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Introduction to Broadcasting MCM 411

LESSON 08

MUSICAL PROGRAMS

Music is undoubtedly lifeline for any broadcasting station. You can hardly recall a radio station

devoid of music, or musical programs. The fact remains that an average radio station has

around 50 per cent of its broadcast based one way or the other on music. It is not the hallmark

of routine noncommercial programs but the commercials, the advertisements are difficult to

believe, to be made without music. For centuries music has been providing entertainment to

people in some form but with the arrival of radio in the last century, it is reaching to common

people in all its forms, and vigor. Not the youth but all the nine categories of radio listeners are

hit and influenced by musical entertainment.

To produce musical programs for radio is a real challenge to producers, but you can work with

some ease if you understand its various categories mentioned as follow:

Classical Music

Well, it is perhaps the most tedious program to produce. Although few people understand the

depth of classical musical, they know it so well that a producer can't take liberty to overlook

even a minor thing. Secondly, the people who perform in classical music are generally master

{ustads} of their skills and very touchy about so many things - from handling them to various

other arrangements in the studio. It is mandatory on a producer of classical music program to

make certain arrangements before the artists appear in the studio. For instance the producer

should be very strict about the time of recording. He/she should have completed all the

formalities like the placement of microphones, the platform for the artists, the lights inside the

studio, the compere of the program and the recording equipment must be in ready form. An

artist usually comes occupied about his/her performance and if they are made to wait long due

to very small reasons, they may get annoyed and there is a possibility that a program is not

recorded at all.

Semi - classical Music

This is relatively easier then the classical music programs. This includes production of thumry,

kafi, ghazals, etc. but still a great care is required in handling semi classical music for this type

of program provides basis for light and modern music. There is so much of recordings

available to choose from to produce a desired program according to the need of the time. If the

semi classical performers have been invited for preparation of a program, all those areas have

to be carefully watched which we have already mentioned in the production of classical music.

But the producer must understand the difference between the classical and semi classical

music and the elements which are very essential in the recording of programs, meant for the

two very important categories.

Light and Film Music

The larger part than others belong to this category of music entertainment. All day various

radio stations remain busy in airing musical programs based on this category of music. At the

same time it provides a better opportunity to the producers to involve more people in their

program by answering their letters, or airing songs of their choice or these days taking calls to

play a desired number. The film music is also a little risky area in the sense that all the songs

produced by the feature films are not up to the mark of broadcasting. In a film they may fit in

according to the context of the story but for a radio listener these songs are an independent

piece of music. In the early age of radio, there had been complaints about airing songs which

were not in keeping with the social norms of society. Consequently those songs were axed

from the list of songs which were found suitable for their inclusion in various radio programs.

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Introduction to Broadcasting MCM 411

Folk Music

For the folk singers the radio turned out to be a great blessing. Before radio, the fork singers

had to sing all nights in front of a limited number of people in some countryside melas and

repeat their performance every evening to be known among masses for their skill. When the

folk songs were broadcast from radio and the folk singers were invited at the radio stations to

get their numbers recorded for the purposes of broadcasting, it opened new vistas for the

performers to capture their audience and be known in a relatively short period of time for their

skill to render music.

National Songs/ Arifana Kalam/ Qawwalies

There has been a great demand in the world of music to produce national songs which have

always been very popular especially the songs sung by Madam Noor Jehan during the

September 1965 war in which Pakistan gave an appropriate answer to the Indian army which

had attacked Pakistan all of a sudden. The national songs which got popular overnight are still

cherished by the music lovers. Equally popular have been the Arifana Kalam of Sufi poets and

the Qawwalies on various subject matters. Radio's role has been very important to look after

all areas of music.

Rock, Pop ...and what not

Change in the traditional music was visible in 80s when western music started casting

shadows on the music in subcontinent. New experiments were inevitable. This led to an

introduction of rock, pop, remix, bhangra music, and album-music- a sort of free-for-all. Some

got so popular that broadcasting houses cannot overlook them. Programs, especially on FM

radios, are based generally on this stuff.

Different Recording Mood

All music programs need different recording mood, atmosphere, treatment and orchestra. The

arrangement of microphones at appropriate points perhaps keeps the technical team in the

spin till final take is done. Still it leaves much to be desired.

New Voices

Most difficult part for a producer is to introduce new voices - the voice quality, music

knowledge and the will of performers must come together to justify the launch of a new voice

in the world of music. Most producers arrange separate programs for the newcomers... but

some time down the line they have to join the main stream and appear in regular shows.

Musical Conferences

Such moots are getting popularity these days. Here, the program may last almost a week, with

a change of music categories almost every day. With the presence of audience, the job of a

producer to justify managing and airing these conferences is a real challenging job.