Music Publishing
Music Publishing has always plays a vital role in music business since mid- 1400s. The earliest printed music is known as religious chant from 1465. In fact, almost all the music printed before the 16th century belongs or owned by the Catholic Church. Since the 14th century until present times, Music Publishing has experienced a long progressive evolution. (SongCast, Inc. 2013)
With the invention of the lithograph in 1798 which allows massive amounts of sheet music could be cheaply printed, it brought along a massive, palpable shift in lifestyle and production in the music market. (ibid 2013) In America, Over 10,000 popular songs were printed and that was the time when Publishers did not need to promote individual pieces as the homes were filled with the same music. (ibid 2013) Looking deeper into modern music publishing, the roots can be traced back to the “Tin Pan Alley”, a name given to a group of music sheet publishers who collected on West 28th Street in the late 19th, early 20th Century in New York City. (B.N. Shrum, 26 Nov 07) Tin Pan Alley was a major publisher during the time and they consists of publishing staffs included piano demonstrators, arrangers, composers and lyricists. Hence, Tin Pan Alley became an assembly line creating popular songs. (J. Flattum, 3 May 06) The Success was measured by the sale of sheet music. Around sometimes in 1913, the first sheet music sales chart was started by the Billboard Magazine, and the sales of sheet music and music related books was further boosted by the Vaudeville an Broadway, leading to the open up of new markets for sheet music. (ibid 3 May 06)
On the other hand, the invention and introduction of Thomas Edison’s Gramophone and the phonograph cylinder coincides with the happening of Tin Pan alley. (B,N. Shrum, 26 Nov 07) Since then the advent of recording technology at the turn of 19th century contributed to a shift and change in the way popular music is produced and consumed. (D. Furini. 2011) However
With the invention of the lithograph in 1798 which allows massive amounts of sheet music could be cheaply printed, it brought along a massive, palpable shift in lifestyle and production in the music market. (ibid 2013) In America, Over 10,000 popular songs were printed and that was the time when Publishers did not need to promote individual pieces as the homes were filled with the same music. (ibid 2013) Looking deeper into modern music publishing, the roots can be traced back to the “Tin Pan Alley”, a name given to a group of music sheet publishers who collected on West 28th Street in the late 19th, early 20th Century in New York City. (B.N. Shrum, 26 Nov 07) Tin Pan Alley was a major publisher during the time and they consists of publishing staffs included piano demonstrators, arrangers, composers and lyricists. Hence, Tin Pan Alley became an assembly line creating popular songs. (J. Flattum, 3 May 06) The Success was measured by the sale of sheet music. Around sometimes in 1913, the first sheet music sales chart was started by the Billboard Magazine, and the sales of sheet music and music related books was further boosted by the Vaudeville an Broadway, leading to the open up of new markets for sheet music. (ibid 3 May 06)
On the other hand, the invention and introduction of Thomas Edison’s Gramophone and the phonograph cylinder coincides with the happening of Tin Pan alley. (B,N. Shrum, 26 Nov 07) Since then the advent of recording technology at the turn of 19th century contributed to a shift and change in the way popular music is produced and consumed. (D. Furini. 2011) However
Bibliography: Songcast, Inc. 2013, File Under: Artist Resources “A short History of Music Publishing. Available from: http://blog.songcastmusic.com/a-short-history-of-music-publishing-selling-music-online-wasnt-always-an-option/ [Accessed on 6th May 2013] B.N K Alan, 2013. Music publishing overview. Part 2. Available from: http://www.alankorn.com/articles/publishing_1.html [Accessed on 7th May 2013] Z