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Radio in India: How FM and Community Radio Work for Artists

Streaming gets the headlines, but radio still reaches millions of Indians every day — in cars, at shops, and in homes. For artists, radio remains a powerful way to reach listeners who might never find them online. Here is how Indian radio works.

A short history

FM broadcasting began in India on 23 July 1977 in Chennai. Until 1993, All India Radio, a government undertaking, was the only radio broadcaster in the country. The government then began privatising the sector, and in 2000 announced the auction of FM frequencies, opening the industry to private competition. Radio City Bangalore, started on 3 July 2001, became India's first private FM radio station, and the first Radio Mirchi station began broadcasting on 4 October 2001 in Indore.

Private FM today

India has 386 operational private FM radio channels as of July 2026. Private FM services operate under licences issued by the Union government, with a licence period of 10 years. The Private FM Radio Phase-III policy, in effect since 2015, lets broadcasters use Prasar Bharati transmission towers for faster expansion. A key rule: each broadcaster must ensure at least 20% of daily broadcast content is in the local language of the city, linking programming with regional culture, traditions, folklore, and folk music.

Community radio

Community radio is a third tier of broadcasting, distinct from public service and commercial radio. These are low-power FM stations with a maximum Effective Radiated Power of 100 Watts, reaching roughly a 10-15 km radius. They can be established by not-for-profit organisations with a proven record of three years of service to the local community, and their programmes must be relevant to the community's educational, developmental, social, and cultural needs. The government has sanctioned 540 Community Radio Stations across the country.

All India Radio

All India Radio (AIR), part of Prasar Bharati, remains huge. The number of AIR stations grew from 198 in 2000 to 591 in 2025, and AIR originates programming in 23 languages and 179 dialects. For artists singing in regional languages, AIR and community radio can reach audiences that commercial FM and streaming often miss.

What radio means for artists

Radio play still drives discovery, especially for film music and regional songs. Artists can pitch to station programmers, build relationships with radio jockeys, and target community stations in their home region. A song that works on local radio builds the kind of grassroots momentum that no playlist can replace.

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