National Radio Day aims to recognize the invention and history of radio, its significance in everyday life, and the immense contribution of radio broadcasters to society. The day seeks to encourage people to enjoy and appreciate radio as an important medium of communication and entertainment.
The origin of National Radio Day is unclear, but its celebration predates in the early 1900s with the advent of commercial radio broadcasting. Guglielmo Marconi, Italian inventor, is knows as the Father of the Radio. He was able to transmit electrical signals from one end of the house to the other and to the garden at the end of the 19th century. The first radio news program was broadcast on August 31, 1920 by station 8MK in Detroit; by 1922, 600 radio stations were operational in the U.S. Radio's importance increased significantly over the years especially during WW2 when millions turned to it for news and entertainment. Not only is radio a platform for transmitting news, sports, music, and public information, it also gives prolific voice to countless perspectives, hence fostering a diverse and dynamic society.
National Radio Day is commemorated annually on August 20th. The date serves as an invitation for communities across the country to celebrate radio and remember its unique history, paying tribute to more than a century of radio airwaves. The day also encourages listeners and broadcasters alike to work together to enhance radio's potential as a tool for sharing information and strengthening societal connections.
National Radio Day facts
The first radio broadcast was transmitted in 1906 by Canadian inventor Reginald Fessenden. Fessenden was also the first to transmit a voice message using a radio back in 1900.
Throughout 2019, more than 240 million US adults listened to the radio each month.
According to Zippia, the top 5 radio stations in the US in 2020 were: 1) WTOP (Washington's Top News) 2) KIIS-FM (Contemporary Hit Radio, CA) 3) KBIG-FM (Hot Adult-Contemporary, CA) 4) WLTW-FM (Lite Adult Contemporary, NY) 5) WHTZ-FM (Contemporary Hit Radio, NY)
National Radio Day also salutes the millions of people involved in the radio industry, including DJs, engineers, producers, and reporters who have contributed to the growth and impact of radio around the world.
American engineer and inventor Edwin Howard Armstrong invented FM (Frequency Modulation) radio in 1933 to overcome the problem of radio-frequency interference, which was a common issue with AM (Amplitude Modulation) radio.
The Golden Age of Radio, also known as the old-time radio era, took place from the early 1930s until the 1950s. During this time, radio was the dominant electronic home entertainment medium, and BBC is the oldest public radio.
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