AUDIBILITIES

By Emmet Robinson

King Street Recording Company

Volume 89, Winter 2026

610-647-4341    kingstreetrecord@aol.com

How It Looks From Here

 We live in interesting times, where the only constant we can depend on is change.

In the early days of the American recording industry, for example, songwriters and musicians eager for fame and fortune would seek recording contracts with major record companies as their pathway to success.

In a related effort, talent scouts would scour venues where live music was being performed and gauge the levels of audience responses. When they found acts that were popular and seemed to have potential, they would offer them recording contracts. Once someone signed, the company would invest in the new artist by providing support in a variety of ways. Although not every act would go on to be successful, there were more winners than losers, and record companies would grow to be large, wealthy and powerful – all by making a investments of time and money with no guarantee of a return.

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