1974 in radio

The year 1974 in radio involved some significant events.

Events

April 3 - As tornadoes ravage much of the United States and Canada in what becomes known as the 1974 Super Outbreak, WHAS Louisville, Kentucky air-traffic reporter Dick Gilbert takes to the skies to track a twister as it rakes across the Louisville metro area. He, and the station, receive a Presidential commendation for their storm coverage.
April 24–5 - Music aired on the radio in Portugal acts as a secret signal to trigger the Carnation Revolution there: at 10:55 p.m. on April 24, Paulo de Carvalho's "E Depois do Adeus" on Emissores Associados de Lisboa alerts rebel captains and soldiers that the coup is beginning; at 12:20 a.m. on April 25, Rádio Renascença broadcasts "Grândola, Vila Morena", a song by Zeca Afonso, an influential political folk musician and singer who has been banned from Portuguese radio up to this time, signalling the Armed Forces Movement to begin the takeover of strategic points of power in the country from 3.00 a.m.

January 6 - CBS Radio Mystery Theater debuts and is broadcast on 218 stations
February 19 - BRMB begins broadcasting to the Birmingham area
April 2 - Piccadilly Radio begins broadcasting to the Manchester area on MW and FM. The mediumwave signal will cease operating in 2021
July 15 - Metro Radio begins broadcasting to the Newcastle upon Tyne area
September - American-born music presenter Paul Gambaccini first broadcasts on British radio, initially on BBC Radio 1
September 30 - Swansea Sound, the first Independent Local Radio station in Wales, begins broadcasting to the Swansea area
October 1 - Radio Hallam begins broadcasting to the Sheffield area
October 21 - Radio City begins broadcasting to the Liverpool area

February 6 - Aljo Bendijo, Filipino journalist and broadcaster
February 11 - Alex Jones, American radio/internet show host and conspiracy theorist
February 22 - Chris Moyles, British radio presenter
March 28 - Scott Mills, British radio DJ
May 3 - Peter Everitt, Australian rules footballer, later radio host
June 13 - Katharina Bellowitsch, Austrian broadcast presenter
June 21 - Natasha Desborough, British radio presenter
July 14 - David Mitchell, English comic actor
December 4 - Dan Bongino, American conservative radio host
December 13 - Sara Cox, British broadcast presenter
December 24 - Ryan Seacrest, American radio host

January 12 - Helen Claire, American actress on stage and radio, primarily in soap operas
May 4 - Ludwig Koch, German-born British natural sound recordist
July 14 - Elizabeth Reller, American actress on stage and radio
July 28 - Truman Bradley, American radio actor
November 11 - Jane Ace, American radio actress
December 26 - Jack Benny, American comedian, vaudeville performer, and radio, television and film actor