Research Note: Jazz, Radio, & Modernism

"A black jazz fan, however, faced certain racial and financial obstacles that limited the available music. By the late 1920s, the popularity of radio helped erase some of these racial constraints on the city's jazz scene, and, though not completely colorblind. The broadcasting medium provided new opportunities (and a certain degree of anonymity) for black jazz bands. As audiences increased and diversified, jazz music challenged and changed American culture, and New York City stood at the center of this transformation."

Court Carney, Cuttin’ Up: How Early Jazz Got America’s Ear, page 86.