Database of Recorded American Music

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A joint venture by New World Records and New York University, the Database of Recorded American Music (DRAM) is designed to facilitate the music research of scholars and students by offering on-demand, streaming access to an extensive and ever-growing catalog of essential music. As of 2006, New World Records plans to launch its online subscription service for colleges and universities, an initiative funded by the Mellon and Robert Sterling Clark Foundations. Recordings are accompanied by liner notes and are keyword-searchable using any number of criteria, including composer, performer, date of publication, Library of Congress classification and label of origin.

The database currently features over 1,200 CDs (nearly 7,500 compositions) and continues to grow. Students, faculty and scholars affiliated with a subscribing university will be able to access the database from their library, home or any other location, and may use the system as frequently as they wish without charge to the individual. DRAM is being made available on a subscription basis to all institutions of higher learning within the United States.