Technical Developments & Their Impacts Flashcards
When was the phongraph invented?
1877
Who invented the phonograph
Thomas Edison
What was the difference between phonographs and gramaphone
Phonograph: Cylinder Based,
Gramophone: Disk Based
Where do the names phonograph and gramophone come from?
They are brand names (Kleenex)
What was the orignal purpose of a phonograph
Business Transcription
What are the limitations of the early phonograph
wax cylinders wear out very quickly
When does the transition to disks end?
1910
What is the standard disk speed of early records
78rpm
Why was the 78rpm standard adopted
to allow disks to be used across gramophones
When is the record rotation speed standard set?
early 1910s
What was recorded on early recordings?
TPA music
What purpose did recordings serve to TPA
Sales device: shows a demonstration of the song
How was sheet music sold prior to recordings
House musicians would play the songs for customers
why was rural and black music not included in early recordings
cultural chauvinism. Those musical styles were less important. Also, there was no money in those genres
When did Commercial Radio take off?
1922
When did radio networks form?
by the end of the 1920s
What are three of the early radio networks?
NBC, CBS, Mutual
what was the first network?
NBC- 1928
How did networks operate?
Used phone lines to transmit content from coast to coast
Where does network content come from?
New York
How does radio affect music consumption
changes music from a regional to national
Why was radio successful?
Expensive one time purchase, but after that the content is free. Better value, lots of variety
Who revitalized the record industry?
Ralph Peer
Why does the record industry begin to record country and race music?
Competition from radio
What is the first significant recording by a black vocalist?
Crazy Blues: Mamie Smith - 1920
What does “Crazy Blues” sound like?
TPA (not an actual blues)
What lessons did Crazy Blues teach?
White audiences will listen to black performers, black community bought records
Who created the genres of race and hillbilly music?
Ralph Peer
Why did ralph peer create race and hillbilly music?
Need to differentiate from radio (which played TPA)
What is an early example of hillbilly music
“Carve that Possum” 1927 Uncle Dave Macon & the fruit jar drinkers
Who performs “Carve that Possum”
Uncle Dave MAcon and the fruit jar drinkers
What year was “Carve that Possum” recorded?
1927
what instruments are used in hillbilly music
fiddle, mandolin, acoustic guitar
what characterictics does hillbilly music have
emotional detachment
What is an example of early Race Music?
How Long Blues - Carr & Blackwell - 1928
When was How Long Blues recorded?
1928
Who performs How Long Blues
Carr & Blackwell
What differentiates How Long Blues from the style of country blues
City Blues style. Vocal quality is more chest based (louder), introduces piano. Guitar solo (more than one performer)
Why were city blues songs recorded before country blues?
City blues (newer style) was closer to the recording companies than rural blues
By what date is the record industry saved
1930s
When was television first demonstrated
1927
Who invented TV
Leo Fornsworth
When did experimental TV broadcasts begin?
through the 30s
When did network TV broadcasting begin
1939
Why was television preferred to radio by the networks
superior advertising medium
What impact does the move from radio to TV have on music?
Networks sold off their radio licenses to independent stations, allowing for more local content
What does BA radio stand for
“Black Appeal”
What was the first BA radio station
WDIA
Where was WDIA located?
Memphis
when did WDIA start directing itself to black consumers
1948
by what year was BA and country radio a thing
1954
How many BA stations were there in 1954
200
What are the two ways of expanding radio reach
Higher power stations, linking stations
What range could be expected from early high power radio stations
several hundred miles
How many stations wre on the first coast-coast broadcast?
69 (NBC) in 1928
What are X stations
High power stations in Mexico which were out of FCC jurisdiction
What is a clean channel radio station?
Radio station with exclusive rights to a frequency (no noise)
What are the advantages of radio networks
run from 1 location, affiliate content for local stations, effective with clear channel stations
What was the view of the use of records on radio in the 1920s
Unethical (disk jockey was originally a slur, people didnt want “Canned music”
What is an example of an early radio variety show
Amos and Andy
