Association for Recorded Sound Collections ARSC News

ARSC Newsletter 169 (Spring 2026) now available online!

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 17:43:35 GMT

The Association for Recorded Sound Collections is pleased to announce the publication of ARSC Newsletter 169 (Spring 2026).

https://arsc-audio.org/newsletter

The newsletter features a preview of ARSC's 60th Annual Conference and Workshop in Memphis, Tennessee in May 2026. Registration for the workshop and conference is now open, so please plan to join us as we explore regional, national, and international topics in recorded sound and celebrate ARSC at 60!

Also included in the newsletter are interesting ARSC Research Grants reports on the representation of radio in art of the 1940s and the role of women in the development of Canada's ethnographic sound archives, plus member news and much more!

ARSC Journal 56.2 (Fall 2025) now available online

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 04:56:26 GMT

ARSC is pleased to announce the publication of ARSC Journal Vol. 56 No. 2 (Fall 2025).

https://arsc-audio.org/journal

ORIGINAL ARTICLES (AMP! login required)

“Misirlou” and Beyond: The Impact of Nicholas Roubanis on Global Music, by Maria Kapkidi

Ampex Master Equalization (AME), by Gary A. Galo

“Buried Deep”: George W. Broome, A Lost Pioneer of Black Culture and Sound, by Tim Brooks

Audio Tape: An Introduction to Analogue Magnetic Tape Recorders for Archivists and Audiophiles, by Harold Tichenor

Louisville Lockout, by Ron Geesin

Plus Book Reviews, Sound Recording Reviews, and Current Bibliography!

ARSC Announces Recipients of Independent Initiatives Awards

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 16:54:28 GMT

The Association for Recorded Sound Collections is pleased to announce the recipients of this year's ARSC Awards for Independent Initiatives.

T. Christopher Aplin — Architect of a tribe-centered model for preserving and reintroducing imperiled Native American audio recordings
Nicholas Bergh — Developer of state-of-the-art platforms enabling preservation transfers of unprecedented fidelity
Henri Chamoux— Inventor of the first widely adopted professional cylinder transfer platform and operator of a public website providing access to thousands of the world’s oldest sound recordings

ARSC is pleased to honor these passionate, driven, dedicated individuals who are advancing the field of sound recording through their own initiatives outside of their professional duties. Its Independent Initiatives Award carries a no-strings-attached prize of $5,000 per recipient to support, encourage, and promote their good works. Recipients will be honored the evening of May 16 at an awards ceremony during ARSC's 60th Annual Conference and Workshop in Memphis, Tennessee.

ARSC Conference: Proposals for Presentations due Jan. 26

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 00:18:01 GMT

The Association for Recorded Sound Collections (ARSC) invites proposals for speaker presentations, panel discussions, and posters at ARSC's 60th Annual Conference and Workshop, to be held in Memphis, Tennessee, May 13-16, 2026 at the Sheraton Memphis Downtown Hotel.

The deadline for proposals has been extended to Jan. 26, 2026. Please see the Call for Proposals on the ARSC Conference website for details.

ARSC welcomes proposals on all aspects of sound recording, in all formats, covering all genres of music and speech, in all periods from the 1800s to the present. Topics of interest include (but are not limited to) record labels and artists, recording and playback technology, watershed moments in the history of sound recording, radio broadcasts, podcasts, copyright and other legal issues, discography and innovative approaches to research, preservation, cataloging, and access.

Introducing the ARSC Archival Cylinder Box

Sat, 13 Dec 2025 20:41:07 GMT

ARSC is pleased to announce the ARSC Archival Cylinder Box, the highest-quality, safest, and densest housing available today for the long-term storage of historical cylinder recordings.

ARSC is now accepting orders for a limited production run in spring 2026. To read more and place your order, please see the ARSC Archival Cylinder Box web page. Orders are due by Feb. 15, 2026. Payments must be received by Feb. 28, 2026.

ARSC Awards for Excellence Winners

Sat, 01 Nov 2025 20:31:41 GMT

ARSC is pleased to announce the winners of the ARSC Awards for Excellence in Historical Recorded Sound Research for 2025.

2025 Awards for Excellence Winners

In bestowing these awards ARSC recognizes those publishing the very best work in recorded sound research and promotes readership of their works. Follow the links on the awards page to purchase copies of their works!

Authors will be recognized at the ARSC Awards banquet during ARSC's 60th Annual Conference and Workshop in Memphis, TN, May 13-16, 2026. Please join us!

Additional information about the ARSC Awards for Excellence may be found at https://arsc-audio.org/awards-excellence.

Additional information about the ARSC's Annual Conference and Workshop may be found at https://arsc-audio.org/conference.

Congratulations to all finalists and award winners! And thank you to the ARSC Awards Committee.

ARSC Research Grants: Call for Applications

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 00:10:02 GMT

ARSC is pleased to call for applications for ARSC Research Grants. Applications are due by January 31, 2026.

ARSC Research Grants support scholarship and publication in the fields of sound recording research and audio preservation. Project categories eligible for consideration include: discography, bibliography, historical studies of the sound recording industry and its products, and any other subject likely to increase the public's understanding and appreciation of the lasting importance of recorded sound.

ARSC members and non-members alike are eligible for grants in amounts up to $1000. ARSC encourages applications from individuals whose research forms part of an academic program at the master's or doctoral level.

Research Grant guidelines can be viewed at: https://arsc-audio.org/research-grants-program

Questions can be directed to: arscgrants@gmail.com

Research Grants are supported by membership dues and contributions.

Join or renew your membership in ARSC!

https://arsc-audio.org/join

Donate to ARSC!

https://arsc-audio.org/donate

ARSC Newsletter 168 (Fall 2025) now available online

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 11:54:10 GMT

The Association for Recorded Sound Collections is pleased to announce the publication of ARSC Newsletter 168 (Fall 2025):

https://arsc-audio.org/newsletter

For members with print subscriptions, copies will arrive in mailboxes soon.
For members with digital subscriptions, find the newsletter at the link above.

ARSC Newsletter 168 (Fall 2025) Contents

"President's Report," by Yuri Shimoda
"Using the Ray Wile Library," by Ryan Barna
"Tulsa Conference Wrap-Up and Memphis Highlights," by Curtis Peoples
2025 Research Grant Recipients
"How to Use the ARSC Library," by Tim Brooks
"An Extraordinary Discovery Leads to New Research on the Earliest Classical Recordings," an ARSC Research Grant Report by Andrew Krastins
"Obituary: Paul C. Charosh," by Tim Brooks
Distinguished Service to ARSC Award 2025 Presented to Seth B. Winner
ARSC Journal 2025 Best Article/Best Review of the Year Awards
ARSC 2025 Awards for Excellence Finalists Announced
ARSC at Record and Audio Shows
"Afro-Colombian Recordings of the 1960s and ‘70s," an ARSC Research Grant Report by Kumera Genet
ARSC Conference Photos
And more....!

To contribute to the ARSC Newsletter, contact:

ARSC Newsletter Editor Tim Brooks at tim@timbrooks.net

To advertise in the ARSC Newsletter, contact:

ARSC Executive Director Nathan Georgitis at execdir@arsc-audio.org

ARSC Conference Grants: Call for Applications

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 15:49:30 GMT

The Association for Recorded Sound Collections is now accepting applications for ARSC Conference Grants for ARSC's 60th Annual Conference and Workshop to be held May 13-16, 2026 in Memphis, Tennessee.

The application deadline is Monday, January 12, 2026.

The grants are designed to:

encourage newcomers to attend ARSC conferences
reach out to college students and professionals in the early stages of their careers
promote mentoring and professional development opportunities
advance scholarly research and publication, and
support ARSC members who desire to participate more actively in the association.

In addition, the committee will also be using a portion of our grant funds to specifically enable persons who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) and LGBTQIA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Questioning, Intersex, Asexual) to attend their first ARSC conference. Persons who do not identify as BIPOC/LGBTQIA are also encouraged to apply for Conference Grants.

Grants include:

complimentary registration for the entire ARSC Conference.
complimentary registration for the ARSC Workshop.
reimbursement up to US$750 to defray the expenses of transportation and lodging upon approval of valid receipts, to be submitted after the conference. Rental car costs for transportation within the conference city are not reimbursable.

For additional guidelines and submission information, see the ARSC Conference Grants web page:

https://arsc-audio.org/conference-grants-program

ARSC Conference recordings now available online!

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 19:26:53 GMT

ARSC is pleased to announce that sound recordings of presentations at ARSC’s 59th Annual Conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma are now available online to ARSC members, with selected recordings also available to the public.

https://arsc.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3300

If you require new Aviary login credentials, select Login and then Forgot Password to receive an email with instructions. Haven't set up your Aviary account? Use the "Don't have an account? Join now!" option at the bottom of the login window to create a free account.

Still no access or have questions? Please contact ARSC's Executive Director.

Please note that ARSC recordings are protected by copyright. Copies are made available here with the presenters' permission solely for personal and educational non-profit, non-commercial use. No part may be sold, loaned, distributed, broadcast, or published without the written permission of the presenter.

Thank you to all who presented or chaired sessions at the conference.

It's not too early to think ahead to ARSC's 60th Annual Conference and Workshop in Memphis, May 13-16, 2026!

ARSC Awards for Excellence Finalists for 2025

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 21:48:01 GMT

The Association for Recorded Sound Collections is pleased to announce the finalists for the 2025 ARSC Awards for Excellence in Historical Recorded Sound Research.

ARSC Awards for Excellence Finalists Press Release

Begun in 1991, the ARSC Awards for Excellence are awarded to authors of books, articles, or recording liner notes to recognize those publishing the very best work in recorded sound research.

The 2025 Awards for Excellence honor works published in 2024 and will be presented at ARSC's 60th Annual Conference, May 13-16, 2026 in Memphis, Tennessee.

Please support our finalists by purchasing a copy of their works.

For more information about the Awards for Excellence:
https://arsc-audio.org/awards-excellence

Congratulations to all finalists! And thank you to the ARSC Awards Committee chair and judges.

ARSC Webinar: Sustainability Now: Funding and Rights Considerations for Collections

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 13:29:06 GMT

Sustainability Now: Funding and Rights Considerations for Collections

April 21, 2025 3:30 ET / 12:30 PT

To register for this free webinar, click here: Registration

As many collections face increasingly difficult times, it is more important than ever to support one another and arm ourselves with tools and knowledge that enable resistance, persistence, and perseverance in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. An essential way to build advocacy for and ensure the sustainability of collections is to provide as much access as possible to materials, or in other words activating our collections. This can only be accomplished with a strong foundation in copyright law (e.g., knowing how much access can be provided to what materials) and having adequate resources to fund access to collections.

Webinar presenters Eric Harbeson (Authors Alliance, ARSC Copyright and Fair Use Committee) and Jesse Johnston (University of Michigan, National Recording Preservation Foundation) will give a quick overview of the legal and funding landscape when it comes to activating audio collections, and address some challenges to providing physical and online access. Then, they’ll take questions about turning your collection activation ideas into successful grant narratives and applications, and avoiding common pitfalls that keep projects from being sustainable.

This webinar is the final installment of ARSC’s Continuing Education Series centered around archival advocacy and sustainability, funded by a grant from the National Recording Preservation Board, administered by the National Film Preservation Foundation.

Eric Harbeson is the Scholarly Publishing Legal Fellow at Authors Alliance. Prior to joining Authors Alliance, Eric worked in libraries for 30 years before pursuing a JD at the University of Oregon. He has been a vocal advocate for the copyright interests of libraries and archives and is a frequent writer and presenter on the subject. He holds master’s degrees in music (Cleveland State University) and Library and Information Science (University of Illinois). In addition to his writings on copyright, he is the editor of two critical music editions, both published by A-R Editions.

Jesse Johnston is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan School of Information, where he teaches courses on digital collections, data curation, and information organization. In 2024, he was appointed by the Librarian of Congress to serve as Secretary of the National Recording Preservation Foundation. Johnston has worked in the cultural heritage sector in various roles, including as a librarian, archivist, and grants officer.

ARSC Newsletter 167 (Spring 2025) now available online

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 21:02:51 GMT

The Association for Recorded Sound Collections is pleased to announce the publication of ARSC Newsletter 167 (Spring 2025):

https://arsc-audio.org/newsletter

For members with print subscriptions, copies will arrive in mailboxes soon.
For members with digital subscriptions, find the newsletter at the link above.

President's Report, by Yuri Shimoda
"Not to be Missed: Tulsa in '25," a preview of the ARSC Conference program by Patrick Feaster
"Livin' on Tulsa Time," a preview of the ARSC Conference by the ARSC Conference Planning Committee
ARSC Conference Mentoring Program Invitation
"Early Recording Initiative Turns Four"
"New Information on Peter Allen," by Lawrence Schulman
"Researching Musical Short Subjects," an ARSC Research Grant Report by Mark Cantor
Conference Grant Recipients Announcement
"2024 ARSC Membership Survey Report," by Mariana Mejia Ahrens
"Investigating the Impact of Transnational Connections Fostered by Haitian Radio," an ARSC Research Grant Report by Rachel Chery.
And more....!

ARSC Webinar Recording Now Available: Advocating Up, or How to Help Administrators be your Archive’s Cheerleaders

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 00:04:15 GMT

The Association for Recorded Sound Collections is pleased to announce the video recording of the ARSC Continuing Education Webinar "Advocating Up!: How to Help Administrators Be Your Archive's Cheerleaders" is now available online on ARSC's Aviary Site!

Advocating Up!: How to Help Administrators Be Your Archive's Cheerleaders

Led by Tre Berney (Director of Digitization and Conservation Services, Cornell University), Ruthann McTyre (Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Director of the Gilmore Music Library, Yale University), and Mark Bailey (Head, Historical Sound Recordings, Yale University), the webinar presents practical information on how those on the front lines of collections work and those with more overarching roles can maintain healthy relationships and collaborate to create sustainability for specialized collections.

ARSC Conference and Workshop Registration is now open!

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 19:04:12 GMT

ARSC is pleased to announce registration is now open for ARSC's 59th Annual Conference and Workshop in Tulsa, Oklahoma, May 14-17, 2025! The conference and the workshop will be held in-person and online, so please join us in Tulsa or from afar.

To read more, visit the ARSC Conference and Workshop web page.

ARSC Webinar: Advocating Up, or How to Help Administrators be your Archive’s Cheerleaders

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 17:21:05 GMT

The Association for Recorded Sound Collections is pleased to announce its next installment in ARSC's Continuing Education Webinar Series.

Advocating Up! How to Help Administrators Be Your Archive's Cheerleaders
Thursday, March 13, 2025 1:00 PM ET / 11:00 AM PT

This workshop is free to all but registration is required.
To register, click here: Registration

This panel brings together archive and library veterans at a variety of levels to discuss how those on the front lines of collections work and those with more overarching roles can maintain healthy relationships and collaborate to create sustainability for specialized collections.

Led by Mark Bailey, Tre Berney, and Ruthann McTyre

ARSC Conference Grant Recipients

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:05:53 GMT

The Association for Recorded Sound Collections is pleased to announce the recipients of ARSC Conference Grants for ARSC's 59th Annual Conference and Workshop, May 14-17, 2025 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Dorothy Howard (MLIS student, Pratt Institute)
Valerie Lines (Sound Archives Librarian, Bowling Green State University)
John Radosta (Bob Dylan scholar)
Enrique Rivera (Documentary filmmaker and oral historian)

Please plan to attend ARSC's 59th Annual Conference and Workshop, May 14-17, 2025 in Tulsa, Oklahoma to meet this 19th cohort of ARSC Conference Grant recipients!

Conference Grants support newcomers in participating more actively in the association by attending the annual conference.

Grants are supported by a generous donation from the Savada Family Fund, and additional donations from members. Donate to the ARSC Conference Grants Fund.

Thank you to the ARSC Conference Committee for managing the ARSC Conference Grants program!

To join a committee contact an ARSC Committee chair.

To volunteer for ARSC see the ARSC Volunteer Jobs page.

ARSC Election Slate of Candidates

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 12:25:20 GMT

It's an election year for ARSC!

Please find below a preliminary list of candidates standing for election to the ARSC Board of Directors and ARSC Awards Committee. This is not an election ballot.

ARSC Election Preliminary Slate of Candidates

ARSC members are strongly encouraged to review the preliminary slate of candidates and petition the Nominating Committee to add to the final slate additional candidates for any position, especially First Vice President/President Elect, for which there are no candidates at present.

Each petition must be signed by at least three voting members and accompanied by the nominee's acceptance, brief biographical note, and brief vision statement. Petitions must be submitted to Matthew Barton (sndtrackng@aol.com), Chair, ARSC Nominating Committee, by February 17, 2025. The election ballot will circulate to ARSC members by March 17, 2025.

If you are interested in serving as an officer or member at large on the ARSC Board of Directors or as a judge on the ARSC Awards Committee please make your interest known to the Nominating Committee Chair or to fellow members who would petition the committee on your behalf. The term of service for each position is two years, except First Vice President/President Elect, for which it is four years. Any questions about service may be directed to the ARSC Nominating Committee Chair.

ARSC depends on its member volunteers! Please consider standing for election or taking on a volunteer role!

ARSC Journal 55.2 (Fall 2024) now available online

Sat, 21 Dec 2024 19:48:35 GMT

ARSC is pleased to announce the publication of ARSC Journal Vol. 55 No. 2 (Fall 2024).

https://arsc-audio.org/journal

ORIGINAL ARTICLES (AMP! login required)

Preserving Montreux Jazz Festival Recordings: A New Approach for Restoring Pyral CJ87 Master Tapes, by David Hadzis

Making Molten Metal into Liquid Sound: A Discography of Church Bells, Clock Tower Bells, Carillons and Handbells on Privately Produced British 78 rpm Records, by Mark Clinton Jones

Transferring PCM-F1 Digital Tapes to Current Digital Standards, by Gary A. Galo

The Victor Talking Machine Company Broadcasts of 1925: The Original Radio Scripts, by Ryan Barna

Early Radio in Color! (More or Less), by Matthew Barton

Plus Book Reviews, Sound Recording Reviews, and Current Bibliography!

ARSC Newsletter 166 (Fall 2024) is available online

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 01:32:01 GMT

The Association for Recorded Sound Collections is pleased to announce the publication of ARSC Newsletter 166 (Fall 2024):

https://arsc-audio.org/newsletter

For members with print subscriptions, copies will arrive in mailboxes soon.
For members with digital subscriptions, find the newsletter at the link above.

ARSC Newsletter 166 (Fall 2024) Contents

President's Report, by Yuri Shimoda
Researching British Bell Records, an ARSC Research Grant Report by Mark Jones
Unheard Melodies: Entangled Pasts of a Studio-Born Radio Opera, an ARSC Research Grant Report by Ronit Ghosh
Correcting the Record on Lead Belly’s Party Tape, by Geoff Harrison
Reflections on Researching The Voice of Zion, an ARSC Research Grant Report by Christopher Silver
City of London Phonograph and Gramophone Society Richard Taylor Bursary, 2025 Call for Applications
ARSC 2024 Conference Recordings Announcement
ARSC Resource Showcase: ARSC's New Website
ARSC Grants Webinar Video Announcement
And more....!

To contribute to the ARSC Newsletter, contact:

ARSC Newsletter Editor Tim Brooks at tim@timbrooks.net

To advertise in the ARSC Newsletter, contact:

ARSC Executive Director Nathan Georgitis at execdir@arsc-audio.org

ARSC Awards for Excellence Winners 2024

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 17:27:30 GMT

ARSC is pleased to announce the winners of the 2024 ARSC Awards for Excellence in Historical Recorded Sound Research.

https://arsc-audio.org/2024-excellence-awards-winners

Begun in 1991, the ARSC Awards for Excellence are awarded to authors of books, articles, or recording liner notes to recognize those publishing the very best work in recorded sound research. Please consider supporting our winners by purchasing copies of their works.

The 2024 Awards for Excellence honor works published in 2023. The awards will be presented during ARSC's 59th Annual Conference, to be held May 14-17, 2024 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Additional information about the ARSC Conference and the ARSC Awards for Excellence may be found on ARSC's website.

Congratulations to all winners! And thank you to the ARSC Awards Committee Chair and Judges for their efforts to review and recognize the best work in recorded sound research.

ARSC Conference Recordings and Slides Now Available Online

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 20:19:45 GMT

Recordings of presentations at ARSC’s 58th Annual Conference and Workshop in St. Paul, Minnesota are now available online to ARSC members, with selected recordings also available to the public.

https://arsc.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2875

Slides for most presentations are available in the Supplemental Files tab for each resource in Aviary. If you require Aviary login credentials, select Login and then Forgot Password to receive an email with instructions.

To search AMP! for ARSC conference sound recordings:
https://www.arsc-audio.org/journal-index/home.php

If you presented and would like to make your slides available please contact Nathan Georgitis (execdir@arsc-audio.org).

Please note that ARSC recordings are protected by copyright. Copies are made available here with the presenters' permission solely for personal and educational non-profit, non-commercial use. No part may be sold, loaned, distributed, broadcast, or published without the written permission of the presenter.

Thank you to all who presented at the conference!

ARSC Journal 55.1 (Spring 2024) is now available

Sat, 05 Oct 2024 13:18:14 GMT

The Association for Recorded Sound Collections is pleased to announce the publication of ARSC Journal 55.1 (Spring 2024).

Browse the ARSC Journal online at:

https://www.arsc-audio.org/journal.html

Members with print subscriptions will receive print copies soon.

Members with digital subscriptions may access contents at the link above.

International members with digital subscriptions will receive digital copies soon.

ARSC Journal 55.1 Contents
by Kip Lornell
Let's Go! (And Keep Going!): Pipeline Instrumental Review Turns Thirty-Five
by Matthew Barton
The Universe of Twang in Living Color!
by Matthew Barton
The Bettini Cylinders of Palatine Bridge
by Robert Feinstein
Woody ben Khayyám: The Rubáyát of Woody Guthrie
by John M. Radosta
Orlando Riverius Marsh

ORIGINAL ARTICLES (ARSC website login required)

Record Piracy: The Attempts of the Sound Recording Industry to Protect Itself against Unauthorized Copying, 1890–1978

by Raymond R. Wile

The Career and Writings of Charles K. Wolfe: Thirty-Five Years Exploring Blues, Bluegrass, Country, Folk, and Popular Music

by Ron Geesin

Plus Book Reviews, Sound Recording Reviews, and Current Bibliography

Contribute to the ARSC Journal:

https://www.arsc-audio.org/journalsubmissions.html

Advertise in the ARSC Journal:

https://www.arsc-audio.org/advertising.html

The ARSC Journal is looking for its next Book Reviews Editor!

Interested? Contact Matt Barton, ARSC Publications Committee Chair.

ARSC Awards for Excellence Finalists for 2024

Fri, 13 Sep 2024 22:57:39 GMT

ARSC announces finalists for ARSC Awards for Excellence for 2024!

ARSC Journal Best Article and Best Review of the Year Awards

Fri, 13 Sep 2024 22:46:59 GMT

ARSC inaugurates ARSC Journal Best Article and Best Review of the Year Awards Program by recognizing Lawrence Schulman and Richard Masters for their contributions to the ARSC Journal.