The National Radio Hall of Fame & Museum has been created to commemorate the giants of a medium that has permeated American society for most of the 20th century. Radio's power has always depended upon diverse talents and many kinds of genius.

Taken together, the inductees into the National Radio Hall of Fame & Museum are more than technical geniuses and more than celebrities. They are part of a phenomenon that helped guide America.

Before radio, there was silence. Radio came first. Of all the electronic media that have made their indelible mark on the world, radio came with few precedents.

Radio personalized events, made them more intimate, more real. Radio engaged us emotionally and brought us closer together as a nation. Radio marked the first instant medium shared collectively by millions.

Radio has given us the freedom to use our imagination. Whether it enlightened, enraged or amused us, radio filtered through our individual sensibilities. Take the time and walk through the National Radio Hall of Fame & Museum and you'll realize that, while the way we listen and what we've heard has changed over the years, radio itself remains a constant and enduring force in our lives.