Variety, New York, New York, February 10, 1922, pages 1,5:
PUBLISHERS WANT ROYALTIES ON "MUSIC BY WIRELESS" CONCERTS
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Pop
ularized by Newspapers and Westinghouse Electric Co., They Become the Rage--May Lessen Record Sales to Marked Extent
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The wireless telephony "concerts" which have become the national rage the past few months under the exploitation of the Westinghouse Electric Co. have progressed to the state where the music publishers are investigating the matter on the theory the corporation is conducting public performances for profit and performing copyrighted music for similar purposes. The M. P. P. A. and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, have taken the matter up with Charles B. Popenoe, superintendent of the radio division of [Westinghouse].
The radio sets which sell from $50 to $150 require nothing else than a radiator or a steam pipe for a terminal to listen in on these wireless concerts under a 100-mile distance, or a 50-foot antenna (aerial) for a greater mileage away from the central location. The Westinghouse Electric maintains four "canned concert" centres, supplying the whole country. The Newark, N. J., sending station has been heard as far west as Monroe, Wash., as far south as Cuba and the Panama Canal Zone and eastward 1,000 miles out on the Atlantic. It also maintains sending stations in East Springfield, [Mass.;] Pittsburgh, Pa., and Chicago.
Will It Displace Records?
The potential powers of this new invention are epochal, which Mr. Popenoe recognizes. It is still in its infancy, but, as the publishers perceive, there is a likelihood it can displace the talking machine or similar form of "canned" music in a very short time.
The Springfield, Mass., factory of the Westinghouse is working overtime catching up with advance orders for the radio sets. In Iowa, Illinois and Idaho the farmers rely on it for their weather reports, time of the day and other details in addition to their musical and educational features.
In New York City, in the west side district from 59th to 110th streets, this radio concert entertainment is the latest fad. Instead of the "put and take" sessions of not so long ago, they are holding radio concert parties now, each auditor listening in through a tiny receiver.
Featured by Papers
The department stores locally have done much to popularize the radio sets, to the extent the New York "World" and the "Globe" daily publish the programs of the radio concerts to be rendered each evening from the Newark sending station. The concerts, which include performances by singers, orchestras, lecturers, or the wirelessed reproduction of a phonograph record, are continuous daily from 11 in the morning.
The mail order houses report record (disc) sales from the farming districts have fallen off noticeably. Whether there is any connection between this and the fact the Westinghouse receives enthusiastic reports from mid-western ranchers and farmers on their concerts, the fact remains it presents a new angle for the mechanical reproduction of music. An arrangement with the publishers will probably be consummated shortly for the privilege of performing their songs.
To date the corporation has secured its talent gratis because of the novelty. It is not unlikely a paid program will become necessary in time.