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
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.
View Image1990
Michael Bolton duets with then-unknown Mariah Carey at NARM Convention Scholarship Foundation Dinner.
View Image1990
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”.
