EVOLVED BUT LOST
Has Radio Lost Its Essence in Today’s Digital World?
In today’s world, the first thing many of us do after waking up isn’t reaching for a cup of tea, it’s checking Instagram, scrolling through WhatsApp, Facebook or watching reels. But have you ever wondered about “Radio”, once the heartbeat of our daily lives has faded somewhere?
There was a time, not too long ago, when tuning into a radio station felt like a daily ritual. Morning shows became our breakfast companions. Late-night dedications that gave us company in solitude, those moments have our heart. The voices of RJs weren’t just voices, they were Friends, Familiar and Comforting. Yes you couldn’t see them, but you didn’t need to because You felt them.
*”I still remember listening to 92.7 Big FM Srinagar Station. My favorite RJ, Haya, her voice had the warmth, the spark. I always wondered what she looked like. That mystery, that invisible bond, that was the charm of radio. And honestly, that’s what made it magical”*.
But time has changed completely. Radio hasn’t disappeared, it’s in a changed form, it has gone digital. Most stations now stream online and RJs are no longer hidden voices behind a mic. They post selfies, share BTS clips and chat with followers on Instagram. You don’t need to imagine their faces anymore, you can scroll through their profiles. You can comment, like and even DM them.
Yes, it’s more connected than ever, but somewhere, the mystery got lost.
Social media feeds us a constant stream of videos, reels and endless scrolling, so let’s be real here when entertainment is available in unlimited form then tuning into Radio feels outdated.
But maybe that’s not a bad thing. Radio didn’t die, it evolved. It’s just no longer the only form of companionship. Podcasts now offer rich storytelling. YouTube, Spotify or other music apps curate music based on our moods. Many RJs have labelled themselves as influencers, staying relevant in this new age.
Still, for those of us who remember, there’s a nostalgia attached to the old-school radio. It wasn’t about seeing, it was about feelings. It wasn’t instant, it was patient. The excitement of hearing your favourite RJ’s voice on-air, the hope that your favorite song would play, the message you sent to the RJ hoping that it would get read.
Maybe radio doesn’t have the same place in our fast-moving lives anymore. But maybe its real essence now lives in our memories, in the echoes of voices we once waited to hear in the quiet moments.
Marvi Majeed
Sub-editor
Voice of Valley
