On November 1, 1894, Bulletin board published its first issue, one that is very different from today's magazine Bulletin boardits expanded platforms. The theme of the premiere wasn't even focused on the music industry. Bulletin boardThe eventual concentration of his trademark in music and, of course, on the charts, would develop over decades.
The First Theme
Before it was a weekly publication and a 24/7 online presence, Bulletin board launched as Billboard advertisement. His original mission? One that explains its name: “A monthly resume of all that is new, bright, and interesting in painting.”
At its premiere, the eight-page magazine (priced at 10 cents an issue, or 99 cents a year), was “dedicated to the interests of advertisers, poster printers, bill posters, advertising agents and exhibition secretaries.”
The magazine's first cover subject was RC Campbell, then president of the Associated Bill Posters' Association. “No more fitting tribute can be paid to Mr. Campbell than to declare him a man of infinite resources, progressive ideas, and untiring industry.” Bulletin board noted in the opening issue.
“In selecting his picture for the first number of this magazine, the Editor has delighted in the fact that he is the recognized leader, the first and foremost and most eminent man in the field we intend to cover.”
The graphs
As 130 years have passed (and Campbell has ceded the cover to, more recently, Olivia Rodrigo), Bulletin boardIts mission to report and analyze the entertainment business remains relevant, albeit, for the past eight-plus decades, with a more specific focus on the music part of the industry.
The magazine's first national music chart, the National Top 10 Top Retailer, appeared in the July 27, 1940, issue. Previously, Bulletin board it had highlighted the best-selling national sheet music, the records most popular on music machines (compiled from national reports by phonograph operators), and the songs with the most radio plugs on a handful of New York radio stations. However, the National Record Retailer's Best Selling Directory was the first to poll retailers nationwide for record sales.
Tommy Dorsey topped the retail chart with “I'll Never Smile Again.” The final standard, with vocals by Frank Sinatra, would total 12 weeks at the summit. The scorecard paved the way for the Billboard 200 industry album chart (which became a weekly chart on March 24, 1956) and Bulletin boardToday's Luminate menu with song and album rankings by data format and more. The Billboard Hot 100 singles chart debuted on August 4, 1958, with Ricky Nelson's “Poor Little Fool” being the first of the tally's 1,175 No. 1s and counting — right during Morgan Wallen's current reign with “Love Somebody,” which soars. Summit, reflecting that, 130 years later, historic achievements can still be achieved in any given week.
In more recent years, Bulletin boardIts chart offerings have expanded to include surveys covering social and streaming activity, with streams added to the weekly Hot 100 chart. Bulletin board also released the weekly Billboard Artist 100, expanded tours, weekly songwriter and producer ranking surveys, Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. The US charts, the most recently revealed TikTok Billboard Top 50 and more.
“Let his growth be natural”
Meantime, Bulletin board has grown to include multiple platforms including the top Billboard Music Awards, Women in Music, industry conferences, podcasts and chart-based Bulletin board countdowns and channels on SiriusXM, plus the weekly magazine and more.
“Though only in his infancy, [our] Success is already absolutely assured” Bulletin board which was proclaimed on page four of the maiden issue. “The publishers aim to keep it always newsworthy and to maintain a high and exacting standard of excellence in all articles of interest to its readers.”
As a “What They Think Of Us” feature reflected, “The responses to the very modest newsletter showed that beyond all doubt or possibility … certainly a young journalist never started under such auspicious circumstances.”
“Start the new paper small and cheap and let it grow naturally. Don't force it. It won't be necessary. There is a field for it,” advised Colonel Burr Robbins.
Added Al. Brian of Cleveland, “Should have started a long time ago.”
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/pro/first-billboard-issue-november-1-1894/
