Radiophilia

A century ago, the emergence of radio, along with an organized system of broadcasting, sparked a global fascination with the 'wonder' of sound transmission and reception. The thrilling experience of listening to the live sounds of wireless radio prompted diverse affective attachments to this medium, and cultural imaginations of its fans, variously described as 'mad', 'distracted', or 'obsessed' listeners.This book introduces the concept of radiophilia as a way to understand the introduction of radio and diverse responses to its new, modern sounds, from the radio industry and cultural producers through to critics and audiences. In treating a diversity of responses and practices around radio, the book engages in debates about media fandom, audience participation, listening attention, sensory-bodily engagement, affect, and the public's emotions. Taking radiophilia as a transnational and dynamic cultural phenomenon across 100 years of radio, the book traces how we have come to listen to, respond to, and use radio sound, from the earliest radio transmissions and broadcast systems through to digital audio formats like podcasting today.