One of the most interesting data I have come across in some time now.. is this chart telling us about the radio habits of people in different metros in India.
It is indeed an eye-opener for national planners.

The way, Bangalore seems to be consuming radio in the mornings and the way Kolkatta being the earliest riser of all is worth a thought. Not only that, Kolkatta also listens to radio a lot at night as well. Delhi and Mumbai are the lowest consumers overall which again is interesting.

Oh! I just so love radio :)

my LIVE medium

I've always said that I love radio the most because of its Live factor. Its as LIVE as live can get.
However, there are tools to use this extremely interactive medium. And lately, I have been feeling kind of jaded with how else can I explore and enjoy it.
So I was told today that Mallishka did something really exciting and I loved it - so much that I thought about blogging about it.
ChammakChhalo is the latest rage in the music circles these days - actually it was when it got 'leaked' - but now that its officially released - so Radio can go gaga about it only now. Ms. RJ went on-air and said I am playing it on my show today but if I get 100 msgs from my listeners (in some time span) - I will play it TWICE - back to back, first time ever on radio. and she DID!
To top it - she said I will play it once more in the next hour if I get a 100 more. and she DID!
That takes some guts and craziness to execute and what a way to feel the 'live' wire that radio is - and of course, what a way to tap into the vibe of the listeners' mind.

When did our working hours go up?

The last I remember, the typical Morning Show used to be a 7-11 am show.
Then Red started playing links from the previous day and calling them Best of Morning No.1 or something like that and you could listen to Mallishka from 6 to 11. In fact they included that time into the promo too.
Now Archana Jaani is also available with a Best Of version early in the morning.
Though this idea is highly debatable - who wants to listen to Shendi @ 6am and that kind of content early in the morning? But then Red is a 24/7 format station. They play Munni and Sheila @ 6 am - so lets just let them be.
Then Big began "Astro Hour" at 6 - followed by Radio One - exactly the same idea.
So now all promos shout out - Morning Show 6 to 11 am!

Do we really want the tune in time to be 6am? And has anyone realized its 5 hours?!?! God help Breakfast show hosts. Except Mallishka though - coz her show made us all wake up earlier, but now she does not appear on her show before 8 am! So I guess the joke's on us! :)

Mango shake!

Being a student a again..

It is indeed a great to be back to books.
I know lots of you will not agree at the first go but it is refreshing indeed. At first when I was taking a break f for my papers it was too much of an effort and first few days I must impossible to get to reading ..let alone remember stuff.
Then tomorrow is the last day and I somehow feel I will miss this.
Its not that thing they say...being nostalgic about school and college days...its just the feeling is that its such a simple life.
one does not have to think about what to do next in life ...which job offer to take...which emi to pay..ofice politics...the only thing that you care about..pass the next exam!!! Any how! :)
Exam sickness before exam might continue post this...but this time it would be more like you feel with home sickness ;)

A Day Off-Air

Sitting at home on a off-day (studying for an exam) felt weird. Specially in the morning.
The first realisation is that of time - 4 hours is indeed LONG :) you never realise it when you are on-air and in that chilled studio!

Also - what we assume is happening off-air when we are on-air might be very different from what we assume it to be. A constant check on that should be a must for every radio jockey.

Seeing the sunrise was my favourite moment of the morning and I hope everyone who gets to see it every morning - appreciates its value. Morning show jocks complete miss out on the city "waking up" .. apparently they are supposed to be doing it.. but then, a calm cup of tea sitting on a table and stomach full of breakfast when its actually supposed to be eaten... is something I wouldn't mind a few days of the week.

All of us miss it - to make the mornings better for the listeners.. hope its successful everytime we say "Good Morning!"

Do you always have to Happy?

So, whenever I tell someone I am a radio-jockey, one of the questions that comes out after the regular one or two - is "It must be difficult na - to be Happy ALL the time?!" :)

I like this question and I often question myself - am I really like that? Happy all the time? In fact, you would be amazed to know that I am one of those who is NOT from the 'happy-go-lucky' communities. Off-air I am always asked - why aren't you smiling? whats the matter? etc etc.. so for me to be asked the very opposite by people is often strange. And then its weirder coz I dont have an answer really..

Now I cant say about everyone (i.e. the jock community) - but I can figure out my answer may be.
First things first: I do not make any efforts to 'be happy'. I am if I am, and not if I am not.
And now to explore further:
Being On-Air is a high and somehow, now matter how I am feeling when I walk into the studio... it takes me just a song and a mike to get lost in a world that even I am unaware of. I will smile and I will talk... and I will love it when I connect. Connect with someone, somewhere. Somehow. And whenever I do - I know it. And when I know - I just start feeling happier. May be, when I send love and smiles out- I get some back (from someone, somewhere) and it keeps multiplying in me. Therefore, even if I do start the show on a low note, by the time I reach the middle, I could be jumping around in the studio!
So I guess I have my listeners to thank for the happiness I feel everyday. Wow! Thank you.

And yes, there are days when I am out of sorts, something goes wrong around you, you might be feeling angry, sad or lost - but those days you are on auto-pilot then. Mike On = Block everything else.

But sooner or later, I feel like someone's giving me a hug, or smiling at me, or sending love in the 'air' - and I can just feel the high and the 'kick' all over again!