History of Billboard in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 14, 2026

Billboard is an iconic American media brand primarily focused on the music industry. Established in 1894, it originally covered the advertising and bill-posting industry before transitioning to music trade news. It is best known for its authoritative music charts, most notably the Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard 200, which track the popularity of songs and albums based on sales, radio airplay, and streaming data. These charts serve as the industry standard for measuring commercial success and cultural impact. Beyond chart tracking, Billboard provides extensive coverage of music industry trends, artist interviews, event news, and professional insights. It remains one of the most influential entities in global music, shaping public perception of popularity while providing essential data to record labels, radio stations, and consumers worldwide.

1909: Early Billboard Banning Laws

In 1909, various cities within the United States began enacting legislation to prohibit the use of billboards, a move notably addressed in the California Supreme Court case Varney & Green vs. Williams.

1925: Beginning of Burma-Shave Sequential Billboards

Starting in 1925, the Burma-Shave brand introduced a unique advertising strategy on highways using a series of four or five sequential signs that delivered a punchline at the end to engage passing drivers.

1927: Hawaii Billboard Ban Implementation

Hawaii successfully put its legislation banning billboards into effect during the year 1927.

1933: Establishment of the Traffic Audit Bureau for Media Measurement Incorporated

In 1933, the Traffic Audit Bureau for Media Measurement Incorporated (TAB Incorporated) was founded as a non-profit organization tasked with auditing out-of-home media circulation within the United States.

1936: Establishment of Wall Drug Billboards

In 1936, the Wall Drug store began its famous advertising campaign by erecting billboards that promised "free ice water" to passing motorists, a move that eventually defined the economic growth of Wall, South Dakota.

1937: Prohibition of Billboards in Canberra

In 1937, an ordinance was enacted in Canberra, Australia, which prohibited the installation of unauthorized signs on Commonwealth land, effectively leading to a long-standing absence of billboards in the capital city.

1959: Alaska Billboard Ban Implementation

Upon achieving official statehood in 1959, Alaska enacted a law that prohibited the use of billboards.

1963: Conclusion of Burma-Shave Billboard Campaign

In 1963, the iconic multi-sign highway advertising campaign utilized by Burma-Shave came to an end, marking the conclusion of a distinctive era in roadside marketing.

1964: Initiation of the Highway Beautification Act

In 1964, Lady Bird Johnson urged her husband to draft legislation addressing the negative visual impact caused by the over-proliferation of roadside signage in Houston, Texas, a move supported by the advertising industry which recognized that cluttered billboards were detrimental to business.

1965: Formation of the Canadian Outdoor Measurement Bureau

In 1965, the Canadian Outdoor Measurement Bureau (COMB) was established as a non-profit organization in Canada, run by a coalition of advertisers, agencies, and industry professionals to verify traffic circulation data for the out-of-home advertising sector.

1965: Signing of the Highway Beautification Act

The Highway Beautification Act was officially signed into law in 1965, establishing federal regulations for billboard size, lighting, and spacing while requiring states to maintain control over outdoor advertising to avoid losing federal highway funding.

1968: Vermont Billboard Ban Implementation

In 1968, the state of Vermont officially enacted a law that prohibited the use of billboards within its borders.

1971: San Diego Billboard Ban Initiative

In 1971, Pete Wilson spearheaded a legislative effort in San Diego to ban billboards, basing the policy on the necessity of ensuring traffic safety and reducing driver distraction.

1977: Maine Billboard Ban Implementation

The state of Maine implemented a law prohibiting the presence of billboards in 1977.

1981: Wall Drug Customer Peak

By 1981, the effectiveness of the extensive billboard campaign was clearly demonstrated as the Wall Drug store successfully attracted 20,000 customers per day to the town of Wall, South Dakota.

1981: Supreme Court Overturns San Diego Billboard Ban

In 1981, the Supreme Court issued a ruling that narrowly overturned San Diego's 1971 billboard ban, citing that the regulation was overly broad because it prohibited both non-commercial and commercial signage.

1991: Billboard saturation on US highways

In 1991, there were approximately 450,000 billboards located along highways in the United States, serving as a primary source of information for drivers seeking lodging, food, and fuel.

1999: Launch of the God Speaks billboard campaign

In 1999, an anonymous individual initiated the God Speaks billboard campaign in Florida, featuring witty messages attributed to God, such as "Don't make me come down there," to encourage public reflection on faith. The initiative gained national traction when the Outdoor Advertising Association of America adopted the project, allowing it to continue appearing on billboards throughout the United States beyond 1999.

2000: Rooftop Billboard Saturation in Athens

In 2000, the city of Athens was densely covered with rooftop billboards, which significantly obscured the view of the city's historic architecture.

2004: Completion of Athens Billboard Demolition Project

Concluding a four-year effort that began in 2000, Athens successfully removed the majority of its illegal rooftop billboards by 2004 to improve the city's aesthetics in preparation for the Summer Olympics.

January 2007: São Paulo Billboard Ban

In January 2007, the city of São Paulo, Brazil, implemented a comprehensive ban on billboards and advertising displayed on vehicles, while also enforcing strict size limitations for signage on storefronts.

2007: São Paulo Billboard Ban

In 2007, the city of São Paulo, Brazil, implemented a complete ban on billboards due to the absence of effective regulations governing the outdoor advertising industry.

April 2010: Implementation of Toronto Billboard Tax

In April 2010, the city of Toronto, Canada, introduced a new municipal tax on billboards. The revenue generated from this tax is designated to support various arts programs throughout the city.

May 2010: Launch of the First Scented Billboard

Starting on 28 May 2010, the grocery chain Bloom introduced the world's first scented billboard near Mooresville, North Carolina, which released the aromas of black pepper and charcoal to mimic the smell of a grilled steak.

June 2010: Conclusion of Scented Billboard Campaign

The experimental scented billboard, which utilized scents to promote the smell of grilled steak for commuters, concluded its operation on 18 June 2010.

2017: Review of Billboard Advertising Laws

During 2017, the Australian Capital Territory government conducted an inquiry into potentially relaxing billboard advertising laws; however, the initiative faced significant public opposition with the majority of 166 submissions favoring the maintenance of strict regulations.

2017: Top Billboard Advertisers in the United States

In 2017, the Outdoor Advertising Association of America identified McDonald's, Apple, and GEICO as the leading companies utilizing billboard advertising within the United States.