- Categories:
- Special Interest
- Tags:
- Technology
- Where:
- United States
- Date change rule:
- Every August 20
- Holiday emoji:
- đź“»
National Radio Day tunes in every August 20, celebrating the powerful medium that has shaped communication and culture for over a century. From news to music, radio connects communities and informs millions. Tune into your favorite station, share your top radio memories, and support local broadcasters today.
Want to sponsor National Radio Day? Learn how
Expected National Radio Day Deals
While specific 2027 promotions are still on the horizon, National Radio Day often inspires deals on audio equipment and subscriptions. Look for discounts from brands like Bose, Sony, and JBL on radios, headphones, and portable speakers. Streaming services such as SiriusXM and Audacy may offer trial extensions or reduced subscription rates. Independent radio stations might run fundraising drives with exclusive merchandise. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as August 20 approaches.
Platform Guide for National Radio Day
X/Twitter
Mention @NatlToday and use #NationalRadioDay. Share your favorite radio memories or stations, sparking conversations with fellow listeners.
YouTube
Subscribe to @NationalToday for holiday video content. Create a video about the history of radio or interview a local DJ, sharing it with #NationalRadioDay.
Tag National Today (linkedin.com/company/nationaltoday) and use #NationalRadioDay. Discuss the evolution of audio technology or the future of broadcast media in a professional context.
National Radio Day Hero
Guglielmo Marconi
History of National Radio Day
Though we typically attribute the invention of the radio to Gugliemo Marconi in the 1890s, Nikola Tesla was reportedly first to demonstrate radio in 1893. Nonetheless, the process spanned decades, with many scientists making small but significant contributions to the understanding of electromagnetic induction, electric conduction, and radio waves. For example, Heinrich Rudolph Hertz discovered radio waves in the 1880s, which helped prove a theory of electromagnetism put forth by James Clerk Maxwell in 1873.Â
It took quite a bit of time after the discovery of the radio for the technology to be used as communication — this was both because the inventors hadn’t yet realized the practical and life-changing applications of their development and because there were many more components needed to transmit and detect electrical waves.
Public radio broadcasting has its own inventor and that’s Lee de Forest. He transmitted the first public radio broadcast, which featured the voices of opera stars, in 1910. De Forest’s Radio Telephone Company went on to manufacture the first commercial radios which could pick up a signal from miles away.Â
Obviously, radio was huge for music and changed the landscape of the industry immediately. News took to the radio, as well, and announcers could quickly hop on air to deliver the happenings of the day to a massive audience. The first radio news program was broadcast on August 31, 1920, out of Detroit — at a station that survives today as WWJ. In the early 20th century, radio also began to be used for broadcasting sports, aiding telephone services, and even navigating by airplane.Â
With the digital revolution and the wireless era, radio changed and adapted. Today, though radio is used for a variety of functions, it no longer holds its former top slot in entertainment and news media. With television, the internet, and more, it’s hard for radio to compete in that space – but people still love it, and it doesn’t look like radio is going away anytime soon. In fact, we appreciate radio even more these days for its old-school vintage.
National Radio Day timeline
Nicola Tesla comes up with an early design for a radio long before Marconi gets his hands on the technology!
Proving it’s more than a medium to broadcast sporting events and news, radio serves the United States as President Roosevelt holds radio “Fireside Chats” to help lead the Nation through the Great Depression and World War 2.
When famous director Orson Welles broadcasts a radio piece that reads excerpts from H.G Wells’ “War of the Worlds,” unsuspecting listeners think it is real news, and that the planet is being attacked by aliens.
FM radio makes its first appearance.
The first online radio station, Radio HK, is born.
How Businesses Can Celebrate National Radio Day
Local businesses can honor National Radio Day by engaging with their community through local radio. Restaurants might sponsor a segment on a local station or offer a ‘listener special’ for those who mention a specific radio ad. Retailers could host an in-store event with a live remote broadcast from a local DJ, offering exclusive discounts during the broadcast. Tech repair shops could offer special deals on vintage radio repairs or modern audio equipment, tapping into the nostalgia and innovation of the medium.
National Radio Day - Survey Results
Info gathered by one of the top
National Radio Day FAQs
When is National Radio Day?
National Radio Day 2026 falls on Thursday, August 20, offering a mid-week opportunity to appreciate the enduring impact of this communication medium.
How many Americans listen to radio?
Radio continues to reach a vast audience, with approximately 90% of Americans tuning in weekly. This includes traditional broadcast and digital streaming platforms.
What is the history of radio?
The history of radio began with Guglielmo Marconi’s pioneering work in wireless telegraphy in the late 19th century, leading to the first transatlantic wireless message in 1901.
What is the difference between AM and FM radio?
AM (Amplitude Modulation) radio varies the amplitude of the radio wave to encode sound, offering a wider broadcast range but lower sound quality, often susceptible to interference.
National Radio Day Activities
Promote your favorite station
We all have a favorite radio station. You know, that one that just knows when you need to hear a sad song? That shares your exact political views? That telepathically plays the song you were JUST thinking about? Celebrate your station by giving them a boost on social media with the hashtag #NationalRadioDay. Last year, more than 200,000 tweets with that hashtag were sent out, and organizers are hoping to beat their record!
Donate to your local radio station
Radio isn’t big-budget as it once was and chances are your local radio station would welcome a helping hand. To keep public broadcasting alive, donations aren’t just helpful, but necessary. Think of it as paying them back for all the music and information you’ve received over the years.
Pick up a personal radio
Need a project? Pick up a fixer-upper radio from an antique or thrift store, and try your hand at getting it singing again. The work can be satisfying and you’ll learn a lot more about the science behind the radio!
5 Fun Facts About Radio
AM? Hm?
AM stands for Amplitude Modulation and FM stands for Frequency Modulation - we learned something new today!
W vs K
Did you know that radio stations West of the Mississippi River use K as the first letter in their call signs, while those to the East use W?
All Christmas, All Year
In case you like singing along to “Let it Snow” in July, tune in to www.foreverchristmasradio.com, which is in its 12th year of broadcasting.
Shopping & Radio
For 62% of shoppers, they’ve been listening to the radio just 14 minutes before heading in the store - what an advertising opportunity.
Not Out of Style
71% of people surveyed - that’s more than ⅔ - say they listen to the radio in their car. Do you?
Why We Love National Radio Day
It was life-changing technology
Though today radio is great for busting the daily commute blues, keeping us up on the news, and preventing us from drifting off during road trips, it was once life-changing technology. Radio globally changed the way people interacted with the news, the government, and each other. From news anchors to FDR’s Fireside Chats that kept the nation going through rough times, radio has filled key gaps and done a lot of social good. Not to mention, it’s frequently used by the military and government to keep our country safe and for navigation! Radio has undeniably made its mark on the world.
It keeps your drives interesting
Are you part of the 71% of people who listen to the radio in the car? We all know radio is not only what keeps you awake on a long road trip, but also what keeps you interested, learning new things, or singing along. We love radio because it helps us perfect our voices when we’re belting it out on the commute!
It’s where you heard your favorite song
Whether it was alternative, country, or classic rock, everyone has felt that pause when a great beat comes on the radio, and you just know it’s about to be your favorite song. Credit to the radio for helping us all experience new songs we might otherwise not have found!
Social Media Tips for National Radio Day
Individuals
Creators
Brands