You may not have it marked on your calendar, but today is the 95th birthday of radio broadcasting, according to Rich Appel writing in BilllboardBiz. As the story goes, it turns out that it was on this day 95 years ago when Westinghouse Electric engineer Frank Conrad sent music into the ether in Pittsburgh. Eventually, that company would start KDKA, and the rest, as they say, is history. And it was very innovative.
Guglielmo Marconi could not have known that his invention would spawn Casey Kasem, Howard Stern, Rush Limbaugh, Rock of the ‘80s, and All-Christmas Music. Radio became America’s companion, reinventing itself several times over the ensuing decades.
Conrad is an interesting character. He started playing his record collection on the air and began to receive letters from listeners (no, there was no “request line”). Eventually, he burned through his music library (no, there was no callout), and started working with a local record store to expand his on-air repertoire. In exchange, Conrad agreed to mention that the music he was featuring was on sale at this store. Yes, commercial radio was born (no, there was no “value added”).
So we salute Marconi, Frank Conrad, Westinghouse, and KDKA as true innovators of their day, as well as the thousands of resourceful innovative programmers, managers, DJs, personalities, hosts, and teams who have made radio one of America’s great inventions.
Of course, 95 isn’t that big round number… but we’re getting close to a centennial anniversary where you might expect the U.S. Postal Service could issue commemorative stamps and for at least one day, broadcast radio will be a story on TV, the web, and in newspapers.
But what will radio look and sound like five years from now as it celebrates its 100th anniversary?
Since we started the “Radio’s Most Innovative” series this past summer, our hope is that it would spawn a true spirit of invention and creativity for an industry that is truly in need of it.
So perhaps for those of us who are still in the business, let’s look at today’s birthday as a 5-year deadline that spurs us on to dedicate ourselves to truly moving our business forward during this window of time. “Radio 100” would make a great goal for the industry’s companies to challenge its own employees to truly come up with innovations that would make us all proud when that “Big 1-0-0” rolls around five years from now.
Think of this event as an all-industry version of John Fullam’s “innovation challenge” where we’re tasked to truly come up with new, exciting ideas that can power the industry forward as it reaches the century mark.
Because bet on this – radio’s 100th birthday will be covered – by newspapers like The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and USA Today, as well as channels like CNBC and CNN.
So when the stories are written about radio broadcasting’s centennial celebration, critics, pundits, advertisers, and most importantly, consumers will have that chance to think about radio as it was and consider how it has evolved.
Better than ever? A relic of the past? D.O.A.?
Will radio use the next five years to spawn and create entertainment and information that consumers cannot get anywhere else?
Will we be inspired by Frank Conrad’s innovativeness to build a bridge to Generations Z and Y to make radio relevant and even cool to these emerging audiences?
Will we use the digital technology that Conrad could not have imagined to develop new and exciting ways for consumers to access and enjoy station content from cars to mobile devices to gadgets that haven’t been invented yet?
Will there be a whole new legion of broadcast personalities making an impact on American pop culture?
“Radio 100” will be here before we know it.
Tick tock.
INNOVATION QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“I can turn on the radio right now and be inspired.”
Courtney Love
More of Radio’s Most Innovative
- Radio's Most Innovative: Andy Economos' Selector
- Radio’s Most Innovative: Emmis’ “Where Hip-Hop Lives” App
- Radio’s Most Innovative: Jim Fox and KKDO’s “Like/Dislike”
- #TBT: Radio’s Most Innovative: Paul Lamere
- Radio’s Most Innovative: Film House
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1020 Hastings, Suite 102 – Interesting isn’t it, that “Commercial Radio” was created by THE CLIENT – and the first Radio ads were a trade-out for the records. Let’s remind the labels and artists where our symbiotic relationship between Radio and their industry started – and how it’s been beneficial to all concerned for the last 95 years. The full-court press for artist royalties could ultimately be the demise of the goose that lays golden eggs for the artists every time we play their songs.
Charlie, you’ve connected some important dots for us. You are exactly right – Conrad intuitively understood the power of the relationship and what it takes to get things done. Thanks so much for the reminder and for taking the time to comment.
In that picture I see what seems to read Oak Lane Pa. Could that be the part of Pittsburgh (where KDKA is) that’s now known as OAKLAND,PA