Dear Editor, I REFER to a letter by Ibn Ghazali on Jan 23.

He expressed his displeasure with radio stations that do not play local Malay songs and Malay stations that play English hits, stating that English sta tions are not being fair to our music industry.

Regarding Malay stations that play English songs and vice versa, I think we should leave it to the stations to determine their genres and choice of music to be aired.

It is their prerogative to choose what they want to play as they know who their audi ences are.

Radio stations spend a lot of time and funding on research and will know whom the target audience they are reaching for and where.

Each station is clear of their genre and target as they need a specific concept to determine their ‘personality’ or else they will have half-hearted fans.

I prefer Malay stations to keep all their songs in Malay and English stations to stick to English tracks.

This way, those of us who prefer to hear only Malay songs can tune to Malay stations and when in the mood for English tracks, will know which button to press.

I am puzzled as to why someone who prefers to listen to a Malay numbers has to tune to an English station.

Unless there is a new station called Rojak FM or Gado-gado music from Gado-gado FM!

Regarding Malay stations that prefer to play a mix of Indonesian tracks: I think it’s their right as they know what the market wants.

I think the radio stations try their best to please everyone and have done well to cater to them.

I feel that Malaysian music is still behind the Indonesian mu sic scene but I’ll leave it to the masters to decide.

Why can’t local artistes take this as a challenge to create even better music and producers to churn out more creative artistes.

In turn, our radio guys and girls at the stations will be able to play more local flavours as they are duty-bound to promote good music.

Did American radio stations stop airing English music from Britain to protect their own kind and vice versa?

No. They kept them on be cause they are good, they have talent and deserved to be slotted on air.

Big studios and top-notch equipment is not all it takes to make great music.

We need to stop dreaming and get creative. Let’s open up our eyes.

Rams609
Kuala Lumpur

Source: Malay Mail – January 28, 2008