The Genesis of Commercial Radio in the USA
When discussing the origins of commercial radio in the United States, it is crucial to focus on the term "commercial."
Much of the earlier responses have overlooked this important detail. The first commercial radio content was broadcast on August 22, 1922, on the airwaves of WEAF in New York City. This station, which began operating in March of the same year, marked the first time the airwaves were used for commercial purposes. The idea sparked some controversy but quickly became mainstream, as the public began to accept crass commercialism without much protest. It took some time for other stations to follow suit.
Why New York? - WEAF's Transmission Location
The answer to 'where it broadcast from' is New York specifically. Initially, WEAF's 500-watt transmitter was housed atop Western Electric's eleven-story building at 463 West Street. Radio later discovered that the best places for mediumwave antennas were not skyscrapers, but rather more spacious locations.
The Controversy: Who Was First?
The question of who was the first commercial radio station has been the subject of much debate, and we may never have an answer that completely satisfies everyone.
Some books claim that KDKA in Pittsburgh was the first commercial station. KDKA began its broadcasts in late October 1920 using the callsign 8ZZ, and then officially became KDKA on November 2, 1920. Westinghouse Manufacturing, KDKA's owner, had a very formidable publicity department, which helped spread the claim that KDKA was the first.
However, other stations had been broadcasting before KDKA. For instance, 8MK in Detroit, owned by the Detroit News, began broadcasting in early August 1920. The Detroit News front page carries significant evidence of 8MK's broadcasts. These included state election returns, orchestral music, and news bulletins. Later, 8MK would change its call letters to WWJ, which it still uses today.
Additionally, several other stations were operating in the summer of 1920, including 9XM, which later became WHA in Madison, Wisconsin, and 1XE in Medford Hillside, Massachusetts, which later became WGI. These stations were using amateur radio licenses, indicating that commercial broadcasting licensing did not yet exist. It wasn't until September 1921 that the first commercial broadcasting license was issued. Stations using amateur call signs were not uncommon and were not yet forbidden by the U.S. Department of Commerce (which later became the FCC).
The conclusion is that in 1920, commercial radio was still in its infancy, with rules and standards being developed. KDKA was indeed a pioneering station, but it was not the first. More likely, the first commercial radio station was 8MK in Detroit, and 1XE in Medford Hillside could make a strong case as well.