Post 4: Radio

Technology helped shape radio in the 1920s as well as today by the developing new ways of listening to radio. I think that without technology advancement in radio, music genres and artists would not have been able to evolve, and people would not be able to listen to music whenever they wanted to.

According to Media Now, Radio was the first wireless communication medium. Radio waves were born in Hertz, and are now digitally mastered through internet radio sites such as Pandora. An example of technological advancement within internet radio today would be what Pandora uses to make a personalized radio station for their listeners. The algorithms that Pandora uses to set up your playlist are a great example for technology advancement. Pandora also lets the listener choose whether or not they like the song, which goes with making the radio experience more personal thanks to technology.

Another way that radio has advanced is how it is listened to. In the 1920s, most families were lucky to afford one radio “box” and today, we are surrounded by music everywhere we go. While we are walking to our car, we can be listening to a downloaded Podcast on our mp3 player. As we enter our car, we turn on the radio to listen to our local station, and we have radio on the road. Then we mobilize that radio even more by being able to download radio apps onto our cell phones and listen to internet sites such as Pandora while we work or exercise.

In the movie Radio Days we see the family listening to radio in the form of a “box” and also in the car. The main character explains how radio helped him to remember certain artists. Thanks to technology, I for one have discovered many new artists through the technological innovation of Pandora. I also feel like Internet radio helps to blend my favorite artists by grouping them into my favorite genres.

Radio has developed into a more personal level by personalizing music to one’s particular taste. Just like when people in the 1920s had their favorite radio show, today people have their favorite playlist.  

pictures provided by: Denviant Art