Radio Timeline

Before Radios

Before radios, people used devices such as smoke signals, torch signaling, heliographs, and other signaling methods to communicate with one another.

Before Radios

Start of Radios

Guglielmo Marconi invented radios in 1895 when he sent a wireless morse code message more than a kilometer away. As he worked on his invention, he received an official British patent for the radio in 1897.

1900's

1900's

Radios were first used by ships in the early 1900s to communicate with other ships and people on land. There wasn't much of a difference between early radio inventions and these radios.

In the 1910s, radios were used to broadcast things like church music, lectures, and many other things for people to listen to all over the world. On January 13, 1910, the first public radio broadcast was broadcast nationally.

1910's

1920's

Radios were first introduced in the 1920s during World War I, and they also became more common in American homes. Radio stations became much more common throughout the world, and they began broadcasting news, stories, and speeches.

1920's

1930's

1930's

When the radio was new and no one knew where it would fit in American culture, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt used it as a means of communication. Radios were a mysterious force that entered people's homes and connected with them. Even though people enjoyed it, they were unsure whether the invention would benefit people more or less.

1940's

1940's

Because of World War II federal broadcasting policies that limited what radio stations could and could not broadcast, radio stations did not thrive as much in the 1940s as they had in previous years. There were many equipment shortages during this time, so many station engineers did their best, but when the war ended, the radios came back to life.

1950's

Later, the design of radios changed, and they began to come in smaller sizes. Parents began to purchase plug-in clock radios, kitchen radios, and new cars equipped with radios.

1950's

1960's

Radios began to provide music and news for those on the go in the 1960s, and by 1967, it was estimated that 90% of all radio programming was music.

1960's

1970's

1970's

During the decade, radio benefited from advanced technology. Until this decade, most radio programs were broadcast on the AM band. However, as radio stations became more focused on playing music, many moved their signals to the FM band, which produced far better sound quality.

1980's

FM radio stations became the most popular in the 1980s due to their superior sound quality. Many cities had FM radio stations that broadcast a wide range of music, from jazz to classical, rock and roll to country.

1980's

1990's

1990's

2000's

2000's

2010's-2020's

2010's-2020's

Radio in modern day has become now evolved to having a technology radio in cars. 94% of people who are the age 35-49 use the radios each month (2022) and over 114.9 million adults over the age of 50 years listen to the radio regularly

For example, Apple watch now has a radio app feature which lets you communicate through the watch from a certain far distance.