American Broadcast and Music Organizations Amalgamate

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 38, 3 April 1931, Page 9

American Broadcast and Music Organizations Amalgamate

HH following is an extract from a letter received from the head offices of the National Broadcasting Company, New York: "In your issue of Friday, January 26, under ‘Radio wid Round the ‘World,’ you re~fer to the National Broadcasting Company of the United States amalgamating with two prominent American music publishing houses, which are to ‘select the works to be broadcast by the N.B.C.’ While it is true that the National Broadcasting Company has formed the Radio Music Company, the idea of having the Radio Music Company select the works to: be broadcast by the N.B.C. is entirely. erroneous." The paragraph referred to runs as follows: "With the idea of killing jazz and educating the public to appreciate fine music, a Determination of Broadcasting Company hds been formed in New York. The National Broadcasting Company has amalgamated with two prominent American music publishing ; houses, with a combined capital of £1,320,000. These publishing houses will select the works to be broadcast by the N.B.C." Enclosed with the letter published above was an article containing fuil details of the amalgamation. This in part we reproduce below. The new company apparently realises that, taken generally, the present trend of American music will lead nowhere, and that it is time an effort was made to stimuJate interest in the higher forms of music. Details of the ‘Amalgamation, HE organisation of a music publish- ' ing company effecting a merger of two nationdlly-known institutions with a great broadcasting system was announced recently simultaneously with the filing in Albany of the incorporay tion papers of the Radio Music Company.: The new organisation effects a * combination of two leading music publishers, Carl Fischer, Ine, and Leo Feist, Inc. The National Broadcasting Company enters the ‘icture as a third incorporator. M. H. Aylesworth, president of the National Broadcasting Company, is to be chairman of the board of the Radio Music Company. The néw company will amalgamate the working combination of the Fischer firm, a dominating factor in the publishing field in classical, standard and edueational music, the Feist organisation with its leadership in the publication of popular music, and the agency regarded as the greatest influence of modern times in the dissemination of music of all kinds-radio broadcasting. Aligned with the new music organigation will be the foremost American composers, it was announced, including not only the writers of popular music, but the musicians who are creating today what will be considered the class. ‘ieal compositions of the future. While ~~

the music of all nations will be considered by the new firm, it will adopt a policy of encouragement and stimulus to American composers and native music, particularly compositions of the better class. . The Company’s Policy. "HE policy of the Radio Musie Company will be ‘dedicated to the improvement of music in general, the advancement of American culture and the promotion of education of young people in the art of music," Mr. Aylesworth said recently. He pointed out that the alliance between the new organisation and the broadcasters will assure composers of a real audience for their best efforts, and that in turn the radio audience will demand these best efforts. The operating policy of the new organisation will be almost revolutionary, Mr. B, C. Mills, the new president, remarked when commenting on the Radio Music Company. "While in the final analysis the Radio Music Company will be a commercial music-publishing venture,’ he continued, "nevertheless the scope of its activities will be so broad as to have the real objective not primarily in profits, but in making an active an. intelligent use of the tremendous facilities (the NBO system) placed at its disposal for the purpose of enhancing and improving the whole trend of American music. . "The radio studios will be the proving grounds for the publications of the new company. The approva! of the radio public has always had.a great influence on the characteristics of published music, and the approval of this same public will be used to determine new publication policies. The new organisation already is at work on the most ambitious plaus so far made for musical education courses. Discouraging Jazz. HAT the new firm will have its influence in putting jazz in the background of the American musical picture was also expressed by Mr. Mills. "We have had perhips too much jazz," he remarked, "and as there is no denying the influence of music upon the trend of the people’s inclinations, it seems about time for someone to assume’ leadership in a movement away from the cacaphony of most music of the day. "Popular music, so called, has had and always will have its proper place. The folk songs of a people are its popular music, Out of the war-time travail came jazz as we know it now. It expresses a musical motif born of fear, excitement and hurry. Contrary to the traditions of Stephen Foster, who wrote what.are probably the greatest songs our nation has ever produced, the writers of to-day in the popular field seem to be determined to crowd into a composition all that there Is of

nervous excitement and hysteria of the moment, To a large extent the life of a nation reflects its music, no less than the music itself is a reflection of the temper of the people. Is it not time for a return to sanity? I think we should go back to melody and let it -~-

serve instead of noise to give us the inspiration which we expect from music, In the popular field, therefore, the Radio Music Company will "have the definite objéctive of a finer product."