As a music roll producer who has released several recuts, I'd like
to respond to Ed Chaban's comments in MMD's 020427 and 020428.

It is difficult to anticipate what tunes other player piano owners
will like.  A roll that I thoroughly enjoy may evoke only a yawn from
another person.  Likewise, tunes that others absolutely love don't
rouse my interest at all.  When selecting a roll for recutting, I try
to get a second (or third, or fourth) opinion about the marketability
of the roll.  Even when I think I've got a great tune with a great
arrangement, it's still a gamble.

Producing only recuts or new arrangements that have been requested
by others doesn't work either.  My sister wants a roll of Andrew Lloyd
Webber's "Love Changes Everything."  That song is tricky to sing even
for a trained vocalist.  I can't imagine it as a piano roll arrangement.
I doubt that the song would be included in anyone's top 100 most
desired rolls unless that person is a hard-core Lloyd Webber fan like
my sister.  But there is a market for at least one copy of such a roll.
Is that enough to generate production?

My own tastes run the spectrum from popular to classical, ragtime,
novelty songs, hits of the 1920's, country, hymns, etc.  There's a
little bit of everything in my personal collection of rolls.  Each
genre has its own characteristics and its share of good and bad rolls.

I will be releasing a new recut shortly, a Themodist roll.  I'm
gambling by releasing an unfamiliar but interesting tune.  It's a
gamble that I hope will be appreciated by others.

Joyce Brite
Player Piano and Mechanical Music Exchange
http://mmd.foxtail.com/Exchange/