On August 20, we celebrate National Radio Day—a tribute to a technology that helped shape the modern world and continues to spark imagination, connection, and community.
Long before the days of streaming and smartphones, radio waves carried the heartbeat of nations. The story of radio is a tale of science and innovation, one that began in the 1800s with early experiments by Nikola Tesla and Heinrich Hertz, and culminated in Gugliemo Marconi’s wireless triumphs. But it was Lee de Forest, the “Father of Radio,” who made the magic audible to the public. In 1910, he transmitted the world’s first live broadcast featuring opera stars—ushering in a new era of communication.
By 1920, Detroit’s WWJ was on the air with the first scheduled news program, and the airwaves quickly filled with music, sports, and storytelling. Franklin D. Roosevelt famously used radio for his “Fireside Chats,” giving comfort and clarity to a struggling nation during the Great Depression and World War II. Then came moments like Orson Welles’ infamous War of the Worlds broadcast in 1938, which blurred the line between entertainment and reality—and proved the medium’s unmatched power to captivate.
Over the decades, radio evolved—from AM to FM, from transistor to satellite, and eventually online, where it found new audiences through streaming and podcasts. The first online station, Radio HK, launched in 1995, extending the reach of radio far beyond the dial.
Today, radio endures as a uniquely personal and enduring experience. Whether it’s the crackle of a classic rock station, a trusted local voice during a morning commute, or the nostalgia of tuning into your hometown team, radio still connects us in ways that are intimate, immediate, and irreplaceable.
So today we say THANK YOU for making radio part of your day, every day!