What impact did Bessie Smith have on Columbia Records?

What impact did Bessie Smith have on Columbia Records?

• A. She helped put the company back on solid financial footing.
• B. She caused it to lose money.
• C. She left the label after one session.
• D. She wrote the label's first promotional song.

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is how a single superstar can boost a record label’s finances and standing. Bessie Smith was one of the era’s biggest and most popular blues artists, and her records for Columbia sold very well. That high demand meant more sales revenue for the label, plus greater prestige in the market. When a standout artist like her succeeds, it helps the company cover costs of signing and recording, improves profits, and can make the label more attractive to retailers and other artists. So her successful releases helped Columbia Records financially solidify and strengthen its position. She didn’t cause the label to lose money, since her records were commercially successful. She didn’t leave after one session and she wasn’t the writer of the label’s first promotional song—the emphasis here is her impact as a popular performer driving sales and reputation for Columbia.

The main idea here is how a single superstar can boost a record label’s finances and standing. Bessie Smith was one of the era’s biggest and most popular blues artists, and her records for Columbia sold very well. That high demand meant more sales revenue for the label, plus greater prestige in the market. When a standout artist like her succeeds, it helps the company cover costs of signing and recording, improves profits, and can make the label more attractive to retailers and other artists. So her successful releases helped Columbia Records financially solidify and strengthen its position.

She didn’t cause the label to lose money, since her records were commercially successful. She didn’t leave after one session and she wasn’t the writer of the label’s first promotional song—the emphasis here is her impact as a popular performer driving sales and reputation for Columbia.