Although records had been around for a while, it was in the 1950's when records began to be released that were intentionally directed at young people, not least, teenagers.
Bill Haley and his Comets really set the ball rolling with Rock around the Clock, though as Bill Haley and the Saddlemen they had made songs such as Rocket 88, Rocking chair on the moon, and Rock the joint.
Sun Records was probably the first or one of the first publishers to really motivate and discover many of the big names of the fifties, not least Elvis Presley. Very quickly there was a massive audience and massive market and following of artists such as Pat Boone, Little Richard, Fats Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis, Duane Eddie, Ray Charles, Brenda Lee and many, many more.
It was a rich time for recorded music because one could find such a great variety of styles in the music charts, which had begun to be published around 1950 with Billboard in the USA and the New Musical Express in England. There were brilliant instrumentals, ballads, crooners such as Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra, jazz artists such as Acker Bilk, Kenny Ball and Chris Barber and so much more.
It is interesting that you mention songs becoming shorter for in those early years, almost every track was limited to 2 minutes, as near as damn it. If it was longer then the radio stations wouldn't play it and to cash in, writers and publishers conformed to the station requirements because radio plays were their main form of publicity and generating fans.
In the 60's, along came the folk movement, given momentum and greater visibility because it began a time of considerable civil protest. Into that came Bob Dylan who, as he always has, chose to go his own way and was suddenly writing lengthy songs with brilliant lyrics, often running for 5 minutes or even more. At first, radio stations didn't know how to deal with it but soon it became relatively common place as groups such as the Beatles and others moved from simplistic songs of 'You and me under the apple tree' to social comment and questioning and satire ...
Music collections of the young at that time would be items of pride and this was particularly true in the vinyl days when the large covers became art forms in themselves.
To me, the days of the Internet and digital music are a mixed blessing. Yes, it is far cheaper and easier to access a wide variety or 'virtual collection' of music but the magic around Saturday trips to the record store, listening to new songs in a booth, and fondly perusing the album notes or inserts and pictures while listening to new sounds is missing and, as much as there is still great music produced, there is a lost ethos for me.
In true 'old man' ways, I miss those times.
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George Dillard, thanks for an interesting article and the trip down memory lane that it stimulated in me. Apologies for my lengthy remembrances.
Take care. Stay safe. ☮️
