The Radio

The radio was invented by Gugielmo Marconi in the 1890s and it began as a type of wireless telegraph, enabling people to communicate using Morse code without needing a wired connection. Later on, in 1906, a physicist named Reginald Fessenden sent the first transmission of human voice and music. From this development, the demand for radio began to rise and entertainment broadcasting began in 1910; however, radio was most impactful during the Golden Age of Radio between the late 1920s and the early 1950s. In this time period, comedies, dramas, games shows, and popular music drew radio listeners from across the country.

    Additionally, there were a multitude of impacts from the radio in the areas of music and politics. The radio jump-started the music industry, expanding artists' audiences across the country and across the globe, and it brought people together to listen to their favorite types of music and explore genres they hadn't been exposed to before. The radio was also incredibly impactful durring WWI as a means to inform the public of what was happening in the war, and to spread wartime commercials and propoganda. Furthermore, radio was famously used by President Franklin Roosevelt in his fireside chats where he spoke to the public about what the government was doing during the Great Depression, and later, during World War II. It acted as a means of connection between the White House and the general population and was a form of reassurance for many people during trying times.

    

    However, while the radio had many positive impacts, it also had some negative effects including the spread of false news or unwanted opinions over radio stations, the decline of live entertainment as more people listened free radio broadcasting rather than buying tickets for shows, and the development health issues related to radio wave exposure that were revealed over time.