“The Day the Music Burned” in The New York Times

In June 2008, a fire erupted on the Universal Studios Hollywood backlot. Universal Music Group, the world’s largest record company, told reporters that nothing much of importance was lost. But the blaze had destroyed a vault containing master recordings by some of America’s most iconic musicians. Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Patsy Cline, Buddy Holly, John Coltrane, Guns N’ Roses, Snoop Dogg, Nirvana, Sheryl Crow, Tupac Shakur, Eminem – These are just a few of the artists whose recordings were likely lost in the fire.

A fascinating read.