Overview

The American Music Timeline connects many traditions that developed in the United States, including Indigenous music, African American music, European American folk traditions, immigrant musics, sacred music, recording industries, regional scenes, and mass media.

This page belongs to the Music Timelines area of the Malone Global University Music Department. Timeline pages should connect dates and periods to listening, artists, recordings, technologies, communities, institutions, and cultural context.

On This Page

Use these links to connect this timeline with related history, genre, artist, album, song, instrument, technology, and listening pages.

Roots and Traditions

American music includes Indigenous traditions, African diaspora traditions, European folk and classical traditions, Latin American influence, and immigrant communities.

Regional Scenes

New Orleans, Chicago, Detroit, New York, Memphis, Nashville, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and the Bay Area all shaped major musical developments.

Media and Industry

Publishing, touring, recording, radio, film, television, streaming, and social media changed American musical life.

Study Questions