Who is credited with inventing the phonograph?

Thomas Edison is credited with inventing the phonograph in 1877. This groundbreaking device was the first to successfully record and reproduce sound, marking a significant innovation in the history of audio technology. Edison's phonograph initially used a cylinder covered in tinfoil to capture sound waves, which were then played back by tracing the grooves made during the recording process.

Edison's invention laid the foundation for the music recording industry and changed the way people consumed music, allowing for sounds to be preserved and shared in ways that were previously impossible. This contribution was pivotal in the evolution of both music and communication technology, leading to the development of later audio recording devices and formats.