History and Impact of The Radio- Key Post #2 Blog Post #4

 History of the Radio-

Many scientists have proclaimed to have invented the radio, but each of them has added to the great invention in their way. Starting in the year 1820, the magnetic field that makes all of the radio plausible was discovered by Hans Christian Oersted.  This theory of the magnetic field was then confirmed by Michael Faraday. 

After the magnetic field was discovered in 1864 James Clerk Maxwell figured out that electromagnetic currents can travel distances. This highlighted the idea that maybe sounds or signals could be sent out. In 1899 Gugliemo Marconi  brought radio out of the laboratory and into the real world. He was able to telegraph dots and dashes a short distance and by 1901 he was able to have his own commercial wireless company that was able to send a yacht race results a short distance to another station. 

In 1906 Reginald Fessenden broke the broadcasting of dots and dashes. He was able to produce the first human voice and music. 1910 brought the next radio breakthrough with entertainment broadcasts beginning. These entertainment broadcasts would lead right into the genres that were televised in a short forty years. Before television the golden age of radio (1920s-1950s) music became a widespread thing with celebrities being created and entertainment shows hitting an all-time high for listeners. 

After the golden age of radio though, the invention of the television and then the color television killed radio. But one thing the radio industry could do was adapt. After the 1950s they found their target audience with the automobile industry. The car radio was still needed for people to listen in cars, and this is still on the market today. Even if you buy a brand new car there will still be radios in every car that you buy. Radio over the years adapted and has still stayed popular with there targeted audience. Radio is a father's choice all over the world to listen to their tunes with ease. 

Impact of the Radio-

Radio was the original social media and was the first way the whole world could be connected out of the comfort of a chair. If it was the broadcaster or the listener all you had to do was either talk or listen. This was the first rapid mass media outlet as well, that made newspapers and letters virtually obsolete. Along with this, radio helped keep people informed of World War Two. Along with keeping the people informed and updated about a war for the first time, Americans were able to use the radio to win the war. 

Also, radio create the first global superstars with people being able to listen to radio all over the world and listen to music all over. These celebrities consisted of Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald just to name a few. Music was mainstreamed for the first time and celebrities became mainstreamed for the first time. This set up stardom that would increase rapidly with the television. 

Along with all the positive impacts of radio, there were some negatives that I briefly touched upon. Whenever there is mass media it creates tension as well. Everyone wants to know what other nations are doing and that's were spying and listening 24/7 started. There is no secrecy anymore for anyone. Along with this newspapers and the press in general were killed with everyone getting their media from radio. After all, radio created the world as we know it by creating a worldwide connection within a matter of seconds.