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MASTERS OF THE MICROPHONE
“Hitting the airwaves next: Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, and Taylor Swift,” a voice blares through the speakers. The DJ cranks out your favorite jams, takes requests, and gives away concert tickets. But how did the radio DJ originate? Pump up the volume and discover the dish behind the DJ! RADIO ON THE RUN Rewind to 1947. This is when the transistor was invented which made radio portable. By the mid 1950s, people could listen to music in their car, take the radio to the beach, or bring it along on a picnic. Before this invention, people would listen to the radio at home because it was too heavy to transport. Now that people were free to bring the radio along, radio was on the run and about to gain a new life in an era where television was gaining popularity. RADIO VERSUS TELEVISION A competition began to brew between radio and television. With television becoming America’s popular in home entertainment by 1953, radio had to step it up. Since the comedy, variety, and thriller shows that used to air on radio were now moving to television, radio needed to find new programming. So, gradually radio filled its airwaves with recorded music. With this, a brand-new sound was born and a new voice commanded the airwaves—the disc jockey or DJ for short. The DJ created a world that was cool and appealing particularly to teenage listeners. Teens were eager to explore new music and the DJ delivered. DJs became super stars and radio survived the battle with a new face lift. MOON DOG A popular DJ in the 1950s was Alan “Moon Dog” Freed. DJs often used a nickname to create a hip identity for themselves. Moon Dog played rhythm and blues music which was a fresh sound to radio. These songs were created by African American artists and Freed played the tunes to a national audience. Freed called this music rock ’n’ roll and started a craze with teenage listeners. The music and Moon Dog’s personality were a #1 hit! WOLFMAN JACK Hot on the airwaves was Robert Smith or better known as “Wolfman Jack”. His trademark was his howl to the listeners, “Ooowwwooohaaa.” With his wild on-air personality, he brought the rock ’n’ roll craze to Southern California. SCANDAL STRIKES DJs were masters of the microphone. They ruled what songs aired on the radio. But, this would all change when radio’s secrets were revealed. Some of the most popular DJs, including Moon Dog, were accused of taking bribes from record companies. In exchange, the DJ would play and promote the record company’s music on the air. This was known as the payola scandal. From 1959-1962 radio hit a rocky road and many DJs lost their job. The power was taken away from the DJ and a new format emerged called the Top 40 created by Todd Storz and Gordon McLendon. Now, the top selling songs were put in playlists and the DJ could only play those songs. Today the Top 40 format still exists. Did you know American Idol host, Ryan Seacrest, started in radio? You can hear him on KIIS FM in Los Angeles and he keeps the Top 40 trend going by hosting American Top 40, a weekend countdown radio show of America’s most popular music. SIGNING OFF As the DJ signs off the air, his words may be remembered in time. Check out some of these famous sign off slogans.
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