It seemed like the whole town showed up for the raising.
They traveled out of town and into the countryside to this nondescript field. Wild grass grew on one half of the plain, corn on a private farm on the other. Hundreds of ponies dressed in their Sunday best came out with picnic blankets and cameras to capture the historic occasion.
The tower would rise. And with it, supposedly, so would the stature of all Equestria.
The newly-founded Ministry of Technology had been busy with all their projects. The expansion of telephone lines was something, all right, but this new project of theirs somehow captured the entire nation’s imagination:
Radio.
Just the sound of it, the utterance of that supremely sonorous word carried a mystique and magic that actual magic couldn’t hold a candle to.
Radio!
Soundwaves made electric and then into strange signals that sailed on the air and then back again so that sounds made a thousand miles away could sing in the ears of ponies in the very comfort of their own homes.
Around the eager, chattering crowd, the word was uttered in awe time and time again to where it became a strange, meandering chorus among the hushed voices, each syllable gradually taking on an almost musical tone.
Radio... radio... Ray!♪Dee!♪Oh!♪!
The ground crew was off in the grassy field in the distance, the Royal Guard on hoof to keep back any overeager observers or saboteurs who would threaten the tower.
Just then a voice went up, shouting “Up there, everypony! The pegasi are on the move!”
And sure enough, several pegasi took to the air, each one pulling a long cable around their midsection as they coordinated with each other to begin the process of pulling the great structure up off the ground.
The crowd erupted into cheers, waving hats and snapping photographs as they saw the tower come into view. It was thin, metallic, and looked like little more than a latticework of metallic bars, but the sheer size of it was enough to dwarf the spires of Canterlot and rival the skyscrapers of Manehattan.
The pegasi continued lifting the tower as the cheers of the crowd intensified. The miraculous tower continued upwards, up and up and up, its thin frame like the hand of a watch against the steely blue of the morning sky as it rose to a seemingly impossible height.
Once it was totally vertical, the pegasi split off and began to move in three different directions. The cables went taut and the pegasi team descended, pulling the tower in three directions, but the equilibrium between each team kept the tower pointing straight up. Soon the pegasi had drawn the cables back to the ground and secured them to their anchors, permanently holding the tower in place thanks to the ground supports around it.
The crowd cheered, tossing their hats and firing off party cannons as they rejoiced in their own piece of the future.
At last, Ponyville had a radio tower!
In a dark room in Canterlot, three mares sat at a table. Each had been requested to come by royal invitation - which meant that there was virtually no chance of them turning it down - but without explanation of what the reason was. The only thing they were told was that it had the potential to affect their careers and perhaps their place in history.
From left to right, they sat on one side of the table as they were instructed by the guardspony on duty.
On the left was Vinyl Scratch, a.k.a. DJ-Pon3, one of the finest crafters of synthetic sound of her time. She leaned back in her seat, her earphones playing a magically-encoded song that pounded and thumped with heavy bass, as she nodded her head in time to the rhythm.
In the middle was Octavia Melody, highly-regarded cellist and musician and breakout soloist of the Canterlot Philharmonic Orchestra. She frowned at the muffled sound of Vinyl’s music, as she would’ve preferred to discuss why they’d all been invited there that day, but she knew her roommate well enough to know that she hated small talk and would probably continue listening to her music until the meeting began.
Hopefully.
Instead, Octavia smiled and looked over at the third pony, seated on the right.
“Ah, so it seems you were summoned as well, Miss…?”
The mare, a fellow earth pony, was pale yellow in color and had a blue mane. She wore an ostentatious costume of frills and rhinestones and now a sour look at Octavia’s question.
“Excuse me?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. “Isn’t this a gathering of musicians?”
“It is, but—”
“And you’re tellin’ me you don’t recognize Sapphire Shores?” she asked, tossing back her mane haughtily.
“Oh! Ah, y-yes,” Octavia stammered. “Of course, of course, I believe Vinyl’s mentioned you before, perhaps?”
“Who?”
“Vinyl,” Octavia replied gesturing to her roommate who was still obliviously nodding her head until she noticed the other two looking at her, at which point she grinned and gave them both a quick wave.
“Ohhh, you mean DJ-Pon3!” Sapphire laughed. “She did a remix of ‘Serves Her Right.’ And it was absolutely fire! You know that one, right? I mean, it won the Grainy Award for Best Pop Single two years ago.”
Octavia tried to smile. “Ah, yes, well, it was a chaotic night after all,” she said. Raising her head she added, “I was a bit nervous since I was up for a Grainy as well that night.”
Sapphire blinked. “Wait, you’re a musician?”
Now it was Octavia’s turn to make a sour face. “Yes,” she replied, narrowing her eyes. “What did you think I was?”
“Well, with the bow tie and accent and all, I figured you were some stuffy old music theory professor,” Sapphire said with a shrug.
“I… I beg your pardon?!” Octavia shouted, getting to her hooves. “Stuffy? Old?! Exactly how old did you think I was?”
Sapphire chuckled. “Oh, honey, who can tell in this day and age? And don’t get so offended… after all, ‘Age is Just a Number.’” After a beat she leaned closer and whispered “That’s another one of my songs, by the way.”
“Now see here—”
At that, there was a cough and a tap on Octavia’s shoulder. She turned and saw that Vinyl was pointing across the room. Octavia and Sapphire turned and saw that Princess Twilight was standing there, a strained grin on her face. Spike, her assistant, was standing with his arms crossed right next to her.
“A-ah, Princess Twilight!” Octavia cried, taking a step back as she bowed.
“Yes, um, good to see you, Your Majesty,” Sapphire added.
“Sorry for our little spat,” Octavia laughed nervously “We didn’t hear you come in.”
“She walked in like, almost a minute ago,” Vinyl quipped, adjusting her shades to give them both a sideways look. “Man, you two are really easily distracted,” she added with a smirk.
“Vinyl!” Octavia hissed, her gray cheeks reddening.
But fortunately Twilight relaxed and put up a hoof and said “It’s fine, really. Please have a seat and we’ll get started.”
Octavia and Sapphire did as she asked. Twilight took a seat across from them and nodded to Spike, who promptly placed several small stacks of papers on the table.
“As you know, the date of the first national radio broadcast is scheduled for next month,” Twilight said. “Since taking over for Princess Celestia and Luna, I’ve made it my goal to advance science and technology across Equestria. We are a learnèd, cultural nation, and I want us to become pioneers not only in friendship, but in culture!”
The three of them stared back at Twilight, who wore an expectant grin, and an awkward silence hung over the room.
“Uhhh… cool?” Vinyl said.
Spike chuckled as Twilight’s ears drooped, a sigh escaping her.
“What I mean is that I think this broadcast could be a truly historic moment!” Twilight said, spreading her wings with a flourish as she quickly regained her enthusiasm. “And I have to thank you three; you’ve all been pivotal in spreading the word in your respective musical circles to encourage more and more musicians to let their music be broadcast!”
“You’re welcome,” Vinyl said, reclining casually in her chair.
Octavia elbowed her, motioning for her to sit up straight. Even if they had grown accustomed to Twilight in Ponyville, she was still the leader of Equestria and certain formalities had to be observed.
“It’s our pleasure to help, Your Majesty,” Octavia said, giving another small bow. “But I must confess that it’s been a bit difficult convincing some of my peers.”
“I hear that,” Sapphire said, clicking her tongue. “I find out that my music could be heard all over Equestria, and I am all about that!” she said, slamming her hoof on the table for emphasis. “But some artists just don’t see it… they think ponies will stop buying records if they can just hear our songs for free on the radio. Mm, mm, mm,” she added, shaking her head.
“I’m glad to hear you say that,” Twilight said. “Not because it’s good news, but because it shows that you’re aware of the issue. It seems that a lot of musicians and other artists are excited about this new medium, but far too many are still in doubt. I want ponies to be able to get news, music, and maybe even have dramatic performances broadcast into their homes. But if there aren’t enough ponies to support the idea, then radio broadcasting could die on the vine.”
“Oh, Princess, ain’t no need to worry about that,” Sapphire laughed. “Once ponies hear their favorite songs coming over the airwaves, everypony will be raving about it!”
“I wish I shared your confidence, Miss Shores,” Twilight said. “But I’d rather be sure. And that’s why I’ve asked you here today. I’d like your help making a decision.”
“What decision would that be?” Octavia asked, leaning forward in her seat, her pulse quickening at the thought of being part of such a bold new endeavor.
“These letters are from artists across Equestria,” Twilight said, patting the stack of letters Spike had placed before her. “Each of them is asking for a very specific privilege: to have one of their songs be chosen as the very first song to be broadcast nationally over the radio.”
All three stared on in wide-eyed silence.
“I would like you three to help me choose a song that will make the best impression possible on the ponies listening,” Twilight said. “A song that everypony will be talking about and remember for years to come! Since you’re all established artists in your fields and supporters of the radio, I’m certain that you’ll make the best choice, and that’s why I’m asking you to serve as my first Musical Broadcast Committee… or, um, just MBC for short.”
The three continued staring in silence.
“Um,” Twilight said, leaning over to Spike, “should… should I explain it again?”
“Nah, I think they’re just taking it all in,” Spike said. “Give ‘em a minute.”
Vinyl’s shades slowly slid down her muzzle and this seemed to break her trance.
“So, like… could we choose one of our songs?” she asked.
Twilight pursed her lips. “Hmm… well, sure, I don’t see why not—”
“I nominate ‘Serves Her Right!’” Sapphire shouted, raising a hoof eagerly.
“N-now just hold on a moment!” Octavia yelled. “We should add a sense of gravitas to this occasion with a timeless classic. Perhaps ‘Piano Concerto in D Minor’ by Sebastian Buck, as played by the Canterlot Philharmonic Orchestra?”
“We want to rock their blocks off, not put ‘em to bed early, Octy!” Vinyl shouted. “Let’s play that Neighfex Twin remix I just released!”
“A-hem.”
Whether it was due to some spell she’d cast or a slight application of Royal Canterlot Voice, the three of them stopped cold at Twilight’s “ahem.”
“It doesn’t matter to me if you play one of your own songs or that of another artist,” Twilight said, her voice calm, but stern. “The only requirements I have are that you have the permission of the artist and that you all agree.”
She sighed.
“Listen… this isn’t just about radio, but about the music business itself,” she continued. “Music is being made in totally different, exciting new ways, but it’s still being produced the same way. This means that it relies on ponies buying albums and having access to them, and ponies can only afford a certain number of albums at a time. This means that only a tiny portion of all music is reaching the masses. However, radio could change all of that! Any artist’s music could be heard all across the nation, exposing Equestria to a broader spectrum of music like nothing they’ve ever heard before! This will change the way ponies listen to music, and perhaps what ‘music’ means to ponies in their daily lives!”
The three of them stood there in silence, but this time it was from awe rather than confusion. Inwardly they felt ashamed that they’d each tried to seize the moment for their own personal glory.
“So,” Twilight continued, “can I count on you to take this job seriously?”
The three exchanged a look and then nodded in unison.
“You can rely on us, Princess!” Octavia said, placing her hoof on her chest.
A week later, the three were hard at work in Vinyl and Octavia’s house. Days on end of discussion had led nowhere and it was starting to look like that was all it would ever lead to.
“...Perhaps… ugh, I don’t know, some country music?” Octavia asked, cringing. “It would appeal to the rural earth pony population.”
“Yeaaahhhno,” Vinyl said, sticking out her tongue.
“Broad appeal’s one thing, Miss Octy,” Sapphire said, rolling her eyes. “But if we want ponies raving about radio, we can’t follow up an address from the ruler of all Equestria with…”
She picked up the paper that held a list of names of various musical groups and read it with a sour look.
“...Whistlin’ Wheatgerm’s Rolickin’ Jug Band.” She crumpled the paper and tossed it over her shoulder. “Seriously? That sounds like a joke name,” she muttered.
“Well, if you really think orchestral is too ‘stodgy,’ then perhaps we should play a pop song,” Octavia said. She heaved a sigh and lowered her gaze. “Though if that’s the direction radio’s going…”
“Whoa whoa whoa,” Vinyl said, holding up a hoof. “Nopony said it was ‘stodgy,’ Octavia.”
“Sapphire did,” Octavia mumbled.
“Well… okay, sometimes it is, but not all of it!” Vinyl continued, undeterred. “Hey, remember that time we performed for the School of Friendship that time you were trying to become the new Vice Headmare? That was awesome!”
Octavia smiled, appreciative that Vinyl remembered one of their collaborations as fondly as she did.
“Wait just a minute,” Sapphire said, raising an eyebrow. “You two performed together?”
“Yes, it was an orchestral piece accompanied by synthetic sound,” Octavia said. “A good blend of traditional and modern, I’d say.”
Sapphire blinked. “And you’re just talkin’ about that now?!” she exclaimed. “That kind of thing is just what we need! If the problem is showing the modern music scene, then maybe a modern solution is just what we need!”
Octavia and Vinyl exchanged a look.
“I dunno, it was just a fine side project,” Vinyl said with a shrug. “You think ponies would want to listen to that sort of thing as their first experience with the radio?”
“Think about it!” Sapphire said, her eyes gleaming. “Traditional, timeless music paired with modern sounds of flank-shakin’ bass? Ow! Oh, babies, that would be un-for-get-able!”
Vinyl and Octavia grinned. “I say, Vinyl, I believe she’s onto something! I can’t for the life of me understand why we didn’t think of it sooner!”
“Yeah, it’s a pretty good idea,” Vinyl said, “buuuut I think it’s missing something.”
“Hm?” Sapphire asked. “What’s that?”
Vinyl pushed her shades up her muzzle and smiled at Sapphire, the diva’s reflection showing back in the purple lenses. “Isn’t it obvious?” she asked. “Lyrics.”
Sapphire smiled back. “Well, then, if that’s how it is, then what are we waiting around here for? Let’s find a studio and get to work!”
Octavia and Vinyl shared a mutual laugh, both agreeing that the look on Sapphire’s face as they showed her their private recording studio would be priceless.
Ponies all across Equestria settled down in their homes or crowded around town halls in the poorer areas to hear the strange new invention as it came to life. At the center of their attention, like some kind of shrine was the radio itself: a strange wooden box with knobs and rounded speakers. Some struggled to find the right frequency as they turned those knobs, the crackle of static drawing the gathered ponies into a tense silence, but soon enough the signal cut through the static loud and clear, and ponies heard - most for the very first time - the voice of their Princess.
Some, unsure of how to react, instinctively bowed to the radio as if it were their ruler herself.
Twilight delivered a speech that would live on in history, like many of her deeds, but the part most of those gathered around their radios would remember was how it ended.
“And now, to all Citizens of Equestria here to tune in to this historic first broadcast, I have a surprise: to inaugurate national radio broadcasting, here is an original composition entitled ‘Magnum Opus Novus’ by DJ-Pon3, Octavia Melody, and Sapphire Shores!”
The ponies gathered gabbed excitedly before others hushed them so they could hear.
At first, there was silence… but then the sound of strings began, low and warm in the background. Then it was followed by horns and drums, building to a swell.
The young in the crowd at first sighed with disappointment that such a traditional-sounding tune was the first musical piece to be broadcast… but then they froze when the orchestra swell was followed by a bellowing blast of bass. It continued to build and soar and pound with traditional and synthetic sound when Sapphire’s clear voice belting out a high note rose to the top of the sheer mountain of sound in bone-crushing, sonic triumph.
The ponies gathered around broke into cheers and some began to dance as the tune went through movement after movement, the three distinct styles and harmonies fusing into one glorious piece of music that was at once calmingly familiar and boldly original, its strange interweaving of styles sounding the birth of the new age.
Across Equestria, the sound of music would no longer be an occasional visitor, but a permanent resident in each household that kept this wonderful new invention.
Tower to tower, home to home, in the halls and in the streets, the word was chanted again and again, forming its own song…
♪Radio… radio… radio…♪
And the song goes on still, for from that day forward and even now, invisible airwaves crackle with life.