MUMBAI:  Hold Your Breath, the wait is over!

‘The Sound of India@IRF2012’ - the first ever contest to hunt a radio jock who will represent India at the International Radio Festival (IRF) in Zurich in September has found its winner.

Organised by  Indiantelevision.com's Radioandmusic.com (RnM)  along with the IRF and Swiss Tourism,  ‘The Sound of India@IRF2012’ competition had more than 100 entries from radio jocks and radio show producers from more than 70 private and public FM radio stations all over India.

Red FM’s RJ Malishka, who hosts the Breakfast show – Morning No 1 and has earlier won RAPA and Promax awards, has emerged as the winner.

Radioandmusic.com (which is currently celebrating its fifth anniversary) founder Anil Wanvari says, “It was a very difficult decision for both the IRF and Radioandmusic.com to reach as many of the entries were of a very high standard. Any one of them would have been a good ambassador of the Indian radio industry in Zurich. But Malishka was chosen because she connects with the masses, is bold, takes on strong issues, has fun doing it while entertaining the listeners.”

Adds IRF festival founder Darryl von Daniken: “We were delighted to partner with Radioanmdusic.com for ‘The Sound of India@IRF’ to help us find a winner from India. Malishka represents the young India. The IRF loved the energy in her voice and the show. Going forward, we expect more Indian jocks to participate in the contest and represent India at the IRF.”

Malishka and her show producer will get an opportunity to showcase their music radio show ‘live on air’ to an international audience in Europe. The live show will also be aired on their radio station in India. The accommodation and travel is being looked after by the IRF and ‘Sound of India@IRF 2012’. The fest is scheduled to be held from 12 -16 September 2012, in the magnificent castle Schloss Sihlberg in Zurich.

Says RedFM’s senior VP - projects & programming Nisha Narayanan:“Selection to represent India at the International Radio Festival at Zurich only reflects the quality and innovative programming our jocks at Red FM deliver. We are extremely happy on Malishka winning the contest and would like to congratulate her on this feat. She has completed seven years with us recently and is one of the best jocks the country has presently. ”

Says Malishka:  “I am totally excited and can't wait to host a show in Zurich. It's a wonderful opportunity to represent India and my very own Red FM on an international platform and to an international audience.”

As reported earlier, Indiantelevision.com's Radioandmusic.com had partnered The International Radio Festival (IRF), Zurich to showcase the best of Indian radio jockeying and music show programing to international audiences at the IRF 2012. Radioandmusic.com had called for entries from the radio stations across the country to participate with their best radio jocks and programmes.

About IRF

Founded in 2010, IRF represents the world’s first business to business and public festival event format of its kind, offering a platform for those with a vested interest in the world’s most consumed medium – music radio.

Since its inaugural year, the IRF has brought together over 100 ground-breaking music radio shows from around the world, offering their makers the exceptional opportunity to meet, network and showcase their best music radio programmes to their peers, on-air around the world, and to a live studio audience.