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{{short description|Indian national radio 98.3 network}}
{{short description| }}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2017}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{update|date=May 2015}}
{{more citations needed|date=May 2015}}
}}

{{Infobox radio station
| name = Radio Mirchi
| logo = Radiomirchi.jpg
| logo_size = 220px
| format = Bollywood, regional
| power =
| class =
| former_callsigns =
| owner = [[ENIL]]
| city =
| area = National
| branding = Radio Mirchi
| airdate = 2001
| frequency = 98.3 (exceptions in some cities)
| erp =
| website = {{URL|www.radiomirchi.com}}
| coordinates =
}}

'''Radio Mirchi''' is a nationwide network of private [[FM radio]] stations in [[India]]. It is owned by the [[ENIL|EntertainmentNetwork India Ltd]] (ENIL), which is one of the subsidiaries of [[The Times Group]]. ''mirchi'' is [[Hindi]] for Red Chilli. The tagline of Radio Mirchi is "Mirchi Sunnewaale Always Khush!" ("Mirchi Listeners are Always Happy!"). It is the first privately owned radio station in India.

Radio Mirchi maintains weekly music charts (or [[record charts]]) for India. The most followed charts are Mirchi Top 20 (Bollywood Songs) and Angrezi Top 20 (English Songs). Both of these charts are a ranking of recorded music according to popularity. These charts are published on a weekly basis in the Indian English-language daily newspaper, [[The Times of India]], and on Radio Mirchi's official website.

Mirchi has its stations in [[India]] and also in GCC{{clarify|What is GCC?|date=July 2021}} countries [[United Arab Emirates|UAE]] & [[Qatar]] and [[bahrain]].

As per the latest IRS{{clarify|What is IRS?|date=July 2021}} data released in 2017, Radio Mirchi has emerged as the number one FM broadcaster in [[Delhi]] and [[Mumbai]], as well as in the top 8 metros taken together.

==History==
The original avatar of Radio Mirchi was [[Times Music|Times FM]]. Radio Mirchi began operations in 1993 in [[Indore]], Madhya Pradesh. Until 1993, [[All India Radio]] or AIR, a government undertaking, was the only radio broadcaster in India. The government then took the initiative to privatize the radio broadcasting sector. It sold airtime blocks on its FM channels in [[Indore]], [[Hyderabad (India)|Hyderabad]], [[Mumbai]], [[Delhi]], [[Kolkata]], [[Varanasi]], [[Visakhapatnam]] and [[Goa]] to private operators, who developed their own program content. The Times Group operated its brand, Times FM, till June 1998. After that, the government decided not to renew contracts given to private operators.

===First round of licenses===
In 2000, the government announced the auction of 108 FM frequencies across India. [[Entertainment Network India Limited|ENIL]] won the largest number of [[frequencies]], and thus started its operations under the brand name Radio Mirchi.IT'S HOT

===Second round of licences===
In January 2006, Radio Mirchi purchased 25 frequencies in the second wave of licences that were issued by the Government of India. This pushes the Radio Mirchi presence in 32 centres. In the first wave of launches, '''[[Indore]]''' was the first city in India having grade of first private radio channel. Times decided to start radio channel to address the mass audience as advertisers can be attracted by showing a low cost per thousand.

===Third round of licenses===
Radio Mirchi invested above Rs.339 crore during phase III auctions and purchased 17 new channels in new cities such as [[Chandigarh]], [[Kochi]], [[Kozhikode]], [[Jammu]], [[Srinagar]], [[Guwahati]] and [[Shillong]], as well as in existing cities such as Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Kanpur, Lucknow, Jaipur, Nagpur and Surat. This pushes Radio Mirchi presence in 49 centres.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.radioandmusic.com/biz/radio/private-fm-stations/160418-radio-mirchi-launches-kochi | title = Radio Mirchi launches in Kochi}}</ref>

=== GCC countries expansion ===
Radio Mirchi started operations across [[UAE]], streaming across three frequencies : 69.3FM in Abu Dhabi, 88.8FM in Dubai and the Northern Emirates and 95.6FM in Al Ain & Bahrain 104.2 and Qatar 89.6 '''Mirchi One''' In partnership with '''ONE FM''' [[Qatar]] ki dhadkan All the RJs have been recruited from various Radio Mirchi stations in India including Anup Chugh, with a total seven who will take to the air.
<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emirates247.com/entertainment/films-music/radio-mirchi-heats-up-abu-dhabi-airwaves-with-hindi-tunes-2012-02-01-1.440761|title=Radio Mirchi heats up Abu Dhabi airwaves with Hindi tunes|first=Bindu Suresh|last=Rai|date=1 February 2012|website=emirates247.com|access-date=21 March 2018}}</ref>
Radio Mirchi [[United Arab Emirates|UAE]] is now '''KADAK FM''' but later, Radio Mirchi made a comeback in 2021 with 102.4 FM Mirchi.

== Areas of operation ==
===India===
Currently, Radio Mirchi has a presence in 63 cities in India. [http://www.radiomirchi.com/]
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*[[Ahmedabad|Ahmedabad, GJ]]
*[[Akola|Akola, MH]] (broadcast on 95.0 [[MHz]])
*[[Amravati|Amravati, MH]] (broadcast on 92.1 [[MHz]])
*[[Amritsar|Amritsar, PB]] (broadcast on 104.8 [[MHz]])
*[[Asansol|Asansol, WB]] (broadcast on 95.0 [[MHz]])
*[[Aurangabad, Maharashtra|Aurangabad, MH]]
*[[Bharuch|Bharuch, GJ]] (broadcast on 92.3 [[MHz]])
*[[Bengaluru|Bengaluru, KA]] (two channels - 98.3 and 95 MHz)
*[[Bhavnagar|Bhavnagar, GJ]] (broadcast on 91.5 [[MHz]])
*[[Bhopal|Bhopal, MP]]
*[[Chandigarh]]
*[[Chennai|Chennai, TN]]
*[[Coimbatore|Coimbatore, TN]]
*[[Delhi]]
*[[Durg-Bhilai Nagar|Durg-Bhilai Nagar, CG]] (broadcast on 91.9 [[MHz]])
*[[Guwahati|Guwahati, AS]] (broadcast on 95.0 [[MHz]])
*[[Hubli-Dharwad|Hubli-Dharwad, KA]]
*[[Hyderabad|Hyderabad, TS]] (two channels - 98.3 and 95 MHz)
*[[Indore|Indore, MP]] (First city of Broadcasting)
*[[Jabalpur|Jabalpur, MP]]
*[[Jaipur|Jaipur, RJ]]
*[[Jalandhar|Jalandhar, PB]]
*[[Jamnagar|Jamnagar, GJ]] (broadcast on 95.0 [[MHz]])
*[[Jammu|Jammu, JK]]
*[[Jodhpur|Jodhpur, RJ]] (broadcast on 104.8 [[MHz]])
*[[Jhansi|Jhansi, UP]] (broadcast on 104.8 [[MHz]])
*[[Junagadh|Junagadh, GJ]] (broadcast on 95.0 [[MHz]])
*[[Kanpur|Kanpur, UP]]
*[[Kochi|Kochi, KL]] (broadcast on 104.0 [[MHz]])
*[[Kolhapur|Kolhapur, MH]]
*[[Kolkata|Kolkata, WB]]
*[[Kozhikode|Kozhikode, KL]] (broadcast on 92.7 [[MHz]])
*[[Lucknow|Lucknow, UP]]
*[[Madurai|Madurai, TN]]
*[[Mangalore|Mangalore, KA]]
*[[Mehsana|Mehsana, GJ]] (broadcast on 91.9 [[MHz]])
*[[Mumbai|Mumbai, MH]]
*[[Mysuru|Mysuru, KA]] (broadcast on 104.8 [[MHz]])
*[[Nagpur|Nagpur, MH]]
*[[Nashik|Nashik, MH]]
*[[Palanpur|Palanpur, GJ]] (broadcast on 93.7 [[MHz]])
*[[Patiala|Patiala, PB]] (broadcast on 104.8 [[MHz]])
*[[Patna|Patna, BR]]
*[[Pondicherry|Pondicherry, PY]] (broadcast on 104.0 [[MHz]])
*[[Pune|Pune, MH]]
*[[Raigarh|Raigarh, CG]] (broadcast on 91.1 [[MHz]])
*[[Raipur|Raipur, CG]]
*[[Rajahmundry|Rajahmundry, AP]] (broadcast on 91.1 [[MHz]])
*[[Ranchi|Ranchi, JH]]
*[[Rajkot|Rajkot, GJ]]
*[[Shillong|Shillong, ML]] (broadcast on 91.1 [[MHz]])
*[[Shimla|Shimla, HP]] (broadcast on 104.8 [[MHz]])
*[[Siliguri|Siliguri, WB]]
*[[Srinagar|Srinagar, JK]]
*[[Surat|Surat, GJ]]
*[[Thiruvananthapuram|Thiruvananthapuram, KL]]
*[[Tiruchirappalli|Tiruchirappalli, TN]] (broadcast on 95.0 [[MHz]])
*[[Tirunelveli|Tirunelveli, TN]] (broadcast on 95.0 [[MHz]])
*[[Ujjain|Ujjain, MP]] (broadcast on 91.9 [[MHz]])
*[[Vadodara|Vadodara, GJ]]
*[[Varanasi|Varanasi, UP]]
*[[Vijayawada|Vijayawada, AP]]
*[[Visakhapatnam|Visakhapatnam, AP]]
*[[Warangal|Warangal, TS]] (broadcast on 91.9 [[MHz]])
{{div col end}}

Unless specified otherwise, all stations broadcast on 98.3 [[MHz]]

It reaches out to almost 52% of FM radio listeners in Delhi, 44% in Mumbai, 40% in Indore, 35% in Jaipur, 30% in Bhopal, 20% Chennai, 27% in Kolkata, 15% in Nagpur 60% in Mangaluru and 12% in [[Bangalore|Bengaluru]]. Radio Mirchi has started providing [[Visual Radio]] to its subscribers in Delhi from 25 July 2006 onwards and in Mumbai from September 2006. It also has started its Visual Radio service from Kolkata recently.

According to the Radio Audience Measurement Reports, Radio Mirchi has been dominating in Delhi and is the leader in Mumbai and Kolkata. However, in Kolkata they are not clear leaders in SEC ABC segments. The SEC ABC segments were earlier dominated by Big FM & now by Friends FM. However, in the SEC D & E segments Radio Mirchi has total domination.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}

===United Arab Emirates===
[[Abu Dhabi Media]] owned and operated 4 radio stations under the Radio Mirchi brand, under conditional license from ENIL. ADM rebranded Radio Mirchi as Kadak FM in July 2020. Radio Mirchi made a comeback in 2021 as '''MIRCHI''' 102.4 FM.
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*[[Abu Dhabi]] (broadcast on 97.3 [[MHz]])
*[[Al Ain]] (broadcast on 95.6 [[MHz]])
*[[Dubai]] (broadcast on 102.4 [[MHz]])
*[[Sharjah]] (broadcast on 88.8 [[MHz]])
{{div col end}}

===United States===
Stations are operated under a brand licensing agreement between ENIL and Arohi Media, with the latter managing and operating the stations. Radio Mirchi went live in the USA on January 26, 2019.
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*[[New York metropolitan area|New York tri-state region]] (broadcast on 1600 [[AM radio|AM]])
*[[Franklin Township, Somerset County, NJ|Franklin Park, NJ]] (broadcast on 92.7 FM) and [[Princeton, NJ]] (broadcast on 103.3 [[HD Radio|FM HD2]])
*[[Raleigh-Durham|Raleigh-Durham, NC]] (broadcast on 101.9 FM, 99.9 [[HD Radio|FM HD4]], and 1490 AM)
*[[Philadelphia, PA]] (broadcast on 103.9 [[HD Radio|FM HD2]])
*[[Cleveland, OH]] (broadcast on 93.1 [[HD Radio|FM HD2]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/media/entertainment/radio-mirchi-expands-to-two-more-us-cities/articleshow/68295996.cms|title=Radio Mirchi expands to two more US cities|date=7 March 2019|work=The Economic Times}}</ref>
*[[Baltimore, MD]] (broadcast on 92.3 [[HD Radio|FM HD2]])
*[[Columbus, OH]] (broadcast on 107.5 [[HD Radio|FM HD2]])
*[[St. Louis, MO]] (broadcast on 95.5 [[HD Radio|FM HD2]]){{div col end}}

The following stations to be launched soon:
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*[[Atlanta, GA]] (broadcast on 107.5 [[HD Radio|FM HD3]])
{{div col end}}

== RDS service ==

In [[Mumbai]] and [[Kolkata]]; Radio Mirchi supports [[Radio Data System|RDS]] information with the station name and current and next song.

==Mirchi Music Awards==
{{Main|Mirchi Music Awards}}
The [[Mirchi Music Awards]] are annually given awards instituted by Radio Mirchi for excellence in Bollywood film music. It was first given in 2008.

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{The Times Group}}

{{coord missing|Karnataka}}

[[Category:Radio stations in Kerala]]
[[Category:Radio stations in Indore]]
[[Category:Companies based in Indore]]
[[Category:Radio stations in Ujjain]]
[[Category:Radio stations in Hyderabad]]
[[Category:Radio stations in Bangalore]]
[[Category:Radio stations in Bhopal]]
[[Category:Radio stations in Patna]]
[[Category:Radio stations in Madurai]]
[[Category:Radio stations of The Times Group]]
[[Category:Hindi-language radio stations]]
[[Category:Telugu-language radio stations]]
[[Category:Radio stations established in 1993]]
[[Category:1993 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Music of Bengal]]
[[Category:Radio stations in Vijayawada]]

Radio Mirchi - Revision history

YvetteJasso5372: improved article

imported>Ira Leviton: Fixed typos found with Wikipedia:Typo_Team/moss.