Commercial Radio Broadcasting Begins
Commercial radio broadcasting began on August 28, 1922, with the first advertisement aired by station WEAF in New York City. This marked a significant shift in media as commercial interests were woven into the fabric of radio, which had its origins in the pioneering work of scientists like Heinrich Hertz and Guglielmo Marconi in the late 19th century. The establishment of KDKA in Pittsburgh by Frank Conrad in 1920 further laid the groundwork for radio as a medium. As advertising emerged, the number of stations grew rapidly, leading to cultural phenomena such as the notorious "War of the Worlds" broadcast in 1938 and Franklin D. Roosevelt’s reassuring "fireside chats" during the Great Depression.
The rise of television in the 1950s posed a challenge to radio, notably during the 1960 presidential debates, where visual presentation began to influence public perception significantly. However, radio adapted by focusing on formats suited for on-the-go listeners, including music, news, and talk shows. In the late 1990s, the rise of "shock jocks" introduced a new level of provocative content, attracting audiences through controversial discussions. Despite the challenges posed by competing media, commercial radio has remained a relevant and evolving medium, catering to diverse listener preferences.
Commercial Radio Broadcasting Begins
Commercial Radio Broadcasting Begins
The first commercial radio broadcast in history took place on August 28, 1922, when station WEAF in New York City, ran an advertisement by the Queensboro Realty Corporation promoting a new apartment complex in the Queens area of New York City.
The roots of radio go back to the 19th century when German scientist Heinrich Hertz and Italian scientist Guglielmo Marconi did the pioneering research with electromagnetic waves that made wireless radio communications possible. In 1920 Frank Conrad, an engineer with the Westinghouse Electrical and Manufacturing Company, started the first radio station: KDKA in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With the introduction of advertising, radio became a profitable commercial venture, and the number of stations across the country soared. By the 1930s, the number of radio stations was large enough so that Herbert G. Wells's famous War of the Worlds October 30, 1938, broadcast cased national panic. Radio was also used for more positive purposes, however, like President Franklin D. Roosevelt's famous “fireside chats” to reassure the nation during the depths of the Great Depression.
In the 1950s the introduction of television began to have a competitive impact on radio broadcasting. By the 1960 presidential elections, television was widespread enough that a televised debate helped Democrat John F. Kennedy defeat Republican Richard M. Nixon. People who listened to the debate on radio generally considered Nixon to be the victor, but television viewers were influenced by the visual impact of the youthful, poised Kennedy and generally considered him to be the victor. Without the sizable television viewing audience, it is possible that Kennedy could have lost the election.
Despite television, however, commercial radio broadcasting has been able to thrive by adapting to the times. It is not practical to view television in an automobile, but most vehicles have radios, as a result, many radio stations have prospered by catering to the music, news, and other preferences of the driving public. Other radio stations have certain discussion formats, known as talk radio, generally involving popular DJs or disk jockeys who both play music and entertain the listener with humorous commentary. By the late 1990s a new phenomenon known as “shock jocks” became increasingly widespread, such as Howard Stern or Don Imus who generated listeners by openly discussing controversial topics. Often, such topics involve scandalous sexual matters or extremist politics.