BEWARE OF SONG SHARKS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 12, Issue 290, 12 January 1945, Page 13

BEWARE OF SONG SHARKS

The Fishing Season Is Now Open

is much more ferocious than his marine counterpart. He feeds greedily on suckers and greenhorns and he can be found wherever these creatures exist, which is everywhere. Everyone has read of the fortunes waiting to fall into the laps of successful song-writers, and because the amateur fortune-hunter is the biggest greenhorn of the lot, the sharks have closed in on the field of song-writing with very considerable pecuniary success. In fact, the process of bleeding would-be Jerome Kerns and Irving Berlins has become such a racket in the United States that serious steps are being taken to protect at least their prospective victims in the U.S. armed forces. But the task is difficult, for most sharks manage to ,operate within the law. They are hard to catch, being carefully surrounded by expert legal talent. The song shark’s most familiar bait is a small advertisement along these lines: "Send us your poems for expert criticism. You may have a song hit. Upon acceptance, we edit, publish, record your song and bring it to the attention of bands and broadcasting studios." When the sucker has swallowed the bait by submitting his song, he receives land shark, so they say,

an enthusiastic letter stating that his lyrics are indeed hit material, that with a good tune and publication they can scarcely fail to score. Expenses incidental to publication-tune-writing, etc.-will of course cost a small amount, which must be sent in. The sucker sends the money and receives 20 printed copies of his song. Then an apparently different concern (the same shark using a different address) writes expressing great interest in his published song and suggesting a recording by an unfamiliar but impressively-named ‘orchestra. This can be done, of course, for a small fee. And so the process goes on. By the time the would-be millionaire has spent up to a hundred dollars, he usually becomes wearied of the whole thing and gives up. For his money he has received a hack tune, a cheap printing job, and a cheap acetate recording ‘worth, altogether, no more than 14 dollars. An Example of "Inspiration" In an attempt to trap several suspected song sharks, the National Better Business Bureau of America recently sent them the worst sample of lyric writing its staff. could concoct: ~ When we said goodbye by the silo After milking time at time of eve, Sadly you did cry and patted poor Fido, As I did march away in khaki sleeve The cows mewed goodbye, the chores were all done As I turned away and marched to Washington, etc., etc. 3 Sure enough, the firms selected for the test all replied with great enthusiasm"We receive very few lyrics that are as inspired and well written as yours... it has distinct novelty and originality... it should make a beautiful and appealing song which people would love to sing, whistle and remember (30 dollars for music and professional copies)." Though the song sharks are difficult to catch, they are easy to detect. What gives them away is asking for fees. No legitimate song publisher ever accepts money for publishing a song. |