November 1st marks 129 years since the so-called Bible of the Music Industry, Billboard Magazine, published its very first issue. The world was a very different place in 1894, and there was no "record industry" to follow.

So what was Billboard's original purpose?

The clue is in its name - it was designed to track the billboard industry, which was a major form of advertising back then. The cover of the first issue says it all. "Devoted to the interests of advertisers, poster printers, bill posters, advertising agents and secretaries of fairs." Sounds riveting!

The music coverage evolved gradually before eventually becoming most of the focus of the weekly, and its now famous charts - which began in early 1940.

"The magazine’s first national music chart, the 10-position “National List of Best Selling Retail Records,” appeared in the July 27, 1940, issue. Previously, Billboard had highlighted the national “Sheet Music Best Sellers,” “Records Most Popular on Music Machines” (compiled from national reports from phonograph operators), and “Songs With the Most Radio Plugs” on a handful of New York radio stations. The “National List of Best Selling Retail Records,” however, was the first to poll retailers nationwide on record sales."

The Hot 100 was born on August 4, 1958, bringing with it the record that was the first ever #1 - Poor Little Fool by Ricky Nelson. 

As for Billboard's focus on billboards? I'm not sure they've even mentioned them for decades. 

The First Billboard: All That Was ‘New, Bright and Interesting on the Boards’