The difference between radio back then and modern day radio seems vast. Today, radios are clogged with about ten times more advertisements, and many focus much more on music. I have never, in my life, heard a modern day radio drama. Today, like many other facets of media, radio has become a niche market, just like magazines. Country, hip-hop, classical, news station- you name it. Back then, radio reached out to a much broader audience than today. In my personal opinion, the radio of today is merely bombardment, most of the music is overplayed and the talk shows are usually unintelligent conversations about "Your most embarrassing first date."
I'm not saying that radio of yesteryear was better, though. Today, at least news stations like NPR are trustworthy...No more practical jokes like Orson Welles "War of the Worlds" Halloween prank. But it does seem that radio has spiraled downhill in the level of intelligence you must have to listen. The talk show hosts speak in very casual terms about very common occurrences that seem unimportant, and you sit there and think "Why am I listening to this junk?" It's almost as if it lowers your IQ; Wheras, radio of yesteryear at least addressed political matters and used formal language that was much more proper. Call me old fashioned, but radio of yesteryear seemed to be something special, and radio of today, well, it's background noise.
Today's radio really is just background noise - and that's mainly what we use it for. The only times I ever listen to radio are when I'm driving or doing something else that requires my visual attention. And today, we even have satellite radio, which eliminates commercials entirely. It's so interesting to think that families gathered around for something that we just use as an afterthought today.
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