Article# 23: RJ
Hello, Hi and Very Good Morning Everyone, hope you are doing good by experiencing the winter chill with a hot coffee in your hand. Mornings are fresh, beautiful, awesome, wonderful, delightful, hopeful, energetic, waiting for further words of description from your end...
Heard of Such lines before? Why not, even if we do not want to, at some place or the other our ears would come across such words. By this time, you would have got whom I am referring to, Yes, it's about the Radio Jockeys. This article is all about the profession of Radio Jockeys (called in India) or Radio Personality (as per American English).
Radio Jockey is someone who has an on-air position in Radio Broadcasting. An RJ hosts a radio show, it can be about anything starting from the talk about music only from the host, a talk show that may take calls from listeners, show that includes interviews with celebrities or guests, or something that gives news, weather, sports or traffic information. An RJ can go live or use voice-tracking techniques wherein the voice of the host is already recorded and provides an illusion that the program is going live, but actually not. These days, RJs are expected to publicize their programs through social media to generate revenue and also to connect with the listeners. The music radio broadcasting is done by broadcast automation, a computer-controlled playlist that contains music, commercials and a radio announcer’s pre-recorded comments. For instance, it can be like the song, “Everybody now, join me in this song. Clap your hands and shake on your waist and move on your feet along”, then we have the host coming in between saying like “a super hit song sung by Mika singh, music by Pritam from the super hit Priyadarshan movie, ‘De Dana Dan’”. It seems that the song and comments are provided on the air, but it can be the broadcast automation.
In the past, DJ (Disc Jockey) is the exclusive term used for representing radio personalities. However, now we are using it popularly for someone who plays music in the clubs. Although the trend started with RJs who used to present news or host talk shows, slowly, it developed as telephone call in shows, interviews and public affairs. Now, there are even radio stations specific to sports.
We have four types of radio personalities like the “AM/FM Radio” who play music, talk or both. Then the “Talk Radio” who discuss about social and political issues. “Sports Talk Radio” who are often former athletes, sports writers, or television anchors and discuss sports news. “Satellite Radio” who are not subject to government broadcast regulations and are allowed to play explicit music.
Like any other industry, the salary of an RJ depends on the years of experience and education. Also, the salary of a local radio personality is less when compared to that of a national radio personality based on the popularity that one has in the field. However, the average salary is around 20-25k. Also, it can be 5-6k per show.
To become an RJ, the first check is creativity. You need to create fresh content every day. The selection process for an RJ involves voice test, write for radio, advertisements, knowledge, pronunciations, language skills, etc. The best way to enter this profession is through an internship. These days broadcasting channels are hiring interns where they train them, sharpen their skills and provide radio studio. During the internship, you are supposed to work across RJying, copywriting, producing shows, sound engineering, outdoor broadcasting, selecting news for radio and few more jobs. It is completely based on terms and conditions of a company if they hire fresher or a pro; paid or unpaid internships; or few conduct radio hunts in which candidates are hired through on-stage rounds.
The advantages of this profession are that one gains more self-confidence and the creativity, intellect and communication skills improve beyond imagination. The salary is not fixed, it is flexible depending on one’s performance and skills. The work-life balance is amazing. You get to socialize on the job. There is no forced professionalism like a 9-hour job. You also receive fame and popularity as an added benefit. Talking about growth, you get famous being a radio jockey if you have your own style and rhythm. People listen to you and love your show, you have your fans and people want to see you. You can also be a Programming Head of the company who manages all the radio stations and helps radio jockeys, check for their content, but they aren’t into glamour thing. After this post, you can climb to Regional Programming Head and later National Programming Head.
Like every other job, even this has its own set of challenges. The main thing is “fresh content” on a daily basis in which it becomes tough once after you reach a certain point. Another disadvantage is that you can’t travel more as for RJ’s, the studio is their home. Internships are mostly unpaid and therefore the starting of this career is challenging. The starting salary is also low which makes it hard to make a comfortable living out of it.
The point to drive home here is, RJ is not a profession, but an art. It is for someone who is creative, humorous and can provide infotainment (information + entertainment). Able to correlate these qualities with someone you know or correlate to yourself? Then why wait, just give a try. All the best.
Heard of Such lines before? Why not, even if we do not want to, at some place or the other our ears would come across such words. By this time, you would have got whom I am referring to, Yes, it's about the Radio Jockeys. This article is all about the profession of Radio Jockeys (called in India) or Radio Personality (as per American English).
Radio Jockey is someone who has an on-air position in Radio Broadcasting. An RJ hosts a radio show, it can be about anything starting from the talk about music only from the host, a talk show that may take calls from listeners, show that includes interviews with celebrities or guests, or something that gives news, weather, sports or traffic information. An RJ can go live or use voice-tracking techniques wherein the voice of the host is already recorded and provides an illusion that the program is going live, but actually not. These days, RJs are expected to publicize their programs through social media to generate revenue and also to connect with the listeners. The music radio broadcasting is done by broadcast automation, a computer-controlled playlist that contains music, commercials and a radio announcer’s pre-recorded comments. For instance, it can be like the song, “Everybody now, join me in this song. Clap your hands and shake on your waist and move on your feet along”, then we have the host coming in between saying like “a super hit song sung by Mika singh, music by Pritam from the super hit Priyadarshan movie, ‘De Dana Dan’”. It seems that the song and comments are provided on the air, but it can be the broadcast automation.
In the past, DJ (Disc Jockey) is the exclusive term used for representing radio personalities. However, now we are using it popularly for someone who plays music in the clubs. Although the trend started with RJs who used to present news or host talk shows, slowly, it developed as telephone call in shows, interviews and public affairs. Now, there are even radio stations specific to sports.
We have four types of radio personalities like the “AM/FM Radio” who play music, talk or both. Then the “Talk Radio” who discuss about social and political issues. “Sports Talk Radio” who are often former athletes, sports writers, or television anchors and discuss sports news. “Satellite Radio” who are not subject to government broadcast regulations and are allowed to play explicit music.
Like any other industry, the salary of an RJ depends on the years of experience and education. Also, the salary of a local radio personality is less when compared to that of a national radio personality based on the popularity that one has in the field. However, the average salary is around 20-25k. Also, it can be 5-6k per show.
To become an RJ, the first check is creativity. You need to create fresh content every day. The selection process for an RJ involves voice test, write for radio, advertisements, knowledge, pronunciations, language skills, etc. The best way to enter this profession is through an internship. These days broadcasting channels are hiring interns where they train them, sharpen their skills and provide radio studio. During the internship, you are supposed to work across RJying, copywriting, producing shows, sound engineering, outdoor broadcasting, selecting news for radio and few more jobs. It is completely based on terms and conditions of a company if they hire fresher or a pro; paid or unpaid internships; or few conduct radio hunts in which candidates are hired through on-stage rounds.
The advantages of this profession are that one gains more self-confidence and the creativity, intellect and communication skills improve beyond imagination. The salary is not fixed, it is flexible depending on one’s performance and skills. The work-life balance is amazing. You get to socialize on the job. There is no forced professionalism like a 9-hour job. You also receive fame and popularity as an added benefit. Talking about growth, you get famous being a radio jockey if you have your own style and rhythm. People listen to you and love your show, you have your fans and people want to see you. You can also be a Programming Head of the company who manages all the radio stations and helps radio jockeys, check for their content, but they aren’t into glamour thing. After this post, you can climb to Regional Programming Head and later National Programming Head.
Like every other job, even this has its own set of challenges. The main thing is “fresh content” on a daily basis in which it becomes tough once after you reach a certain point. Another disadvantage is that you can’t travel more as for RJ’s, the studio is their home. Internships are mostly unpaid and therefore the starting of this career is challenging. The starting salary is also low which makes it hard to make a comfortable living out of it.
The point to drive home here is, RJ is not a profession, but an art. It is for someone who is creative, humorous and can provide infotainment (information + entertainment). Able to correlate these qualities with someone you know or correlate to yourself? Then why wait, just give a try. All the best.
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