Transcript No Slide Title
Popular Radio and the Origins of Broadcasting
Chapter 6
“In the United States, the early days of network radio gave Americans ‘a national identity’ and ‘a chance to share in a common experience.’”
Paving the Way for Radio
Telegraph Developed in 1840s Morse code First telegraph line and transatlantic cable Radio waves Theories by James Maxwell, Heinrich Hertz Popov, Tesla work on similar inventions
Inventors in Wireless
Marconi “invents” wireless telegraphy, 1896 First voice broadcast Fessenden performs “O Holy Night,” 1906 Origin of modern electronics De Forest creates Audion vacuum tube, 1906 Amplifies radio signals
Providing Public Safety
Wireless Ship Act in 1910 Mandates large ships be equipped with wireless equipment Radio Act of 1912 Requires licensing and identification of all radio stations Limits amateur radio operators Standardizes SOS Morse Code
Ensuring National Security
World War I Congress assumes control of radio to ensure national security.
Reduces Britain’s influence over wireless technology Makes room for U.S. corporations (RCA) U.S. Commerce Department Officially licenses 5 radio stations, 1921 600+ commercial, noncommercial stations by 1923
The Networks
RCA Private-sector monopoly, 1919 Buys AT&T network, 1925 NBC Formed by RCA, GE, Westinghouse, 1926 CBS William Paley, 1928 Pays affiliates to carry its programs Ratings surpass NBC in 1949
More Regulations
Radio Act of 1927 Licensees do not
own
channels, must serve public good.
Created Federal Radio Commission (FRC) Federal Communications Act of 1934 FRC became Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to monitor radio, telephone, telegraph Permits commercialization of radio
Golden Age of Radio
American families gathered around radio. Programs included comedies, dramas, public service announcements, “fireside chats” Radio reflected shifts in American culture Attitudes about race, levels of tolerance for stereotypes (
Amos ’n’ Andy
) Radio wielded authority
War of the Worlds
Evolution of Radio
Transistor radios,1947 Helped radio transform itself, battle television FM radio, 1960s Made music sound better Format radio, 1949 Station managers, not disc jockeys, controlled station’s hour-by-hour music programming Top 40 was born, 1950s
Contemporary Radio
Large markets feature many stations Most programming locally produced Heavily dependent on music Other content Nationally produced news; syndicated shows Listeners loyal to: Favorite stations Music formats Radio personalities
Format Specialization
News and talk radio Most popular format Howard Stern, Tavis Smiley, Rush Limbaugh Adult contemporary (AC) Middle-of-the-road Oldest format, still popular Country Tiny markets; highest number of stations
Format Specialization
(cont.)
Top 40/Contemporary Hit Radio (CHR) Varied playlists appeal to teens.
Losing ground to MTV, Internet Urban Features dance, rap, R&B, hip-hop music Spanish-language radio Fastest-growing format Album-oriented rock (AOR)
Nonprofit radio and NPR
Federal government helps nonprofits Authorizes noncommercial licenses to stations not affiliated with labor, religion, education or civic groups Approves low-power licenses National Public Radio (NPR), 1967 Charged with providing alternative to commercial broadcasting Funded by private donations, corporate sponsorship, public funding
Radio Goes Digital
Internet radio Small and nonprofit stations pay smaller royalty fees Satellite radio Sirius, XM Radio Podcasting Free content, attracts niche markets HD Radio Broadcasters multicast additional digital signals within traditional analog frequency
Money In and Money Out
Commercial radio generates revenues from advertising Local, regional, national ads Comprises 8% of national ad budget Commercial radio spends money on content Music programming 20%, mostly free Swaps content from national network radio in return for advertising airtime
Payola
Paying deejays to play records Rampant in 1950s, still persists today FCC has recently increased enforcement of laws.
Radio Ownership since 1996
Telecommunications Act of 1996 eliminated most ownership restrictions in radio As a result, from 1996 to 2005, the number of radio station owners declined to 4,400 from 6,600 Low-power FM (LPFM) and pirate radio fight back
Radio in a Democratic Society
Will consolidation of power restrict the number and kinds of voices permitted to speak over public airwaves?