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Phonograph Invented
Edison invents the cylinder "phonograph" used to record and playback sound. -
Microphone Invented
Emile Berliner invents the first microphone and sells the rights to Bell Telephone. -
Emile Berliner invents the flat record player
Emile Berliner invents the flat record player ("gramophone") using acoustic horn and licenses technology to record companies who make "70-rpm" disks. -
Louis Glass invents the modern jukebox
Louis Glass invents the modern jukebox (coin-operated phonograph) and installs it at the "Palais Royal" saloon in San Francisco where it is an immediate hit. -
Popular music becomes a serious business
Popular music becomes a serious business; Music Publishers begin renting office space on 28th street in New York City, in an area that would become known worldwide as "Tin Pan Alley." -
The first "million-seller" song hit
Charles K. Harris After The Ball The first "million-seller" song hit (sold via sheet music) was "After The Ball" by Charles K. Harris, who was both its composer and publisher. -
The Lumiere Brothers use (piano) music with a motion picture
The Lumiere Brothers use (piano) music with a motion picture program (of short subjects) for the first time at a Dec. 28th -screening at the Grand Café in Paris -
An orchestra is used with (silent) motion pictures
An orchestra is used with (silent) motion pictures for the first time in April in London -
Eldredge Johnson perfects first system of mass duplication of pre-recorded flat disks.
Eldredge Johnson perfects first system of mass duplication of pre-recorded flat disks. -
12"Diameter Records
Released on the monarch label. -
Diode Thermionic Valve
Fleming invented the diode thermionic valve and, later, Lee de Forest the triode. Electrical recording had become a possibility. -
RCA Victor's "Victrola" model record player is introduced.
RCA Victor's "Victrola" model record player is introduced. It has a variable turntable speed control to accomodate the wide range of phonograph records produced at that time. -
The first double-sided phonograph records are introduced
The first double-sided phonograph records are introduced by Columbia. Soon its competitors follow suit -
experimental "wireless" voice and music broadcasts from
Charles "Doc" Herrold and his assistant Ray Newby begin experimental "wireless" voice and music broadcasts from San Jose, California using experimental radio station call letters "FN" and "SJN". -
first regular public radio broadcasting
Charles "Doc" Herrold begins the first regular public radio broadcasting of voice and music from his "wireless telegraph college" in San Jose, California. -
Edison Co. finally introduces a disk player
Edison Co. finally introduces a disk player, now that the cylinder market is gone -
the first "Jazz" recording.
The Orig. Dixieland Jass <sic> Band (ODJB) makes the first "Jazz" recording. -
Clockwork Gramophone Motors
Garrard Engineering, a subsidiary of the British Crown jewellers, commenced manufacture of precision clockwork gramophone motors. -
Linear Speed Recording
Mons Remy of Belgium and Messieurs Dolon, Renaux and Debrabant, of France, together applied for a French patent covering constant linear speed recording. In England Noel Pemberton Billing independently developed a similar system, UK Patent 195,673/204,728. Pemberton Billing is also famous for founding the Supermarine Aircraft Company which made the Schneider Trophy Winners and the Spitfire of World War II. -
Vitaphone creates system of syncronize music to films.
Vitaphone introduces a sound system to synchronize music and sound effects with a motion picture -
Bell Labs creates system to syncronize music to movies
Bell Laboratories develops a 33 1/3 rpm disk system to synchronize a music track for the Warner Brothers film "Don Juan" -
RCA standardizes to 78.26 rpm as the speed for phonograph records
RCA convinces phonograph to standardize on 78.26 rpm as the speed of all phonograph records. -
Edison co. ceases manufacturing of sound recordings
The Edison Co. ceases the manufacturing of sound recordings. -
Bell Labs create binaural phonograph system
The "binaural" phonograph system is created by Bell laboratories. The two channels were on separate grooves of a 78rpm vinyl record. A special stylus mechanism to play both channels. -
Duke Ellington starts swing dance craze.
Duke Ellington: Dancers in LoveThe Duke Ellington recording of "It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing" starts the "swing music" dance craze. -
First magnetic tape recorder
AEG/Telefunken exhibits the first magnetic tape recorder in Germany. -
First chart of top selling records
Billboard magazine publishes its first chart of top-selling records. -
NYC has FM radio
Regular FM Radio broadcasting begins in New York City. -
Recording ban
James Petrillo's American Federation of Musicians (AF of M) Union begins a "recording ban" from Aug., 1942 - Nov., 1944. Record companies had to pay royalties. This starts the decline of the big-band era. -
world's first transistor
Dec 16 - Bell Laboratories assembles the world's first transistor (a "point contact" type so-called because two pointed metal contacts pressed the surface of a semiconductor.) -
First portable audiotape recorder
Though many other cassette tapes and tape recorders were already made the first portable one was made in 1951 -
First Transistor Radio sold
First Transistor Radio sold They first started selling transistors for $49.99 -
Multi-Track Tape Recorder
Multi-Track Tape Recorder Les Paul 8-Track Tape Recorder -
Cassestte tapes start to be sold
Cassestte tapes start to be sold Cassette tapes are distributed by RCA for $1 more than vinyl album. -
FM Stereo Radio Starts
FM Stereo Radio Starts FM radio begins broadcasting and slowly gains popularity -
First transcontinental telegraph line
Western Union completes the first transcontinental telegraph line -- providing coast-to-coast communications during the U.S. Civil War. -
Multitrack analog tape recording starts being used.
Multitrack analog tape recording starts being used in recording studios. -
Compact stereo tape cassettes and players are developed.
Compact stereo tape cassettes and players are developed by Phillips. -
The 8-track stereo tape cartridge is developed.
The 8-track stereo tape cartridge is developed for automobile use by Lear -
noise reduction system is used in some recording studios
The "Dolby-A" professional noise reduction system is used in some recording studios -
"Dolby-B" noise reduction system is introduced for consumer reel-to-reel and cassette tape recorders.
The -
First intro of Surround Sound
First intro of Surround Sound The concept of surround sound was made and produced but caused consumer confusion -
Video Cassette Tape Recorder
Video Cassette Tape Recorder Sony U-matic Proffesional Recorder made and produced -
First solid-state video recorder
First solid-state video recorder First solid state video recorder produced by Bell ind. -
The Video Casstette is Created
The Video Casstette is Created, Invented by Charles B.Grinburg -
VHS format is created
Video tape in a large cassette format introduced by both JVC and Panasonic in the year of. -
Ethernet
Ethernet, Local Computer Network, is created. -
Invention Of the Dolby Casette Tape
Invention Of the Dolby Casette Tape, The Dolby A, C, and the short lived Dolby S were a revolution in portable music. Both were made by the Sony Company. -
Invention of the Floppy Disk
Invention of the Floppy Disk Invented by Allan Shugart in 1952 first sold in 1976 by Sony. -
Ink Jet Printers
Ink Jet Printers First introduced in 1953 then sold in mass in 1977. -
The FCC Requires Cable TV systems
The FCC Requires Cable TV systems Over 3,500 Cable Subscribers in 1980.
