While Beatlemania arrived in the United States in 1964, the first time a Beatles song was played on the radio in the U.S. was in late February 1963. Dick Biondi of WLS in Chicago was the first American DJ to play the Beatles hit “Please Please Me." It peaked the WLS charts at #35 for the weeks of March 8 and March 15, 1963 and then dropped off. The Beatles had other songs released in America in 1963, but none charted nationally on Billboard.
Ultimate Classic Rock: Who Played the Beatles on American Radio First?
November 2, 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the first commercial radio broadcast. To celebrate this special anniversary, we’re shining a spotlight on 100 key moments in radio's history.
We hope you’ll join us in celebrating your favorite radio memories throughout 2020. Use the hashtag #Radio100 across social media to share these moments with the world. Here’s to 100 wonderful years of radio, and to at least 100 more!
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