A look from outside

Bulgaria and Eastern Europe on the pages of the billboard music magazine (1960s–1980s)

Abstract

The Billboard was founded in 1894 as a weekly music and entertainment industry magazine and during the 20th century it receives an immense influence in the popular culture in the United States – covers a wide range of upcoming and past events, artists, new popular styles, charts, advertisments, useful information for the managers of the entertainment companies etc. Though focused on the cultural industry produced, spread and consumed in capitalist principles, the magazine, with a varying frequency in the time of the Cold war, publishes numerous reports and information articles on the modern music culture in the Soviet bloc socialist countries. The topics that stir the interest of Billboard reporters and the way the capitalist cultural industries criteria/stereotypes meet the music production in the socialist countries from behind the „Iron Curtain“ and particularly Bulgaria is the major object of the paper.

References:

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Statii ot spisanie Billboard

$1M Onda Nueva… 1971 $1M Onda Nueva Fest Attracts World Interest. Billboard, 30 January, 51. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

25 Countries In… 1966 25 Countries In Polish Music Fest. Billboard, 17 September, 42. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

27 Countries In… 1967 27 Countries In Sopot Fest Aug. 17 to 20. Billboard, 15 July, 7. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

27 Countries to… 1969 27 Countries to Vie In Poland Popfest. Billboard, 16 August, 74. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Album Reviews 1965 Album Reviews. Billboard, 10 July, 31. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Album Reviews 1966 (1) Album Reviews. Billboard, 26 March, 42. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Album Reviews 1966 (2) Album Reviews. Billboard, 25 June, 53. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Anderson, Omer 1959 Red Europe Bows to Juke Box Passion. The Billboard, 7 December, 1, 81, 89. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Anderson, Omer 1965 Bonn-Bulgaria Enter Trade Pact. Billboard, 24 October, 6. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Anderson, Omer 1965 GEMA Draws Closer ‘Curtain’. Billboard, 28 August, 28.
https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Anderson, Omer 1967 EMI Thaws East-West Cold War With Jugoton Contract. Billboard, 16 September, 67. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Artists From 18 Countries… 1968 Artists From 18 Countries Signed for Sopot Festival. Billboard, 4 May, 50. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Atlas, Ben 1951 Washington, Paris Agree: Propaganda Lays an Egg. The Billboard, 3 March, 3. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Balkanton’s 30th… 1982 Balkanton’s 30th Anniversary. Billboard, 16 October, 75.
https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Belgian Team… 1968 Belgian Team Is Chosen for Song Contest. Billboard, 15 June, 55. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Berlin Jazz… 1972 Berlin Jazz Festival Sparks Disk Activity. Billboard, 15 January, 65.
https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Bulgaria… 1976 Bulgaria. Jusautor. Billboard, 6 November, C-14, C-26.
https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Bulgaria Features… 1960 Bulgaria Features Juke Boxes As Top-Billed Tourist Attract’n. The Billboard, 29 August, 73
https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Bulgarian Co…. 1972 Bulgarian Co. Hits 7 Million. Billboard, 13 May, 56.
https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Bulgarian Disk… 1971 Bulgarian Disk Co. Output in Growth. Billboard, 3 July, 69.
https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Bulgarian Exports… 1978 Bulgarian Exports To Russia At New High. Billboard, 12 August, 68. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Bulgarian Ire Bans… 1961 Bulgarian Ire Bans Western Music & Disks. Billboard Music Week, 1, 79. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Bulgarian Label… 1980 Bulgarian Label Prepares Major Expansion Plans. Billboard, 13 September, 61. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Bulgarian Reds Ban… 1961 Bulgarian Reds Ban Juke Jazz; Blast Imperialistic Cha Cha Disk. Billboard Music Week, 6, 62.
https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Bulgarian’s Will Swap… 1961 Bulgarian’s Will Swap Garlic For Phonos. Billboard Music Week, 26 June, 58. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Bulgars Order… 1961 Bulgars Order Juke Boxes. Billboard Music Week, 10 April, 63.
https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Castlebar Entires 1973 Castlebar Entires. Billboard, 30 June, 56. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Chicago MOR… 1971 Chicago MOR/Classical FM Station. Billboard, 29 May, 36.
https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Chopin Contest… 1965 Chopin Contest in Warsaw. Billboard, 13 March, 65.
https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Cincinnati 1967 Cincinnati. Billboard, 13 May, 53. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Czech ‘Frank’… 1967 Czech ‘Frank’ On Bonn Disk. Billboard, 6 May, 48. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Czech Stereo Cos…. 1972 Czech Stereo Cos. Into Int’l Market. Billboard, 27 May, 48. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Czechoslovakia Calling! 1970 Czechoslovakia Calling! Billboard, 19 December, 59. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

D.C. Bow for… 1969 D.C. Bow for 3 Conductors. Billboard, 15 March, 56. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Doruzka, Lubomir 1967 Prague Jazz Fest Lines Up U. S. Stars. Billboard, 30 September, 59. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Doruzka, Lubomir 1968 (1) Make Czech Pop Fest Debut. Billboard, 11 May, 46. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Doruzka, Lubomir 1968 (2) 4th Intervision Song Contest’s Golden Clef to Czech Singer. Billboard, 13 July, 72. https://books.google.bg (29.11.2023)

Duke’s Old… 1971 Duke’s Old ‘A Train’ On Time in USSR. Billboard, 2 October, 20. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

East Europe… 1975 East Europe Nations at MIDEM Seek Technical Data Exchange. Billboard, 8 February, 58. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

East Europe... 1979 East Europe Concerts For U.K. Rockers. Billboard, 28 July, 50.
https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

East Makes Big… 1971 East Make Big MIDEM Splash. Billboard. 6 February, 1, 70. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Eguchi, Hidego 1973 Tokyo Contest To Elektra Act. Billboard, 12 May, 1, 48 https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

FIDOF Festival… 1971 FIDOF Festival Fair Set for Yugoslavia. Billboard, 17 July, 46. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

From the Music Capitals of the World 1967 (1) From the Music Capitals of the World. Billboard, 8 July, 53. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

From the Music Capitals of the World 1967 (2) From the Music Capitals of the World. Billboard, 11 November, 55. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

From the Music Capitals of the World 1972 From the Music Capitals of the World. Billboard, 16 September, 48. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Grein, Paul 1979 Stig Anderson’s Ploy: Hold Hot Product In France, Spain. Billboard, 6 October, 64, 66. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Grevatt, Ren 1963 Seeger Folk World Tour Offers Taste of U.S. – Not Coke-Flavored. Billboard, 22 June, 16. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Gross, Mike 1967 CBS Int’l Break East Trade Block With Distrib Pact. Billboard, 27 May, 1, 10. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Gyongy, Paul 1963 Int’l Artists in Full Swing At Budapest Music Festival. Billboard, 5 October, 10. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Hennessey, Mike 1966 CBS France, Czech Pact. Billboard, 10 December, 1. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Hennessey, Mike 1968 (1) MIDEM Opens: 400 Cos. Make it a ‘Worldly’ Event. Billboard, 2 March, 45. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Hennessey, Mike 1968 (2) 150-200 Mil. To See Eurovision. 5 Red Nations Get Fest; Tunisia Tapes. Billboard, 6 April, 38. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Herman on Tour… 1966 Herman on Tour. Billboard, 9 April, 3. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Hits of the World 1970 Hits of the World. Billboard, 4 July, 73. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Intervision to Mark… 1969 Intervision to Mark 10th Yr. Billboard, 27 December, 41. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Johnson, Henry 1970 Despite Troubles Rio Festival Is Set. Billboard, 24 October, 66. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Juke Box for… 1962 Juke Box for Red Riviera. Billboard Music Week, 24 February, 47. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Maslowe, Bill 1956 USSR Raises Iron Curtain on Jukes. The Billboard, 29 September, 1, 93. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

MIDEM: Interest ‘Intense’ In Prague and Warsaw. Billboard, 30 September, 59. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Miller, Bob 1979 Russian ’78 Album, Sales: 135 Million. Billboard, 20 Januray, 107. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Montreux Jazz… 1967 Montreux Jazz Fest Succeeds ‘Far Beyond Expectations’. Billboard, 15 July, 12. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Moscow Automat… 1955 Moscow Automat Vends Caviar, Salmon, Beer. The Billboard, 22 January, 72. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Most Played in Juke… 1957 Most Played in Juke Boxes. The Billboard, 17 June, 58 https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

New Album Releases 1964 New Album Releases. Billboard, 14 November, 36. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

New Album Releases 1966 New Album Releases. Billboard, 30 May 45. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Nuremberg’s Jazz…1968 Nuremberg’s Jazz Fest Set. Billboard, 9 March, 44. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Over 30 Countries… 1972 Over 30 Countries In Bulgarian Fest. Billboard, 12 February, 38. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Poland Will Make… 1967 Poland Will Make Grundig Recorders. Billboard, 23 December, 36. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Polish Disk… 1974 Polish Disk Firm Seeks Socialist Nation Ties. Billboard, 26 October, 60. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Red Jukes… 1961 Red Jukes in the Black. Billboard Music Week, 14 August, 63. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Reds Attempt to… 1955 Reds Attempt to Crack Nippon Phono Market. The Billboard, 31 December, 11. https://books.google.bg (29.11.2023)

Reps From 31 Countries… 1967 Reps From 31 Countries To Judge Polish Fest. Billboard, 57. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Romania Buys 1964 Romania Buys. Billboard, 16 May, 45. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Russians Sign… 1974 Russians Sign 400 Accords. Billboard, 30 November, 1, 43. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Schuegraf, Ursula 1968 From the Music Capital of the World. Billboard, 4 May, 52. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Song Contest Is… 1971 Song Contest Is Without 1st Prize Winner. Billboard, 10 July, 42. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Steinman, Sam’l 1963 Special Promos For Colpix Disks. Billboard, 18 May, 44. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Ursulescu, Octavian 1977 From the Music Capital of the World – Bucharest. Billboard, 3 December, 62. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Ursulescu, Octavian 1979 Romanian Demand For Disks Outstrips Production Capacity. In Billboard, 24 February, 76. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Volcic, Mitja 1981 ‘Fat’ Years Said Over In Yugoslav Market. Billboard, 12 December, 51. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Vox Jox 1966 Vox Jox. Billboard, 12 November, 44. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Waschko, Roman 1967 (1) Warsaw Jazz Jamboree Is Termed Swingiest Ever. Billboard, 4 November, 60. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Waschko, Roman 1967 (2) From the Music Capital of the World. Billboard, 14 October, 67. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Waschko, Roman 1972 From the Music Capital of the World – Warsaw. Billboard, 3 June, 48. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Waschko, Roman 1973 Sopot Fest Establishes New Format, Includes Disks. Billboard, 15 September, 1, 42. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Waschko, Roman 1977 Czech Is Winner At Sopot. Billboard, 12 November, 96. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Western Music At Peak… 1965 Western Music At Peak Behind Iron Curtain. Billboard, 27 February, 3. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Yurchenkov, Vadim 1971 From the Music Capital of the World – Leningrad. Billboard, 4 September, 42. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Yurchenkov, Vadim 1972 From the Music Capital of the World. Billboard, 12 August, 52. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Yurchenkov, Vadim 1973 Melodiya to Strike New Policy Note; 78’s Out by ’75. Billboard, 17 February, 1, 50. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Yurchenkov, Vadim 1978 From the Music Capital of the World – Moscow. Billboard, 1 July, 82. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Yurchenkov, Vadim 1982 (1) Melodiya Increasing International Trade. Billboard, 22 May, 60. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Yurchenkov, Vadim 1982 (2) Bulgarian Disco Growth Spurs Nat’l Conference. Billboard, 13 March, 39. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)

Yurchenkov, Vadim; Doruzka, Lubomir 1970 From the Music Capital of the World –
Leningrad/Prague. Billboard, 19 December, 59. https://books.google.bg/ (29.11.2023)