The 91.9 Friends FM team distributed 500kg of chocolates and sweets two days before Diwali

Every Sunday, I pen down my thoughts and experiences about connecting with people through radio. The medium has seen a renewed interest, sort of a revolution, with listenership in Calcutta touching 90 lakh.

It’s not just about good music and “hot” voices… it’s about innovation, engagement and spreading a lot of joy and warmth among people.

91.9 Friends FM is about being LIVE and real, bringing about an interaction among people from all walks of life. Being a part of the station, I would like to share some of my experiences and how CSR, or corporate social responsibility, helps people and the city.

Just before Diwali, the station went on a drive to collect sweets and chocolates for underprivileged children by appealing to the listeners and the response was amazing –– over 500kg of chocolates and sweets were collected in eight days, and on October 20, two days before Diwali, the 91.9 Friends FM team and a couple of its listeners had spread out to 16 locations to distribute the collection. The smiles on the children’s faces were unforgettable.

Whatever the season or reason, radio has always risen to the occasion. During monsoon, umbrellas and windcheaters have been distributed to the needy. Families have been helped to locate lost members. And people have been brought together to fund the treatment of a child. Yes, the son of a driver had a hole in his heart and needed to be operated on immediately. We extended our support and appealed to our listeners. Within three days, the operation was successfully conducted. This is what the City of Joy is all about.

Over the years, every winter there has been a drive to collect warm clothes and blankets for the underprivileged. The response has always been HUGE. Starting first week of December, 91.9 Friends FM will begin a drive to collect warm clothes. I’m sure the city would respond like a Santa to bring smiles on the faces of those who really need it.

And talking about being different and connecting via radio, the station will have a new vibe starting tomorrow, yes December 1. New timings, a new sound and it will all be LIVE 24x7 since we are the only station in India that’s live round the clock.

Get set for a brand new show called Friends Star Talk (season 1) in which Rehan will be in conversation with stars like Big B, Kareena and others, Monday through Thursday, 9pm to midnight.

Monday through Friday, there will be some changes in the timings. Friends Lounge with Nilanjana will now be from 10am to 1pm. Nilanjana will be followed by Raja with Ganer Pheriwala 1-3pm, and Jinia takes over 3-6pm with Box Office. And join Amit on Friends Night Shift, midnight to 5am.

Making Saturday mornings special will be Arijit and Friends Kitchen, 10am till noon. And Saturday nights will be crazier with the mega dance show Clubbing With Friends, from 9pm till 2am.

Another brand new show is on the way –– Friends Sunday Funday with Animesh, 11am to 2pm, while Sunday Romance with Arup is now from 2pm till 4pm, and Music Is In The Air, the show featuring international music, will be on 10pm-2am, every Sunday.

This is just the beginning…. Will be back next week with a lot more excitement from the world of radio.