CRM elects new office bearers

PETALING JAYA: Commercial Radio Malaysia (CRM) has elected Erin Hwang, the general manager of Star Media Radio Group as its new president, and Ozarizan Mohd Nor, the general manager of Husa Networks (Manis FM) as vice-president at the association's recent Annual General Meeting (AGM) on March 7.
"It is an honour for me to lead CRM this year. We will focus on making our current 'Embrace and Engage' strategy more effective and dynamic," said Hwang, in reference to the industry transformation initiative launched by CRM last year to establish a singular currency for streaming audio, which measures streaming music, online radio and podcasts.
Through this Digital Audio Movement (DAM), CRM has united a majority of the players in Malaysia's commercial radio industry in hopes that radio will be able to trade and compete directly with digital budgets.
"CRM will continue to enrich lives of listeners while providing greater value and service to both consumers as well as businesses," said Hwang, who has been in the marketing communication industry for more than 18 years.
"Besides boosting the creation of localised content and advocating social awareness, we are also striving to play a more significant role in promoting local products and services.
"Furthermore, we remain committed in engaging with regulators as well as the marketing communications industry in order to innovate and stay relevant in the rapidly changing environment."
CRM plans to hold a B2B conference and Planet Radio as part of its engagement initiatives in 2018.
Based on the Radio Audience Measurement (RAM) survey carried out in 2017, radio listenership in Peninsular Malaysia amounts to 20 million people aged 10 years and above, whereas the average time spent listening to the radio was at an average of 14 hours 30 minutes per week.
Gfk Radio Insights Malaysia 2017 shows that a majority of the listeners still tune in to local radio stations.
Other CRM office bearers are Kartini Kamalul Ariffin of IM4U FM as Secretary and Mr Bala Murali Subramaney of Capital FM as Treasurer.
CRM was established in 1998 and is the representative body of Malaysian commercial radio operators. Its mission is to serve, promote and anticipate the collective interests of commercial radio operators in Malaysia, to develop and help maintain the highest standards of professional practice in the radio business.
The current membership includes SURIA FM, ERA, MY FM, HITZ ,LITE, MIX, SINAR, THR, BEST 104, CATSFM, HOT FM, FLY FM, IKIM FM, CAPITAL, IM4U FM, MANIS FM, KOOL FM, ONE FM, 988, RED FM, MELODY AND BFM.