song-plugger (1907), song-plugging (1916)

[sagehen]

Page Stephens cites:

"In the 1910s and 1920s, if you went into a music store to buy sheet music
you would likely find a song pluggeróa pianist and singer who would perform
songs for you in the same way we preview CDs in a record store today.(..)
~~~~~~~~~
This practice was still alive & well in the 30s & 40s in Woolworths,
Kresges ( & probably sim.), where sheet music of currently popular songs
was sold at 35c ea., or 3/1$.  If the piano bench was vacant the customer
could try his own hand.
A. Murie