Music recorded in October 1947
October 1947 was a month in which political tensions and institutional restructuring in the postwar world became even more apparent. On October 5, the declaration of the formation of the Information Bureau of the Communist and Workers' Parties was published in Pravda, concretizing the East-West conflict. On October 14, the Bell XS-1 achieved the first supersonic flight in history, ushering in a new stage of aviation technology. From October 20 to 30, the House Committee on Un-American Activities held hearings on the film industry, bringing political and cultural industry tensions to the surface. In South Asia, a U.S. diplomatic document dated October 27 recorded the acceptance of the Instrument of Accession by the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir and the progress of the deployment of Indian troops. Economically, the final document of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade was signed on October 30, marking progress in the creation of a post-war multilateral trade order.
Confirmed recordings this month: 0
Summary of information regarding recordings from October 1947
In October 1947, the central issue in the American recording industry was the situation surrounding recording and transcription contracts that were set to expire on December 31, 1947. The October 1947 issue of *The International Musician*, as part of the agenda of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada, indicated that it could again choose to refuse recordings after the expiration of current contracts. In response, the October 18th and October 25th issues of *The Billboard* reported that a recording halt at the end of the year was becoming a reality, and that there was a growing movement within the industry to rush recordings before the deadline. In this environment, major record companies were simultaneously working to address the risk of halts and conducting promotional activities.
Decca Records
The October 18, 1947 issue of The Billboard reported that executives at Decca Records, Inc. had been discussing how to respond to the recording halt issue later that week. While the article doesn't go into detail about the discussions, it confirms that the company was treating the changes in the recording environment at the end of 1947 as a major business issue. As recording completion by the end of the year, utilization of existing masters, and revision of sales plans became common concerns for all companies, Decca Records was also at the center of it all.
Columbia Records
The October 18, 1947 issue of The Billboard magazine reports on a joint promotion by Columbia Records, Inc. and The Coca-Cola Company in which Elliot Lawrence (1925–2021) held afternoon promotional events at local record stores during his tours. This promotion combined musical activities with sponsorship from a beverage company and in-store promotions at retail locations, confirming that Columbia Records, as of October 1947, was linking music sales with attracting customers to physical stores.
Capitol Records
The October 11, 1947 issue of The Billboard reports on General Electric Company's plan to use singers signed to Capitol Records, Inc. for a full-color national advertising campaign. While the advertising campaign was planned for November 1947 and beyond, it confirms that the company's artists were already incorporated into a large-scale promotional campaign as early as October. Even as the recording ban issue loomed, Capitol Records was pursuing promotional partnerships with external companies to link the fame of its singers with product appeal.
