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...
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...
Iconic Labels: A&M RecordsThis is the first in a 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. A&M Records holds a significant place in the annals of the music industry, emerging as one of the most influential labels of the 20th century. Founded in 1962 by Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss (1935-2023), the label's name derived fro...
Musicians Who Collect: You Have Famous CompanyMusicians are often passionate about music collectibles, and many have amassed impressive collections over the years. From vintage guitars and recording equipment to rare vinyl records and concert posters, these musicians have a deep appreciation for the history and artistry of music, and their collections reflect their love and dedication to the craft. Here are some more examples of musicians who are passionate collectors of music memorabilia: Paul McCartney: The Beatles legend is a collecto...
The Most Valuable Beatles CollectiblesThe Beatles are one of the most iconic and influential bands in the history of music, and their memorabilia is highly sought after by collectors around the world. The value of Beatles collectibles can vary widely based on factors such as rarity, condition, historical significance, age (with oldest items typically worth the most as with many collectibles) and the demand among collectors. The value of such collectibles can fluctuate based on market demand, condition, provenance, and other facto...
For Promotional Use Only: How Consumers Won The Right To Own Promo-Only RecordsEver picked up a record, cassette or CD labeled “For Promotional Use Only -- Not For Resale” and wondered if it’s okay to buy or sell it? The answer, as was declared in the San Francisco-area Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in 2011, is “yes” to both. But the road to that answer was full of twists and turns, and at many times in the past the issue was mired in a tussle between consumers and record companies. Not that some in the music industry didn’t happily reside in that grey area by selling...
12 Of The World's Best Music Memorabilia MuseumsMusic has a profound impact on our lives, and for many, it's not just about the songs but also the tangible artifacts that connect us to the artists and their legacies. Music memorabilia museums are dedicated to preserving this history, allowing fans to immerse themselves in the world of their favorite artists. Björn Ulvaeus from ABBA had this "star guitar" created by luthier Hagström for the group's debut at the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest and today it is displayed at the A...
Immortal Album Covers: The Story of HipgnosisAlbum art helped define the arrival of new music during its heyday, which ran roughly from the later 60s to the 80s when vinyl albums ruled music sales worldwide. While smaller formats such as cassettes, CDs and later streaming imposed size and format limitations on artwork since then, the contributions of visual artists to herald the arrival of new music is still fondly remembered by many. One of the most prolific groups of artists worked under the name Hipgnosis. The main partners behind Hi...
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2020 Nominees AnnouncedThe 35th Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees have been announced. Out of the sixteen nominees nine are first timers. First time nominees Pat Benatar (pictured below with husband and guitarist Neil Geraldo), The Dave Matthews Band, The Doobie Brothers, Whitney Houston, Motorhead, The Notorious B.I.G., Soundgarden, Thin Lizzy, and T. Rex join previous nominees Depeche Mode (3rd nomination), Judas Priest (2nd nomination), Kraftwerk (5th nomination), MC5 (4th nomination), Nine Inch Nails (3rd nom...
10 Myths About RIAA AwardsWant to sort out the myths from reality? While there are many more than ten myths about RIAA awards, we've covered some of them here: 1. Myth: On an album award, if the number of tracks on the record disc do not match up with the album being recognized by the award, the award is fake. Reality: It was most common for record labels to send any record they had available, and not the one being recognized, to the RIAA award manufacturer for an award. Rarely, exceptions to this occur. Here'...
2024 Rock N Roll Hall of Fame Inductees AnnouncedDid your favorites get in? The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation has announced their 2024 Inductees. Performer inductees are Mary J Blige, Cher, Dave Matthews Band, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, Kool & The Gang, Ozzy Osbourne, and A Tribe Called Quest. The "Musical Excellence Awards" this time around will go to Jimmy Buffett, the MC5, Dionne Warwick, and producer/songwriter Norman Whitfield. To be eligible for nomination, an individual artist or band must have released its fi...
Rock & Roll Hall Announces 2022 InducteesThe Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation has announced their 2022 Inductees. Performer inductees are Pat Benatar and Neil Geraldo, Duran Duran, Eminem, Eurythmics, Dolly Parton, Lionel Richie, Carly Simon. The "Musical Excellence" category includes Judas Priest and producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The "Early Influence" category included Harry Belefonte and Elizabeth Cotten, while music execs Allen Grubman, Jimmy Iovine and Sylvia Robinson also get nods with Ahmet Ert...
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...
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...
Iconic Labels: A&M Records
This is the first in a 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. A&M Records holds a significant place in the annals of the music industry, emerging as one of the most influential labels of the 20th century. Founded in 1962 by Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss (1935-2023), the label's name derived fro...
Musicians Who Collect: You Have Famous Company
Musicians are often passionate about music collectibles, and many have amassed impressive collections over the years. From vintage guitars and recording equipment to rare vinyl records and concert posters, these musicians have a deep appreciation for the history and artistry of music, and their collections reflect their love and dedication to the craft. Here are some more examples of musicians who are passionate collectors of music memorabilia: Paul McCartney: The Beatles legend is a collecto...
The Most Valuable Beatles Collectibles
The Beatles are one of the most iconic and influential bands in the history of music, and their memorabilia is highly sought after by collectors around the world. The value of Beatles collectibles can vary widely based on factors such as rarity, condition, historical significance, age (with oldest items typically worth the most as with many collectibles) and the demand among collectors. The value of such collectibles can fluctuate based on market demand, condition, provenance, and other facto...
For Promotional Use Only: How Consumers Won The Right To Own Promo-Only Records
Ever picked up a record, cassette or CD labeled “For Promotional Use Only -- Not For Resale” and wondered if it’s okay to buy or sell it? The answer, as was declared in the San Francisco-area Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in 2011, is “yes” to both. But the road to that answer was full of twists and turns, and at many times in the past the issue was mired in a tussle between consumers and record companies. Not that some in the music industry didn’t happily reside in that grey area by selling...
12 Of The World's Best Music Memorabilia Museums
Music has a profound impact on our lives, and for many, it's not just about the songs but also the tangible artifacts that connect us to the artists and their legacies. Music memorabilia museums are dedicated to preserving this history, allowing fans to immerse themselves in the world of their favorite artists. Björn Ulvaeus from ABBA had this "star guitar" created by luthier Hagström for the group's debut at the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest and today it is displayed at the A...
Immortal Album Covers: The Story of Hipgnosis
Album art helped define the arrival of new music during its heyday, which ran roughly from the later 60s to the 80s when vinyl albums ruled music sales worldwide. While smaller formats such as cassettes, CDs and later streaming imposed size and format limitations on artwork since then, the contributions of visual artists to herald the arrival of new music is still fondly remembered by many. One of the most prolific groups of artists worked under the name Hipgnosis. The main partners behind Hi...
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2020 Nominees Announced
The 35th Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees have been announced. Out of the sixteen nominees nine are first timers. First time nominees Pat Benatar (pictured below with husband and guitarist Neil Geraldo), The Dave Matthews Band, The Doobie Brothers, Whitney Houston, Motorhead, The Notorious B.I.G., Soundgarden, Thin Lizzy, and T. Rex join previous nominees Depeche Mode (3rd nomination), Judas Priest (2nd nomination), Kraftwerk (5th nomination), MC5 (4th nomination), Nine Inch Nails (3rd nom...
10 Myths About RIAA Awards
Want to sort out the myths from reality? While there are many more than ten myths about RIAA awards, we've covered some of them here: 1. Myth: On an album award, if the number of tracks on the record disc do not match up with the album being recognized by the award, the award is fake. Reality: It was most common for record labels to send any record they had available, and not the one being recognized, to the RIAA award manufacturer for an award. Rarely, exceptions to this occur. Here'...
2024 Rock N Roll Hall of Fame Inductees Announced
Did your favorites get in? The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation has announced their 2024 Inductees. Performer inductees are Mary J Blige, Cher, Dave Matthews Band, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, Kool & The Gang, Ozzy Osbourne, and A Tribe Called Quest. The "Musical Excellence Awards" this time around will go to Jimmy Buffett, the MC5, Dionne Warwick, and producer/songwriter Norman Whitfield. To be eligible for nomination, an individual artist or band must have released its fi...
Rock & Roll Hall Announces 2022 Inductees
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation has announced their 2022 Inductees. Performer inductees are Pat Benatar and Neil Geraldo, Duran Duran, Eminem, Eurythmics, Dolly Parton, Lionel Richie, Carly Simon. The "Musical Excellence" category includes Judas Priest and producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The "Early Influence" category included Harry Belefonte and Elizabeth Cotten, while music execs Allen Grubman, Jimmy Iovine and Sylvia Robinson also get nods with Ahmet Ert...
