Oral history interview with Russell Sanjek; 1979 May 23; interview conducted by John Lomax III. 1979 May 23.

ArchivalResource

Sanjek, Russell;. Oral history interview with Russell Sanjek; 1979 May 23; interview conducted by John Lomax III.

Oral history interview with Russell Sanjek; 1979 May 23; interview conducted by John Lomax III. 1979 May 23.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/58841385

BMI executive Russell Sanjek recounts the history of the American music industry, focusing on the period from the 1890s-1930s. Discussion includes an explanation of portions of the copyright law; the start of the modern music era; the history of song promotion; the piano tradition in popular music; the first American-European mutual copyright agreement in 1891; sheet music sales and songwriter percentages contrasted with the flat rate associated with record sales and the reasons for the flat rate compulsory licensing principle; the role of Edison's phonograph; the Copyright Act of 1909; the growth of the dance band; the cylinder recording technology; the role of Henry Ford in promoting country music and country recordings; the growth of the radio after 1920; the impact of the sound motion picture; the impact of the Depression; the growth of ASCAP; radio programming during the 1930s; the role of song promoters; the attitude of the music industry toward country music; the jukebox market; the country music audience; the role of Fred Rose; and the early history of BMI.

2 sound cassettes (2 hours, 16 minutes)

Country Music Foundation, Library & Media Center