- First Radio Broadcast Demonstration
In 1892, Nathan B. Stubblefield became the first person to transmit voice wirelessly. He showcased this groundbreaking invention on January 1, 1902, and again on May 30, 1902, in Fairmont Park, Philadelphia, where his voice was heard a mile away from the transmitter. Despite obtaining patent number 887,357 on May 12, 1908, Stubblefield’s reluctance to share his discovery and his inability to secure a large sum for his invention led to his work being largely unrecognized at the time, denying him the fame he deserved. - First Radio Program Broadcast
On December 24, 1906, Professor Reginald Aubrey Fessenden made history with the first radio program broadcast from Brant Rock, Massachusetts. The broadcast included a variety of content, such as the call “CQ”, a song, a poem reading, a violin solo, a speech, and an invitation for listeners to report on reception. Fessenden used a 40-hp steam engine and a 35-kilowatt 125-cycle alternator, broadcasting from an impressive antenna structure 429 feet high. - First Singer to Broadcast
Eugenia H. Farrar holds the distinction of being the first singer whose voice was broadcast over the air. On December 16, 1907, Lee De Forest broadcast Farrar’s performance from the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York, marking a significant moment in radio history during the departure of Admiral Robley Dunglison Evans on a naval fleet cruise. - First Radio License Issued
The first radio license in the United States was granted to George Hill Lewis of Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1911. This was a pivotal step in the formal regulation of radio broadcasting. - First Experimental Radio License
On August 13, 1912, under the Radio Act of 1912, St. Joseph’s College in Philadelphia, PA, was granted the first experimental radio license. The station, with the call sign 3XJ, operated at 2 kilowatts and marked the beginning of regulated experimental radio broadcasts. - First Commercial Radio Station
The first commercial radio station, 8MK (now WWJ), was licensed on August 20, 1920, in Detroit, Michigan. The station began daily service with a program titled “Tonight’s Dinner,” marking the start of regular broadcasting. This was followed by the broadcast of local election returns on August 31, 1920, establishing 8MK as a pioneering force in the commercial radio industry. KDKA in Pittsburgh, which began semi-weekly broadcasts in November 1920, was another early commercial station to follow. - First Election Returns Broadcast
On August 31, 1920, WWJ in Detroit broadcast the results of congressional and county primaries, marking the first radio broadcast of election returns. Later that year, on November 2, KDKA broadcast the presidential election results of the Harding-Cox race. This event set a precedent for radio’s role in broadcasting election results. Notably, the De Forest Radio Laboratory in New York had also broadcast election results in 1916, but this was done as a limited, experimental transmission. - First Newspaper-Owned Radio Station
The first newspaper to operate a radio station was the News of Detroit, Michigan. The newspaper’s station, initially called 8MK, began operations on August 20, 1920. This event marked the beginning of the involvement of newspapers in radio broadcasting, helping to establish radio as a medium for news distribution. - First News Program Broadcast
On August 31, 1920, the News-operated 8MK broadcast the first news program, marking another milestone in radio’s development. The station had already been on air for a week, having begun daily operations on August 20, 1920. Later, 8MK’s call letters were changed to WWJ.
These early milestones laid the groundwork for modern radio broadcasting, and their influence continues to be felt today in the dynamic world of radio communication.