Re: [ARSCLIST] Billboard Charts

[Andrew Brown <brown135@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Billboard magazine began "charting the hits" starting with the October 12, 
1935 issue. This was planned as a feature within a new section entitled 
"Weekly Music Notes." Below the headline "10 Best Records," the explanation 
was given that these charts represented "ten 'best sellers' for automatic 
phonograph operators reported this week by record firms. These weekly 
reports enable the operator to check on the very latest hits. Due to the 
rush in starting the music department, the list is naturally incomplete this 
week." The lists were grouped by label (10 best sellers for Bluebird, 10 
best on Brunswick, etc) and divided under separate "Chicago List" and "New 
York" lists.

My question is: was this the earliest known attempt to "chart" the best 
selling records, or do earlier examples exist, e.g. in magazines like 
Talking Machine World?

--Andrew Brown