The Future of Record Research

Since Paul is no longer posting about Record Research
here, I think it is time for long-time Record Research
devotees as many of us are to express to Paul and his RR
colleagues our concerns, hopes and suggestions for Joel's
collection and the future of RR. Although shared in
another post, I believe this best summarizes the current
situation:

https://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2024/10/the-joel-
whitburn-collection.html

It would be practically criminal for Joel's music
collection not to wind up at the Library of Congress, Rock
and Roll Hall of Fame or some similar institution. The
historical significance of the music he collected is
simply undeniable and deserving of such preservation for
future generations.

As for the research, I hope Paul's "heart for the charts"
will help him evolve his research to other formats such as
on-demand print or digital publications sourced from a
comprehensive database that will encompass many of the
books and genres that have not been updated in several
years (e.g. AC, Christmas, Country albums). It may take
time to build this database especially for those books
that have never been updated or even published (e.g.
album books for Cashbox and Record World, Cashbox country
singles, R&R's charts other than Pop). If Billboard could
be trusted, I would even recommend sourcing publication to
them. But, with their website focused less on the charts
and more on advertising and cross promotion with other
sites owned by their parent, I doubt they could ever
produce chart data of the quality we have been spoiled by
from Record Research for over five decades. With
Billboard's clunky and advertising overwhelmed chart data,
I would also recommend seeing whether RR could develop its
own online subscription database where one could easily
research chart data for any artist. The data is already
licensed - its publication and distribution by RR would
need to be updated.

Please let Paul and RR know how you feel so that in some
way they will know how much their work has been
appreciated all these years and our hope that it will
continue in some way in the future.

My first RR book was the 2nd edition of "Top Pop Singles"
- maybe back in 1973... had to save my paper route money
for it as it was fricking expensive! My last book was
2020's "Rock Tracks". During the preceding 5 years I
noticed that RR was headed downhill. Now when I keep
getting their "going out of business" - ah I mean the 45%
off - emails, just sounds like Paul's last post supported
company liquidation. Not sure how much input Paul
actually had. Joel did make some "interesting" decisions.

I have expressed my concern that Joel should have
concentrated more on his legacy in his later years.
Obviously the record collection is one of a kind and
beyond priceless. Somebody should buy the collection and
building for a gazillion dollars. Turn it into a museum.
To lose that collection would be a giant historical f*ck
up. RR should be devoted to its preservation.

RR is essentially a one book enterprise now (I just
consider the Annual a stepsister to the Pop Annual) and
likely has published it's last book. A variety of reasons
for that.

I have asked RR to make their research materials
available to the general public. American Radio History
would die for the early Music Vendor magazines and other
documents. Hell... they will even scan them for posterity
sakes. But I'm afraid they will be lost forever. That is
an avoidable outcome, so I can hope.

Joel's legacy should extend beyond the RR company. Kent
Kotal recognizes this but doesn't sound too optimistic.

: (

Edited by Chartman

Not looking promising:

https://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2024/11/joel-whitburn-
day.html

All of the periodicals belong in a library. I have been
to many music libraries including the best ones at the
Library of Congress in DC and the Lincoln Center library
in NYC, but neither has a complete collection from
Billboard, Cashbox, R&R or Record World. Some of their
collections are microfilm which does not age well. If they
are not going to continue to publish in any form, I wish
these would be donated to one of these libraries or, as
someone has suggested, scanned for a site like World Radio
History.

I am not certain how such donations would work. Would one
of these libraries pay for these collections? I imagine
Whitburn's heirs would want to monetize this "inheritance"
in some way. Joel must have spent $$$ buying and storing
all this music and magazines through the years. Unless
they have the same passion for music and the charts, I
doubt maintaining a legacy will be enough to justify the
cost to keep this going.

Yes, bubblers were included and as proof, I see Jerry
Garcia's Hotteroll? went to #201. On page 8, it states that
those charts gave 4 to 35 positions. It also includes an
alphabetical list of all of the songs on those albums with
their individual chart positions. That really adds to the
size of the book which is enormous.

Edited by AutumnAarilyn