ;
concert for $40.
Again, it disclosed that an inquir!
conducted in IA European countries
showed that, in three months, the tim,
on. the air given to the broadcastini
Of records, was over 5000 hours. Thu
cost of the records used was estimated
at about $4,000, whereas the cost O.
the same programs with the artists
themselves participating would have
been about $1,000,0O0.
"It should be emphasized ono,
more" said the report, "that only b!
recourse to phonograph records cal
the broadcasting establishments func
tion as they now do and offer the pub
lie programs Of high standard aht
varied character. To deprive them o,
this possibility would be a seriou.
blow to their financial equilibrium ano
their artistic possibilities.
"But it is none the less true thai
performers suffer severely from thi:
situation. They are the hardest hi
of all the parties collaborating in ra
dio broadcasting, since the Others
have succeeded in obtaining recogn
ton of certain rights and the payment
of certain compensation in the case o1