A Lost Art: 1970s-90s Record Store StandeesBefore streaming playlists and social media promotion, record labels had a much more physical way of grabbing fans’ attention: giant cardboard standees, hanging mobiles, oversized album displays, and elaborate in-store cutouts that transformed record shops into miniature music museums. During the 1970s and 1980s in particular, these promotional displays became a defining part of music retail culture. Walk into a mall record store in 1974 and you might see a towering Queen standee near shelves...
This Week In Music History Apr 13-19The week in music history brought to you by MusicGoldmine.com. Just a couple of highlights from this week in music history! APR 14: Happy birthday to Ritchie Blackmore, one of rock’s most influential and enigmatic guitarists. Born in England in 1945, he rose to fame as the founding guitarist of Deep Purple, where his powerful riffs and classical-inspired solos helped define hard rock and early heavy metal. Songs like “Smoke on the Water” showcased his iconic playing style and remain staples ...
Iconic Labels: Interscope RecordsThis is the eighth 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. Few record labels have shaped modern popular music as dramatically as Interscope Records did, starting in the 1990s. From gangsta rap and alternative rock to pop superstars and streaming-era hitmakers, Interscope has consistently been...
This Week In Music History Apr 6-12The week in music history brought to you by MusicGoldmine.com. Just a couple of highlights from this week in music history! AUG 6: Today in 1998, Tammy Wynette passed away at age 55. Wynette was one of country music’s most influential and emotionally expressive vocalists. Born Virginia Wynette Pugh in Mississippi in 1942, she rose from humble beginnings to become known as the “First Lady of Country Music.” Wynette achieved major success in the late 1960s and 1970s with hits like “Stand by Yo...
This Week In Music History May 4-10The week in music history brought to you by MusicGoldmine.com. Just a couple of highlights from this week in music history! MAY 8: Happy birthday Alex Van Halen! He helped redefine hard rock drumming with explosive energy, precision, and unforgettable grooves. Born May 8, 1953, in the Netherlands and raised in California, Alex formed Van Halen with his brother Eddie Van Halen, creating one of the biggest rock bands of all time. From massive hits like “Jump,” “Panama,” and “Hot for Teacher,” ...
This Week In Music History Apr 27-May 3The week in music history brought to you by MusicGoldmine.com. Just a couple of highlights from this week in music history! APR 27: Happy birthday Sheena Easton! She burst onto the global music scene in the early ’80s with a voice that could glide from sweet pop to sultry soul effortlessly. Born April 27, 1959, in Scotland, she became one of the few artists to score Top 5 hits on multiple Billboard charts, proving her versatility across pop, R&B, and dance. Songs like “Morning Train (9 t...
Funny Record Award Incidents: From Dropped Awards To ExcessWinning a Gold or Platinum record is supposed to be a serious honor. After all, it means an artist sold enough albums or singles to earn a permanent place in music history. But behind many of those shiny framed awards are stories that are downright hilarious, bizarre, or completely unexpected. From awards getting dropped to rock stars abusing them in unusual ways, the music industry has produced countless funny tales connected to record awards over the decades. One story involves members of L...
When Artists Try To Play Their Gold RecordFor most musicians, receiving a RIAA Gold or Platinum record is one of the ultimate career milestones. These framed awards symbolize hit albums, sold-out tours, and years of hard work in recording studios and on the road. But that has never stopped curious artists--and also collectors-- from wondering: “Does this thing actually play?” and "Is it my record or not?" Over the years, musicians, producers, industry insiders, and collectors have shared stories about artists attempting t...
The Most Iconic Live Music Venues: Pt. 1This is Part 1 in our series on iconic music venues. Check out Part 2 here. Certain places where people have enjoyed live music have become more than brick and mortar — they become mythology. The most iconic music venues are not just stages; they are proving grounds, cultural crossroads, and sacred spaces where movements are born. From psychedelic ballrooms to gritty punk clubs, these venues helped shape modern music history. Here are some of those places, in no particular order: Fillmore A...
2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Nominees AnnouncedThe Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has long been one of music’s most prestigious honors, celebrating artists whose influence, innovation, and cultural impact have shaped popular music. To be eligible for nomination, an artist or band must have released their first commercial recording at least 25 years ago — a rule that often broadens the ballot across different eras and genres. The 2026 nominee list, revealed this week, includes 17 diverse artists and groups, from hip-hop trailblazers to clas...
Did Iggy Pop Really Shoot A Blondie Record Award?The wild, unpredictable spirit of rock and roll has produced countless stories that blur the line between myth and reality. Among them is one of the more startling tales involving Iggy Pop, a firearm, and a record award belonging to Chris Stein of Blondie. Like many stories from the late 1970s New York music scene, it is equal parts chaos, camaraderie, and cultural context. To understand the incident, it helps to picture the environment in which it occurred. The downtown New York scene of the...
This Week In Music History Feb 9-15The week in music history brought to you by MusicGoldmine.com. Just a couple of highlights from this week in music history! FEB 9: Happy birthday to Carole King! She is one of the most influential and enduring singer-songwriters in popular music history celebrated for her deeply personal lyrics and timeless melodies. Born Carol Joan Klein on February 9, 1942, in New York City, she showed prodigious musical talent early, studying piano and composition before entering the Brill Building songwr...
A Lost Art: 1970s-90s Record Store Standees
Before streaming playlists and social media promotion, record labels had a much more physical way of grabbing fans’ attention: giant cardboard standees, hanging mobiles, oversized album displays, and elaborate in-store cutouts that transformed record shops into miniature music museums. During the 1970s and 1980s in particular, these promotional displays became a defining part of music retail culture. Walk into a mall record store in 1974 and you might see a towering Queen standee near shelves...
This Week In Music History Apr 13-19
The week in music history brought to you by MusicGoldmine.com. Just a couple of highlights from this week in music history! APR 14: Happy birthday to Ritchie Blackmore, one of rock’s most influential and enigmatic guitarists. Born in England in 1945, he rose to fame as the founding guitarist of Deep Purple, where his powerful riffs and classical-inspired solos helped define hard rock and early heavy metal. Songs like “Smoke on the Water” showcased his iconic playing style and remain staples ...
Iconic Labels: Interscope Records
This is the eighth 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. Few record labels have shaped modern popular music as dramatically as Interscope Records did, starting in the 1990s. From gangsta rap and alternative rock to pop superstars and streaming-era hitmakers, Interscope has consistently been...
This Week In Music History Apr 6-12
The week in music history brought to you by MusicGoldmine.com. Just a couple of highlights from this week in music history! AUG 6: Today in 1998, Tammy Wynette passed away at age 55. Wynette was one of country music’s most influential and emotionally expressive vocalists. Born Virginia Wynette Pugh in Mississippi in 1942, she rose from humble beginnings to become known as the “First Lady of Country Music.” Wynette achieved major success in the late 1960s and 1970s with hits like “Stand by Yo...
This Week In Music History May 4-10
The week in music history brought to you by MusicGoldmine.com. Just a couple of highlights from this week in music history! MAY 8: Happy birthday Alex Van Halen! He helped redefine hard rock drumming with explosive energy, precision, and unforgettable grooves. Born May 8, 1953, in the Netherlands and raised in California, Alex formed Van Halen with his brother Eddie Van Halen, creating one of the biggest rock bands of all time. From massive hits like “Jump,” “Panama,” and “Hot for Teacher,” ...
This Week In Music History Apr 27-May 3
The week in music history brought to you by MusicGoldmine.com. Just a couple of highlights from this week in music history! APR 27: Happy birthday Sheena Easton! She burst onto the global music scene in the early ’80s with a voice that could glide from sweet pop to sultry soul effortlessly. Born April 27, 1959, in Scotland, she became one of the few artists to score Top 5 hits on multiple Billboard charts, proving her versatility across pop, R&B, and dance. Songs like “Morning Train (9 t...
Funny Record Award Incidents: From Dropped Awards To Excess
Winning a Gold or Platinum record is supposed to be a serious honor. After all, it means an artist sold enough albums or singles to earn a permanent place in music history. But behind many of those shiny framed awards are stories that are downright hilarious, bizarre, or completely unexpected. From awards getting dropped to rock stars abusing them in unusual ways, the music industry has produced countless funny tales connected to record awards over the decades. One story involves members of L...
When Artists Try To Play Their Gold Record
For most musicians, receiving a RIAA Gold or Platinum record is one of the ultimate career milestones. These framed awards symbolize hit albums, sold-out tours, and years of hard work in recording studios and on the road. But that has never stopped curious artists--and also collectors-- from wondering: “Does this thing actually play?” and "Is it my record or not?" Over the years, musicians, producers, industry insiders, and collectors have shared stories about artists attempting t...
The Most Iconic Live Music Venues: Pt. 1
This is Part 1 in our series on iconic music venues. Check out Part 2 here. Certain places where people have enjoyed live music have become more than brick and mortar — they become mythology. The most iconic music venues are not just stages; they are proving grounds, cultural crossroads, and sacred spaces where movements are born. From psychedelic ballrooms to gritty punk clubs, these venues helped shape modern music history. Here are some of those places, in no particular order: Fillmore A...
2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Nominees Announced
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has long been one of music’s most prestigious honors, celebrating artists whose influence, innovation, and cultural impact have shaped popular music. To be eligible for nomination, an artist or band must have released their first commercial recording at least 25 years ago — a rule that often broadens the ballot across different eras and genres. The 2026 nominee list, revealed this week, includes 17 diverse artists and groups, from hip-hop trailblazers to clas...
Did Iggy Pop Really Shoot A Blondie Record Award?
The wild, unpredictable spirit of rock and roll has produced countless stories that blur the line between myth and reality. Among them is one of the more startling tales involving Iggy Pop, a firearm, and a record award belonging to Chris Stein of Blondie. Like many stories from the late 1970s New York music scene, it is equal parts chaos, camaraderie, and cultural context. To understand the incident, it helps to picture the environment in which it occurred. The downtown New York scene of the...
This Week In Music History Feb 9-15
The week in music history brought to you by MusicGoldmine.com. Just a couple of highlights from this week in music history! FEB 9: Happy birthday to Carole King! She is one of the most influential and enduring singer-songwriters in popular music history celebrated for her deeply personal lyrics and timeless melodies. Born Carol Joan Klein on February 9, 1942, in New York City, she showed prodigious musical talent early, studying piano and composition before entering the Brill Building songwr...
