Who did the first radio commercial?

Answer 1

This is another of the great radio myths: most sources say it was a real estate commercial that was broadcast on New York station WEAF in August 1922, a story spread by corporate owner AT&T. But there is evidence that other commercials were broadcast before that. For example, some radio stations in 1921-1922 used barter to get records-- they would get records from a record shop in exchange for giving that shop a nice mention and telling listeners to go there. We also have evidence that in April of 1922, a local car dealer (Alvan Fuller) broadcast several commercials on Boston's pioneering radio station WGI.

It should also be noted that until about 1925, the government discouraged radio commercials. Herbert Hoover, future president, but then secretary of the Commerce Department, told the press that he did not want "direct advertising" (as commercials were then called) to be heard on the air. However, he was widely ignored, as radio owners sought ways to fund the operation of their stations, and commercials became the method that was preferred. By 1926, commercial advertisements were heard on nearly every American station.