RADIO JOCKEY:
A radio personality (American English) or radio presenter (British English) is a person who has an on-air position in radio broadcasting. A radio personality who hosts a radio show is also known as a radio host, and in India and Pakistan as a radio jockey. Radio personalities who introduce and play individual selections of recorded music are known as disc jockeys or "DJs" for short. Broadcast radio personalities may include talk radio hosts, AM/FM radio show hosts, and satellite radio program hosts. A radio personality can be someone who introduces and discusses genres of music; hosts a talk radio show that may take calls from listeners; interviews celebrities or guests; or gives news, weather, sports, or traffic information. The radio personality may broadcast live or use voice-tracking techniques.[1] Increasingly in the 2010s, radio personalities are expected to supplement their on-air work by posting information online, such as on a blog or on another web forum. This may be either to generate additional revenue or connect with listeners.[2] With the exception of small or rural radio stations, much of music radio broadcasting is done by broadcast automation, a computer-controlled playlist airing MP3 audio files which contain the entire program consisting of music, commercials, and a radio announcer's pre-recorded comments.
WHAT DO THEY DO?
A Radio Jockey (aka RJ) is responsible for playing music, holding discussions with the listeners, and conducting interviews on radio. These professionals use specially designed equipment to broadcast a variety of audio content, including songs, news, debates, promo events, among others. Radio DJs are generally expected to have a pleasant, smooth and neatly articulated voice along with a knack for engaging the listeners with humor and wit.
Here’s what you need to become a Radio Jockey.
The good news is you are not required to be highly educated to become a Radio Jockey or RJ but you do need some skills and basic education. So, if one wants to start a career as a Radio Jockey, he or she should first complete an undergraduate degree or bachelor’s degree in mass communication.
Secondly, an internship can take an aspirant in the right direction as it offers practical exposure.
Further, to make progress in this career one should make great professional contacts as referrals work wonders at times. Networking is the key.
However, referrals work only when you are great at what you do. This being a highly creative field, some of the qualities required are imagination, wit, out of the box thinking and a voice that can move people. Not necessarily in that order though.
If you are really serious about following your passion for a Radio Jockey job, this is where you should be heading to get a professional degree to become a Radio Jockey.
Top colleges to pursue a career in Radio Jockey
Radio City School of Broadcasting, Mumbai
Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi
Xavier Institute of Communications, Mumbai
Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
Xavier Institute of Communications, Mumbai
The Mudra Institute of Communications (MICA), Ahmedabad
Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune
Zee Institute of Media Arts, Mumbai
Radio Jockey Courses
Diploma in Radio Programming and Broadcast Management (DRPM)
Diploma in Radio Production and Radio Jockeying (DRJ)
Post Graduate Diploma in Radio and Broadcast Management (PGDRBM)
Certificate Course in Radio Jockeying (CRJ)
Radio Jockey Career Path
Announcer: This is the most basic position in the radio station. An Announcer is a person who reads advertisements and is responsible for introducing content on radio. This job profile is the initial post before one is promoted.
Music Director: This post gives an idea of how music library is maintained on radio station and how music is played when demanded on show. This professional is responsible for the music we hear on radio.
News Reader: Radio news has a set format and hence one needs to learn the way to speak on radio before jumping into the mainstream jockeying world.
On-AIR Personalities: These are the radio jockeys we hear on a regular basis and their major work is to keep listeners entertained along with scheduling ads and managing studio arrangements.
Production Director: This is the position one may attain after being a senior On-Air personality. This is the person who controls On-Air traffic and schedules production and strategizes programs.
Station Manager: This is one of the senior positions on the radio station. This is the person responsible for managing the station issues and programs.
Radio Jockeys have to take care of most interesting and creative tasks and fill it in their day as this Radio Jockey job is all about entertainment and information. In his or her job role, a Radio Jockey may have to control consoles; write a script for a program, record infomercials and commercials for future broadcast; publicise and make music tracks, program breaks, advertisements, and accept song requests from listeners among many other tasks that may vary depending on the actual role of a Radio Jockey in a radio station. To carry out these tasks successfully, a Radio Jockey is required to have some essential skills such as voice modulation, speech recognition, reading and writing comprehension, along with basic technical knowledge to handle various equipment used in the production of a radio show.
There are many radio stations that demand basic languages whereas there are a few which may require you to know the regional or colloquial language. You can have an edge over other candidates, if you know it. Here are some of the radio stations that you can approach for a Radio Jockey job:
All India Radio
Radio Mirchi 98.3
Red FM 93.5
Big FM 92.7
Ishq 104.8
Fever 104 FM
Radio Mango 91.9
Indigo 91.9
Radio Sharda
94.3 Club FM
REQUIREMENTS;
There are various requirements for a Radio Jockey that they need to fulfil to pursue a career in being a Radio Jockey. The requirements are classified under three heads –
EDUCATIONAL AND GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS:
A high school degree is seen as the minimum educational requirement for becoming a radio Jockey. However, employers prefer hiring candidates with a bachelor’s degree in journalism, media or related field. Those who have participated in media related internships have a better chance of landing an entry level Radio Jockey job.
The necessary thing u need to have to become a radio jockey is that your should be able to engage people with your words for a long time, they should not feel bored when listening to you, as they will only hear your voice and wont be able to interact with your, it shouldn’t feel a one way communication, you should have an engaging voice too, that attracts people. The Second thing is that you should be at least a Graduate to become a Radio Jockey.
And now to answer your question as to what is the procedure, you need to first create a good resume, the second thing is to find the websites of various radio stations online, almost all of them have he career option given their, if they have a vacancy in a station near you you can apply, or you can simply submit your resume for future reference.
Another thing is to find all the radio stations near your place and drop your resumes their.
One more thing that you can do is to join a radio station as an Intern, you will learn various tips and tricks of Radio Jockeying and side by side you can get certified for the job as well.
SKILLS:
Should have a talent for writing scripts
Should stay abreast of the latest developments in movies, music, politics etc.
Must have strong knowledge of audio equipment and computers
Should be energetic and enthusiastic about the job
Strong aptitude for mimicry is a plus
Should have a creative bent of mind
Must have a focused approach to problem solving
Should be resourceful and adaptable
Sense of humor is a plus in this field
Strong in General knowledge / Current Affairs
Should be able to project confidence and optimistic outlook
Excellent communication skills
Should have an appealing voice (Your diction and pronunciation should be clear)
Time management skills (Ability to multi-task)
KNOWLEDGE:
The good
Fun career (job is very rewarding)
You get to connect with people holding diverse interests
Work timings are mostly flexible
Innovative work environment that nurtures creativity
The bad
Very stressful and demanding profession
Hectic job (requires consistent hard work)
Offbeat working hours (you should be comfortable hosting shows early morning or late in the night at times)
Being alone is part and parcel of the job (you are expected to spend long hours at a tiny soundproofed space with hardly anyone for company)
--An RJ works for eight to ten hours a day but the schedule can go haywire anytime. There’s no strict adherence to time. A breakfast presenter starts work from 6 am, come hail/storm/rain. An average day of an RJ:
6.30 am: Head to the workplace
11 am: Show ends. Have breakfast/brunch
12.30 pm: Plan for next day’s show
1 pm: Production/scripting/ preparation
1.30pm: Lunch
2 pm: Do interviews
3 pm: Do extra production work
4 pm: Leave for home
SALARY;
Radio Jockey Salary A Radio Jockey can earn anything between INR 10,000 to 30,000 initially but as one gains experience and popularity, salary of a Radio Jockey can go up to 1.5 to 2 lakhs per month. Moreover, popular RJs get additional earning opportunities by hosting private shows, voice over for television and radio ads among others.
JOB OUTLOOK;
Radio Jockeying is one of the most interesting, creative and promising career options available for current day youngsters. The job role of a Radio Jockey varies according to the subject the show deals with. At the start of the career, RJs might be expected to work in early morning or late night shifts. It is not the usual 9 to 5 job. A Radio Jockey is expected to be flexible about the shifts, as there’s no firm time schedules. Radio Jockeys can find work in various Radio stations, both private and the ones owned by government. Leading radio stations conduct RJ auditions every so often, especially in the big cities, to get the best talent on board. Coopetition is huge and the career opportunities and job vacancies aren’t many for Radio Jockeys. After working as an RJ for a few years, one can start doing voice-overs for TV and radio ads, documentaries etc.