T. B. Harms & Francis, Day, & Hunter, Inc., based in the Tin Pan Alley area of New York City, was one of the seven largest publishers of popular music in the world in 1920. T. B. Harms & Francis, Day & Hunter, Inc. was one of seven defendants named in a 1920 Shermanantitrust suit brought by the U.S. Department of Justice for controlling 80% of the music publishing business.[1] The seven defendants were:
Founded in 1881 as the Thomas B. Harms Music Publishing Company,[2] T. B. Harms & Francis, Day & Hunter, Inc., was eventually incorporated in New York and changed its name to Harms, Inc. in 1921.[3]
Max Dreyfus (1874–1964) (owned 25% in 1901) — The Harms empire owned or backed by Dreyfus, included Harms, Inc., Chappell-Harms (its "repository for non-production music"), De Sylva, Brown, and Henderson, Remick Music, Green and Stept, Famous Music, T. B. Harms, and George Gershwin's New World Music, publisher of all Gershwin's music" (109).
Jerome Kern (1885–1945) — Kern plugged sheet music at a local department store then took a job with T. B. Harms, Inc., and eventually became vice president.
Alexander T. Harms (1855–1901)
Frederick Day (1878–1975)
History timelineedit
1875
Brothers Alexander T. Harms (b. 20 Feb 1856, New York City; d. 23 Oct 1901, New York City) and Thomas B. Harms (b. 5 Jan 1860, New York City; d. 28 March 1906, New York City) founded in 1875 what many consider to be one of the first American firms of music publishers. T. B. Harms & Co. sold contemporary popular music, and the success of such early publications as "When the Robins Nest Again" (1883) and "The Letter That Never Came" (1886) led other Tin Pan Alley publishers to emulate the firm's promotional activities.
1901
Max Dreyfus (b. 1 April 1874 Kuppenheim; d. 12 May 1964, Brewster, New York), who had been working for Harms as an arranger, bought a 25% interest in the firm
Dreyfus bought out the Harms brothers, but retained the name – T. B. Harms & Co., Inc. – turning it into one of the most prestigious popular music publishers in Tin Pan Alley. Dreyfus discovered, recruited, and promoted Jerome Kern, George Gershwin, Vincent Youmans, Richard Rodgers, and Cole Porter. In time, the firm would publish about 90% of all Broadway scores and show tunes.
1908
The British firm Francis, Day, & Hunter entered into a partnership with T. B. Harms, in which Max and his brother, Louis, ended up owning two-thirds of the business and Fred Day one-third
1917
Songwriter Jerome Kern purchased a quarter share in the firm
1920
William Boosey and Chappell and Company, both of London, offered to purchase and operate the New York division of T. B. Harms & Francis, Day, & Hunter, Inc. Day sold out and returned to London. Louis took over Chappell New York. Max became the manager of the newly named Harms, Inc.
1921
T. B. Harms & Francis, Day, & Hunter, Inc. renamed to Harms, Inc. on March 31, 1921.[3]
1927
Max Dreyfus made a deal with George and Ira Gershwin to form a subsidiary, New World Music Corporation, to hold their copyrights, with Harms owning a large stake
1929
Dreyfus sold his interest in the company to Warner Brothers, who reorganized it as Music Publishers Holding Corporation. Dreyfus stayed on as a consultant until he set up in 1935 the American branch of Chappell, a company affiliated with Chappell of London, owned by his brother Louis Dreyfus (1877–1967). In 1969 that part of Harms connected with the estates of Louis Dreyfus (who had been a director of Harms) and Kern was bought by Lawrence Welk and became part of the Welk Music Group.[4][5]
Sale to Warner Bros.edit
As silent pictures evolved to talkies, Warner Bros. had aimed to build its inventory of published music. Before the Wall Street Crash of 1929, Warner Bros. acquired Harms, Inc., using 140,364 shares of its own stock, then valued at $8,421,840. Warner then reincorporated its acquisition under the laws of Delaware and named it Music Publishers Holding Company, Inc. Also in 1929, Warner Bros. acquired the music publishing company of M. Witmark & Sons.[6]
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T B Harms amp Francis Day amp Hunter Inc based in the Tin Pan Alley area of New York City was one of the seven largest publishers of popular music in the world in 1920 T B Harms amp Francis Day amp Hunter Inc was one of seven defendants named in a 1920 Sherman antitrust suit brought by the U S Department of Justice for controlling 80 of the music publishing business 1 The seven defendants were Consolidated Music Corporation 144 W 37th St New York New York Irving Berlin Inc 1567 Broadway New York New York Leo Feist Inc 231 W 40th St New York New York T B Harms amp Francis Day amp Hunter Inc 62 W 45th St New York New York Shapiro Bernstein amp Co Inc 218 W 47th St New York New York Watterson Berlin amp Snyder Inc 1571 Broadway New York New York sold in bankruptcy to Mills Music in 1929 M Witmark amp Sons Inc 144 W 37th St New York New YorkCover art of The Sensational European Novelty Georgie Porgie Fox Trot Song 1924 The Sensational European Novelty Georgie Porgie Fox Trot Song 1924 source source Billy Mayerl and Gerald Gee Paul s adaptation of Georgie Porgie published in 1924 by Harms Inc Problems playing this file See media help Founded in 1881 as the Thomas B Harms Music Publishing Company 2 T B Harms amp Francis Day amp Hunter Inc was eventually incorporated in New York and changed its name to Harms Inc in 1921 3 Contents 1 Owners and executives 2 History timeline 3 Sale to Warner Bros 4 See also 5 ReferencesOwners and executives editThomas B Harms 1860 1906 Max Dreyfus 1874 1964 owned 25 in 1901 The Harms empire owned or backed by Dreyfus included Harms Inc Chappell Harms its repository for non production music De Sylva Brown and Henderson Remick Music Green and Stept Famous Music T B Harms and George Gershwin s New World Music publisher of all Gershwin s music 109 Jerome Kern 1885 1945 Kern plugged sheet music at a local department store then took a job with T B Harms Inc and eventually became vice president Alexander T Harms 1855 1901 Frederick Day 1878 1975 History timeline edit1875 Brothers Alexander T Harms b 20 Feb 1856 New York City d 23 Oct 1901 New York City and Thomas B Harms b 5 Jan 1860 New York City d 28 March 1906 New York City founded in 1875 what many consider to be one of the first American firms of music publishers T B Harms amp Co sold contemporary popular music and the success of such early publications as When the Robins Nest Again 1883 and The Letter That Never Came 1886 led other Tin Pan Alley publishers to emulate the firm s promotional activities 1901 Max Dreyfus b 1 April 1874 Kuppenheim d 12 May 1964 Brewster New York who had been working for Harms as an arranger bought a 25 interest in the firm 1903 Dreyfus employed Jerome Kern as a composer 1904 Dreyfus bought out the Harms brothers but retained the name T B Harms amp Co Inc turning it into one of the most prestigious popular music publishers in Tin Pan Alley Dreyfus discovered recruited and promoted Jerome Kern George Gershwin Vincent Youmans Richard Rodgers and Cole Porter In time the firm would publish about 90 of all Broadway scores and show tunes 1908 The British firm Francis Day amp Hunter entered into a partnership with T B Harms in which Max and his brother Louis ended up owning two thirds of the business and Fred Day one third 1917 Songwriter Jerome Kern purchased a quarter share in the firm 1920 William Boosey and Chappell and Company both of London offered to purchase and operate the New York division of T B Harms amp Francis Day amp Hunter Inc Day sold out and returned to London Louis took over Chappell New York Max became the manager of the newly named Harms Inc 1921 T B Harms amp Francis Day amp Hunter Inc renamed to Harms Inc on March 31 1921 3 1927 Max Dreyfus made a deal with George and Ira Gershwin to form a subsidiary New World Music Corporation to hold their copyrights with Harms owning a large stake 1929 Dreyfus sold his interest in the company to Warner Brothers who reorganized it as Music Publishers Holding Corporation Dreyfus stayed on as a consultant until he set up in 1935 the American branch of Chappell a company affiliated with Chappell of London owned by his brother Louis Dreyfus 1877 1967 In 1969 that part of Harms connected with the estates of Louis Dreyfus who had been a director of Harms and Kern was bought by Lawrence Welk and became part of the Welk Music Group 4 5 Sale to Warner Bros editAs silent pictures evolved to talkies Warner Bros had aimed to build its inventory of published music Before the Wall Street Crash of 1929 Warner Bros acquired Harms Inc using 140 364 shares of its own stock then valued at 8 421 840 Warner then reincorporated its acquisition under the laws of Delaware and named it Music Publishers Holding Company Inc Also in 1929 Warner Bros acquired the music publishing company of M Witmark amp Sons 6 See also editFrancis Day amp Hunter Ltd v Twentieth Century Fox Corp Timeline of music in the United States 1880 1919 References edit Music Publishers Sued Here As Trust The New York Times August 4 1920 Cockrell Dale and Andrew M Zinck Popular Music of the Parlor and Stage pp 179 201 in the Garland Encyclopedia of World Music a b NEW INCORPORATIONS timesmachine nytimes com Archived from the original on March 4 2023 Retrieved October 7 2021 S N Behrman Profiles New Yorker Magazine pp 20 24 Feb 6 1932 David A Jasen Tin Pan Alley New York 1988 Warner Brothers Get Music Concern The New York Times Aug 15 1929 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title T B Harms 26 Francis Day 26 Hunter Inc amp oldid 1221347367, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
