2.

What might have happened if radio had developed during the 1930s—the Depression
years—instead of the Roaring Twenties?
If radio had developed in the Depression-era rather than in the 1920’s, the medium of

radio may have not survived. When radio became popular in the 1920’s, the economy was great

and people were actually getting radios on credit (which is part of the reason for the Depression

years). Radio stations in the twenties were growing in abundance, so much that federal regulation

was necessary. Radio stations could afford to broadcast and people had time to listen. If this

occurs one decade later, many things could be different.

One of the biggest issues that would change radio in a decade span is the availability of

radios. How would people afford to purchase radios in the Depression-era when they could

barely afford to eat? Also, early radios required a degree of technological knowledge to operate.

People in the Depression years would not want to be bothered with such work. The government

is another issue. With all of the government assistance needed in the Depression-era, there would

not have been time or manpower to concern with radio regulation. This would have magnified

the problems that were occurring prior to the Radio Act of 1927. Too many overlapping radio

stations would have potentially ruined radio reception.

What about the stations, themselves? Would companies that were losing money and

closing be able to afford to advertise on radio? How would radio survive? With no money to

fund the format, there would be no format. Very simply, radio would likely have plummeted if it

came to rise in the Depression-era rather than the roaring twenties. Whether there would have

been a comeback is debatable, but it likely would have happened. The death of radio could have

started a chain of events that delay television and the recording industry. Entertainment, in

general, could have potentially been affected in all areas had radio been delayed by a decade.
 References

Dominick, J.R. (2009). The dynamics of mass communication (10th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.