Every year on 20 August, National Radio Day celebrates one of the most influential communication technologies ever developed.
Radio may have been with us for more than a century, but it has never stopped evolving. From the crystal sets and the humming, crackling wireless sets of the early 20th century to DAB radios, internet stations, smartphone apps and smart speakers, radio has repeatedly adapted to changes in technology and listening habits.
The invention of radio cannot be credited to just one person. Scientists and inventors including James Clerk Maxwell, Heinrich Hertz, Nikola Tesla and Guglielmo Marconi all contributed to the discoveries that made wireless communication possible.
Here in Britain, radio broadcasting became part of everyday life during the 1920s. The BBC began regular broadcasts in 1922, bringing news, music, drama, education and entertainment directly into people’s homes. Radio soon became an essential source of information, particularly during the Second World War.
Although television and, later, the internet appeared to threaten its survival, radio proved remarkably resilient.
Today, millions of people still listen while driving, working, cooking or relaxing. Radio remains a companion that does not demand our full visual attention. We can listen while carrying out other tasks, something that gives it a considerable advantage over television and online video.
Modern radio is far more technologically sophisticated than the wireless sets of the past. Digital Audio Broadcasting, better known as DAB, allows more stations to share the available airwaves while providing additional information such as programme names, song titles and news headlines.
Internet radio has removed geographical boundaries altogether. A listener in Shropshire can tune into a local station in Scotland, Australia, Canada or almost anywhere else in the world. Small independent broadcasters can now reach international audiences without needing access to an expensive traditional transmitter.
Smartphones and smart speakers have also transformed listening. Asking a digital assistant to play a favourite station takes only a few seconds, while catch-up services allow programmes to be heard long after their original transmission.
The distinction between radio and podcasting is becoming increasingly blurred. Many radio programmes are made available as podcasts, while successful podcasts are sometimes adapted for broadcast. Audio technology is creating a flexible world in which live and on-demand listening can exist side by side.
Radio also remains important during emergencies. Battery-powered and wind-up receivers can continue operating during power cuts or when mobile networks and broadband services are disrupted. For that reason, keeping a portable radio and spare batteries in an emergency kit is still sensible advice.
National Radio Day is an opportunity to celebrate presenters, producers, journalists, engineers and technicians, along with the radio amateurs and community broadcasters who keep the airwaves alive.
It is also the perfect excuse to tune into a station you have never heard before, rediscover a favourite programme or retrieve an old radio from the cupboard.
Radio has survived technological revolutions because it has changed with them. Whether it reaches us through FM, DAB, satellite, the internet or a smart speaker, its basic appeal remains the same: a human voice, travelling across the distance, keeping us informed, entertained and connected.
Happy National Radio Day from That’s Technology!
