On November 1, 1894, Billboard published its first issue, a publication vastly different from the modern magazine and its expanded digital platforms. The premiere edition was not focused on the music industry; instead, it launched as "Billboard Advertising" with a mission to provide "a monthly résumé of all that is new, bright and interesting on the boards." This original scope reflected the influence of circus promoter Jared Bell, who pioneered marketing through billboards in the 1830s. The eight-page magazine was priced at 10 cents per issue or 99 cents annually and was devoted to advertisers, poster printers, bill posters, advertising agents, and fair secretaries.
The cover of the inaugural issue featured R.C. Campbell, then-president of the Associated Bill Posters' Association. The editors described Campbell as a man of "infinite resource, progressive ideas and tireless industry," selecting his photograph because he was the acknowledged leader in the field the magazine aimed to cover. While the publication has since shifted its focus to the music segment for over eight decades, its core mission to report on and analyze the entertainment business remains intact.
Billboard's first national music chart, the 10-position National List of Best Selling Retail Records, did not appear until the July 27, 1940 issue. Prior to this, the magazine highlighted sheet music best sellers, records popular on music machines, and songs with the most radio plugs in New York. The 1940 list was significant as the first to poll retailers nationwide on record sales. Tommy Dorsey topped this first retail list with "I'll Never Smile Again," featuring vocals by Frank Sinatra; the song spent 12 weeks at the summit. This scorecard paved the way for industry standards like the Billboard 200, which became a weekly chart on March 24, 1956, and the Billboard Hot 100, which premiered on August 4, 1958.
The Hot 100's first number one was Ricky Nelson's "Poor Little Fool," marking the beginning of a tally that has since reached over 1,195 chart-toppers. In recent years, Billboard's charts have expanded to include social and streaming activity, with streams added to the Hot 100's weekly tabulation. The publication now offers the weekly Billboard Artist 100, expanded touring tallies, surveys ranking songwriters and producers, and global lists such as the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S.
Beyond charts, Billboard has grown to encompass multiple platforms, including the Billboard Music Awards, industry summits like Women in Music and Latin Music Week, podcasts, and SiriusXM channels. In its maiden issue, the publication proclaimed that although it was in its "swaddling clothes," its success was already assured. Early responses to the prospectus were overwhelmingly positive, with Col. Burr Robbins advising publishers to start small and let growth be natural, while Al. Bryan of Cleveland noted that the paper should have been started long ago.
Sources: Billboard.