Articles

Ever picked up a record, cassette or CD labeled “For Promotional Use Only -- Not For Resale” and wondered if it’s okay to buy or sell it? The answer, as was declared in the San Francisco-area Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in 2011, is “yes” to both. But the road to that answer was full of twists and turns, and at many times in the past the issue was mired in a tussle between consumers and record companies. Not that some in the music industry didn’t happily reside in that grey area by selling promo copies. In a book he wrote about...

The week in music history brought to you by MusicGoldmine.com. Just a couple of highlights from this week in music history! Li OCT 10: Happy birthday to Midge Ure, born on today in 1953. The Scottish musician, singer-songwriter, and producer co-founded the band Ultravox and was a key figure in the new wave and synth-pop movements. Ure achieved global success with "Vienna" and "Dancing with Tears in My Eyes." Beyond Ultravox, he co-organized Live Aid in 1985 and co-wrote "Do They Know It's Christmas?" Ure's versatile talent and contributions to music have left an indelible mark, earning him recognition and respect in...

Exciting news for Beatles fans today as a new track entitled "Now And Then" has come to light. New software developed during the production of Peter Jackson's 2022 documentary series Get Back unlocked a vocal and piano demo recorded by John Lennon in the 70s, allowing it to be developed into the new work.  The recording was first heard by the surviving Beatles in 1995, but it remained unusable until the new technology enabled an uncoupling of Lennon's vocal from the piano on the track. This enabled the other Beatles to add their parts -- including George Harrison, whose rhythm guitar parts were recorded in 1995 -- and make...

Music has a profound impact on our lives, and for many, it's not just about the songs but also the tangible artifacts that connect us to the artists and their legacies. Music memorabilia museums are dedicated to preserving this history, allowing fans to immerse themselves in the world of their favorite artists. Björn Ulvaeus from ABBA had this "star guitar" created by luthier Hagström for the group's debut at the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest and today it is displayed at the ABBA Museum in Stockholm, Sweden In this article we'll take a virtual tour of a dozen of the world's most impressive music memorabilia museums, ranked in...

The Beatles Yesterday and Today album's original Butcher cover is one of the most infamous album covers in the history of rock music. Released in 1966, the album initially featured a cover photograph that depicted the Fab Four dressed in butcher smocks, covered in pieces of raw meat and dismembered baby dolls. This shocking and controversial cover art was quickly withdrawn by the record label, Capitol Records, and replaced with a more conventional cover, making the original "Butcher cover" a rare and highly sought-after collector's item. The story of the Butcher cover begins with The Beatles' rapid rise to fame and success....