Iconic Labels: Elektra RecordsThis is the seventh in our series of profiles of iconic record labels, exploring the label's history and some interesting stories about the artists they signed, and music they released. Look for more label profiles coming up soon and check them all out here. The history of Elektra Records is one of the most fascinating evolutions in the music industry, tracing a path from a tiny folk label founded in a college dorm room to a major force within the global recording business. Over more th...
How A Machine Got A RIAA Award: The Story Of Steely Dan's GauchoRecorded in 1978-79 and released on November 21, 1980, Gaucho stands as one of the most meticulously crafted albums in popular music history. Created by Steely Dan—the studio-focused partnership of Donald Fagen and Walter Becker—the record represents both the peak of their perfectionism and a turning point in music production technology. At the center of its story is an unlikely “musician”: A custom-built drum machine named Wendel, invented by late recording engineer Roger Nichols (1944-2011)...
February 1964: Beatlemania Hits America And Births A Cultural RevolutionLooking back 62 years ago this month, in February 1964 The Beatles arrived in the United States and ignited a cultural explosion that would permanently reshape popular music. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York on February 7, greeted by an estimated 3,000 screaming fans. Their arrival marked the true beginning of the “British Invasion,” a wave of UK acts who would dominate American charts throughout the deca...
This Week In Music History Dec 22-Jan 4The week in music history brought to you by MusicGoldmine.com. Just a couple of highlights from this week in music history! DEC 22: Happy birthday to Rick Nielsen! The guitarist, songwriter, and producer best known as the creative engine behind the rock band Cheap Trick was born on December 22, 1948, in Rockford, Illinois. Nielsen grew up in a deeply musical family—both of his parents were opera singers—giving him a broad musical foundation that later shaped his eclectic songwriting style. B...
This Week In Music History Jan 5-18The week in music history brought to you by MusicGoldmine.com. Just a couple of highlights from this week in music history! JAN 10: Sadly, Bob Weir has passed today away at age 78 after a battle with cancer. Bob Weir was a musician, singer, and songwriter best known as a founding member of the Grateful Dead, one of the most influential bands in rock history. Born on October 16, 1947, in San Francisco, Weir grew up with an early exposure to folk, blues, and rock music. His life changed in 196...
Prettier Than RIAA Awards? DiscAward Ltd '60s-'70s AwardsIn the history of recorded music, the iconic gold and platinum records that adorn the walls of recording studios, artist's homes, and music professional's offices have become some of the most recognizable symbols of commercial success. Most people immediately associate these plaques with the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)—the trade organization that, beginning in 1958, formalized sales recognition in the United States. Yet nestled within the annals of music memorabil...
This Week In Music History Jan 26-Feb 1The week in music history brought to you by MusicGoldmine.com. Just a couple of highlights from this week in music history! JAN 27: Today at #1 in 1972 on the Billboard Hot 100: “American Pie,” by Don McLean! Released in 1971, it is one of the most iconic and enigmatic songs in American popular music. Inspired in part by the 1959 plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson—an event McLean famously called “the day the music died”—the song expands ...
Do Artists Really Value Their Own Record Awards?In the music industry, record awards have been a barometer of success and a tangible symbol of achievement since they were introduced in the mid-50s. But do they mean much to the artists themselves? Most artists, even very accomplished ones, express appreciation for awards since they know they are a reflection of their fans buying and enjoying their music. As a result record awards continue to hold powerful meaning. Gold, Platinum, and Multi-Platinum certifications—presented by organizations ...
Iconic Labels: Stax RecordsThis is the fifth in our series of profiles of iconic record labels, exploring the label's history, some interesting stories about the artists they signed, and music they released. Look for more label profiles coming up soon and check them all out here. Stax Records stands as one of the most influential and culturally significant labels in American music history, shaping the sound of Southern soul and leaving a lasting legacy that extends far beyond its relatively short original lifespa...
Iconic Labels: Columbia RecordsThis is the sixth in our series of profiles of iconic record labels, exploring the label's history and some interesting stories about the artists they signed, and music they released. Look for more label profiles coming up soon and check them all out here. Columbia Records stands as one of the oldest and most influential record labels in the history of recorded music. With roots stretching back to the dawn of the phonograph era, Columbia has continually reinvented itself, shaping popula...
This Week In Music History Jan 19-25The week in music history brought to you by MusicGoldmine.com. Just a couple of highlights from this week in music history! JAN 19: Happy 80th birthday to Dolly Parton one of the most beloved and influential figures in American music and popular culture! Born on January 19, 1946, in rural Tennessee, she grew up in a poor but close-knit family, where music and storytelling were central to daily life. Her early experiences in the Smoky Mountains deeply shaped her songwriting, giving her music ...
This Week In Music History Apr 20-26The week in music history brought to you by MusicGoldmine.com. Just a couple of highlights from this week in music history! APR 20: Sadly, late yesterday it was reported that Alan Osmond of The Osmonds passed away at age 76. He was best known as the leader of the family pop group The Osmonds, which rose to international fame in the late 1960s and 1970s. Born on June 22, 1949, in Ogden, Utah, he played guitar and helped guide the group’s clean-cut image and tight harmonies. Alan was also inst...
Iconic Labels: Elektra Records
This is the seventh in our series of profiles of iconic record labels, exploring the label's history and some interesting stories about the artists they signed, and music they released. Look for more label profiles coming up soon and check them all out here. The history of Elektra Records is one of the most fascinating evolutions in the music industry, tracing a path from a tiny folk label founded in a college dorm room to a major force within the global recording business. Over more th...
How A Machine Got A RIAA Award: The Story Of Steely Dan's Gaucho
Recorded in 1978-79 and released on November 21, 1980, Gaucho stands as one of the most meticulously crafted albums in popular music history. Created by Steely Dan—the studio-focused partnership of Donald Fagen and Walter Becker—the record represents both the peak of their perfectionism and a turning point in music production technology. At the center of its story is an unlikely “musician”: A custom-built drum machine named Wendel, invented by late recording engineer Roger Nichols (1944-2011)...
February 1964: Beatlemania Hits America And Births A Cultural Revolution
Looking back 62 years ago this month, in February 1964 The Beatles arrived in the United States and ignited a cultural explosion that would permanently reshape popular music. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York on February 7, greeted by an estimated 3,000 screaming fans. Their arrival marked the true beginning of the “British Invasion,” a wave of UK acts who would dominate American charts throughout the deca...
This Week In Music History Dec 22-Jan 4
The week in music history brought to you by MusicGoldmine.com. Just a couple of highlights from this week in music history! DEC 22: Happy birthday to Rick Nielsen! The guitarist, songwriter, and producer best known as the creative engine behind the rock band Cheap Trick was born on December 22, 1948, in Rockford, Illinois. Nielsen grew up in a deeply musical family—both of his parents were opera singers—giving him a broad musical foundation that later shaped his eclectic songwriting style. B...
This Week In Music History Jan 5-18
The week in music history brought to you by MusicGoldmine.com. Just a couple of highlights from this week in music history! JAN 10: Sadly, Bob Weir has passed today away at age 78 after a battle with cancer. Bob Weir was a musician, singer, and songwriter best known as a founding member of the Grateful Dead, one of the most influential bands in rock history. Born on October 16, 1947, in San Francisco, Weir grew up with an early exposure to folk, blues, and rock music. His life changed in 196...
Prettier Than RIAA Awards? DiscAward Ltd '60s-'70s Awards
In the history of recorded music, the iconic gold and platinum records that adorn the walls of recording studios, artist's homes, and music professional's offices have become some of the most recognizable symbols of commercial success. Most people immediately associate these plaques with the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)—the trade organization that, beginning in 1958, formalized sales recognition in the United States. Yet nestled within the annals of music memorabil...
This Week In Music History Jan 26-Feb 1
The week in music history brought to you by MusicGoldmine.com. Just a couple of highlights from this week in music history! JAN 27: Today at #1 in 1972 on the Billboard Hot 100: “American Pie,” by Don McLean! Released in 1971, it is one of the most iconic and enigmatic songs in American popular music. Inspired in part by the 1959 plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson—an event McLean famously called “the day the music died”—the song expands ...
Do Artists Really Value Their Own Record Awards?
In the music industry, record awards have been a barometer of success and a tangible symbol of achievement since they were introduced in the mid-50s. But do they mean much to the artists themselves? Most artists, even very accomplished ones, express appreciation for awards since they know they are a reflection of their fans buying and enjoying their music. As a result record awards continue to hold powerful meaning. Gold, Platinum, and Multi-Platinum certifications—presented by organizations ...
Iconic Labels: Stax Records
This is the fifth in our series of profiles of iconic record labels, exploring the label's history, some interesting stories about the artists they signed, and music they released. Look for more label profiles coming up soon and check them all out here. Stax Records stands as one of the most influential and culturally significant labels in American music history, shaping the sound of Southern soul and leaving a lasting legacy that extends far beyond its relatively short original lifespa...
Iconic Labels: Columbia Records
This is the sixth in our series of profiles of iconic record labels, exploring the label's history and some interesting stories about the artists they signed, and music they released. Look for more label profiles coming up soon and check them all out here. Columbia Records stands as one of the oldest and most influential record labels in the history of recorded music. With roots stretching back to the dawn of the phonograph era, Columbia has continually reinvented itself, shaping popula...
This Week In Music History Jan 19-25
The week in music history brought to you by MusicGoldmine.com. Just a couple of highlights from this week in music history! JAN 19: Happy 80th birthday to Dolly Parton one of the most beloved and influential figures in American music and popular culture! Born on January 19, 1946, in rural Tennessee, she grew up in a poor but close-knit family, where music and storytelling were central to daily life. Her early experiences in the Smoky Mountains deeply shaped her songwriting, giving her music ...
This Week In Music History Apr 20-26
The week in music history brought to you by MusicGoldmine.com. Just a couple of highlights from this week in music history! APR 20: Sadly, late yesterday it was reported that Alan Osmond of The Osmonds passed away at age 76. He was best known as the leader of the family pop group The Osmonds, which rose to international fame in the late 1960s and 1970s. Born on June 22, 1949, in Ogden, Utah, he played guitar and helped guide the group’s clean-cut image and tight harmonies. Alan was also inst...
