 Billboard was founded in 1894 by William Donaldson and James Hennegan as a trade publication for bill posters . Donaldson later acquired Hennegen 's interest in 1900 for $ 500 . In the 1900s , it covered the entertainment industry , such as circuses , fairs and burlesque shows . It also created a mail service for travelling entertainers . Billboard began focusing more on the music industry as the jukebox , phonograph and radio became commonplace . Many topics it covered were spun @-@ off into different magazines , including Amusement Business in 1961 to cover outdoor entertainment , so that it could focus on music . 
