Faced with plummeting revenues and huge and rising costs, the Association of Radio Operators for India (AROI) has flagged the deep crises in the private FM radio industry and has urgently asked for ameliorative measures from the government including a one year moratorium on license fees. It has emphasized that this crises among private FM radio channels — an essential service for immediate dissemination of information in India’s densely populated cities and towns — has been hugely exacerbated with the coronavirus pandemic, which has led to major cuts in advertising across all industries and services, including the travel and entertainment sectors.In an urgent representation to the Information and Broadcasting minister Prakash Javadekar . AROI, which is the umbrella body of all radio companies, has pointed out that this is resulting in an “unprecedented financial crisis” in the industry which employs over 20,000 people, with many companies contemplating cutting costs to survive, including cutting down staff, etc. AROI has warned that “in the current situation, it will be very difficult for the industry to sustain this workforce”.Private FM radio is the only content media industry which pays license fees as well as an annual revenue share to the Central government despite it being a small and infant industry. However, being free for subscribers, it is dependent on advertising, and even the small inflow from events has dried up due to cancellations owing to the coronavirus outbreak.With the license fee and revenue share regime not allowing the FM radio industry to grow to its full potential, the representation points out that the FM radio channels have now been faced with an especially difficult situation in this financial year, with a steep de-growth in advertising expenditure, coupled with a very steep fall in government advertising. With the coronavirus outbreak further deepening the crises, AROI has asked the government for immediate steps to save the FM radio industry including a one year moratorium on license fees and charges by government and Prasar Bharati/WPC, restoration of government advertising on private FM radio channels to normal levels so that they can get back on their feet and survive this crises–as well as urgent clearance of DAVP, NFDC and BSNL payments which have been held up for a long time.AROI has pointed out that it has been an active and responsible partner to the central government in the country’s socio-economic growth and has also contributed immensely through responsible messaging in management of natural and man-made disasters. It is also the emergency outreach to citizens in India’s towns and cities and many radio channels have won awards from government for their significant role in fighting disasters.