Vintage Advertisements

New technology has to get a foothold somehow, and that “somehow” usually involves advertising. Not surprisingly, this advertising evolved with the times, and with the music business itself. A few examples of the ways musical innovation was marketed:

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 Early Technology

Photo: “Victor phonograph ad, early c1910” by William Cresswell/CC BY 2.0

The famous “His Master’s Voice” ad for the Victor gramophone. The dog is actually sitting on his master’s coffin listening to his recorded voice, though whether or not customers knew this is open for debate.

Photo: “Color woodcut ad for Edison’s Phonograph” by David/CC BY 2.0)

A poster advertising Edison’s first phonograph. Note the carnival style, marking the phonograph as a magical wonder of the age.

Atomic Age

Photo: “Motorola 309 Auto Radio, 1949” by Alden Jewell/CC BY 2.0

1949 advertisement for car radio, still a novelty at the time. The ad is becoming more graphic, but is still text-dominated.

Photo: “AD: RCA Victor Records – Robot Heralds Birth of the 45 (1949)” by Rossano AKA Bud Care/CC BY 2.0

One of the first ads for the 45 record, 1949. The emphasis is on the record’s small size and ease of use, though the quick-change reputation was largely hype. (see Battle of the Formats)

Photo: “… black and white TV sells radio” by James Vaughn/CC BY 2.0

A great example of television selling music directly in a late 50’s TV ad. As the visual culture of TV starts to take root, print ads are becoming more visual.

Photo: “The 1960s-1960 Le Chasseur français” by Mo/CC BY 2.0

1960 French advertisement for portable record player, noting the transistors which make the technology possible.

Photo: “Maestro Fuzz-Tone ad, 1962” by Simon Murphy/CC 2.0

1962 ad for “fuzz-tone” amplifier. The emphasis in the ad is on the “fad” potential of this new piece of tech, helping to sell it directly to a musician looking for an image.

Photo: “Magnavox TV-Stereo Theatre Ad, 1963” by alsis35 /CC BY 2.0

A 1963 ad for the new stereo technology combined with the new color TV technology–yet another example of music and television selling each other.

1970’s and 1980’s

Photo: “Record Club of America January 1971” by Nesster/CC BY 2.0

An ad for a subscription music service, 1971. This not only showcases the ubiquity of LP’s in the disco era, but also shows that computer technologies (internet radio) had a precursor.

Photo: “Vintage Ad #1,031: If There’s a Maxell Cassette In This Car…” by Jamie/CC BY 2.0

1981 ad for Maxell cassettes. The tapes’ durability was a major selling point, as emphasized here.

Photo: “Vintage Ad #1,445: Free Compact Disc at WH Smith” by Jamie/CC BY 2.0

1987 ad for promotional giveaway. The futuristic imagery makes the CD seem as cutting-edge as it is, while the giveaway foreshadows the music industry’s future reliance on such tactics to sell music.

Photo: “Have you “Stereo-ized” your TV?” by Chris Sobieniak/CC BY 2.0

Early ad suggesting how viewers ought to adjust their televisions for MTV. This tactic emphasized MTV as an experience rather than just a channel, helping to drive demand.

Digital Age

Photo: “illegal_download” by Harina Calamur/CC BY 2.0

Anti-downloading campaign ad. Before iTunes (and even after), the music industry and government banded together as they never had before to stop piracy. Even this ad, though, depicts the ease with which MP3’s can be downloaded.

Photo: “The iPod Generation: Born to be Separated” by Dean Terry/CC BY 2.0

Joint ad for iTunes and iPod. The emphasis in all these ads is the freedom, either of personal choice of music or of taking it everywhere. Unusually, this ad depicts music as a shared activity, something not common in the digital age.