Music recorded in October 1901
In October 1901, Afghan leader Abdur Rahman Khan (c. 1844–1901) died, ushering in power to his successor, Habibullah Khan (date of birth and death unknown). In the United States, Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) invited Booker T. Washington (1856–1915) to dinner at the White House, sparking strong backlash and debate over race relations at the time. In the aftermath of the president's assassination, Leon Czolgosz (1873–1901) was executed on October 29, 1901, further visualizing fears of political violence and tensions over security. In terms of society and entertainment, Annie Edson Taylor (1838–1921) survived the Niagara Falls in a barrel on October 24, 1901, becoming a symbol of public curiosity. In Japan, the Ashio Copper Mine Pollution Incident led to a field survey of the affected areas by court officials in Tokyo from October 6–12, 1901, confirming continued public interest in pollution. In terms of technological and industrial developments, the formation of corporate organizations centered on disc records also progressed, and changes that would influence the structure of the recording media market in later years accumulated during this period.
Confirmed recordings this month: 0
Summary of information on recordings made in October 1901
To date, the only event that can be confirmed as "October 1901" (at least down to the month) using primary sources or equally reliable public documents, and that can also be directly linked to the history of sound recording (recordings, releases, company and system announcements, etc.), is the incorporation of the Victor Talking Machine Company. This event marks the institutional starting point for corporate activities premised on disc playback and duplication, and can be seen as part of the shift in the market from cylinder-centered to discs.
Founding of the Victor Talking Machine Company
Official records on the history of sound recording show that the Victor Talking Machine Company was incorporated in October 1901. This company is often described as a nexus between the disc technology and commercialization of Eldridge R. Johnson (1867–1945) and Emile Berliner (1851–1929), and is considered to be an event related to the subsequent expansion of the disc record industry and the framework of competition.
- https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-recording-preservation-plan/tools-and-resources/historical-background/timeline/
- https://www.loc.gov/static/managed-content/uploads/sites/6/2017/02/recorded_sound_timeline-2013.pdf
- https://www.hagley.org/research/news/hagley-vault/you-may-have-known-victor-talking-machine-company-was-pioneer-fields
