Harald Holst, Boris JermerThe Role of the Speaking Machine in Music Histroy

Harald Holst, Boris JermerThe Role of the Speaking Machine in Music Histroy Overview Introduction View I –Methodology: Linear History Approach View II –Methodology: Actor Network Theory Conclusion

Harald Holst, Boris JermerThe Role of the Speaking Machine in Music Histroy Linear History I Music before the phonograph was delivered as 1 - sheet music to be played 2 - rolls for player pianos, “music boxes” 1878 Edison built and patented the first “Speaking Machine” also called phonograph –Founding of Edison´s “Speaking Phonograph Co.“ 1885 The “Gramophone” was patented first by Bell & Tainter –Led to legal problems and a fight about the patents 1885 “Columbia Phonograph Records” was founded 1887 Emile Berliner develops first flat metal disk, which can be mass produced 1901 Enrico Caruso becomes first big performer to make a record

Harald Holst, Boris JermerThe Role of the Speaking Machine in Music Histroy Linear History II ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) was founded to ensure that members receive royalties for recordings WWI songs create further demand for gramophones 1920s - The era becomes known as the “Jazz Age,” –gramophones become popular in American and European homes Radio stations draw audiences away from grammophones –Sales of records drop 50 percent

Harald Holst, Boris JermerThe Role of the Speaking Machine in Music Histroy Linear History III 1929 Stock market crash ushers in Great Depression –Record sales hurt further 1945 Magnetic audio tape, used by Germans during WWII, is brought to US by the Military 1948 LP introduced by of Columbia Records –LPs allow 25 minutes of music per side 1983 Compact discs arrive –They replace vinyl records almost totally within two years

Harald Holst, Boris JermerThe Role of the Speaking Machine in Music Histroy Linear View Linear View = Determinist view (Edison  CD) –In the majority of the literature the history is presented that way –„...The next day he [Edison] realized that he could... replay them for a simulacrum of the speakers´s voice. This flash of insight paved the way for the modern recording industry.“ (The Atlantic Monthly, 1995)

Harald Holst, Boris JermerThe Role of the Speaking Machine in Music Histroy Actor Network Edison Consumer Purchasing Power Culture Artists Marketing Lightbulb Gramophone Bell Phonograph Electrical IndustryInnovation CultureMilitaryEconomical Benefit Berliner Record Companies

Harald Holst, Boris JermerThe Role of the Speaking Machine in Music Histroy Artists & Recording Industry 1885 “Columbia Phonograph Records” was founded 1901 Enrico Caruso becomes first big performer to make a record –Later earnings from his recordings was over $2 million USD 1920s Columbia and Victor record companies develop electrical recording process, using microphones instead of funnels 1948 LP introduced by Columbia Records –LPs allow 25 minutes of music per side

Harald Holst, Boris JermerThe Role of the Speaking Machine in Music Histroy The Culture of Invention in New England New England area held in high international regard for its industry, technology and spirit of inventiveness –Provided a nurturing environment for the inventive imagination Indicators of such culture: –Law firms devoted to patents –Education institutions such as Lawrence scientific school, MIT etc. –Machine shops which helped inventors making their inventions come true Edison, Latimer, Bell, Thompson were all connected to this area –„Legal firms and machine shops operated side by side with commercial ventures interested in the purchase, marketing, and distribution of patents and patented goods. Some such ventures were respectable, with staff that understood and carried through the difficult, often intricate work of bringing an invention to fruition.“ (Manning, K.)

Harald Holst, Boris JermerThe Role of the Speaking Machine in Music Histroy Phonograph and Grammophone Berliner, 1887Edison, 1878

Harald Holst, Boris JermerThe Role of the Speaking Machine in Music Histroy Edison´s Patent „Speaking Machine“ (1978)

Harald Holst, Boris JermerThe Role of the Speaking Machine in Music Histroy Thank you for your attention!