Sunday Newspaper Supplements (1890s - 1908)

Since the interest in popular music was so high in the 1880s, William Randolph Hearst began publishing songs in supplemental sheet music in his Sunday newspapers in order to boost circulation. Other newspapers followed suit. While publishers and songwriters initially objected, the copyright laws at the time allowed it. This practice lasted until about 1908. Some Sunday supplement songs were actually composed for the newspapers. Many of the covers are comical, and it is assumed that they were drawn by newspaper staff cartoonists.

Newspaper Supplement Sheet Music