History
Over the years, women have become active members in the field of radio in America. Radio in the United States first gained popularity in the 1920s along with the new film industry. Although radio faced an issue when the television came out in the 1950s, radio has been adjusting to its new role in the 21st century with the Internet and Internet radio.
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Early radio
In the early years, the first woman to have her own radio show was in 1931 by the name of Kate Smith. From 1937 to 1945 she led the charge with the most popular radio hour known as "The Kate Smith Hour." Smith also went on to host the number one daytime show called "Kate Smith Speaks," which was a news and commentary program. Aside from this, she was also well known in the 30's and 40's for singing "God Bless America" on air. Her final radio show was in 1958.
Another woman known as Pegeen Fitzgerald was also known for being a pioneer of women in the radio industry. Pegeen was known as "First Lady of Radio Chatter" when she began her own show from her apartment in 1937. In her talk show she covered numerous topics, and in the 1940s her husband and she were amongst the highest paid radio duo, earning about $160,000 a year.
Moving towards women radio owners, Dorothy Brunson was the first African-American woman to own her own radio station. She had bought WEBB located in Baltimore, Maryland in 1979, later adding on stations in Atlanta and Wilmington, North Carolina.
Current radio
Notable radio hosts have come to surface in America since radio has regained popularity. Among many, there are people like Dr. Laura Schlessinger whose radio program was composed of her responses of personal advice to callers' requests. She had begun her career on radio in 1975 on a show called KABC (AM) and later went on to host her own show which started in 1994 on KFI.
Others that have recently come to light with current news include those like Ellen K from the Southern California radio station 102.7 KIIS-FM. Ellen is a radio host that has had a powerful presence in Southern California for upwards of 25 years and has recently moved stations to 103.5 KOST to start her own morning show called "The Ellen K Morning Show" that began on October 19, 2015. Fans of the radio host have even gone so far as to change the stations they listen to in order to follow her.