Timeline of music in the United States (1880–1919)

The period between 1880 and 1919 witnessed a dramatic evolution of music in the United States, marked by the rise of distinctly American genres, increasing industrialization of music production and dissemination, and the impact of significant social and political events.

1880s:

• Continued popularity of parlor music, including sentimental ballads and piano pieces.
• The rise of the concert band movement, led by figures like John Philip Sousa. Sousa's band toured extensively, popularizing patriotic and march music.
• The increased availability of affordable pianos fueled home music-making.
• Minstrelsy, though waning, still held a presence in popular entertainment. It often caricatured African Americans, perpetuating harmful stereotypes, but also inadvertently disseminated elements of African American musical styles.

1890s:

• Ragtime emerges in the Midwest, particularly in Missouri. Characterized by its syncopated melodies and stride piano style, ragtime composers like Scott Joplin gain widespread recognition. "Maple Leaf Rag" (1899) becomes a major hit.
• Early blues forms begin to solidify in the Mississippi Delta, reflecting the experiences of African Americans in the post-Reconstruction South.
• The phonograph, invented by Thomas Edison in 1877, gains increasing popularity as a means of recorded music consumption.
• The development of Tin Pan Alley in New York City as a hub for popular music publishing. Composers, lyricists, and publishers collaborate to churn out songs intended for mass appeal.
• The influence of European classical music remains strong, with American composers writing symphonies, operas, and concertos.

1900s:

• Ragtime reaches its peak in popularity.
• The rise of early jazz in New Orleans, blending ragtime, blues, brass band music, and European harmonies. Improvisation becomes a key element.
• Growing popularity of musical theatre, with increasingly elaborate productions.
• The emergence of gospel music in African American churches.
• Continued growth of the recording industry.

1910s:

• Jazz begins to spread from New Orleans to other parts of the country, particularly Chicago and New York.
• The development of blues as a distinct genre, with figures like W.C. Handy publishing blues compositions. "St. Louis Blues" (1914) becomes a standard.
• The rise of dance crazes like the foxtrot and the tango, influencing popular music styles.
• The influence of World War I on popular music. Patriotic songs become prevalent.
• The founding of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) in 1914 to protect the rights of songwriters and publishers.
• The end of the decade sees the beginnings of the Jazz Age, setting the stage for significant changes in American music during the 1920s.

This period was characterized by cross-cultural pollination and the formation of new musical idioms that would deeply influence not only American music but music globally.