accountaddarrow-down695E50F9-6460-43FC-BC81-B4CA19A6E7D0 arrow-leftarrow-right-normalarrow-rightarrow-upbadge-cma-theater-textbadge-cma-theater badge-hatch-show-print-newbadge-hatch-show-printbadge-hatch-textbadge-studio-b-textbadge-studio-bblogbook open 2 Combined Shape Group 13 calendar-createcalendar date 2 caret-downcaret-upC6C7D574-21AF-430C-BC02-A72187954DEE cartn check clockclosecma-theater-dark cma-theater cmhf-dark cmhf cookiesDirect Left downloadexhibitsexpandicon-fb file-pdffile-pptxfwis-asterikgallery-skip-singleicon-gallery-skip guitar hatch-dark hatch historyhouse illustration-plaquesillustration-towerinfo icon-instagram lesson-buslesson-gradlesson-laptopbullet list 69 locationlogo-round-bw-cma-theater-alt logo-round-bw-cma-theater logo-round-bw-hatch logo-round-bw-studio-b logo-round-cma-theaternulllogo-round-hatch-show-print logo-round-ko-cma-theater- logo-round-ko-cma-theater-alt logo-round-ko-hatch logo-round-ko-studio-b logo-round-studio-b medalmembershipmemoriam-no-membermemoriammenu-close-icon 40D1676E-88FB-491C-A80B-E517F8FA5DFC 44A609DD-FE48-484B-93C2-72F445BB14F9 menuminusPath 3Created with Sketch. nav-leftnav-rightnew-windowFBFAAA23-3B96-4733-9297-B98AA5118A4F ntta-logo-color notificationpadlockicon-pause phoneGroup 13 icon-play podcastsquestion radio-towerrefresh rotate-cylindosearch settings shareshopskip-singleicon-skip icon-snapchat studio-b-dark studio-btickettime clock icon-twitter twitter videosviolin warning wifi icon-youtube

We use cookies in the following ways: (1) for system administration, (2) to assess the performance of the website, (3) to personalize your experience, content and ads, (4) to provide social media features, and (5) to analyze our traffic. You consent to our cookies if you continue to use our website. Please consult instructions for your web browser to disable or block cookies, or to receive a warning before a cookie is stored on your computer or mobile device. Read our Privacy Policy.

Back to Oral History
  • Oral History

Russell Sanjek

May 24, 1979 OH512 64 min.
Share

Biography


Music industry executive. Born 1916. Died June 1986. Longtime executive with Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), from BMI’s early years into the 1980s. Author of the four-volume work, American Popular Music and its Business: The First Four Hundred Years 3 Vols. (New York: Oxford University Press, 1988), a history of the American music industry.

Interview Summary

1979 May 24
(1 hour, 4 minutes)
BMI executive Russell Sanjek recounts the history of the American music industry, focusing on issues facing the industry since the 1940s. Discussion includes examples of BMI’s programming; validating BMI’s existence; country music as an important element of popular music; the importance of “Tennessee Waltz” to the popularity of country music; an overview of past BMI presidents; BMI’s licensing and fee structures; BMI’s work with writers; comments about his current work on a book tracing the history of American popular music; the ASCAP and BMI relationship since the mid-1960s; the efforts for revision of U.S. copyright law; and comments on record companies’ increased costs and prices.