Music recorded in September 1918
September 1918 was the month when the end of World War I became a real possibility. On the Western Front, the Saint-Mihiel Offensive took place from September 12th to 16th, and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive began on September 26th. On the Balkan Front, Bulgaria signed the Armistice of Salonica on September 29th, clearly indicating the collapse of the Allied powers. In the Middle East, the Battle of Megiddo took place from September 19th to 25th, and the Ottoman army retreated rapidly. In Russia, the Council of People's Commissars of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic issued a decree on the Red Terror on September 5th. Socially, the second wave of the 1918 influenza pandemic worsened this month, and technologically, the United States Post Office Department conducted a New York-Chicago airmail route exploration flight from September 5th to 10th, advancing the practical application of long-distance air transport.
Confirmed recordings this month: 0
Summary of information regarding the September 1918 recording.
In September 1918, the recording industry saw not only announcements of new releases, but also advertisements for autumn phonograph models, the establishment of new retail outlets, and the development of regional distribution networks. Contemporary documents from September 1918 confirm sales activities and promotional campaigns at Victor Talking Machine Co., Columbia Graphophone Co., Thomas A. Edison, Inc., the Vocalion division of Aeolian Co., and Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co. In the West, the activities of distribution companies such as Western Phonograph Co. were also observed, indicating that the recording industry continued to operate at all stages of manufacturing, promotion, and sales.
Victor
The Music Trade Review, dated September 28, 1918, reported that MC Conlin & Son had opened a new Victor store in Chicago, operating its 2322 West Madison Street location as "Conlin's Talking Machine Shop." Victor Talking Machine Co. was expanding its urban retail network by September 1918.
Columbia
An advertisement in the September 21, 1918 issue of the Music Trade Review prominently featured the Columbia Graphophone Co.'s new Grafonora, which was equipped with the "Columbia Non-Set Automatic Stop" system. The same ad also included a sales advertisement for foreign-language records. Columbia Graphophone Co. was promoting both the new mechanism of its machine and record sales that month.
Edison
The September 28, 1918 issue of the Music Trade Review featured Thomas A. Edison, Inc.'s "Edison Messages" as an advertising strategy linked to contemporary social themes such as music, family, liberal bonds, war savings stamps, and the American Red Cross. The same page also included an article about wounded soldiers visiting the Edison Laboratory, confirming that the company linked product promotion with corporate image building.
Aeolian/Bokkalion
The Music Trade Review, dated September 28, 1918, reported that Aeolian Co. was running a newspaper advertising campaign for the Vocalion Record Library that featured individual records and individual singers. The article stated that this concentrated advertising was generating sales, indicating that Vocalion was employing a sales strategy that strongly promoted individual records in September 1918.
Western Phonograph
A San Francisco industry article dated September 28, 1918, states that Western Phonograph Co. was incorporated and would continue to serve as a distributor of Pathé products in the western region. The company's activities in September 1918 can be seen as a reorganization into a distribution company and the continuation of its regional sales network.
Brunswick
The Los Angeles Herald, dated September 17, 1918, advertised Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co.'s autumn models, while the Rock Island Argus, dated September 25, announced a Brunswick phonograph exhibition and daily demonstrations. In September 1918, Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co. was aiming to expand sales through the introduction of its autumn models and in-store demonstrations.
- https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=LAH19180917.2.992.3
- https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=RIA19180925.1.3
Cheney
A Chicago industry directory published in the September 28, 1918 issue of the Music Trade Review lists Cheney Talking Machine Co. as a business located at 24 North Wabash Avenue. While the article is not detailed, it confirms that the company was recognized as a business entity in the Chicago market as of September 1918.
