It's been 136 years since Thomas Edison invented the phonograph, and since then, our means of listening to music has changed considerably. Take a look at some of the many technologies we've used to hear our favorite songs:
A history of consuming music —
It's been 136 years since Thomas Edison invented the phonograph, and since then, our means of listening to music has changed considerably. Take a look at some of the many technologies we've used to hear our favorite songs:
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In 1877 Thomas Edison invented the phonograph, the first device that could reproduce recorded sound. It worked by tracing a stylus over a rotating cylinder. Edison tested it by speaking the phrase, "Mary had a little lamb," into the machine -- perhaps the first words ever recorded.
Thomas Edison and the phonograph —
In 1877 Thomas Edison invented the phonograph, the first device that could reproduce recorded sound. It worked by tracing a stylus over a rotating cylinder. Edison tested it by speaking the phrase, "Mary had a little lamb," into the machine -- perhaps the first words ever recorded.
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Edison phonograph records were cylindrical. The gramophone record disc was invented by Emile Berliner in the late 1880s and soon surpassed Edison cylinders as the preferred recording technology ... not that it was easy to take on the road.
Gramophone —
Edison phonograph records were cylindrical. The gramophone record disc was invented by Emile Berliner in the late 1880s and soon surpassed Edison cylinders as the preferred recording technology ... not that it was easy to take on the road.
Keystone View Company/FPG/Archive Photos/Getty Images
Wireless technology, pioneered by such figures as Nikola Tesla and Guglielmo Marconi, was first used for telegraph messages. Eventually, it was used to transmit voice, news, sports and music. People used crystal sets -- basic radio receivers -- to tune in broadcasters, though headphones were required because the signal was unamplified.
Crystal Radio —
Wireless technology, pioneered by such figures as Nikola Tesla and Guglielmo Marconi, was first used for telegraph messages. Eventually, it was used to transmit voice, news, sports and music. People used crystal sets -- basic radio receivers -- to tune in broadcasters, though headphones were required because the signal was unamplified.
Kirby/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images
By the 1930s, radio was flourishing. Families gathered around to listen to the latest entertainment and news.
Family gathered around radio —
By the 1930s, radio was flourishing. Families gathered around to listen to the latest entertainment and news.
Richards/Fox Photos/Getty Images
The long-playing record (LP) was invented by Peter Goldmark in 1948. By playing at 33 1/3 rpm, it could fit more than 20 minutes on a side instead of the five minutes of 78-rpm discs.
LP records —
The long-playing record (LP) was invented by Peter Goldmark in 1948. By playing at 33 1/3 rpm, it could fit more than 20 minutes on a side instead of the five minutes of 78-rpm discs.
Graphic House/Archive Photos/Getty Images
The jukebox has its roots in the 19th century, but really caught on in the 1940s. One was a major prop on the 1950s-set TV show "Happy Days."
Jukebox —
The jukebox has its roots in the 19th century, but really caught on in the 1940s. One was a major prop on the 1950s-set TV show "Happy Days."
ABC/Courtesy EVerett collections
The transistor radio was introduced in the mid-'50s and was the iPod of its time: small, portable and full of music (usually from AM radio stations).
Transistor radio —
The transistor radio was introduced in the mid-'50s and was the iPod of its time: small, portable and full of music (usually from AM radio stations).
A. Y. Owen//Time Life Pictures/Getty Images
The transistor radio generally had one small speaker and tinny sound. At the other extreme was the hi-fi, the high-fidelity stereo system, which offered rich sound from several components. Major record collector Elton John listens to a Sony hi-fi in the 1970s.
Hi-fi —
The transistor radio generally had one small speaker and tinny sound. At the other extreme was the hi-fi, the high-fidelity stereo system, which offered rich sound from several components. Major record collector Elton John listens to a Sony hi-fi in the 1970s.
SSPL/Getty Images
In the '60s, '70s and '80s, stereo component equipment became affordable to the mass consumer. Systems generally consisted of a receiver, a turntable, some kind of tape player and speakers.
Component stereo —
In the '60s, '70s and '80s, stereo component equipment became affordable to the mass consumer. Systems generally consisted of a receiver, a turntable, some kind of tape player and speakers.
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The cassette was introduced in 1963; the 8-track tape in 1964. Both were portable ways of listening to music. Here, actor Jimmie Walker (as his "Good Times" character J.J.) poses with several 8-track and cassette players.
8-track —
The cassette was introduced in 1963; the 8-track tape in 1964. Both were portable ways of listening to music. Here, actor Jimmie Walker (as his "Good Times" character J.J.) poses with several 8-track and cassette players.
Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
The portable stereo cassette player -- marketed by Sony under the name "Walkman" -- was introduced in the late '70s and had become a go-to accessory by the 1980s.
Walkman —
The portable stereo cassette player -- marketed by Sony under the name "Walkman" -- was introduced in the late '70s and had become a go-to accessory by the 1980s.
Dick Lewis/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images
Not every listening technology made the mainstream. A portable musical stereo bra, designed by Geoffrey Weston for Philip Garner's spoof "Better Living Catalogue," never busted through.
Cassette player —
Not every listening technology made the mainstream. A portable musical stereo bra, designed by Geoffrey Weston for Philip Garner's spoof "Better Living Catalogue," never busted through.
Howard Owens/BIPs/Getty Images
Music videos and their primary channel, MTV, became a huge outlet for music in the 1980s. One audiophile believes they helped kill off interest in great-sounding audio.
Music videos —
Music videos and their primary channel, MTV, became a huge outlet for music in the 1980s. One audiophile believes they helped kill off interest in great-sounding audio.
Frank Micelotta/Getty Images
The boombox, a portable radio-cassette player with its own speakers, was a popular item in the 1980s and '90s -- especially with hip-hop stars such as Will Smith.
Boombox —
The boombox, a portable radio-cassette player with its own speakers, was a popular item in the 1980s and '90s -- especially with hip-hop stars such as Will Smith.
Warner Bros./ Courtesy Everett Collections
The compact disc (CD) promised high-quality digital sound in a portable optical format. Sales peaked in the late '90s and early 2000s, though it's still prominent today. The disc became a collaboration between Sony and Philips; here, Philips' Joop Sinjou shows his company's version on March 9, 1979.
CD —
The compact disc (CD) promised high-quality digital sound in a portable optical format. Sales peaked in the late '90s and early 2000s, though it's still prominent today. The disc became a collaboration between Sony and Philips; here, Philips' Joop Sinjou shows his company's version on March 9, 1979.
Joop Sinjou/Phillips
Though MP3 players started appearing in the late '90s, the Apple iPod -- introduced in October 2001 -- became the ubiquitous device for digital music files. The players, originally available only in white, were seen everywhere.
iPod —
Though MP3 players started appearing in the late '90s, the Apple iPod -- introduced in October 2001 -- became the ubiquitous device for digital music files. The players, originally available only in white, were seen everywhere.
Visions of America/UIG via Getty Images
Thanks to the popularity of iPods and iPhones, wireless speakers -- such as the Beats Pill -- have become popular. Many have clever designs, are available in bright colors and produce surprisingly clean, room-filling sound.
Beats Pill —
Thanks to the popularity of iPods and iPhones, wireless speakers -- such as the Beats Pill -- have become popular. Many have clever designs, are available in bright colors and produce surprisingly clean, room-filling sound.
Cpurtesy Beats
And if don't have your own music? Just click on a streaming service such as Spotify and let your friends -- or some algorithms -- do the job.
Spotify —
And if don't have your own music? Just click on a streaming service such as Spotify and let your friends -- or some algorithms -- do the job.
spotify