What is the location of the worlds first commercial radio station KDKA which began broadcasting in 1920?

Answer 1

Although KDKA in Pittsburgh has long claimed to be first, that is a myth. Certainly, KDKA was an influential and important early station, and its broadcast of the returns from the presidential election (Harding vs. Cox) on November 2, 1920 is a seminal moment in early radio history. But KDKA was neither the first station on the air, contrary to their parent company (Westinghouse) and its excellent publicity department; nor was it the first station with a commercial license.

8MK (today WWJ) in Detroit was on the air in late August 1920, a fact documented from newspaper reports. It too broadcast the presidential returns, but unfortunately, it did not have a huge publicity department. Still, based on facts and evidence, 8MK was the first station to do what we associate with modern radio-- broadcast music, news, and educational talks to a wide-ranging audience. But there were others doing that too. In greater Boston, 1XE (later WGI) was also on the air at that time. So were stations in Madison, Wisconsin and several other cities; there is also evidence that XWA in Montreal was on the air at that time as well. Further, KDKA did not have a commercial license-- nobody did. Such a license was not created until September 1921, and another Westinghouse station, WBZ (today in Boston, but then in Springfield MA) received that first license. So, while KDKA is indeed a major factor in early radio, it is incorrect to say it was the first commercial station.

Answer 2

KDKA, NewsRadio 1020 is also referred to as the "World's first commercial radio station" and is located in Pittsburgh, PA.

Pittsburgh, PA is also famous for being the home of Heinz Ketchup, Pittsburgh Penguins and the Pittsburh Steelers.