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American households purchased boomboxes faster than any other gadget in past 50 years

American households purchased boomboxes faster than any other gadget in past 50 years

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According to a Journal of Management and Marketing Research paper, the boombox is the fastest-adopted device ever. After seven years on the market over 60 percent of American homes had a boombox, with the CD player and the DVD player taking up the other two spots on the podium at about 55 and 50 percent, respectively.

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LL Cool J. Radio Album
LL Cool J. Radio Album

What piece of consumer electronics took root in American households faster than any other? According to a Journal of Management and Marketing Research paper The Atlantic dug up, the boombox wins. After seven years on the market over 60 percent of American homes had a boombox, with the CD player and the DVD player taking up the other two spots on the podium at about 55 and 50 percent, respectively. It's worth noting that this is just household adoption rates — the data for personal adoption rates might be quite a bit different. For a taste of the boombox's heyday, check below for L.L. Cool J's love song to the device from 1985, "I Can't Live Without my Radio."

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