During 1955 to 1995, American popular music transcended greatly as various types of music helped to express the feelings of rebellious teenagers and Top 40 put the radio industry back in business.  From Jazz to Rock n’ Roll and Country to R&B, this time period had it all.  With social, economic, and technological advances, after World War II, America had much more leisure time and disposable income, which led to “popular culture” as it is known today.  People had more time to relax and listen to their favorite tunes, especially since they had the extra money to buy the new portable radios that had just come out at the time. 

Music was changing and progressing.  Each genre developed in this time period was very distinct from one another and flourished at different times, but what they had in common was their African American roots.  African American culture inspired the expansion of Jazz and Rhythm & Blues – the two most influential genres – in American society.  They helped to bring about Rock n’ Roll, Country, Hip Hop, and several others as well that are still prominent in American pop culture today.

Life in America Post-World War II

Post-WWII America in the fifties was a very significant and influential time period in United States history.  The political and social atmosphere was dominated by a strong optimism and enthusiasm towards the future, as a direct result of the military victories over the Axis powers. The children raised during this time were brought up to believe 2 important things:  that America was the greatest and most powerful nation in the world, and that it was their duty to uphold the American way of life at all costs. These children became of age during the Vietnam War, the Korean War, and the “Red Scare” and it was clear to them that there was something terribly wrong with the status quo.

The increasing pressures from the older generations caused a rebellious youth culture to emerge in response.  This uniquely new generation, called the Baby Boomers, found an opportunity to express their frustration in a nonpolitical way, through music such as Rock and Roll. Many popular rock and roll songs of the fifties communicate the need for freedom from the rigid, old, ideologies: freedom from parental control, from rigid morals, and standards of sexual behavior.

These dramatic cultural changes brought on by the younger generations could not have possible without the prosperous economic climate of the period. After the war, the US saw a sharp increase in the standard of living and the average income, which led to two newly found principles: disposable income and leisure time. Now the average American, most importantly the new generation of teenagers, could buy and listen to their rebellious music, completely free of parental control.

Between 1950 and 1970, the advancements of radio greatly impacted American culture and music.  DJs had the most control of what was played on the radio and television was beginning to take over America’s leisure time, causing a decline in radio in the 1940s. Because DJs had such a heavy impact, it did not matter as much if there were good transitions between songs and programs. It could go from a news discussion to a ventriloquist act, which clearly belonged on TV. There was very minimal public say in what was played; and so, almost no one was interested. Television was much more exciting and visually pleasing because it made radio come to life. In 1953, a guy named Robert Storz created the Top 40 radio program, which played the most requested songs by the public over and over, inspiring what we know as popular music.

Also in 1953, the transistor radio was made. Radio was now portable and smaller. It was the size of a 3x5 index card and weighed about 12 ounces. People could listen to their favorite music anywhere. Because it was made with less material, it was more affordable, allowing people of all social classes to buy one and causing the use of the radio to increase. It especially attracted the Baby Boomer generation because it was another way of expressing themselves during a rebellious time period. They could listen to their favorite tunes anywhere no matter what their parents said or how provocative the lyrics were. It was a sense of freedom.

Although FM radio was created in the 1930s, it was not the main type of broadcasting until the 1960s. When it came out, no one wanted to move their stations to FM radio because it was very expensive and, for consumers, no one wanted to have to throw out their perfectly good AM radios. However, 30 years later, the Radio Corporation of America, one of the biggest radio companies, pushed for FM radio development and sales after profits were made. FM radio gave stations better sound quality. There was a great reduction in noise interference from other stations as sound travelled. The components of music were much more distinct and pure to the human ear. More and more people were interested in the quality of sound they were experiencing as radio continued to improve and still is.

by Julie Fuentes and Catrina Muffoletto

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