Indianapolis Times, Volume 37, Number 125, Indianapolis, Marion County, 24 September 1925 — Page 13

The Indianapolis Times

BROADCASTERS PUZZLED BY COPYRIGHTS

WFBM STATION FURNISHES CITY GOOD PUBLICITY World Is Told of ‘Convention Center’ Over the Air. “We believe that station WFBM is one of the best advertising mediums that Indianapolis has,’’ do elared M. K. Foxworthy, vice president and manager of the Merchants ileat and Light Company, today "This is station WFBM, Merchants Heat and Light Company, at Indian apolis, the convention city,” is the familiar announcement heard by rado fans in every corner of the United States. The message that Indianapolis is “the convention city” is thus carried to the minds of thousands of listeners. The effects of the ever recurring mention of Indianapolis as the convention city cannot but have beneficial results, Foxworthy believes. Arranged With Care The programs which WFBM has broadcasted have been of a high order of entertainment, due to the care used in arranging the programs by John C. McPhee, announcer. "Our .programs are subjected to very careful surveillance before tfiey ever go on the air,” said McPhee. “In. an attempt to furnish our listeners with only the best of music we have enlisted the support of representative Indianapolis institutions in our programs. "The programs which we are broadcasting from the Indianapolis Athletic Club are rendered by Gus Edward's Le Paradis orchestra, a group of musicians that has played to large audiences all over the country, and the type of syncopation rendered by them far outclasses that of the ordinary ‘Jazz' band,” according to McPhee. Circle Programs Featured Every Monday and Friday night a special concert program is broadcast from the Circle Theater. Programs are especially prepared by ACe Berry, Manager of the Circle, witli the assistance of Constantin Bakaleinikoff. These programs have met with enthusiastic reception by the listeners of WFBM. In speaking of the Circle program. McPhee said, "because we believe that WFBM listeners appreciate good music when it is presented we aim to avoid the banging and crashing of so-called syncopation. The programs as rendered by the Circle Theater are a credit to our station and repi 'sent probably the best or-

OFFICIAL BALLOT THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES ANNOUNCERS’ CONTEST Please credit this ballot as one vote for: of Station . (Announcer's name) (Call letters) Signed Address City State If you desire, tell below in five or less words wliat you most yllke about the announcer for whom ytm have cast this ballot: A ••••• The following announcers are entered In this contest: George D. Hay, WLS; Leo Fitzpatrick WDAF; Quin A. Ryan. WGN: Jerry Sullivan, WQJ; Bill Hay, formerly of KFKX, now with WOK, and Fred Smith WLW. They are appearing at Radio Show this week.

INDIANAPOLIS, THURSDAY, SEPT. 24. 1925

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chestral features in the i'tate.” WFBM is now entering its eighth month of service to Indianapolis. Its nation wide broadcasting has put Indianapolis “on the map" in the radio world. Replies are coming in at the rate of several hundred a day in answer to these programs. Forty-six States have been reael ed by the ••vents which WFBM lias put on the r.ir. TO START NEW SEASON Broadcasting station WIP will reopen Sept. 19, after being closed for five days for repairs. WIP is making extensive plans for its fall and winter seasorf and plans to present many popular artists. BROADCASTERS’ UNION Radio broadcasters in European countries are planning to form a union to promote cooperation and good will among the stations of the various countries.

By Roy Grove

OPERA SINGERS TO GO ON AIR EVERY SUNDAY Atwater - Kent Announces World Famous Stars Have Been Signed. A. Atwater Kent has announced that arrangements have been made to broadcast over the radio the world’s leading opera singers and other musical stars starting Oct. 4. These artists will be broadcast at the Atwater Kent hour through WEAF and as many more stations on the WEAF network as can be arranged to handle these concerts at 9:15 each Sunday night until May 1. In a limited number of individual programs will be broadcast from stations in other cities. The details of these additional programs are being worked out, as they depend upon the schedules of the famous artists in their concerts tours through the country. The_ first four super programs through WEAF network will be Oct. 4, Reinad Warrenrath; Oct. 11, Toschn field al; Oct. 18, Louise Homer; Oct. 25, Mabel Garrison. Among those artists who are definitely engaged for these programs are Homer, Garrison, Warrenrath, Spaulding, Case, Hempel, Lashanska, Seidel, Johnson, Brailowsky. Others for whose appearance negotiations are now pending are-Schumann Heink. Josef Hoffman, .Jfetzanauer, Chaliapin, Mischa Bori, Elman. Kent made the announcement at the Hotel Ambassador, New York, where he had as his guests Madame Homer, Madame Lashanska, Anna Case, Warrenrath, Toscha, Seidel, The artists expressed themselves as delighted co give the radio The greatest musical talent of the world.

Major Subject to Be Considered at National Radio Conference With Secretary of Commerce Hoover in October. By Israel Klein Science Editor, NEA Service NEW YORK, Kept. 24.—The problem that's worrying radio broadcasters most is that of copyrights. They have the problems of wavelengths, tim-' distribution, interference. legal intervention and many other important considerations before them. Yet none is as significant as that of payment for the broadcasting of copyright music. The convention of national radio nanufacturers and broadcasters, held here in conjunction with the •adio shows, set the subject of copyrights above nil others. The broadcasters w> 1 stress this as the major subject at the naional radio conference which Secretary of Commerce Houver is expected to ca.l in October. Willing to I*y There is no argument with the American Society of Composers. Authors and Publishers, which controls most and the nest copyright music. >ver the question of payment for broadcasting music under its control. All broadcasters are ready to pay for what they use. The fight ct'T’.ers about the method and amount of payment. At present the broadcasters object, they are tied down to a year’s contract and do not know what the rates for heir music will be next year or ucceeding years. They object to ihe method of :p----ralying rates in accordance with the whims of the composers, backed by the present copyright law. To come to some sound basis of agreement, therefore, the broadcasters suggest that the same principle employed in extracting royalties from the phonograph record and music rool producers tie applied to them. By congressional enactment a definite royalty fee is provided for each record or roll produced, and this can not be changed. Although a definite fee can not be set for a song each time it is broadcast, because of the many limitations in this field, the broadcasters say the principle itself could be applied. Investigating Possibilities In the meantime one of the largest broadcasting organizations is investigating the possibilities of broadcasting music, both modern and classic, without payment of royalties. It is making a thorough study of the copyright limits for definite classic composers and their music, and are finding many pieces available. For instance, it was discovered that only four Verdi selections, all in the Falstaff group, were the only pieces of his music that was copyright. The broadcasters therefore find themselves in position to use all Verdi music except the four tliat are actually copyright. The investigation has many ramifications in the course of which many good pieces are found available. But the broadcasters want to come to an equitable and reasonable agreement with the composers, because the society controls the productions of the best modern song writers, as,, well as many of the classics. OUTLINES PROGRAM Another innovation in the art of broadcasting has been Instituted at station KPO. At the opening of each program the announcer gives a short resume of the entertainment which is to follow. EASY MARKS Thirteen million gold marks — about $3,000,000 —flow into the coffers of the German postoffice department annually in the form of radio license fees.

ATTENDANCE AT FIRST SHOW IM CITY INCREASES Officials Expect Exposition to Become Annual Event. Steady attendance at the first radio exposition to be given in Indianapolis is popularizing this new kind of industrul show so that it will become an annual event, it is prophesied by show officials. A record was set Wednesday, when more than 7,200 persons attended. The Pettis Light Opera Ensemble and soloists will again be heard this afternoon at the show which is being held this week at Cadle Tabernacle. The Pettis entertainers were "on the air" Wednesday night with Mrs. Anita Stewart, soprano: Bill Watson, musical saw soloist, and Mrs. Beatrice Burdon McClanahan, soloist. Quin Ryan of WGN. Chicago, was guest announcer last night. For tonight. Jerry Sullivan of WQJ, Chicago, will be guest announcer. From 8 to 10 p. m. Dickerson's Woodstock Country Club Orchestra will broadcast from Cadle Tabcr-

Today’s Program of Radio Show Doors open at 10 a. nt. 2 to I P. M. Pettis Light Opera Ensemble and Soloists. 8 to 10 P. M. Dickerson's Woodstock Country Club Orchestra. Broaricastng, 10 to 11 Jerry Sullivan. WQJ, Chicago. Guest Announcer. Tenor from WQJ, Chicago. J. L. Hall, Whistler. „ Bill Watson, Musical Saw Solos. Woodstock Country Club Orchestra. Mrs. Charles A. Breece and Joe Overmyer, Soloist:).

nacle. Front Ift to II p. m. Clarence Theder of Chicago, tenor, will sing, J. L. Hall will give whistling solos. Bill Watson will give musical saw solos, the Woodstock orchestra will play again and Mrs. Charles A. Breece anti Joe Overmyer will sing. No place could contain more inter, esting things concerned with the newest and one of the most fascinating sciences than Cadle Tabernacle does (his week. Unless it would be two Cadle Tabernacles. Among the newer inventions is the display of Burns Phonograph Units, reproducing horns and speakers of unusual design, which "assure the utmost in volume and exactness of reproduction." They :-an be attached to a radio or any kind of a phonograph. Portable Sets Shown And more portable radios! The Ol’ Bus will certainly have to su.fer another overhauling for extra space, jo the portable radio can be taken along on picnics or jaunts. Nothing like taking your fireside hour with you. Time was that we got out the old market basket and put a ho!y-but-not-righteous table cloth in it and jammed the pie down in the salad to make room for the sandwiches and plates and went tearing out the front door on a picnic—only to rush hack distractedly to get the cups and the forks, and—oh yes, the salt. Then somebody had a bright idea, and the next thing we knew, we were buying anew kit for the car that held . everything, and we (Turn to Page 6)