1877 - Thomas Edison invents the phonograph, the first medium for recording and playing back sound. It used cylinders instead of discs
1887 - Emile Berliner invents the gramophone, the first flat record player
1900 - Eldredge Johnson perfects mass duplication of pre-recorded flat record discs
1906 - RCA Victor introduces Victrola model record player, which had variable turntable speed control that accommodated the wide range of records produced at the time
1908 - Columbia introduces the first double-sided phonograph records
1912 - Disc recordings become more popular than cylinder recordings
1924 - Electrical records replace acoustic discs
1928 - The 78.26 rpm speed becomes standard for all phonograph records.
1946 - German magnetic tape recorders are copied for commercial use by AMPEX
1948 - The 33 1/3 LP is introduced by Columbia
1949 - RCA Victor introduces large-hole 45 rpm records. It became the preferred medium for singles
1952 - The Recording Industry Association of America is formed.
1955 - 12" LPs become more popular than 10" LPs
1962 - Multi-track analog tape recording begins in recording studios
1963 - Phillips develops compact stereo tape cassettes and players
1982 - The compact disc is introduced. The first CD is released in Japan. It is Billy Joel's "52nd Street."
1983 - The first CDs are released in the United States
1986 - CDs overtake LPs as top-selling medium in the United States
1999 - Recordable CD-R discs become available
2000 - Napster is created. This is also the first year that recording sales declined, and the recording industry blames online music sharing.
2001 - Napster is slapped with a lawsuit by the RIAA. In October, Apple introduces its iPod portable music player.
2003 - Apple introduces its online music store iTunes, offering free music downloads at 99 cents per song.
2006 - In February, iTunes sells its billionth song.
2007 - Just over a year later, in July, iTunes crosses the 3 billion songs sold mark.
- Media Management Group
