Edison suspends nearly all production of cylinders and begins to manufacture thick discs recorded vertically at 80 rpm Record industry given great boost by the craze for ballroom dancing. The bands of Jim Europe, Tea Lewis, Wilbur Sweatman, Art Hickman, King Oliver, W. C. Handy, Fate Marable, Paul Specht, Noble Sissle, Will Marion Cook, Meyer Davis, Freddie Keppard, and Coon-Sanders are touring new dance emporiums . . . The five-piece Original Dixieland Jazz Band makes its first side for Victor in New York. 1918 World War I ends . . . Paul Whiteman, Jan Garber, Vincent Lopez, George Olsen , and Leo Reisman form their orchestras.
Record industry prepares for postwar boom.
Gennett Record Company of Indiana is founded. Okeh and Pathe' record companies begin operations . Record industry fails to see the significance of this at the time. By the end of the year there are 200 radio stations and three million radios in American homes . . . More than 100 million records are produced and Americans spend more money on recorded music than on any other mode of entertainment.