Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1939-09-14
Lights Of New York
by l. L. STEVENSON


From 10000 to 10000 persons,
scattered all over the country, con-
tribute about a million dollars a
year to operators of the song pub
fishing racket. The gyp publishers
conduct their racket through the
mas. They get reluctant though
useful cooperation from Uncle Sam.
The government can't do anything
about the matter. The sharks are
careful to keep within the letter Of
the law. Discreetly worded prom
ises yielC full immunity from prose-
cution since those promises, howev-
-er badly they may turn out for the
song writer, are kept. Occasionally
a shark steps over the thin dividing
line. That's bad for him. It doesn't
do the song writer much good, how
ever, as there are more parasites
to take his place and add to the
number of broken hearts. The bust
ness is so profitable that there are
always those ready to prey on the
ambitious.
The song writing urge seems to be
strongly implanted here in the Unit
ed States. Many of the hopefuls
send their brain children to publish
ing firms familiar to sheet-muSic
purchasers. 1t is safe to say that
all are returned to the writer's, in
most cases unopened and unexam-
ined, publishers being exceedingly
wary about dealing with unknowns.
Picture then the joy when an ad
such as the following is encoun-
tered: "Song writer wanted. Fa-
NOUS composer needs more mate
rial from new talent. Send your
song poems at once. Fame and for
tune can be yours" Nine times out
of ten, one or more manuscripts go
into the mail. The embryo song
writer is ready for skyrocket flight
to glory. But instead, usually a
trimming awaits him.
His letter gets a speedy reply.
The Exceptional song'' has met i'm
mediate approval. A great future is
predicted. The song of course must
have excellent music composed for
it. That and few slight revisions
and other costs, such as copy
righting the completed song, require
a small fee." The IS nall fee"
may range from $50 to $10O. The
song writer isn't permitted to dwell
too long on the sordid thoughts of
money. The letter makes point Of
relating the success attained by for
mer unknown writer's. He, too, is
soon to taste the sweet glory of
fame. And so the song shark gets
his fees.
The next letter excites emotions
still further. The finished song has
been declared ready for "big time"
The famous composer" would like
to write more music for his
"sparkling lyrics" A beautifully
engraved contract calls for only a
modest commission on movie, ra-
-dio and sheet music revenues" In
this way, a world of benefits are in
timated. But quite tactfully the
mention of guarantee of the sale
of the song has been omitted. "Of-
fering for sale" is quite another
matter.
A hundred copies of the song SUBJ
united may eventually find their
way into print. Those copies, a
United States copyright and music
by famous composer" are all
the shark is obligated to provide.
To further protect himself he may
arrange for a single radio broad
cast from some insignificant station.
Hundreds of complaints are re-
ceived each week by the American
Society of Composers, Authors and
Publishers, and the Music Publish
ers Protective association. But
nothing can be done about it. The
sharks stay within the letter of the
law. The only remedy seems to be
exposure.
Strangely enough it is ridiculously
simple to detect the song shark.
The first rule for amateurs to keep
in mind is that the legitimate pub
Usher asks no investment from the
writer. Accredited firms assume all
responsibility and expense for pub
LEGATION, distribution and exploita-
ton. Legitimate publishers do not
advertise for "song poems," shit
LYRICS" or "verses" so that they
can furnish appropriate music.
Publishers do not accept songs from
<'song writer's agents." or other
middlemen. And so, six letters re-
Gently received are answered.
BELL Syndicate-WNU Service.)