Radio
Radio was a United States trade magazine covering the technology and engineering of radio broadcasting.
Last updated October 7, 2026
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Overview
Radio was a specialist trade publication serving the technical side of the radio-broadcasting industry. Its principal readers included broadcast engineers, technology managers, radio-station owners, network operators, and professionals responsible for recording-studio and transmission infrastructure. Rather than functioning as a consumer entertainment title, the magazine focused on the equipment, systems, workflows, and operational issues involved in running radio services. The publication was created in 1994 as BE Radio, an offshoot of Broadcast Engineering. Broadcast Engineering had begun in 1959 and originally addressed television, radio, and cable broadcasting together. By the early 1990s, the editors recognized that radio and television engineering were becoming sufficiently distinct that each required more specialized coverage. The radio-focused material was therefore separated into a new publication, while Broadcast Engineering narrowed its emphasis to television and cable. During its first year, BE Radio was distributed as a supplement with Broadcast Engineering to subscribers working at radio stations. In 1995 it became a stand-alone mailed publication. Although it shared editorial origins with Broadcast Engineering, the two titles increasingly operated independently. By 1997, the editorial connection had ended and the phrase identifying BE Radio as coming from the editors of Broadcast Engineering was no longer used. The title changed again in 2002, when the publisher removed the initials “BE” and adopted the simpler name Radio. The transition was reflected in the March through August 2002 issues, which retained a small “BE” marking in a corner of the cover because the postal permit still applied to the former title. This was an administrative transition rather than a change in the magazine’s core technical subject. Ownership changed in February 2011, when Radio moved from Penton Media to NewBay Media. The transfer separated it from its former sister publication, Broadcast Engineering, for the first time. NewBay Media was subsequently acquired by Future in 2018, although Radio had already ceased publication. The final issue appeared in December 2017, making the magazine a completed publication rather than an active current brand. The name also has an earlier publishing history unrelated to the 1994 trade title. A separate Radio magazine appeared on the United States West Coast from November 1921 through February 1947, following its earlier identity as Pacific Radio News and later continuing as Audio Engineering. That predecessor was recognized for technically oriented articles and associated annual handbooks, but it should be distinguished from the later BE Radio and Radio magazine covered by this dossier.
History
Radio magazine originated in the restructuring of Broadcast Engineering’s editorial coverage. Broadcast Engineering had been published since 1959 and initially covered the technical requirements of radio, television, and cable broadcasting. In 1993, its editors concluded that the engineering problems facing radio were diverging from those of television and cable. The radio material was consequently developed into a separate publication, while Broadcast Engineering concentrated on television and cable. The new title began publication in 1994 as BE Radio. For its first year it was not an entirely independent magazine: the publication was mailed as a supplement to Broadcast Engineering subscribers associated with radio stations. In 1995, it became a separate stand-alone publication. The relationship with Broadcast Engineering gradually weakened, and by 1997 the editorial oversight and “From the editors of Broadcast Engineering” identification had disappeared. In 2002, the publication dropped the “BE” initials and adopted the title Radio. The transition was handled incrementally because the postal permit was still registered to BE Radio. As a result, issues published from March through August 2002 carried a small BE marking in the upper corner to satisfy postal requirements. The change simplified the brand name while retaining the magazine’s focus on radio-broadcasting technology. Radio changed hands in February 2011, moving from Penton Media to NewBay Media. This transaction also marked the first time that Radio and Broadcast Engineering were no longer under the same ownership. NewBay Media was acquired by Future in 2018. However, Radio’s publication run ended before that acquisition: its final issue was published in December 2017. The title has a separate earlier history. A different Radio magazine was published on the West Coast of the United States between November 1921 and February 1947. It had previously been called Pacific Radio News and later became Audio Engineering. That earlier magazine was known for respected technical contributions and annual handbooks, but it was not the same publication as the later BE Radio/Radio trade magazine.
- 2018
NewBay Media is acquired by Future
[1]Future acquires NewBay Media after Radio has ceased publication.
- 2017
Publication ends
[1]The December issue is the final issue of Radio magazine.
- 2011
Ownership transfers to NewBay Media
[1]Penton Media transfers Radio to NewBay Media, separating the magazine from Broadcast Engineering’s ownership.
- 2002
BE Radio is renamed Radio
[1]The publication drops the BE initials. Transitional issues retain a small BE mark because the postal permit still used the former title.
- 1997
Editorial independence from Broadcast Engineering is completed
[1]Editorial oversight from Broadcast Engineering ends and the former shared editorial tagline is discontinued.
- 1995
BE Radio becomes a stand-alone publication
[1]The magazine begins being mailed independently rather than solely as a supplement to Broadcast Engineering.
- 1994
BE Radio launches
[1]BE Radio is first published as a radio-broadcasting technology supplement associated with Broadcast Engineering.
- 1993
Editorial split creates the basis for BE Radio
[1]Broadcast Engineering’s editors decide that radio and television engineering require more specialized treatment, leading to the creation of a radio-focused title.
- 1959
Broadcast Engineering begins publication
[1]The predecessor publication Broadcast Engineering begins covering technical issues across radio, television, and cable broadcasting.
Products and positioning
A specialist business-to-business source for the engineering, technology, and operational management of radio broadcasting.
Broadcasting trade publication · 2002
Radio magazine
The principal publication under the Radio brand, aimed at professionals responsible for radio-broadcasting technology and operations. Its intended readership included broadcast engineers, technology managers, radio-station owners, networks, and recording studios. The magazine addressed the technical infrastructure and management concerns of the radio industry rather than general consumer audio entertainment. It was published under the Radio title from 2002 until its final issue in December 2017.
Broadcasting trade publication · 1994
BE Radio
The original form of the later Radio magazine. BE Radio launched in 1994 as a radio-specific offshoot of Broadcast Engineering and initially circulated as a supplement to that publication. It became a stand-alone mailed magazine in 1995. The BE initials were removed from the title in 2002 as the publication adopted the Radio name.
Brand decisions
2017
End publication of Radio magazineOtherBackground
The publication’s documented run concluded at the end of 2017.
Action taken
The December 2017 issue was released as the final issue.
Aftermath
Radio became a discontinued trade-publication brand.
2011
Transfer Radio from Penton Media to NewBay MediaM&ABackground
Penton Media decided to release its entertainment-technology titles.
Action taken
Radio was transferred to NewBay Media in February 2011.
Aftermath
Radio became separate in ownership from Broadcast Engineering, its former sister publication.
2002
Rename BE Radio as RadioStrategyBackground
The BE initials had become less meaningful as the publication’s connection with Broadcast Engineering faded.
Action taken
The publisher removed the initials and adopted the shorter Radio title, while retaining a small BE marking on transitional issues for postal-permit purposes.
Aftermath
The magazine continued under the Radio name until its final issue in 2017.
1993
Separate radio engineering from television and cable coverageStrategyBackground
The editors of Broadcast Engineering judged that radio broadcasting was developing technical concerns distinct from those of television and cable.
Action taken
They created a dedicated radio-focused publication while narrowing Broadcast Engineering’s scope.
Aftermath
The decision led to the launch of BE Radio in 1994 and ultimately established the Radio brand.
Recent events
- 2018
Future acquires NewBay Media[1]
M&A
Future acquired NewBay Media after Radio had ended publication. The transaction placed the former NewBay portfolio within Future’s media group.
- 2017
Final issue of Radio magazine is published[1]
Other
The December 2017 issue was the last edition of Radio magazine.
- 2011
Radio magazine changes ownership from Penton Media to NewBay Media[1]
M&A
Radio was transferred to NewBay Media in February 2011 as Penton Media divested entertainment-technology titles. The move also separated Radio from the ownership of its former sister publication, Broadcast Engineering.
Sources1 sources
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