Radio: The First 100 Years
On November 2, 1920, KDKA—a radio station in Pittsburgh, PA—made the first commercial broadcast in American history, ushering in a new era of mass communication. This course will trace radio’s history through the evolution of its technology and business practices, examining such turning points as the development of FM radio, the creation of the Federal Communications Commission, and the invention of modern radio formats (e.g., Contemporary Hit Radio and Hot Country). The course will also explore the vital role of music in shaping radio’s history as a medium for live performance and a platform for selling records, using the rise and fall of Boston’s own WBCN (104.1 FM) as a lens through which to view these developments. In addition, the course will consider the social impact of radio broadcasting in the United States, examining its role in creating virtual and real communities, fostering activism, and informing the public. Students will finish the course with a deep understanding of how the medium has influenced—and continues to influence—daily life in America.