Conclusion

Existing research shows how 1950s West Texas Country Music and artists are scarce and largely unavailable commercially on today’s mainstream radio or consumer marketplace. Research also shows the cultural value and relevance of this material, encouraging preservation for future academic study and exposure to new audiences. This study and design-centric solution serves as a template to encourage ethnomusicologists to archive and preserves other culturally valuable recordings beyond monetary value.

In the age of digital music and streaming services, vinyl album sales in the United States have grown for the 15th consecutive year. In 2020, 27.5 million LPs were sold in the United States, up 46 percent compared to 2019 and more than 30-fold compared to 2006 when the vinyl comeback began (Richter).

Handling and playing phonograph records is a unique activity. The tactile feeling of sliding a record out of its colorful jacket, placing the record onto the turntable, and lowering the stylus into the grooves to hear the warm pop and crackle before the first note announces itself is an experience like no other. With the advancement and evolution of digital music technology over the last few decades, people still interact with and enjoy the 100-plus year-old technology. Because of this tactile experience, it is important to preserve and promote phonograph recordings that are not available on any other format, and to hear music that was specifically designed and recorded for phonograph records.