Tin Pan Alley

Tin Pan Alley was the name given to the collection of New York City-centered music publishers and songwriters who dominated the popular music of the United States of America in the late 19th century and the early 20th century.

Origins

In the mid 19th century copyright control on melodies was poorly regulated in the United States, and many competing publishers would often print their own versions of whatever songs were popular at the time. Stephen Foster's songs probably generated millions of dollars in sheet music sales, but Foster saw little of it and died in poverty.

Related Topics:
Copyright - Stephen Foster - Dollar

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With better copyright protection laws late in the century, songwriters, composers, lyricists, and publishers started working together for their mutual financial benefit.

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The biggest music houses established themelves in New York City. Small local publishers (often connected with commercial printers or music stores) continued to flourish throughout the country, and there were important regional music publishing centers in Chicago, Illinois, New Orleans, Louisiana, Saint Louis, Missouri, and Boston, Massachusetts. When a tune became a significant local hit, however, rights to it were usually purchased from the local publisher by one of the big New York firms.

Related Topics:
Chicago, Illinois - New Orleans, Louisiana - Saint Louis, Missouri - Boston, Massachusetts

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The phrase Tin Pan Alley was immortalized in a Stevie Ray Vaughan song by the same name.

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