Popular Music History Timeline 1877 1887 1889 1892 1895 1914 1919 1924 1925 1926 1929 1931 1931 1936 1940 1945 1948 1948 1949 1952 1953 1954 1957 1959 1963 1969 1973 1975 1975 1976 1979 1980 1981 1982 1991 1992 1994 1995 1996 2003 2009 Thomas Edison invents sound recording Emile Berliner builds the first gramophone - 78 rpm Colunbia founded by Edward Easton Era of Tin Pan Alley Gugliemo Marconi invents the radio ASCAP American Society ofAmerican Composers, Authors and Publishers General- Electric absorbs the branch of Marconi wireless founded telegraph and renames it Radio Corporation of America (RCA) Music Corporation of America (MCA) founded in Chicago 78.26 rpm chosen as industry standard for recorded music 16 inch acetate-coated discs introduced (33 1/3 rpm) Decca records founded in Britain Abbey recordingisstudio openedof inthe London AdolphRoad Rickenbacker the inventer first modern amplifiable electric guitar. It was a semi-hollow body guitar with sound holes. Gibson company produces the ES-150 electric guitar Disney's "Fantasia" introduces steroe sound Les Paul invents echo-delay, multi-tracking, and other techniques Columbia introduces 12-in 33 1/3 rpm vinyl record Leo Fender introduces the Telecaster electric guitar RCA Victor introduces the 45 rpm vinyl record Sam Phillips founds Sun Records Sun Records records first Elvis Presley record Record companies switch from 78 rpm to 45 rpm Dick Clark's American Bandstand takes to the airwaves Barry Gordy founds Tamla Mowtown Records in Detroit 50% of American recordings made in Nashville, TN Woodstock Music Festival - 300,000 people attend George Lucas' film "American Graffiti" begins revival of 1950's and 60's music SNL on TVIndustry Association of America) establishes "Gold" award selling RIAAdebuts (Recording over 500,000 copies & "Platinum" over 1,000,000 Marantz invents the "boombox" Sony introduces the "Walkman" John Lennon murdered in NYC Michael Jackson 15 minute music video - "Thriller" Sony and Philips introduce CD's Lollapallooza Festival started & Protools recording software invented MP3 is invented to store music on computers First internet radio station at University of North Carolina - WXYC Rock and Roll Hall of Fame opened in Cleveland, OH DVD introduced in Japan Apple introduces iTunes Digital sales account for 98% of all singles sold in the USA and Britain