Music Trades articles from May 2003

Music Trades archives from May 2003

Dealing with sinking prices. (Letters).
May 1, 2003... Great editorial "When Old Habits Collide." (March) Please give my kudos for being right on the money. Literally! Cliff Castle Audix Corp. Wilsonville, OR I just finished reading your March editorial. Hats off for the great...

The music industry census. (Letters).
May 1, 2003... I received your April issue today (thank you!), and once again I think you guys have done a fantastic job. This issue is truly crucial to our future planning, and I find myself constantly mining it for details. Marcus Ryle Chief...

War-time jitters affect retail sales. (Industry Briefings).
May 1, 2003... Consumer spending was weak throughout March, further indicating that the ongoing war, a soft labor market, and higher energy prices have been weighing on the minds of consumers. The Commerce Department said that personal-consumption...

Jukebox jury computer program predicts hit songs. (Industry Briefings).
May 1, 2003... Record companies are to test a "juke box jury" computer program that can predict if a song is likely to top the charts. The program, called "Hit Song Science" correctly forecast the success of jazz songstress Norah Jones months before she...

Music industry sues four college students. (Industry Briefings).
May 1, 2003... The recording industry is expanding its fight against illegal internet content swapping by suing four college students for allegedly offering more than one million copies of popular music. In recent lawsuits filed in federal courts in New York,...

Bee Gees fan snaps up Maurice Gibb guitar. (Industry Briefings).
May 1, 2003... A Bee Gees fan has bought the last guitar played by Maurice Gibb for $24,000. Dave McFarlane works as a hauling contractor in Glasgow and bought it at a charity auction. He said it was a "dream come true" to own the six-string Samick acoustic...

Does Indianapolis hip-hop ban discriminate? (Industry Briefings).
May 1, 2003... Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson has asked a task force to examine claims that some nightclubs in a north side neighborhood discriminate against blacks by agreeing to limit when rap music can be played. "I'm concerned because there is a...

Try watching the nature channel. (Editorial).
May 1, 2003... The news is grim. State governments based their spending on the cheerful assumption that tax revenues would continue growing at a rapid pace for all eternity. Then they got mugged by reality. The stock market tanked turning capital gains into...

Why not standards? Retailer Greg Billings urges digital player piano makers to follow the lead of the phone and recording industry and adopt a standard software format. The entire industry would benefit. (Guest Editorial).
May 1, 2003... For her eighteenth birthday, my niece was recently given a 400 disk CD player. When I asked if she had enough CDs to fill the carousel she said, "Sure, at least that many." "Oh!," I responded, "What kind of music do you have?" She said that it...

Quarterly retail sales data. (Market Intelligence).
May 1, 2003... Music retailers lost out to CNN this last quarter as customers stayed glued to their television screens throughout the month of March. The "CNN Effect" as some describe it, helps explain why retailers across the board from autos to music,...

NAMM launches school music initiative: new Web tool Supportmusic.com informs and empowers parents facing school music program funding cuts. (Industry Forefront).
May 1, 2003... "SUPPORTMUSIC," THE largest initiative of its kind dedicated to positively impacting community resolve and inspiring action to support music education in the United States, has been launched by the Music Education Coalition, an entity created...

Gibson touts digital guitar to computer industry: with music industry less than enthusiastic about Ethernet Internet, Juszkiewicz presents system at CES and Comdex shows. (Industry Forefront).
May 1, 2003... GIBSON GUITAR HAS a long heritage of breaking with tradition. Company founder Orville Gibson launched the company in 1894 with a revolutionary mandolin that was built using violin-making techniques. Gibson's current CEO, Henry Juszkiewicz,...

Conn-Selmer settles Elkhart strikes. (News Flash).
May 1, 2003... CONN-SELMER, INC., a subsidiary of Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc., announced on April 1 that approximately 500 unionized employees at two facilities in Elkhart, Indiana, have approved new three-year contracts. "We are extremely pleased...

Washburn partners with Paul McCartney to promote "Wings" book. (Industry Forefront).
May 1, 2003... WASHBURN GUITARS is participating in a promotion with Paul McCartney by providing him with 18 basses as part of a spectacular prize package that is tied to his new book, Wingspan. The prize package will be given away in the largest radio...

Baggs iBeam pickup wins 2nd MIPA award. (Industry Honors).
May 1, 2003... THE IBEAM PICKUP from L.R. Baggs won the 2003 MIPA award for Best Pickup for the second year in a (Musikmesse International Press Award) are voted on by editors of 55 magazines from all over the world. The awards cover musical instruments,...

Community speeds production with automated router: computer-controlled woodworking machine increases efficiency & quality. (Industry Forefront).
May 1, 2003... AT COMMUNITY Professional Loudspeakers a new lightning-quick router from C.R. Onsrud has become a boon to the manufacturer's production efforts. Added to a growing CNC-based manufacturing infrastructure by Chief Production Engineer Ernie...

Kaman percussion hosts Luau to celebrate industry awards. (Industry Forefront).
May 1, 2003... KAMAN MUSIC'S PERCUSSION Team has a lot to celebrate these days. After ending 2002 on a high note when it received three prestigious Modern Drummer Consumer Poll awards (Gibraltar Hardware for "Best Quality in Craftsmanship in Accessories,"...

Byu-Idaho installs large Rodgers organ. (News Flash).
May 1, 2003... BRIGHAM YOUNG University's Idaho campus has installed a stunning new black four-manual Rodgers custom console with 61 digital organ voices added to 52 ranks of existing Ruffatti pipes in the University's Barrus Concert Halt of the Eliza R. Snow...

Australian Music Industry launches music makers program: borrowing strategies from NAMM, music firms down under unite to expand market. (Industry Forefront).
May 1, 2003... THE AUSTRALIAN MUSIC products industry--through its representative body, the Australian Music Association (AMA)--has unveiled an initiative to help build a more profitable and sustainable future for the industry. The AMA's Music Makers Program...

Leblanc France resumes production after fire. (News Flash).
May 1, 2003... G. LEBLANC CORPORATION reports that repairs to its fire-damaged clarinet factory in France are now largely complete. The factory has resumed production, with approximately 75 percent of its employees back at work on April 1. Remaining employees...

D'Addario & Musicorp strengthen partnership. (Industry Forefront).
May 1, 2003... DURING A RECENT TRAINING session at MBT headquarters in Charleston, South Carolina, J. D'Addario & Company presented Musicorp with an award for outstanding support and sales in the 2002 calendar year. Musicorp is a division of MBT...

Pro audio association formed: headed by Paul Gallo, PAMA plegdes to give audio firms "common voice," will not run trade shows. (Industry Forefront).
May 1, 2003... A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION will be the voice and the advocate for a unified pro audio industry. The Professional Audio Manufacturers Alliance (PAMA) will help the industry identify and benefit from new opportunities for growth and profitability...

U.S. dealers tour Czech instrument plants. (Global News).
May 1, 2003... A GROUP OF LEADING U.S. music retailers toured the Amati wind instrument and Strunal string factories in the Czech Republic. The tour, which was organized by G. Henle, a leading German music publisher, included stops in Hungary and Austria. and...

Wrightway to expand after record 2002. (Industry Forefront).
May 1, 2003... WRIGHTWAY MUSIC Products announced on April 1 that it will further expand its business into the wholesale markets after record growth in 2002. "This is an exciting time for us at WrightWay," said Matt Wright, president. "We've had great...

Yamaha redesigns corporate website. (Industry Forefront).
May 1, 2003... YAMAHA CORPORATION of America has announced the launch of a restructured website to spotlight the company's musical instruments, new products, special promotions, and artist news. Located at www.yamaha.com, the site integrates information in a...

QRS sales and net surge for six-month period. (Corporate Earnings Digest).
May 1, 2003... QRS MUSIC TECHNOLOGIES, Inc., reported record sales and record net income for the three months ended December, 31, 2002, and results for the six months ended December 31, 2002. Sales for the three months ended December 31, 2002, were $5,088,333...

Hohner/HSS & Midco to distribute HardCase line. (Corporate Earnings Digest).
May 1, 2003... HOHNER/HSS AND MIDCO have joined forces to distribute HardCase drum cases in the U.S. The agreement was announced at the Winter NAMM show by David Samuel, Midco chairman; George Westjohn, Midco general manager; Bob Cotton, Hohner/HSS president;...

At the NAMM show. (Industry Forefront).
May 1, 2003... Derrick Round of Amber Plastics, UK; George Westjohn and Dave Samuel of Midco; and Brendan Murray of the Trust Network, UK. The new generation of HardCase won the "Best Drum Case" award in both 2001 and 2002 from the drum and percussion...

Perlman and super-sensitive--a perfect match. (Industry Forefront).
May 1, 2003... String Co. and Entertainment Music Marketing Co. (EMMC) have jointly donated two violins with Itzhak Perlman's signature on them to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota, Florida, for the hall's upcoming annual auction. The proceeds...

M-audio announces M-World 2003 training sessions. (Promoting Technology).
May 1, 2003... M-AUDIO KICKED OFF the spring leg of its popular M-World tour at the Winter Music Conference in Miami March 19-21. Sponsored by Remix, the NAMM-style stage show brings hands-on experience and world-class demonstrations of hardware and software...

Controvery surrounds Clinton's Piano bankruptcy. (Retailer Update).
May 1, 2003... WITH SALES ADVERSELY affected by a sagging economy, Clinton's Piano, which operated four stores in Connecticut, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on March 3. Assets of the failed retailer, which had been founded in 1894, were liquidated...

Guitar Center Management rewarded for profit gains. (Retailer Update).
May 1, 2003... GUITAR CENTER POSTED DRAMATICALLY improved financial results in 2002. Despite a generally soft retail economy, sales advanced 15.9% to $1.1 billion. A near tripling of operating income at Musician's Friend helped generate a 47% increase in net...

Ruggero Piano opens new showroom. (Retailer Update).
May 1, 2003... A NEW SHOWROOM equipped with a 175-seat concert hall has sparked sales at Ruggero Piano in Raleigh, North Carolina. Customers braved sleet and snow in late February to attend a grand opening celebration that featured a chamber music concert...

Percussion clinic at Kidder Music. (Clinic News).
May 1, 2003... KIDDER MUSIC of Peoria, Illinois, hosted a concert percussion clinic on March 15 for area school band students. Thirty-two young drummers participated in the event at Kidder's Peoria store. Guest clinicians Kevin Nichols and Rick Kurasz,...

So. Cal dealers search for best young drummer. (Retailer Update).
May 1, 2003... AMERICAN MUSIC Center in Ventura, California, played host to Sunlite Drums' 2003 "Top Gun" competition finals for the Greater Los Angeles area on February 28 as Sunlite's search for southern California's most talented drummer up to age 18 drew...

Sweetwater taps huge new market: everyone a prospect for "stringless guitar," no talent required! (Retailer Update).
May 1, 2003... SWEETWATER'S RESEARCH & Development department has announced the release of the Guitar Racket, also called the Stringless Guitar, Sweetwater's first foray into the music instrument field. David Stewart, director of Sweetwater's R&D,...

Larrick Piano holds successful off-site sale. (Retailer Update).
May 1, 2003... RESISTING THE TEMPTATION to hold off on promotional events during the war in Iraq, Larrick Piano Company in Sacramento, California, conducted a multifaceted event in nearby Turlock, which has a population of just 60,000 people. The major...

Bill's Music House featured in Baltimore newspaper. (Retailer Update).
May 1, 2003... BILL'S MUSIC HOUSE in Catonsville, Maryland, was recently featured in The Jeffersonian, a well-known Baltimore newspaper. The article describes the rise of the store from a small 8' x 8' music lesson booth in 1965 to a 36,000-square-foot...

Piano Gallery hosts South Florida's first piano competition. (Marketing Initiatives).
May 1, 2003... THE SOUTHWEST Florida Steinway Society recently presented the first piano competition in southwest Florida history. While organizers expected 30-35 contestants in the small community, three times as many applied and competed. Participants...

Iowa's long-haul survivor, Griggs Music has witnessed every major event of the 20th century, giving it a unique perspective on the 21st. (Retailer Profile).
May 1, 2003... Music retailing is tough. Just ask any music retailer. Big sales are exciting, and good days--even good months--are cause for celebration. But let's face it, in music retailing even "big" sales aren't that big compared with other businesses',...

A forum of enthusiasts who are wild about PRS guitars trek to the PRS factory in Maryland for a weekend of music, schmoozing, and guitar talk. (Industry Marketing).
May 1, 2003... Passion. Though no less a cause for celebration, it's hardly rare in our industry. Many musicians, from garage band tyros to seasoned pros, have it by the bucketful--for the craft, for the tools, and, of course, for the music itself. So, too,...

Retailers are from Venus ... manufacturers are from Mars: the recent NASMD convention highlighted the differences in how school music retailers and their suppliers assess the market. One group sees the glass half empty, the other half full. Find out why. (The School Music Market).
May 1, 2003... Everybody knows that "when the going gets tough, the tough get going." But some music retailers may be inclined to ask, "Going where?" Most are duly concerned about the wallowing U.S. economy, with falling factory orders, rising unemployment,...

What's going on? Will rampant budget deficits kill school music? Is eBay a major source of competition? Has the internet changed everything? Or, are things looking better than ever? A cross-section of retailers share their thoughts on the state of the market. (The School Music Market).
May 1, 2003... KEN MARTONE Victor's House of Music Paramus, New Jersey ENROLLMENT IN SCHOOL music programs in the areas served by Victor's House of Music is trending up slightly, according to Ken Martone. "The biggest impact on school music programs...

It's the little things that really count! (Small goods: big profit potential).
May 1, 2003... From the biggest chain to the smallest "mom & pop," there's one thing all retailers can agree on: Accessories drive store traffic, generate big margins, and generally pay your rent. Because of their importance, accessories also attract some of...

MBT's "business builders": comprehensive new program arms retailers with powerful marketing tools designed to boost sales. (Accessory Report).
May 1, 2003... At this year's NAMM show in Anaheim MBT/Musicorp launched a bold new initiative aimed at making its dealers more successful. The Musicorp Business Builders program rewards participating retailers with marketing, merchandising, and advertising...

Put a print expert in your store: Musi*Key reference system allows anyone to instantly locate even the most obnscure piece of music. (Accessory Report).
May 1, 2003... A well-known music teacher visits your store. You always strive to give this indispensable customer--and continual source of customer references--the best shopping experience possible. But this time they're asking for a piece of print music...

The need for speed: D'Addario's new automated warehouse speeds order fulfillment, helping retailers boost their inventory turnover. (Accessory Report).
May 1, 2003... With gross margins declining throughout the music industry, retailers have increasingly focused their attention on boosting inventory turnover. From Guitar Center on down to the smallest "mom & pop," every storefront is scrambling to generate...

Remembering Wurlitzer: the one-time industry leader may have fallen, but its training programs have yet to be equalled, let alone surpassed. How else to explain why so many ex-Wurlitzer executives are still in leadership positions throughout the industry? (Bob Popyk On Selling).
May 1, 2003... Remember WurliTzer, where the big "T" was for Tone? The old Wurlitzer? The DeKalb and North Tonawanda Wurlitzer? It had factories in Corinth and Holly Springs, Mississippi, and Logan, Utah. It was the name that meant music to millions. Do you...

Yamaha promotes Lewis to Sr. VP; Calvin to head piano division. (People).
May 1, 2003... YAMAHA CORPORATION OF America has promoted Terry Lewis to the position of senior vice-president, Music Marketing Group; Carol Baker has been named vice-president, Human Resources; and Paul Calvin has been promoted to general manager, Piano...

Zildjian realigns marketing under direction of Brad Baker. (People).
May 1, 2003... ZILDJIAN HAS ANNOUNCED a restructuring of its marketing department with two newly created positions. Brad Baker has been named chief marketing officer, and Gregg Stein has been promoted to product manager for sheet cymbals. Brad Baker...

Gator honors on the road marketing. (People).
May 1, 2003... ON THE ROAD MARKETING was among the top distributors Gator Cases recognized in an awards ceremony at the 2003 winter NAMM show in Anaheim. Gator bestowed upon the company one of its Awards of Excellence. Other winners included S.K. McDonald,...

David Via to head Jupiter sales & marketing. (People).
May 1, 2003... JUPITER BAND INSTRUMENTS has appointed industry veteran David Via to the newly created position of senior vice-president of sales and marketing. Bringing nearly 20 years of industry experience to his new position, Via will over see all sales...

Schofield heads Premier marketing in U.S. (People).
May 1, 2003... COLIN SCHOFIELD has joined Premier USA as vice-president of marketing. He was most recently vice-president of marketing worldwide for the Avedis Zildjian Cymbal Company. This move represents something of a homecoming, given that Schofield...

Stafford to direct Music People sales. (People).
May 1, 2003... JON STAFFORD HAS joined The Music People as director of sales. He will create sales initiatives that focus on the company's On-Stage Stands and on the pro-audio brands that the company distributes. Stafford has been in the music industry...

New Ibanez SZ line offers set-in necks, sustain, and simplicity. (Product News).
May 1, 2003... NEW FROM IBANEZ, the SZ guitar is a descendent of the famous super-slim Ibanez S, but it really is an all-new, simpler species. For greater simplicity and sustain, the SZ features a fixed bridge (compared with the S guitars' more complicated...

New gig bags from Summit Guitar Pack. (Product News).
May 1, 2003... SUMMIT GUITAR PACK has unveiled its next generation of evolutionary gig bags. The EG303 electric guitar bag features Summit's latest innovation: the InTact & InTune Cushioning System. This customizable system locks the instrument's neck in...

Ultimate support systems forecasts "RAIN days". (Product News).
May 1, 2003... IN AN EFFORT TO BETTER serve its customers, leading stand manufacturer Ultimate Support Systems has been holding a series of brainstorming sessions between its sales, customer support, and product development personnel and local musicians,...

Innovative audio gear expands ISP product line. (Product News).
May 1, 2003... ISP TECHNOLOGIES HAS introduced three new products for 2003, all utilizing patent-pending technologies developed by ISP engineers. The first new product is the patent-pending Matrix Live Surround System, which lets prerecorded music be...

Portable karaoke entertainment center from VocoPro. (Product News).
May 1, 2003... VOCOSTAR, A BRAND of VocoPro, has unveiled the VSCTV-3513 portable karaoke entertainment center. With a built-in 13" color television that displays karaoke song lyrics on screen, the VSCTV-3513 combines all karaoke necessities into one...

ShadowStand now officially "Sculpture". (Product News).
May 1, 2003... "SCULPTURE THAT THINKS it's a guitar stand (or vice versa)," the slogan associated with the revolutionary ShadowStand line of fretted instrument stands, was recently legitimized with a nod from a bona fide art museum. After discovering the...

Cavallaro case covers offers custom work. (Product News).
May 1, 2003... CAVALLARO CASE COVERS has responded to market requests for enhanced designs and custom case and instrument covers with a renewed focus on small run and custom work. This is especially appealling to high-end instrument manufacturers and...

M&M debuts Kona guitars in new catalog. (Product News).
May 1, 2003... M&M MERCHANDISERS' new catalog will feature a new guitar sure to capture the hearts of consumers and retailers alike. The new Kona KS000 Signature Triple Ought Acoustic Guitar features a 39.5" size and faux tortoise binding and rosette that...

Horizon expands product line. (Product News).
May 1, 2003... HORIZON MUSIC HAS expanded its product line this year to include such data products as CAT5e patch cables, VGA monitor cable, RGB and composite video cables. With the expanding market of installers and retailers now dealing in the digital audio...

New catalog from Balter mallets. (Product News).
May 1, 2003... MIKE BALTER MALLETS HAS issued its 2003 full-color catalog. The 20-page catalog showcases the wide array of the Mike Balter product line. Each product is categorized and individually pictured. The catalog features several new products for...

Echo Digital Audio launches new MiaMIDI recording system. (Product News).
May 1, 2003... Echo Digital Audio has begun shipping the new MiaMIDI 24-96 multi-track recording system for Windows and Macintosh computers. This new product offers the same high quality hardware and software as Mia, but with the addition of MIDI support via...

Zoom's eight-track hard-disk recorder. (Product News).
May 1, 2003... ZOOM HAS INTRODUCED the all-new MRS-802CD eight-track hard-disk recorder. "Never before has such an awesome array of studio recording tools been fit into such an affordable package," a spokesman said. "Eight mono tracks, plus a stereo master...

Long hollow offers new pouches & bags. (Product News).
May 1, 2003... LONG HOLLOW LEATHER is offering a new line of accessories including leather pouches and bags. These items are designed to store and carry other gear, from small pouches for picks, slides, capos, etc., to larger bags for pedals, cables, and...

Sejung reintroduces Falcone pianos. (Product News).
May 1, 2003... QINQDAO SEJUNG Musical Instruments Company, Ltd.; the world's largest single-site piano and guitar factory, is the builder of the famous Falcone piano line. Mr. Falcone originally designed the Falcone piano to meet the needs of the most...

Geneva expands Lidl brasswind line. (Product News).
May 1, 2003... GENEVA INTERNATIONAL, the exclusive U.S. importer and distributor of Josef Lidl instruments, is expanding its offering of brass instruments under the Josef Lidl brand name. "We had a positive round of discussions in Frankfurt, and we're...

Sonar Winds unveils new flute. (Product News).
May 1, 2003... SONAR WINDS, A NEW division of Verne Q. Powell Flutes, is officially shipping the latest innovation in intermediate-level flutes. The Sonar SF-6000 flute, with a suggested retail price of $2,000, is the only flute in its class to feature a...

MBT agrees to purchase Midco. (Product News).
May 1, 2003... ON MARCH 11, MBT International, the parent company of Musicorp, said that it had entered into an agreement to acquire Midco Interanational, headquartered in Effingham, Illinois. Midco is owned and headed by David Samuel. Dan Mahoney, CEO...

Babbitt adds tenor sax mouthpiece. (Product News).
May 1, 2003... JJ BABBITT HAS INTRODUCED the RG, an all-new, exclusive mouthpiece for tenor saxophone. Within the unique RG by Otto Link is a special parabolic chamber that allows for easy blowing and projection. RG is available in a durable, long-lasting...

Treeworks damper works on any brand. (Product News).
May 1, 2003... TREEWORKS CHIMES has introduced a chime damper/mute that can be attached to any stand or chime tree. The unit is made in Nashville from laser-cut steel. The tension of the damper is fully adjustable. The damper itself can be left loose and...

Sennheiser modeling makes any vocalist sound good. (Product News).
May 1, 2003... UNLIKE PROCESSORS THAT aim to model different microphone characteristics, Sennheiser's new Singer series of microphones actually simulate different singing styles. A male rock vocalist who would like to sound like an operatic soprano can just...

A.M. Gigliotti expands product line. (Product News).
May 1, 2003... A.M. Oigliotti recently expanded its line of woodwind accessories. The new Gigliotti Advantage line is aimed at delivering professional-grade products at affordable prices. One of the most user-friendly items is the "Ready-to-Play" set...

Date slate.
May 1, 2003... MAY 2003 RETAIL PRINT MUSIC DEALERS ASSOC. (RPMDA) May 7-11 Dallas, TX RPMDA, 13140 Coit Road, LB 120, Dallas, TX 75240, PH: (972) 233 9107 ext.204, FAX: (972) 490 4219 office@printmusic.org * www.printmusic.org JUNE 2003...

Alfred E. Rich.
May 1, 2003... INDUSTRY VETERAN Alfred E. Rich, 84, died on March 1 at his home in Savannah, Georgia, following a lengthy illness. He spent 60 years in the music industry, 30 of them with Wurlitzer. He was recognized as a top-level salesman and business...

Mel Bay offers In The Pocket DVDS. (Product News).
May 1, 2003... MEL BAY'S IN THE POCKET series of DVDs has three new titles: Playing in the Groove, Quartal Harmony: Modern Jazz Comping & Voicing, and Basic Jazz Rhythm Guitars: Comping in the Freddie Green Style. Each is authored by Corey Christiansen and is...

New power protection from ETA. (Product News).
May 1, 2003... A NEW LINE OF conditioned power distribution units, designed with a more sophisticated electronic protection technology, is now available from ETA Systems. The Power Protection Series is viewed as the company's "Next Generation" of power...

Fleco commits to expanded wireless line. (Product News).
May 1, 2003... FLECO CORPORATION has expanded its line of wireless microphones with the WU-912D single channel true diversity microphone and the WU-992D 100 channel with auto scan and lock. The new systems use digital processing, PLL Synthesis, and are...

The piano ... a necessity. (100 years ago).
May 1, 2003... Henry Fischer of the J&C Fischer Co. explains why the piano industry will continue to expand. "Many families really would dispense with many necessities before they would go without a piano. Especially is this so at present, when the musical...

Labor gains a victory. (75 years ago).
May 1, 2003... The Department of Justice has ruled against organ-makers Rudolph Wurlitzer Co., Aeolian Company, and Estey in a suit filed against the Musical Instrument Workers International Union of America. The court held that acts of the local union to...

Selling music to industry. (50 years ago).
May 1, 2003... C.G. Conn has teamed with the National Industrial Recreation Association to produce Industrial Bands and Orchestras, the first comprehensive manual on organizing and maintaining industrial bands and orchestras. In preparation for over a year,...

Ending bait advertising. (50 years ago).
May 1, 2003... The most destructive practice in our industry is "bait advertising." We believe it to be the most destructive practice because it persuasively educates the individual to believe in a non-existent low price range for instruments. As a result...