Cash Box magazine was a weekly publication devoted to the music and coin-operated machine industry. It published from July 1942 to November 16, 1996.

History

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It was one of several magazines that published charts of song popularity in the United States of America. Cash Box's most prominent competitors included Billboard and Record World. Unlike Billboard, Cash Box initially combined all currently available recordings of a song into one chart position. Artist and label information was shown for each version, alphabetized by label. Originally, no indication of which version was the biggest seller was given. Beginning October 25, 1952, a star was placed next to the names of the most important artists.

Separate charts were presented for juke box popularity and record sales, again differing from Billboard's methodology, which attempted to combine all measures of popularity, including radio airplay as well as sales and juke box play. In addition, chart data were presented for specific genres such as country music.

Scandal

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Record producer Robert Metzgar a Music Row veteran, outlined what both he and prosecutors characterized as fraudulent chart-fixing methods and an ominous threat made just days before 23-year-old Kevin Hughes was shot and killed on 16th Avenue on March 9, 1989, in testimony Tuesday against accused Music Row murderer and former Cashbox magazine employee Richard “Tony” D’Antonio.

Record producer Robert Metzgar testified that Chuck Dixon, a Music Row producer who died in 2001, made a comment to him in 1989 that could suggest the motive behind the shooting death of Hughes.

“He said, ‘I will handle Kevin Hughes and, you know, if I can’t handle him, he’ll be gone,’” Metzgar said.

Metzgar testified that Cashbox was, in fact, fixing its charts in the late 1980s. He said the magazine would add artists to its charts in exchange for payment from both promoters and the artists themselves.

“The minimum amount for six to seven weeks on the chart was $2,500,” Metzgar said.

Prosecutors contended that Cashbox was “totally corrupt” under Dixon’s direction, noting that the magazine had become an illegitimate “money-making operation” when Hughes was named chart director. They say that Hughes was uncomfortable when he realized that the magazine was not accurately reporting record standings, and that he was killed when D’Antonio and Dixon realized he might expose them.

23-year-old Kevin Hughes was shot and killed on 16th Avenue on March 9, 1989, in testimony Tuesday against accused Music Row murderer and former Cashbox magazine employee Richard “Tony” D’Antonio.

D’Antonio was subsequently convicted in September for the 1989 murder of Kevin Hughes and assault with intent to commit second-degree murder for the attack on aspiring artist Sammy Sadler, D’Antonio was sentenced to life in prison in 2005. Sadler subsequently recovered from the attack and continues a career in country music.

External links

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• Popular record sales chart rankings from Cash Box magazine
• Rhythm & blues chart #1 songs from Cash Box magazine

Defunct magazines | Music magazines | Record charts | United States magazines