ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the story of the historic roots of music as part of mass media to explore music's role as a driving force of American culture and America's cultural influence on the world. In modern times, the story of music and the recording industry is so interconnected with the story of radio broadcasting that we must chronicle both together. Right along with alcohol, musical entertainment was a mainstay of the underground establishments. In the 1950s, even while movies and early television variety shows were helping to promote music styles and performers, radio remained the driving force behind the record industry. Disco music drew upon a number of different styles, including soul, funk, rock 'n' roll, Latin, jazz and classical, combined with soaring vocals, a steady four-on-the-floor beat and a driving syncopated bass line. Music and radio are not dead; they are actually thriving, albeit in new and different ways.
