Commerical Advertising and the Radio Industry

Commercial advertising played a large role in the formation of the radio industry. In fact, advertising was to a large degree central to the development of the industry. From the beginning, it was all about making money. Early stations such as AT&T's WEAF would charge for the airtime being used. The airtime was used by programs which were funded completely by companies wanting to advertise their products. This resulted in programs interlaced with heavy advertising. The radio industry of the 1920s evolved around advertising. Private stations started to appear entirely funded by advertising companies. The cruciality of advertisements on the radio is made evident even today as the method of radio programming remains essentially the same-- music and entertainment interlaced with commercial advertisements.  This American-developed concept of radio was truly a reflection of the American, capitalist way.