WE’RE GOING WAAAAAAY BACK TODAY:

William Donaldson and James H. Hennegan published their first edition of Billboard as “A monthly resume of all that is new, bright and interesting on the boards.” The eight page magazine was “devoted to the interests of advertisers, poster printers, bill posters, advertising agents & secretaries of fairs.” It later began reporting on circuses, carnivals, vaudeville and other forms of live entertainment before focusing on motion pictures and later still, the music industry. The cost of that initial publication was 10 cents or 90 cents a year.