In 2020, Stanford University / Stanford Libraries digitized the actual surviving AMPICO ARTIST RECORD book (308 pages) from the late 1920s, which Alan H. Mueller has preserved over the years. Together with the book are many Letters and documents (approx. 40) preserved.
Many of the composers and pianists who have recorded for Ampico are listed here with their titles. In addition, details of the respective contractual arrangements are included, in particular exclusivity rights and royalties. Various payment models are listed, always depending on the fame of the respective pianist. Sergei Rachmaninoff, for example, received an annual advance payment of $10,000.00 (equivalent to around $150,000.00 today) against which the actual sales were then settled. He therefore received 50 cents per roll - which was a lot for a roll selling price of $2. Other pianists received 5 cents per roll. S. Rachmaninoff was and is probably one of the most important sales arguments for Ampico, as he only recorded exclusively for Ampico.
(picture: Stanford University, Stanford Libraries, ARS0205 Alan Mueller Collection)
The pages showing the contractual relationship and the titles with Hupfeld are also very interesting. As Ampico only launched the reproduction system somewhat later, famous European pianists were missing from Ampico's repertoire. Ampico was allowed to publish certain titles by Hupfeld under license. Even then, reproduction rolls were transferred from one system to the other by adapting them to the other accenting system.
(picture: Stanford University, Stanford Libraries, ARS0205 Alan Mueller Collection)
Here are two examples of Ampico rolls with a S. Rachmaninoff title - and a Liszt title recorded by Alfred Cortot, which was offered in Hupfeld license by Ampico.
After all, the Philipps DUCA Recording Book and the Ampico recording book have turned up in the original and are available digitally. The wish of all collectors is now to find the Welte and Hupfeld recording books. Even if the turmoil of war has presumably destroyed these documents, it could well be that the Hupfeld documents are lying dormant somewhere in Russia - and the Welte documents somewhere in the USA - just like the Welte guest book from 1847, which reappeared in the USA years ago slightly burnt.
