1990s

1999

RIAA launched the Diamond Awards, honoring sales of 10 million copies or more of an album or single; first awarded to The Eagles’ Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975.

1999

PolyGram merged into Universal Music Group.

1999

Napster launches.

1999

RIM launches BlackBerry as an email pager.

1999

At the “Digital Delivery, Show Us the Money” seminar at the NARM Convention, Willie Nelson performed a song live, which was mixed, encoded, and published for sale on the Internet by the end of the session.

1998

Google incorporated.

1998

Digital Millenium Copyright Act (DMCA) passed.

1998

Transworld takes over Camelot Music.

1998

“Now That’s What I Call Music!” compilations launch in U.S.

1998

Amazon begins selling CDs.

1997

NARM hosts seminar on DVD video format at NARM Convention.

1997

Broadband modem introduced.

1997

Duran Duran’s “Electric Barbarella” the first commercial digital download.

1997

MP3.com launches.

1996

NARM launches first website for members.

1995

NARM membership tops 1,000 companies for first time.

1995

NARM presents Michael Jackson with Harry Chapin Memorial Humanitarian Award.

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1995

MCA merged into Universal Music Group.

1995

MP3 codec introduced.

1995

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame opens in Cleveland.

1995

NARM begins Strategic Planning initiative at NARM Convention.

1994

Internet CD retailer CDNow debuts.

1994

NARM promotes September as “Classical Music Month;” gets official proclamation from President Bill Clinton.

1993

Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, and Justin Timberlake debut on “The Mickey Mouse Club”.

1993

Barnes & Noble re-enters music market.

1992

AOL for Windows launched, promoting dial-up access to email and the Internet in homes.

1991

Borders starts selling music in some of its stores.

1991

Nirvana’s “Nevermind” released.

1991

First Lollapalooza.

1991

SoundScan launched.

1990

RIAA shipment numbers: 286.5 million CDs, 1.1 million CD singles, 442.2 million cassettes, 87.4 cassette singles, 11.7 million LP/EPs, 27.6 million vinyl singles, 9.2 music video.

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1990

Michael Bolton duets with then-unknown Mariah Carey at NARM Convention Scholarship Foundation Dinner.

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1990

CD-Rs (recordable CDs) introduced.

1990

Geffen Records acquired by MCA; MCA acquired by Matsushita.

1990

Parental Advisory stickers introduced.

1990

Patricia Moreland becomes first female NARM President.

1990

NARM Convention slogan “Welcome to the Digital Decade”.