Radio Jockey (RJ)

About Radio Jockey

There are so many alternate career options other than mainstream jobs that pay you well and offer a very fun and exciting environment out of which one is Radio Jockey. It was in the year 1999 when people started experimenting and producing interactive shows on the radio other than the traditional ones.

A Radio Jockey is very different from past radio personalities in India, who were simply termed as announcers. They not only inform you but entertain you, interact with you, and some of them are not less than celebrities. Few of the RJs in the country are so popular with their shows being aired on radio for years. To be a Radio Jockey it is very necessary to have a charming, spontaneous, and pleasing personality since it's all about voice and words on air. 

Skills to Become a Radio Jockey (RJ)

To become a Radio Jockey (RJ) there are some important skills that are way too important than formal education. Some of the important skills to become an RJ are as follows:

• Good Voice
• Accurate Dcition
• Clear Punctuation
• Language Fluency
• Creativity
• Sense of Humour
• Control of the Voice Pitches

Type of Radio Jockey Courses:

Check out the list of courses available in Radio Jockey at the certificate, undergraduate, and, diploma level:

Radio Jockey Eligibility Criteria

• Minimum Qualification Required for Diploma & Certificate Course in Radio Jockeying: 10+2
• Minimum Qualification Required for Diploma & Post Graduate Diploma in Radio Programming & Broadcast Management: To be the graduate in any field with 60% aggregate in graduation. (criteria for some institutes)

Note: It is mandatory to present all original documents, certificates, and mark sheets at the time of admission.

Radio Jockey Admission Process:

The admission process for Radio Jockey courses will vary from institute to institute. Some colleges follow the direct admission process whereas some institute conduct entrance exams for admission.

Direct Admissions 

• The Direct Admission process is followed by a majority of colleges in India.

• Through this pathway, candidates are selected on the basis of their marks scored in the Intermediate examination.

• For this, candidates simply have to apply to the college or university.

Entrance Exam Admissions

• The second way for selection to Radio Jockey Courses is admission through entrance exams.
• In this pathway, candidates are selected on the basis of their marks scored in the entrance examinations of an institute.
• For this, candidates first have to apply to the university/ college.
• The institute will provide candidates with an exam schedule.
• When the results of the exam are out, the college will release the cut-off or merit list.
• If candidates make it to the lists, they will be eligible to get enrolled in the course.

Radio Jockey Entrance Exams

Entrance Exam for Radio Jockey courses is conducted by Encompass Institute of Radio Management. Some institutes also conduct their own screening test, voice tests in the case of certificate courses which are as follows:

• IIMC Entrance Exam for PGD in Radio & TV Journalism
• XIC Online Entrance Test
• A.J.K. Mass Communication Entrance Test 

Radio Jockey Syllabus

The common syllabus for Radio Jockey diploma, certificate, UG and PG courses is as follows:

• Voice Technique
• Commercial and Non-Commercial Educational Radio
• Console Training
• Live Break Training
• Transmission System- HD Radio
• Radio Broadcast and Console System
• Music Programming

Radio Jockey Career Options and Job Prospects

At the start of your career, aspirants can look for interning with All India Radio. They hold auditions every 3 months to train the candidates and also introduce them to audio/ radio technology. As a fresher, an RJs salary is up to Rs. 15,000 per month. Some radio station also pays the RJs according to the number of shows they do per week. Some of the popular job profiles for Radio Jockey are as follows:

• FM /AM Radio Jockeys
• Play music or live talk shows
• Interaction with an audience
• Public radio station jockeys
• Satellite Radio Jockeys

Radio Jockey Average Salary

While starting their career RJS are offered an average salary up to Rs 2 Lacs to Rs. 4 Lacs annually. After gaining experience, the average salary can go up to, Rs. 10 Lacs to Rs. 15 Lacs per annum. Depending upon the show's popularity and the radio channel for which RJS are working their salary can be way higher.