ARC-0032
Level of description
collection
Title
Modern Music Records
Date
1948-2002, undated
Size
2.21 (Linear feet)
Biography / Administrative History
Founded in 1945 by Jules, Saul, and Joe Bihari, Modern Records became a major blues and R&B record label. The Bihari brothers created many subsidiary labels to focus on specific artists and types of music. All of these ventures were gathered under the name Modern Music Publishing Company.
Scope and Contents
The Modern Music Records document the publishing side of the music industry. The records span from the company's earliest days in the late 1940s, when it was founded by Jules Bihari, to a few documents from the 1990s through 2002. The bulk of the collection dates from the early 1970s, and the contents only document select parts of the business. Of particular note are materials related to the subject of copyright, and the records demonstrate how Bihari and his two brothers, Joe and Saul, added their names or pseudonyms to a song in order to receive shares of the royalties. The collection also contains information about many of Modern Music's subsidiary record labels, including Flair and Kent Records. The collection is arranged alphabetically by file title.
Notes
Citation: [Identification of item], Modern Music Records, Library and Archives, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.
Acquisition Note: The Modern Music Records were received by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. as a gift from Joe Bihari in 2010.
Processing Information: Processed by Anastasia Karel, Assistant Archivist. Completed November 19, 2010. Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS and local processing manual.
Access
Collection is open for research. Patrons must sign the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibilities and Privacy Rights statement on the Researcher Registration form before using this collection. Consult the Library and Archives in advance of your visit to ensure access to these materials is available.
Use
The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. For more information, please consult the staff of the Library and Archives.
Associated Persons
Associated Subjects
