HIGHLY PAID SINGERS

Hokitika Guardian, 11 January 1930, Page 2

HIGHLY PAID SINGERS

NEW YORK, November 25.

Singing is to-day one of the most highly paid professions in America. Even film stars must give way to those present favourities of fortune—operatic and lyric singers. Radio is responsible for the lucrative engagements now offered world-fam-ous artists. In America, as is well known, broadcasting companies earn their money by advertisements. For a long time it has been the custom for departmental stores and big wholesale businesses to pay broadcasting companies for an allotment of 15 minutes on; certain nights in the. week. Judiciously advertised, these recital entertainments are the chief enjoyment of thousands of radio fans. At iirst simple and unassuming programmes were forthcoming, hut now rich progressive companies rival one another in pay.ng stupendous sums per minute to famous singers. The greater reputation enjoyed by the artist the greater audience will tune in. Sir Harry Lauder recently received £3,0t,0 for singing three songs—£l,ooo a song. As a matter of fact, Sir Harry lowered his record by generously giving an encore. He was in Winnipeg at tnc time and bis microphone was linked up with nearly every radio in the United States—there are 12,000, 000 of them. He was engaged by a shoe manufacturer.

A 1 Jolson, the noted jazz singer, went on the air re.ently to the tune of £l5O a minute, the engagement lasting ten minutes, thus netting Jolson the tidy sum of £1,500. , Mine, Francies Alda, who has just resigned from the Metropolitan Opera Company, is another favourite. Recently she- was paid £6OO for a short reci,tal, and she now declares that she has abandoned the operatic stage for the microphone. At a. luncheon given in her honour she said that she could not afford to disregard the stupendous money-making power of the radio. In the company of other stars she will give shortly six Puccini operas. Radio fans were particularly pleased with Sir , Harry Lauder because he introduced his own songs. They find in America, that professional anhoucers are apt'to talk too long. Singers report that they prise the applause they receive m concert room or the opera house, hut they have no., long night hours and little travelling.