History of The Beatles Book: Fab 4 Time Capsules From 1963 OnThe Beatles Book was a series of magazines about the Beatles that was published from 1963 through 2003, which some interruptions along the way. The magazines contained photos and stories of the group from its earliest days and helped drive the mania that surrounded the Beatles as their popularity grew. The publication was founded in 1963 by Sean O'Mahony (1932-2020), who had worked in the music business since the 1950s after first running a coffee bar. By the early 1960s he had become the...
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...
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...
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: 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 Jun 16-29The week in music history brought to you by MusicGoldmine.com. Just a couple of highlights from this week in music history! JUN 18: Happy birthday to Paul McCartney! Born June 18, 1942, in Liverpool, England, McCartney is one of the most influential figures in music history. As co-lead vocalist and bassist for The Beatles, McCartney helped revolutionize popular music in the 1960s with groundbreaking songwriting alongside John Lennon. His melodic bass lines, versatile vocals, and knack for cr...
Fantastic Collection Of Artist-Presented RIAA White Matte Awards: Updated 10/1/25Note: This article has been updated to indicate sold items as of 10-1-25 MusicGoldmine recently acquired a stellar collection of rare RIAA "white matte" record awards. For those not familiar, this type of RIAA awards are the rarest and most valuable of all RIAA awards. They were made from 1964 through 1974 in quite limited numbers for each title by only one company, the New York Frame & Picture Co. Also worth noting is that artist-presented awards are always the most valuable*...
Happy 85th Birthday, Ringo: Celebrating a Lifetime of Rhythm, Joy, and PeaceThis past week, on July 7, 2025, the world celebrated a remarkable milestone: the 85th birthday of Ringo Starr. Known across generations as the cheerful, ever-steady drummer of The Beatles, Ringo’s life and career stretch far beyond his Fab Four fame. His journey is a testament to resilience, creativity, and an unyielding commitment to spreading peace and love. Early Life: A Hard Road to Stardom Born Richard Starkey in the working-class Dingle neighborhood of Liverpool in 1940, Ringo’s early ...
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 Mar 23-29The week in music history brought to you by MusicGoldmine.com. Just a couple of highlights from this week in music history! MAR 24: Happy birthday to Nick Lowe! The English singer, songwriter, and producer whose career spans decades of influential work in rock, pub rock, and new wave was born on March 24, 1949, in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey. He first gained recognition in the early 1970s as a member of Brinsley Schwarz, a group that helped lay the groundwork for the UK pub rock scene. Lowe be...
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...
History of The Beatles Book: Fab 4 Time Capsules From 1963 On
The Beatles Book was a series of magazines about the Beatles that was published from 1963 through 2003, which some interruptions along the way. The magazines contained photos and stories of the group from its earliest days and helped drive the mania that surrounded the Beatles as their popularity grew. The publication was founded in 1963 by Sean O'Mahony (1932-2020), who had worked in the music business since the 1950s after first running a coffee bar. By the early 1960s he had become the...
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...
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...
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: 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 Jun 16-29
The week in music history brought to you by MusicGoldmine.com. Just a couple of highlights from this week in music history! JUN 18: Happy birthday to Paul McCartney! Born June 18, 1942, in Liverpool, England, McCartney is one of the most influential figures in music history. As co-lead vocalist and bassist for The Beatles, McCartney helped revolutionize popular music in the 1960s with groundbreaking songwriting alongside John Lennon. His melodic bass lines, versatile vocals, and knack for cr...
Fantastic Collection Of Artist-Presented RIAA White Matte Awards: Updated 10/1/25
Note: This article has been updated to indicate sold items as of 10-1-25 MusicGoldmine recently acquired a stellar collection of rare RIAA "white matte" record awards. For those not familiar, this type of RIAA awards are the rarest and most valuable of all RIAA awards. They were made from 1964 through 1974 in quite limited numbers for each title by only one company, the New York Frame & Picture Co. Also worth noting is that artist-presented awards are always the most valuable*...
Happy 85th Birthday, Ringo: Celebrating a Lifetime of Rhythm, Joy, and Peace
This past week, on July 7, 2025, the world celebrated a remarkable milestone: the 85th birthday of Ringo Starr. Known across generations as the cheerful, ever-steady drummer of The Beatles, Ringo’s life and career stretch far beyond his Fab Four fame. His journey is a testament to resilience, creativity, and an unyielding commitment to spreading peace and love. Early Life: A Hard Road to Stardom Born Richard Starkey in the working-class Dingle neighborhood of Liverpool in 1940, Ringo’s early ...
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 Mar 23-29
The week in music history brought to you by MusicGoldmine.com. Just a couple of highlights from this week in music history! MAR 24: Happy birthday to Nick Lowe! The English singer, songwriter, and producer whose career spans decades of influential work in rock, pub rock, and new wave was born on March 24, 1949, in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey. He first gained recognition in the early 1970s as a member of Brinsley Schwarz, a group that helped lay the groundwork for the UK pub rock scene. Lowe be...
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...
