The History of the Twentieth Century 421 Two Strikes and You're Out
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Oct 12, 2025 Discover the twilight of the big band era during WWII as strikes reshape the music scene. Learn how juke joints served vital roles in African-American communities. Explore the clash between ASCAP and radio, leading to a ten-month boycott that transformed music licensing. Dive into the emergence of BMI and its inclusive approach to songwriters. Plus, hear how vocal groups like the Mills Brothers filled the void left by live bands during the AFM strike, marking a significant shift in the music industry.
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Recorded Sound Shifted Music Power
- By 1925 records and jazz shifted power from songwriters to performing musicians and bandleaders.
- Radio and phonographs made recorded performance the primary way Americans consumed music.
Radio Versus Phonograph And Jukeboxes
- Radios offered free continuous music and reduced demand for records among many listeners.
- Jukeboxes and phonographs remained vital for niche tastes like blues and regional music.
Juke Joints Spawned The Jukebox Market
- Mike recounts juke joints as rural African-American weekend venues that later used phonographs and jukeboxes.
- He connects these grassroots spaces to the later spread of blues records on jukeboxes.