Are you planning a trip to the US? If you are so lucky and can eve do a car road trip around some of its impressive states, the radio will play a major role on your route.
The passion for radio in North America started at beginnings of 20th century, when many enthusiasts of this media started broadcasting. This is how first radio stations were born, like the WWJ in Detroit, the first commercial station, that aired on august 1920. Only two years later existed more than 600 radio stations acros the country and about 400.000 radio receivers.
As it couldn’t be otherwise, radio became a fundamental mean to spread country music United States far and wide. Furthermore, listening radio stations was the accessible way to make more plasant the days, and how this musical genre’s artists made known. Let’ see how radio benefited country music and also the most important radio stations you must tune during your trip to the called “land of opportunities”.
Radio power at the US
First country music record was made in 1923. It was a song performed by Fiddlin John Carson, that pave the way recording what is considered the first country song with lyrics and voices.
At that time, record companies started to fight each other to air most important singer’ songs at the radio stations. Following Fiddlin John Carson’s trail, other country music artists like Jimmie Rodgers, Ernest Stoneman, Riley Pucket, or Vernon Dalhart among others, joined to make their voices heard through the waves.
Two big radio corporations were rapidly created: the NBC and its rival in the broadcasting, the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS). Meanwhile, technology didn’t stop improving and the radio receivers became obsolete every little time by the appearing of others more improved. And with the 40’s and the Second World War, radio in USA experienced its most stellar moments in history.
It’s been a long time since then, but nowadays still exist some of the radio stations that broadcasted the best classic country music at that time. Let’s make a review of the most famous, although in fact there are thousands of radio stations, and there are Apps for smartphones that will let you locate some ones.
Mythical radio stations that still remain
WSM from Nashville, Tennessee, is a benchmark. This radio station broadcast country music “non stop”, and it’s also known by hosting the program “Grand Ole Opry”, on the air every Saturday since 1925. The WSM has been and still is a great country music station and has contributed to make Nashville this musical genre’s cradle.
At the state of Texas, the KPLX at Fort Worth is another radio station that can’t stop tuning. In this city located at state’s centre-north area, country is almost a lifestyle and has given rise to some alternative trends and local attire looks like wearing cowboy hats. The KPLX, currently located in Dallas, appeared in 1962 like the KXOL-FM. During a time it also was called KCWM, and since 1974 took the actual name of KPLX, although is known as “The Wolf”. Nowadays is one of the most important country stations and has been awarded with important prizes like the Country Music Academy and Country Music Association.
Because The State of Texas is as big as a whole country, we won’t leave it yet. In addition, in San Antonio is located the headquarter for another mythical radio station: the KKYX. This historic station aired in 1926 and has been tirelessly broadcasting great country legends. Is an emblem in the US, specially since 1972, when decided become a reference for this musical style at the south of Texas.
Now it’s turn for for the State of Virginia, in particular the city of Galax, where the WBRF awaits us. This radio station appeared in 1961 with the name of WBOB-FM, but cince years has been known as WBRF, from the Blue Ridge Family. It broadcasts for the south of Virginia, strongly advertising both country and Americana music. As well as Bluegrass, one of the greatest country subgenres at these rural zones.
We again change of state and move to Kansas, specifically the great metropolis of Pittsburgh. From there, the KKOW broadcasts since 1937, in affiliation with the NBC. Since the 70’s, the KKOW stands out by broadcasting country music, but also dedicates to speak about agriculture and Pittsburgh’s University sports. Is one of the most popular radio stations in Kansas and Missouri, although also has thousands of listeners in Florida.
Our tour will end at Louisiana with the KXKC, that broadcasts from Lafayette since January 1969. Started its path on the waves with the name of KNIR-FM, to change it to KDEA at the ends of the seventies. This radio station, exclusively dedicated to this musical genre is popularly known as Acadiana’s Original Country, and is another of the best alternatives to enjoy listening country music.
Now that you have a guide for the radio stations you must tune during your trip, don’t miss your cowboy hat and western boots in the baggage: without them, it wouldn’t be the same.
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