The early members were zealots when it came to building membership in the new Society. This zeal paid off when, in 1921, ASCAP was finally able to cover its operating costs and make its first distributions.
New members of the period included Hoagy Carmichael, Dorothy Fields, George and Ira Gershwin, Oscar Hammerstein II, W.C. Handy, Lorenz Hart, Jimmy McHugh, Richard Rodgers, Fred Rose and Harry Warren.
In the Twenties, the most revolutionary technological development of the age boomed into the hearts of American homes. Radio. Suddenly, previously disconnected communities and towns were instantly linked by a new medium, one that became the electronic hearth for millions of listeners. KFI Radio in Los Angeles was the first station to be licensed on February 1, 1923. It wasn't long before other stations followed.