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 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...
The Most Iconic Live Music Venues: Pt. 2This is Part 2 in our series on iconic music venues. Check out Part 1 here. Live music is as much about place as it is about sound. Certain venues transcend their physical structures, becoming cultural landmarks where history, artistry, and audience energy converge. Around the world, a handful of stages have earned near-mythic status—not just for the artists who’ve performed there, but for the atmosphere, acoustics, and stories embedded in their walls. Here’s a journey through some of the m...
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)...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
This Week In Music History Feb 2-8The week in music history brought to you by MusicGoldmine.com. Just a couple of highlights from this week in music history! FEB 4: Happy birthday to Alice Cooper! The rock singer, songwriter, and showman is best known for pioneering theatrical shock rock. Born Vincent Damon Furnier on February 4, 1948, in Detroit, Michigan, he grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, where he formed his first band while in high school. The group adopted the name Alice Cooper and gained attention in the late 1960s for bl...
The MTV Era And The Birth of Music VideosWhen MTV launched on August 1, 1981, it did more than introduce music videos to cable television—it permanently transformed how artists were marketed, perceived, and collected. The MTV era marked the moment when sound and image fused into a single commercial force. For memorabilia collectors, it represents the birth of modern music branding: a time when visuals, fashion, logos, and video iconography became as valuable as vinyl records. MTV launched its MTV Video Music Awards in 1984, with t...
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 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...
The Most Iconic Live Music Venues: Pt. 2
This is Part 2 in our series on iconic music venues. Check out Part 1 here. Live music is as much about place as it is about sound. Certain venues transcend their physical structures, becoming cultural landmarks where history, artistry, and audience energy converge. Around the world, a handful of stages have earned near-mythic status—not just for the artists who’ve performed there, but for the atmosphere, acoustics, and stories embedded in their walls. Here’s a journey through some of the m...
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)...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
This Week In Music History Feb 2-8
The week in music history brought to you by MusicGoldmine.com. Just a couple of highlights from this week in music history! FEB 4: Happy birthday to Alice Cooper! The rock singer, songwriter, and showman is best known for pioneering theatrical shock rock. Born Vincent Damon Furnier on February 4, 1948, in Detroit, Michigan, he grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, where he formed his first band while in high school. The group adopted the name Alice Cooper and gained attention in the late 1960s for bl...
The MTV Era And The Birth of Music Videos
When MTV launched on August 1, 1981, it did more than introduce music videos to cable television—it permanently transformed how artists were marketed, perceived, and collected. The MTV era marked the moment when sound and image fused into a single commercial force. For memorabilia collectors, it represents the birth of modern music branding: a time when visuals, fashion, logos, and video iconography became as valuable as vinyl records. MTV launched its MTV Video Music Awards in 1984, with t...
