- 1878: The first records consisted of short, simple melodies and spoken recitations.
- 1881: Gilbert and Sullivan operetta was recorded.
- 1887–88: Columbia created series of 12-inch disks.
- 1890–94: Berliner Records (or Edisons) were available; they also had a longer playing time than cylinder recordings.
- 1895–96: Berliner’s Gramophone Company made flat disc records which sold as many as a million copies.
- 1898: the first double-sided disks were released.