Radio History PDF

**radio** - **Radio** was the first medium that brought live entertainment into the home. - Radio has been one of the most significant inventions in the communication field, transforming how information, music, and entertainment are delivered to the masses. Since its inception in...

**radio** - **Radio** was the first medium that brought live entertainment into the home. - Radio has been one of the most significant inventions in the communication field, transforming how information, music, and entertainment are delivered to the masses. Since its inception in the late 19th century, radio has evolved through technological advancements, adapting to changing audience needs and remaining relevant in the digital age. **History** - In 1887, **Heinrich Hertz**, a German physicist, successfully sent and detected **radio waves.** - **Guglielmo Marconi** build a wireless communication device that could send **Morse code** dots and dashes from transmitter to receiver. He built the first successful wireless telegraphy system based on radio transmissions. - **Reginald Fessenden and Lee Deforest** provided the breakthroughs that would make a broadcasting as opposing to sending dots and dashes possible. - **Fessenden** built a high-speed continuous-wave generator that could broadcast the human voice and music. - **De forest** invented the vacuum tube also called **audion**, which made it easier to receive radio signals. - During World War I, the U.S. Navy took control of related patents, leading to significant advancements of radio technology. **Big business** - **Radio Corporation of America (RCA),** a new company that was formed and acquired the assets of the U.S. divisions of the Marconi company. - RCA was held by some biggest companies of the period: **AT&T, General Electronic, Westinghouse.** - **David Sarnoff,** an employee of Marconi company who later become a head of RCA, he suggested that one day this new invention would become a **radio music box**. **Mass Audience** - **Frank Conrad** an engineer for Westinghouse in Pittsburgh, tinkered with radio as a hobby.  He built a radio transmitter in his garage and started broadcasting recorded music, reporting sports scores, and showcasing the musical abilities of his sons. - **KDKA is** the 1^st^ successful radio station and the country\'s oldest station. **Technological Advancements** - **Early Radio Challenges**: - Early radio receivers were cumbersome and difficult to use, requiring a basic knowledge of electronics and numerous batteries. - By **1926**, technological improvements made radios more user-friendly, with household-powered receivers, simpler controls, and sleek designs that fit into home decor. **Mass Production of Radios:** - The advancement of household current-powered radios fueled sales, making radio a staple in American homes. Between 1925 and 1930, over 17 million radio sets were sold, signifying the radio's role as a mass communication tool. **Commercialization of Radio** - **Early Financing Struggles**: - Initially, many radio stations were owned by businesses seeking exposure, such as WLS (owned by Sears) and WGN (owned by the Chicago Tribune). - However, as operating costs increased, station owners sought ways to monetize radio, with early ideas ranging from listener donations to taxes on radio components. **Early Financing Struggles:** - **AT&T's WEAF** station in New York pioneered the concept of selling airtime to advertisers in 1922. The Queensboro Realty Company was the first to purchase airtime, paying \$300 for five radio talks promoting their real estate. - This development paved the way for radio broadcasting to be financed through advertising, marking the birth of commercial radio. **Formation of Radio Networks** - The Power of Networks: - Linking individual radio stations into a **network** allowed stations to share programming costs and reach a wider audience. This also attracted more advertisers, as they could now broadcast to a larger and geographically diverse audience. **NBC and CBS:** - **NBC (National Broadcasting Company)** was established by RCA in 1926, creating the first national radio network. NBC launched two networks: one from RCA-owned stations and another from stations acquired from AT&T. - **CBS (Columbia Broadcasting System)** was founded in 1927 under the leadership of William S. Paley, who led the network to success through strategic programming and advertising deals. **Network Growth:** - By 1937, NBC had 111 affiliates, while CBS had 105. Advertisers were spending over \$27 million annually on network radio advertising, allowing networks to hire top talent and produce high-quality programming. **Government Regulation** - **Radio Act of 1927**: - The rapid growth of radio stations led to signal interference and chaos on the airwaves. To regulate the burgeoning industry, Congress passed the Radio Act of 1927, creating the **Federal Radio Commission (FRC)**. - The FRC organized the airwaves, standardized broadcast channels, and issued licenses to stations, bringing order to the crowded spectrum**.** **Creation of the FC nC:** - In 1934, the **Communications Act** established the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), consolidating oversight of both radio and wire communications. This regulatory body remains the principal regulator of broadcasting to this day. **The Depression and World War II** - Resilience During the Great Depression: - Despite economic hardship, the radio industry thrived during the 1930s. Radio advertising expenditures tripled from **1930** to 1935, as businesses continued to invest in this powerful medium. - Popular programs such as Amos \'n\' Andy, action-adventure series like The Lone Ranger, and daytime soap operas provided entertainment and vescapism for millions of listeners during tough times. **Radio's Role During World War II:** - Radio became a critical source of news during the war, with programs like Edward R. Murrow's reports from London capturing listeners' attention. Advertising on radio also surged as companies sought to reach the home-front audience. - In 1943, the Supreme Court ordered NBC to divest one of its two networks, resulting in the creation of the **American Broadcasting Company (ABC),** which became a major competitor by the end of the war. **Post-War Innovations and the Rise of FM** - The Birth of FM Radio: - **Edwin Howard Armstrong** developed frequency modulated (FM) radio in the mid-1930s, offering superior sound quality with less static than AM. **Growth and Stabilization (1955-1990)** - **The Top 40 Format** - The Top 40 format revolutionized radio in the 1950s, focusing on playing hit songs repeatedly, which appealed to younger listeners. Disc jockeys (DJs) became influential cultural figures as they promoted records and introduced new music to audiences. **FM's Dominance:** - **FM radio** finally gained popularity in the 1970s due to its superior sound quality and expanded programming options, particularly rock music. By 1990, FM accounted for 90% of radio listening time, while many AM stations shifted to news/talk formats. **The Volatile 1990s** - The pivotal event for radio in the 1990s was the passage of the **Telecommunications Act of 1996**. The act was concerned primarily with encouraging competition in the new communication technologies. - Talk became the hottest format on AM radio. The trend toward format specialization continued on FM. **Clear Channel** is the biggest player in the industry with stations in 190 radio markets. **Radio in the Digital Age** - Radio continues to creep into the digital age. Thousands of radio stations have Websites and many now offer streaming audio. - In the late 1990s an IBOC (in-band, on-channel) system was developed. - Using an **IBOC system** developed by the ibiquity Digital Corporation. The digital signal can be received at the same spot on the radio dial as the analog signal, but it has much better sound quality. A digital signal of an FM station sounds as good as a CD, and a digital AM signal sounds as good as a traditional FM station. **Satellite Radio** - **Two companies** now offer a **direct-from-satellite-to-car radio digital service.** - **XM radio**, launched in 2001, offers 70 music channels, half of them commercial free, and 30 news and talk channels for a monthly fee of about \$10. - **Sirius Radio** launched a similar service in 2002 with 60 commercial-free music, channels and 40 news, talk, and variety channels. **Internet-Only Stations** - Internet-only stations are competing for audiences who listen to radio at work. Web broadcasters offer dozens of specialized music formats, such as reggae and technorock, with limited commercials. - Webcasting was nearly dealt a serious blow in 2002 when the **Copyright Arbitration Royalty Panel** ruled that Webcasters had to pay a royalty to artists and music labels for use of their songs. - Congress gave Webcasters a break when it passed the **Small Webcaster Settlement Act of 2002**, which allowed some flexibility in how much the Web broadcasters would pay. **Defining Features** - **Radio is portable, supplemental universal and selective.** **Organization of the Radio Industry** **AM and FM Stations** - **AM** stands for **amplitude modulation**- radio signals sent by AM travel farther, AM dial on a typical radio set illustrates the precise frequencies in the electromagnetic spectrum where the AM station operates.  There are three possible channels:    ** Clear**- a single dominant station that is designed to provide service over a wide area. **   Regional**- one shared by many stations that serve fairly large areas.    ** Local**- designed to be shared by a large number of stations that broadcast only to their local communities. - **FM** stands for **frequency modulation**- FM has the advantage of being able to produce better sound qualities than AM. FM radio is also less likely to be affected by outside interference such as thunderstorms.  **Stations Formats** - **The Music Format**- Music is the largest category and includes many subdivisions and variations.  The country format has two main divisions:  1**. traditional country stations** that play mainstream classic, twangy country music  2\. **contemporary country stations** that play more current artists who might use synthesizers and other - **Black and Ethnic Formats**- these formats aim for special audiences that are defined primarily by race and nationality. - **Format Homogenization**- the most important is the increasing consolidation in the industry. Big radio companies, such as Clear Channel, own stations in all the big markets. - **Voice Tracking**- one controversial trend in the industry is the rise of voice tracking- Voice tracking makes use of a single DJ who prerecords song intros, extras, and chatter for music programs on several different stations.  - **News/Talk Format**- This format is becoming more and more popular on the AM band Some stations emphasize the news part of the news/talk format.  **Non Commercial Radio**  -noncommercial radio stations are owned by educational institutions or private foundations. - **National Public Radio (NPR)** National Public Radio, founded in 1970. Probably the best-known NPR programs are All Things Considered and Morning Edition. - **Public Radio International (PRI)** was formerly known as American Public Radio. **Ownership in the Radio Industry** - The **Telecommunication Act of 1996** drastically changed the landscape of the radio industry. - In 1996, there were 5,100 different organizations and individuals who owned radio stations. Six years later, that number had dropped to 3,800. - By 2003, just two companies, **Clear Channel Communications and Infinity Broadcasting**, accounted for one-third of the advertising revenue for total industry. - The increasing consolidation of radio has alarmed many critics and citizens groups. Congress became interested in the issue in 2003 and although many legislators spoke out against the dangers of increased concentration, no change was made to the original 1996 legislation. **Economics** - Radio's advertising revenue slipped by about 8 percent from the record year of 2000 to 2001. Radio income subsequently increased from 18.4 billion in 2001 to 19.6 billion in 2002. - Most analysts agree that, despite the competition from satellite service and Internet radio, as long as the economy is reasonably healthy, radio's long term economic prospects are good. **Source of Revenue** - Radio stations earn their money by **selling advertising time.** The radio industry has three sources of income from sale of commercial time: 1. The sale spots on network programs to national advertisers trying to reach broad market. 2. The sale of time on local station to advertisers who wish to reach a specific region or a specific type of market. 3. Advertising purchased by local establishment that want their commercials to be heard only in the immediate community **Feedback** **Ratings and Shares** - Radio audiences are measured by the **Arbitron Company** using a diary method. The demographic characteristics of the radio listener vary greatly by station format.  - To improve the accuracy of radio ratings, they\'re testing **peoplemeter** this new device is designed to be clipped to an individual\'s clothing. **BA COMM 2B** **Members:** Dineros, Don Aelar Esperanza, Suzane Gamba, Gail Monte, Lexyrie