Record Cultures: The Transformation of the U.S. Recording Industry

Record Cultures explores how early U.S. commercial recording companies captured American musical culture during the 1920s and 1930s, driven by technological and cultural changes. Smaller record labels took risks on regional vernacular music, forming profitable symbioses with radio and the film industry. The recording industry became a major media industry, deeply tied to radio and film, leading to the first entertainment and media conglomerates in U.S. history.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 332 pages
\n Publication date: 26 July 2021
\n Publisher: The University of Michigan Press
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Record Cultures delves into the captivating tale of how early U.S. commercial recording companies played a pivotal role in capturing the essence of American musical culture during a pivotal period in both music and media history. As the 1920s and 1930s witnessed dramatic technological and cultural transformations, small recording companies in the United States ventured into unexplored genres such as jazz, blues, and country. These smaller record labels, often headquartered in rural or remote Midwestern and Southern towns, embraced the regional vernacular music as a strategic means to rival established recording giants. Their willingness to take risks on this nascent genre not only helped shape the musical landscape but also fostered a close relationship between recording companies and radio, both rapidly emerging industries.

The symbiotic relationship between radio and recording companies flourished as new technologies propelled them forward. Radio, which had already gained immense popularity, began broadcasting a greater proportion of recorded music, replacing live performances. This shift created a mutually beneficial partnership, as radio's popularity increased, and recording companies reaped the rewards. The advent of the talkies, in the early 1930s, further solidified the connections between the film industry and the radio and recording industries. The novelty of recorded sound replaced the need for film accompanists, and the popularity of movie musicals further strengthened the bonds between these media sectors. By the early 1930s, the recording industry had undergone a remarkable transformation, evolving from a mere segment of the autonomous phonograph industry to a major media industry in its own right. However, it remained deeply intertwined with and, in some cases, owned by the radio and film industries.

The triangular relationships between these media industries marked the birth of the first major entertainment and media conglomerates in U.S. history. Record Cultures, through an interdisciplinary and intermedial approach to recording industry history, offers a fresh perspective by creating new connections between various strands of media research. This book will appeal to scholars of popular music, media studies, sound studies, American culture, and the history of film, television, and other forms of media. By exploring the intricate interplay between recording companies, radio, and the film industry, Record Cultures sheds light on the complex dynamics that shaped the entertainment industry during this transformative era.

\n Weight: 558g\n
Dimension: 153 x 229 x 27 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780472038770\n \n