Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-12
Music Industry Probe
Asked by Petri||o as
Senate Hearing Opens
Musicians Union Heed
Charges Corporations
With Powerful Monopoly

With Powerful Monopoly
A wide inquiry into the entire
music industry, including record
making and radio broadcasting
was proposed today by James C.
Petrillo, president of the Ameri-
can Federation of Musicians.
Called before a Senate Interstate
Subcommittee to explain the unions
prohibition against the making Of
recordings for radio stations and
"juke boxes" by its members, Mr.
Petrillo testified: @
"Only by such q sweeping probe
can the tremendous control of the
music industry be shown to be in
the hands of a few giant corpora
tons who have become powerful ane
prosperous on the original work ano
at the expense Of the live musician
Thus Mr.. Petrillo, object Of inves-
tigation by the subcommittee headed
by Senator Clark of Idaho, in turn
demanded an investigation Of his
principal critics, who, he said, were
guilty "of monopoly, interlockine
arrangements and large profits"
Wants Complete Probe.
The union, an affiliate Of the
American Federation of Labor, con-
tends. Mr.. Petrillo testified, that the
real story OF its controversy with
broadcasting stations and record
makers could be obtained only
through an inquiry into the elmer
workings" of the industry and "a
complete examination and cross
examination OF the higher of the
officials managing the industry"
Much has been written and saic
about this controversy by those
whose interests are opposed to the
interests of the American Fedora
ton Of Musicians and its members,
Mr.. Petrillo testified.
He contended that what had been
said was not offered to enlighten
the public but for the purpose OF
abusing and insulting" its members
and Officers on the theory that III
you cannot answer a persons argu-
ments. you can still call him dirty
names"
The worst offender" he said, had
been the National Association OF
Broadcasters, and some Of its off,
Gals"
The broadcasters, he said. have
engaged in IAN expensive publicity
campaign composed of nothing but
false issues and personal abuse"
The musicians union, Mr. Petrillo
continued, welcomed the investiga-
ton providing it is full and COM
plete" and entails an investigation
Of "the entire industry in all its
operation"
Mr.. Petrillo testified after Senator
Clark had pointed out that con-
tinuation Of the recording prohibi-
ton would be suicidal" to the COM
munications system and the morale
Of the American people on the home
front as well as to the men of the
armed services in far-flung parts OF
the globe.
Clark Reviews Fight History.
For more than 80 minutes. Sena-
tor Clark reviewed the history OF
the fight of the broadcasters and
Government officials to have the
ban removed and at one point de-
clared:
Il personally don't care who is
to blame for this situation. but our
committee is going to find out
who is"
He said that since the prohibition
went into effect August l on order
of Mr.. Petrillo, the American peo-
pie as we'll as the men in this
country's armed forces on other
lands have been forced to "subsist
entirely on cold storage music"
Senator Clark called attention to
the order issued by Mr.. Petrillo
June Is last, which read:
From and after August /, 1912,
the members of the American Fed
Grafton of Musicians will not play
or contract for recordings, tram
scriptions or any other form of
mechanical reproductions of music. -
The effect of that order, the Sem
ator declared, was ito absolutely
prohibit the making Of transcript
lions or recordings in the United
States. Consequently, it may bt
fairly said that the American peo-
pie have been without any form OF
new commercially recorded music
since August l."
If he CMr. Petrillo) will change
his tune there'll be ample new tune.
for records to be played to soldier.
In Africa. Alaska and in the island.
Of the Pacific, as we'll as for thu
camps in this country" Senator
Clark said.
"A word from him would make it
possible to save many small radio
stations which depend upon re-
corded music to maintain the listen
ing audiences os vital to wartime
communication"
Recordings Are Vital.
Elmer Davis, director of the Office
OF War Information. appearing be-
fore recent preliminary hearing
by the subcommittee, said he spoke
for the War and Navy Department!
as we'll as the Communications
Commission when he said continu.
ance of recorded music was vital tt
wartime morale at home and on thu
battlefronts.
Mr.. Petrillo has commended thai
many radio stations and restaurant!
have displaced musicians with
canned music" and that the bar
on its members playing for recorded
music was not his own order, but
action taken by unanimous vote Of
delegates to the annual meeting Of
the federation.
Senator Clark told reporters sew.
eral days ago that in the event o.
failure to get the ban lifted other.
wise, he would appeal to President
Roosevelt to use wartime executiv.
powers.
Meantime. he has introduced leg.
islation to bring the union within
the scope Of the antitrust laws
That, he said, would make 1t pos.
sible to seek q court injunction tt
prevent maintenance Of the order.
C. G. Homer. Aufhorit,