A few of us have started a private discussion group (mailing list) to
explore the creation of "Project Gramophone".

Project Gramophone (PGr) is envisioned to be a non-profit organization
to digitally preserve and freely make available (via one or more
online international archives) digitized versions of early sound
recordings which have passed into the Public Domain or whose
performance copyrights have been donated to the archive. Thus, PGr
as presently envisioned will archive sound performances recorded up
through the 1920's or 1930's and sometimes more recently, depending on
various factors (including what we may be able to arrange, as needed,
with song title publishers and even with recording companies.)

In many ways, PGr will be similar to "Project Gutenberg" for public
domain books. However, because of fundamental differences between
sound recordings and textual content (including transfer and digital
restoration), original source material ownership, and the greater
complexity of copyright (a sound recording can be covered under two or
more copyrights, including the performance, the song title (melody and
lyrics), sometimes the arrangement, etc.), there will undoubtedly be
dissimilarities between Project Gramophone and Project Gutenberg.

(If Project Gutenberg is interested in associating with this project
in any way, it will certainly be seriously considered.)

Undoubtedly, there are several problematic issues which need to be
addressed and resolved (and not only copyright). Nevertheless, we
believe there is a "formula" to make Project Gramophone a success, to
greatly benefit the public, as well as benefit those who take a deep
interest in the vintage sounds of yesteryear, including those who
collect and archive the original source recordings. We believe that
Project Gramophone will expose large numbers of new people to the
great sounds of yesteryear (who otherwise would never purchase CDs
of this material, and thus never develop an interest in it), and
introduce many to the hobby of collecting original vintage sound
recordings, discographical research, and so on -- which will benefit
everyone interested in some aspect of early recorded sound, as well
as benefit the public in general by encouraging preservation.

Note that the name "Project Gramophone" is not etched in stone, and
certainly one area of discussion will be an appropriate name for the
project if the name "Project Gramophone" is deemed unsatisfactory. But
we have to start with something to call it.

To subscribe to the Project Gramophone discussion group, you can
either subscribe to it directly at Yahoo! Groups (if you have a
Yahoo ID):

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/project-gramophone/

or, simply send a blank email message to:




We look forward to your participation in discussion. There is no
implied long-term commitment to this Project for you to participate in
discussion and contribute your ideas, thoughts and criticisms. We need
your special insights to help us come up with a workable "formula" (if
there is one) for Project Gramophone.

Thanks.

Jon Noring
Project Gramophone


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