Fever FM, a popular radio station owned by Hindustan Times, announced the cessation of its operations on Tuesday. The decision, communicated through a LinkedIn post, was attributed to the dynamic shifts occurring in the music industry, marking the end of an era for the radio station.
The post, addressed to partners and listeners, conveyed the gravity of the decision and acknowledged the collective journey shared with the audience. It stated, “Dear All, It is with a heavy heart we bring to you this urgent announcement. You, our partners and our listeners, have been with us through our ups and downs and our thick and thin, but we must make this decision for all.” The post went on to express that the end of radio is imminent, alluding to the transformative landscape of the industry.
Accompanying the announcement was a concise and poignant video message from Fever FM’s CEO, Ramesh Menon. In the video, Menon explained the challenging choice to shut down the station, citing the evolving trends in the media industry as the driving force behind this decision. He extended gratitude to the radio jockeys (RJs), advertisers, partners, employees, and listeners who have been an integral part of Fever FM’s journey.
Menon expressed, “Hi, I’m Ramesh Menon, CEO, Fever FM. We made this difficult decision to shut down our station. This decision comes after careful consideration and is due to the evolving trends in the media industry.” He further thanked everyone who contributed to Fever FM’s success, emphasizing the station’s appreciation for the collective effort that built and supported it.
Established in 2006, Fever FM has been a prominent player in various Indian cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Lucknow, Kanpur, Agra, Aligarh, Allahabad, Bareilly, and Gorakhpur. With over 16 million listeners, as per its official website, Fever FM has been a significant entity in the radio landscape.
The radio station’s influence extended beyond conventional broadcasting, as it served as the official movie partner for major Bollywood releases, including Dangal, Jab Harry Met Sejal, Tiger Zinda Hai, Padmaavat, Badrinath ki Dulhania, and Tamasha. Fever FM also played a pioneering role in repackaging epics and stories of inspirational figures like Mahabharata, Ramayana, Gandhi, and Bose into radio formats. The closure of Fever FM marks the end of an era in India’s radio industry.