Radio 20s-40s

national vs. regional audiences

culture develops regional gen

commercial radio in 20s, most affordable music source

  • became linked to national networks, creating national audience

regions grew larger with better tech

prerecording happened after 1945

programs did more than music

  • soap opera, comedies & variety, dance clubs

TELEVISION

Radio Corp of American (RCA) and other corporations invested in TV, and people moved too

RocknRoll spread quickly through TV (variety and nite shows)

Tin Pan Alley

region in NYC, sheet music publishing companies

  • influenced mainstream popular music bizz

  • standard song patterm

    • verse-chorus format in AABA

musical theater and movies used to promote songs, and radio was exposure

Singer and the Big Bands

  • Radio Networks, singers, publishers worked together

    • instrumentalists emphasized over singers

  • Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra became solo successes

All or Nothing at All

rec. 1939, #2 in ‘43

  • AABA with intro

  • Big Band

    • trombone, trumpet, clarinet, sax, drumset, piano, bass

  • voice is close to mic (crooner)

listen for timbre (distinct sound of inst and voice)

zero harshness. consonants are not popped. still strong he doesn't runout of breath or strain

POP

was wholesome and focused on singer

nonoffensive sound and meaning

sensual and emotional performances by mid 50s