What was the first black appeal station and who programmed it?
WDIA Memphis claims to be the first black format radio station during this turbulent period. The station was programmed by Nat D. Williams with a rhythm and blues sound.
Questions about Black-appeal stations
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When did the number of black appeal stations grow from four to 400?
In 1949 only four stations aired a black appeal format. By 1952 there were around 200 such stations and by 1956 there were 400.
How did Black Appeal Stations help keep radio alive after television took over audiences?
Black Appeal Stations helped keep radio alive by playing a specific group of songs aimed specifically at the young African American demographic. The format reinvigorated radio before the development of the Top 40 format was born.
Who developed the term Rock and Roll for music played on Black Appeal Stations?
Cleveland disc jockey Alan Freed developed a new term for the upbeat music in the 1950s. He called it Rock and Roll after combining elements of rhythm and blues, gospel, and country.
Why did independent radio stations adopt the black appeal format in the early 1950s?
Stations that had remained independent needed a new way to attract an audience after comedy, variety, and drama shifted toward television. This strategy of marketing radio broadcasting became clear and successful through the developments and maturation of early Black Appeal Stations.