Good morning ladies and gentlemen, friends, associates and partners of the representative radio stations, and members of the media.

We have all enjoyed listening to the radio for music, information, and news. But have you spoken to radio lately?

You didn’t hear me wrong.

In the early years, everyone who could afford a radio constantly twiddled the knobs to keep in touch with the world. Music was merely an interlude. Radio was the primary source for news and public service announcements.

Families huddled around the radio listening to the news bulletins bringing snippets of news and happenings here and around the world. We heard bombs exploding in the distance while waiting for the latest reports during World War II. We heard Tunku’s Merdeka cheer while we celebrated the dawn of our young nation’s independence in our homes. Whether it was the Olympics or the Merdeka Cup, we stayed tuned to the radio for root for our favourite sports heroes and jotted down the medal tally.

Long before format radio became a buzzword, radio scheduled music programs at appropriate times for homemakers, the young and trendy, and senior citizens. In those days, we used to listen to the top 20 and write down the words to songs in lined exercise books so we could sing along to the popular hits of the day.

When television arrived in 1963, almost everyone cast a death spell on radio. Suddenly, television was transformed into the primary entertainment and news medium of choice. Radio survived by programming a wider choice of music. In the ‘80s, with the advent of MTV, a new generation of naysayers predicted another doomsday for radio.

We are now in the 21st century, and guess what: radio is still around.

Radio is not just surviving, but thriving. And that’s really the reason for inaugurating Radio Day in Malaysia. Only two other countries, Russia and the Netherlands, celebrate Radio Day annually.
Research suggests that about 90% of Malaysians 10 years and older listen to the radio regularly. This is a significant statistic given that most people don’t think of radio as an influential media.

Well, let’s look at the facts. Today, radio is a multi-dimensional media. It is available via various cross media channels – mobile phones, the Internet, and satellite television.

People don’t merely listen to radio anymore – they are engaged with the medium interactively. Listeners often call in to offer their opinions, or react to comments, and enter radio contests. The youth, in particular, are totally connected to radio.

Have you ever tried calling a radio station to answer a question to win prizes? You are definitely among the lucky few if you managed to get through!

It’s no surprise then that radio is a staple media in most homes – and definitely in cars, especially during the long drive to and from work during rush hour traffic.

Radio has surely come a long way in Malaysia. It is only fitting that we honour this medium with its own special day. Every year on 9th September, we will mark the day with a menu of activities that will allow the public to be a part of a medium that continues to be a vital part of our daily lives.

For members of Commercial Radio Malaysia (CRM), the inauguration of RADIO DAY is a historic event. Apart from music, radio is an essential avenue for newsbreaks, entertainment news, public service announcements, consumer feedback, traffic reports, and advertising.

Radio has always been a breeding ground for celebrity DJs and personalities. Today, we have radio personalities who attract as much attention as their counterparts in television and the print media.

On behalf of all CRM members, we would like to express our sincere appreciation to all our listeners for keeping radio alive. We also want to remember the radio pioneers, and thank our colleagues, associates, the people behind the scenes, and our advertisers for taking radio to a higher plateau.

*Taken from www.adoimagazine.com