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How did broadside ballads spread news before newspapers became common?

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ballad Detail of an undated broadside ballad distributed in Boston following the execution of Levi Ames for burglary and intended to warn “thoughtless Youth.”

Before the widespread availability of newspapers, broadside ballads served as a primary source of news for the public. Following the invention of the printing press, these rhymed accounts of current events—such as crimes, executions, and disasters—were printed on single sheets of paper and sold in streets, marketplaces, and fairs.12

These ballads were highly effective at disseminating information because they were designed to be sung. Although the sheets rarely included musical notation, they specified that the text should be set to a popular air. To ensure the public could learn the news, the balladmongers who sold them would sing the verses aloud, allowing listeners to quickly memorize the melody and the story.2

While many of these topical pieces were ephemeral and faded once the news became dated, they played a crucial role in the oral tradition by bringing sensational public happenings into the common vernacular through rhyme.12