1920–1925
Listening through a crystal
This Science Museum Group record describes a crystal receiver made in Manchester around 1920–1925. A small object opens a question: how much skill did early listening require?
Read the story →A classroom of sound
Use this printable sheet with the exhibition. Read the linked source records, compare what objects reveal and discuss the questions together.
How did listening change when a radio could fit in a pocket?
What is the difference between an eyewitness memory and a museum record?
Choose a radio programme today. What would you preserve for a future listener?
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Keep exploring
1954
A radio you could carry
The Smithsonian records the Regency TR-1 as a 1954 transistor radio. Portability invites us to consider how a shared household activity could become a more personal listening experience.
Read the story →
2026
The world is still on air
Today, World Radio Now links listeners to public station streams. Compare the experience with earlier receivers: the path to a programme changes, while voices, music and local identity remain worth exploring.
Read the story →WORLD RADIO NOW · LIVE
From radio history to radio today
World Radio Now helps you listen to live stations around the world. Explore a historical voice, then discover music, news and culture on today’s airwaves.