georgehifi
Then, the Top 40 stations compressed the sound even more - the more, the merrier! Loudness wars often resulted if you had two powerhouse Top 40s in the same market, such as WLS and WCFL in Chicago, each one trying to sound punchier than the other.
I believe compression started off as product of the loudness wars ...Excessive compression goes back to at least the heyday of Top 40 AM radio in the '60s, when pop records were compressed so they'd sound punchy on AM car radios that use small speakers. If you listen to some of those old Dave Clark Five 45s, you'll hear what I mean.
Then, the Top 40 stations compressed the sound even more - the more, the merrier! Loudness wars often resulted if you had two powerhouse Top 40s in the same market, such as WLS and WCFL in Chicago, each one trying to sound punchier than the other.