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How much music could a 12-inch LP record play on each side?
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music recording
Inventor Thomas Edison listening to a phonograph.
A 12-inch long-playing (LP) record typically could play approximately 25 to 30 minutes of music per side.12
Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, the LP utilized a rotational speed of 33 1/3 revolutions per minute and fine microgrooves to achieve this extended playing time. This innovation allowed for the recording of longer musical works, such as symphonies and sonatas, on a single side, whereas the previous standard 78-rpm shellac discs were limited to about 4 to 5 minutes per side.312