Technological Change

Technological change is one of the main components that made an impact on the shaping of the radio industry beginning from a mere sound “box” to a common “household utility.” Though other mechanisms influenced the shaping of the formation of the radio industry in the 1920s such as industries, institutional factors, regulation and government intervention, as well as audience demand, without technological change, there would be no starting point for any of these interventions to provide input.

Technology expands and normally reinvents itself time and time again; it progresses and recreates broader opportunities that brought us to the 21^st century.  For example, without Marconi’s invention of the radio transmitter in 1896, the endless innovations of a better media would cease to exist and countless ideas to furthering the change in technology would never have had its turn in the matter. This change always provides room for advancing society and the way we live now.  Today, technology still is in the works to advance like never before.

Radio technology to be exact grew into many unique forms through Lee de Forest’s invention of the vacuum tube in 1906; radio transmission and reception of sound, voice, and music began to develop giving the stepping-stones to a later façade of broadcast in one’s very own home.  Though it wasn’t seen as a “potential business” at the time, it provided the door to endless possibilities for media and society.  Soon after, the idea of the “household utility” did in fact skyrocket and the change in media became much more apparent. Advertising, commercial interests, added channels, etc. found its way into the industry which also powered it into effect as a huge success; technology also went as far as satellite and Internet radio ensuring a broader range in music, news, weather reports, etc. FM even revived the age of radio in the 1960s in such a way that radio diversified and songs were recorded “…much longer than the two-to-three minute cuts typical of Top 40 AM radio” giving music the boom it needed. Thus, the technological change is the backbone of society; it will always advance and reinvent its motives just like the once sound “box” renewing our way of life.