¶ 1 Leave a comment on paragraph 1 0 In some ways, the
development of radio closely paralleled the evolution of
recording formats during the 20th Century. As in the recording
industry, there was a general trend toward greater sound
fidelity and utility, but also a significant amount of conflict,
compromise and confusion along the way. The two industries are
deeply interdependent, which helped link their development.
Radio is a promotional vehicle for recordings, so format
innovations such as stereo sound, higher fidelity, and longer
playing time could only be adequately marketed if radio
standards and practices were adapted accordingly. At the same
time, radio has always threatened to cannibalize music
purchasing; one of the reasons consumers continued to buy
records over the years is because broadcast technology did not
allow them to listen to their choice of music on demand. Radio
developed as was what media analysts call a “lean back”
technology for passive consumption, while records were a “lean
forward”