Music Radio’s Role In Inauguration Day History

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It’s Inauguration Day, and one thing is sure: Americans will be listening to the radio, either to hear the speeches and festivities or to escape those words and be taken away with music and non-election talk.

I started thinking about our beloved medium and its role in past election days. This took me down a rabbit hole of research and analysis, looking for news stories about the radio industry and the music Americans have enjoyed coming out of the speakers and audio devices since Kennedy’s inauguration in 1961.

We’ll start with bullet points of radio news and changes from each decade. Then, for each Inauguration Day, I’ve included the top three Billboard Hot 100 songs to give us an idea of what we were listening to on those monumental days. The source for all music entries is the Billboard Hot 100. 

Radio in the 1960s:

• Pepsi-Cola continues its position as the number one network advertiser in 1960.
• KNX, Los Angeles, grew local sales by 18% in 1960, according to Gordon Mason, sales manager. (Source U.S. Radio, January 1961) 
• Radio Caroline, the pirate radio station in England.
• FCC adopts the FM Non-Duplication Rule. This prohibits AM stations in markets with a population of more than 100,000 from simulcasting 100% of the AM content onto a sister FM signal. 
• The Non-Dup Rule forces owners to find something cheap and easy for their FM stations. FM “freeform” radio has its beginnings.
• ABC debuted four new networks, replacing the single feed. The new networks focused on News, Talk, Music, and FM. 

What were Americans listening to on the three Inauguration Days in the 1960s?

(Source for all music entries: Billboard Hot 100 charts)

January 20, 1961, (John F. Kennedy)

1. Wonderland By Night: Bert Kaemfert and His Orchestra
2. Exodus: Ferranti & Teicher
3. Calcutta: Lawrence Welk and His Orchestra

January 20, 1965 (Lyndon B. Johnson)

1. Downtown: Petula Clark
2. You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’: The Righteous Brothers
3. Love Potion Number Nine: The Searchers

January 20, 1969 (Richard M. Nixon)

1. I Heard It Through The Grapevine: Marvin Gaye
2. Crimson And Clover: Tommy James And The Shondells
3. I’m Gonna Make You Love Me: Diana Ross And The Supremes & The Temptations

Radio in the 1970s:

• American Top 40 with Casey Kasem debuts.
• NPR debuts.
• FM increases in popularity because of better sound quality and direct signal.
• FM creates more music genre fragmentation.
• AM moves more formats to News and Talk programming.

What were Americans listening to on the three Inauguration Days in the 1970s?

January 20, 1972 (Nixon’s second term)

1. American Pie: Don McLean
2. Brand New Key: Melanie
3. Let’s Stay Together: Al Green

August 9, 1974 (Gerald R. Ford, after Nixon’s resignation)

1. Feel Like Makin’ Love: Roberta Flack
2. The Night Chicago Died: Paper Lace
3. Annie’s Song: John Denver

January 20, 1977 (Jimmy E. Carter)

1. I Wish: Stevie Wonder
2. Car Wash: Rose Royce
3. You Make Me Feel Like Dancing: Leo Sayer

The 80s in Radio: 

• AM Stereo
• The FCC eliminates the anti-trafficking rule, which requires an owner to keep a station for three years before selling it. The ownership cap increases from 14 to 24 stations. 
• FCC Docket 80-90. It changes the FM band spacing and allows more FMs in suburban markets. 
• Group W buys eight radio stations from Legacy/Metropolitan for $385m.
• “Because of price tags being paid, all of a sudden there’s enormous pressure to really get the business to pay off all these debt services, so now it’s not as friendly as it used to be,” said Bill Sommers, KLOS-FM’s general manager. “Radio is strictly a business, it’s not fun anymore.” (source, LA Times, December 27, 1989)

What were Americans listening to on the three Inauguration Days in the 1980s?

January 20, 1981 (Ronald W. Reagan)

1. (Just Like Starting Over): John Lennon
2. Love One The Rocks: Neil Diamond
3. The Tide Is High: Blondie

January 20, 1985 (Reagan’s second term)

1. Like A Virgin: Madonna
2. I Want To Know What Love Is: Foreigner
3. You’re The Inspiration: Chicago

January 20, 1989 (George H.W. Bush)

1. Two Hearts: Phil Collins
2. Don’t Rush Me: Taylor Dayne
3. Armageddon It: Def Leppard

Radio in the 1990s: 

• The Telecommunications Act of 1996 allows companies to own multiple stations in a marketplace based on the market size and the percentage of audience controlled by the cluster of stations. 
• Revenue explodes in the late ‘90s.
• During the 1990s, ratings and ad revenue rose rapidly. Industry revenues grew from around $11 billion per year to nearly $20 billion between 1994 and 2000, according to the Radio Advertising Bureau. After 1996, revenues grew by double-digit percentages every year until 2001. (Source, PBS, March 4, 2005)

What were Americans listening to on the two Inauguration Days in the 1990s?

January 20, 1993 (William J. Clinton)

1. I Will Always Love You: Whitney Houston
2. If I Ever Fall In Love: Shai
3. In The Still Of The Night: Boyz II Men

January 20, 1997 (Clinton 2nd term)

1. Un-Break My Heart: Toni Braxton
2. Don’t Let Go (Love): En Vogue
3. I Believe I Can Fly: R. Kelly

Radio in the 2000s: 

• The fallout of the dotcom bubble.
• The FCC creates Low Power FM (LPFM) in 2000 to provide local, non-commercial broadcasts.
• The FCC approves digital operations (HD).
• ABC/Disney sells its radio O&Os and network.
• Smartphones and apps create opportunities for radio brands to go beyond M/FM.

What were Americans listening to on the three Inauguration Days in the 2000s?

January 20, 2001 (W)

1. Independent Women: Destiny’s Child
2. It Wasn’t Me: Shaggy
3. He Loves U Not: Dream

January 20, 2005 (Bush’s second term)

1. Let Me Love You: Mario
2. 1,2 Step: Ciara featuring Missy Elliott
3. Lovers And Friends: Lil John & The East Side Boys Featuring Usher and Ludacris

January 20, 2009 (Barack H. Obama)

1. Just Dance: Lady Gaga
2. Single Ladies: Beyonce
3. Heartless: Kanye West

Radio in the 2010s and ‘20s:

• FCC allows AM to rebroadcast on FM translators.
• FCC eliminates the main studio rule.
• The COVID pandemic challenges radio’s audiences and revenue.
• Debt-loaded companies struggle with the “B” word and employee RIFs.
• Christian music and spoken word stations continue growing as non-profit operators use low-cost radio stations.
• Digital advertising goals dominate radio’s revenue focus.

What were Americans listening to on the four Inauguration Days in the 2010s/20s?

January 20, 2013 (Obama’s Second Term)

1. Locked Out Of Heaven: Bruno Mars
2. Thrift Shop: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
3. Ho Hey: The Lumineers

January 20, 2017 (Donald Trump)

1. Bad And Boujee: Migos Featuring Lil Uzi Vert
2. Black Beatles: Rae Stremmurd Featuring Gucci Mane
3. Closer: The Chainsmokers Featuring Halsey

January 20, 2021 (Joe Biden)

1. Drivers License: Olivia Rodrigo
2. Mood: 24k Goldn Featuring iann dior
3. Positions: Ariana Grande

January 20, 2025 (Donald Trump’s Second Term)

1. Die With A Smile: Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars
2. A Bar Song (Tipsy): Shaboozey
3. Birds Of A Feather: Billie Eilish

I hope you enjoyed this trip. Radio has been servicing listeners with information and entertainment since those three instrumental songs topped the charts on the day John F. Kennedy was sworn in as president of the United States. 

It continues its impact today with more ways to share the hits and the passion than ever before.

As operators and performers, continue to be proud of the service you offer to Americans looking for connection. 

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Ron Harrell

Ron Harrell is a columnist for Barrett Media. He founded Harrell Media Group, specializing in radio and audio brand consultation, fractional management, and talent coaching. He has worked in every role on the Programming and Branding side during his career, becoming management and executive-focused in the post-Telecom Act era. Ron has held leadership roles for media groups such as ABC/Citadel, CBS Radio, Chancellor Media, Cumulus Media, Hope Media Group, Hubbard Broadcasting, and WAY Media. 

Interested parties are invited to learn more about his company Harrell Media Group and reach out by email at Ron@HarrellMediaGroup.com.