"David Eduardo" wrote in message
om...

"tommyknocker" wrote in message

The term "disc jockey" (shortened to DJ) wasn't even coined until 1950,
when stations were losing their programming to television and had to
play music nonstop to fill time. (Alan Freed was NOT the first DJ, only
the first to be famous.)

Actually, I have found references to the term in late 40's Broadcasting
Magazines. I believe the term originated just after the ASCAP decision
when
radio stations could play lots more recorded music.

Following up, I fund a half-dozen references to "disc jockey" in the 1948
Broadcasting Yearbook, including one featuring, headlined in 36 point type,
the "Disk Jockeys of KFEL" in Denver.

Both the '44 and '46 editions have mentions of the term in advertising for
radio staitos with music from disc programs.

And, by the way, radio was not losing its audience to television in 1950,
and the network (CBS, NBC, Mutual, ABC, Don Lee, Yankee, IMN, etc.)
programming continued strong through the late 50's That was the depth of the
freeze, and only a few million homes had TVs. Even by 1953, according to a
WSYR study, the average Syracuse listened to 3.07 hours of radio a day. A
1950 study, referenced in the Gordon McLendion biography, indicates 21 hours
a week of listening per person. Today, it is 20 hours and 45 minutes.

Then, as now, the reports of radio's death were much exaggerated.