Chapter 7: Swing and Big Bands
As the Great Depression gripped the United States in the 1930s, Americans had less disposable income, which dramatically changed the way they consumed music. Many could no longer afford to purchase records, attend concerts, or visit nightclubs regularly. However, one form of entertainment remained widely accessible and affordable: radio.
The radio became the single most important medium for promoting and experiencing music during the Swing Era. By the early 1930s, radio had entered its so-called “Golden Age,” and households across the country gathered around the radio not only for news and variety programs, but also for live music broadcasts. National networks like NBC and CBS expanded rapidly, connecting local stations into coast-to-coast networks that allowed millions of Americans to hear the same music at the same time, often in real time.
One of the most influential uses of the radio during this era came from President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who delivered a series of informal addresses known as “fireside chats.” These broadcasts, which began in 1933, were designed to reassure the American public, explain complex policies like the New Deal, and build trust during a time of widespread hardship. They demonstrated the power of radio not just as entertainment, but as a tool for national communication. Roosevelt’s warm, conversational tone helped humanize the presidency and made listeners feel as though the President was speaking directly to them in their own living rooms.
No big band could succeed without radio exposure. Bands were featured on the air in a variety of formats. Some broadcasts were live transmissions from dance halls, hotels, and ballrooms, where the band performed before a live audience. Others took place in radio studios, where bands played specially arranged sets for radio listeners. These performances helped build the national reputations of bandleaders and musicians, turning many into household names.
In addition to live performances, radio shows such as Your Hit Parade and The Make-Believe Ballroom played phonograph records on the air, exposing listeners to hit songs even if they couldn’t afford to buy the records themselves. This shift helped popularize recorded music and laid the groundwork for the Top 40 radio format that would emerge in later decades.
Radio not only shaped musical tastes but also allowed swing music to reach a mass audience, transcending geographic and economic boundaries. Even those living in rural areas or under financial strain could hear the latest tunes, follow their favorite bands, and feel connected to a broader national culture.