Astro had recently launched its two new radio brands after acquisition of Red FM and Capital FM from The Star Media Group. Capital FM was rebranded to Gen Z targeted Chinese radio, known as goXUAN, meanwhile Red FM was rebranded as Zayan, Muslim targeted radio station.
First I would like to say congratulations to Astro for launching these two new radio brands, but there have somethings needs to improve, especially Zayan FM. Second, goXUAN and Zayan are playing same songs as trial transmission, they shall improve the playlist by hiring music director, but NEVER rely on online music survey like other radio station. It is common for temporary moment when they play same songs.
For these 3 days, I had been listening to these two new Astro radio stations. goXUAN is too young to me, not suitable for my listening taste (I listen to Melody FM most of the time in terms of Chinese radio station).
For Zayan FM, I tried to listen to Zayan FM ON and OFF for these 3 days. What I think about its programming and music playlist, all of them are just ordinary only like its sister stations, Era and Sinar. Briefly to hear that Zayan is targeting listeners who seeking positive content. I jokingly say Zayan airs positive content, then Era airs negative content lah? BUT no such thing, because every radio station delivers positive content, radio is also educating tool actually. Clarify that Zayan just airs more positive inputs than Era and Sinar to comply with their branding.
Before Astro launched Zayan FM, many listeners expected Astro will launch Islamic radio station like Ikim FM, even I also guess that Zayan FM will become companion
radio station of Astro Oasis (Astro's Islamic TV channel on CH106), but unfortunately Zayan is very less companion to Astro Oasis, instead just another slapstick like Era and Hot FM from Media Prima.
I feel that Malaysia has too much of slapstick on radio airwaves, but I'm very glad to hear that BFM 89.9, Melody FM, Lite FM, Bernama Radio 24 and Radio Klasik provide alternative to listeners who get sick of "nonsense" slapstick on other airwaves. I understand that most of the radio stations provide slapstick to make listeners happy all the time, but sometimes their slapstick are not funny, and not fit to some listeners.
Could I say Malaysians love slapstick radio?
In my review, Zayan is just a normal radio station, considered soft version of Era. Regarding its current music playlist, Zayan has nothing different with Era FM, even Sinar FM, although Zayan did not play classics yet. What I hear on Zayan is it plays more songs like Era, rather than Islamic songs as Zayan branding is targeting contemporary Muslims, aged 18-35 (not fit to conservative groups yet). Even Fast Furious 7 ending song "See You Again" by Wiz Khalifa ft Charlie Puth is also aired on Zayan, which Era and Sinar play this song too. I was very speechless..
Zayan plays same music genre like Era, wouldn't both kill each other in terms listenership rating because play same contemporary songs? This can confuse many Malay young listeners because they can't listen to either Era or Zayan consistently.
Zayan FM looks like Malay version of Mix FM or Lite FM (minus with classic hits), rather than Islamic radio station.
In my opinion, as a Muslim oriented radio station, Zayan shall play Islamic music (aka Nasyid) and airing Islamic related content, rather than slapstick and crappy contemporary songs like other station. Ikim FM, an Islamic radio station by Institut Kefahaman Islam Malaysia (IKIM) are very successful in Malaysia, it is very popular among Muslim community in Malaysia, because Ikim FM did not air slapstick on its station.
At the same time, Astro Radio has another radio streaming platform, known as Raku. This radio streaming platform Raku also has Islamic online radio station, looks like companion of Astro Oasis, it is known as Oasis Radio. For my suggestion, Oasis Radio shall merge its content (playlists and programming) into Zayan, rather than stand alone online radio station.
==Few things are needed to improve by Zayan FM==
1. Rather than slapstick talks like Era, Zayan shall air Islamic talks, and documentaries (such as Islamic affairs, history, interview with the preachers aka Imam/Ustaz). A documentary talk about Islam around the world can be considered on Zayan.
2. Zayan can add some interesting supplements for Muslims like Carta Nasyid Zayan, Nasyid Retro Zayan (from 1980s till 2000s), and Quran commentary programmes especially prayer time.
3. Quran commentary and talk show (Tazkirah) can be aired on prayer time such as 0500 hours, 1300 hours, 1900 hours.
4. To comply its branding, Zayan can be merged content from Oasis Radio where only available on Raku.
5. Islamic related drama could be aired on its programme.
==Suggested programme for Zayan==
- Quran commentary: daily 5am, 1pm, 7pm together with prayer (azan)
- Tazkirah aka Islamic talk show by preachers (Ustaz): daily after prayer [based on RTM state stations]
- Carta Nasyid Zayan: Open votes for listener to vote their favorite Islamic songs, then air on chart show
- Nasyid Retro Zayan: Playing Islamic songs from 1980s till 2000s, but source may be limited unless include international ones regardless any languages like Arabic, English, Urdu, or Chinese.
- Nasyid cover di Zayan: A cover version of Nasyid band songs. Example: A Malay student from IIUM sings cover version of "Raihan - Senyum", then air on Zayan. Even Nasyid competition at campus or school can be aired on Zayan by singing cover songs.
I don't want to see Zayan becomes Malay version of "Capital FM" (English language feminist radio station). Capital FM was used to be women radio station, but due to its poor content programming, it became loss making radio station and ceased by Star on October 2015. Now Capital FM becomes goXUAN. If Zayan is still slapstick like Era in terms of programming and playlist, I may reckon that Zayan can become like Capital FM and Astro former radio station Xfresh, which are loss making radio stations and led to close operation.
In conclusion, since Zayan is still new on airwaves, together with goXUAN. We shall give them chance to improve their programming and playlist. It is impossible to become Perfect 10 during first day. Just like getting a new job, it is impossible that you can know all the company job task operation at the first day, you may need time to learn it, even take more time to get your achievement. Zayan and goXUAN are just only within a week, it is impossible that they can fly to the sky at the first step. (Chinese literally: 一步登天). They need some time to improve their programming and playlist. What I posted above are only my review, opinion and further suggestion to improve the content. I hope Zayan will make some revolution on its content to provide better content to listeners. NOT AN ORDINARY.
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| Frequency list |
==Zayan frequency update==
Penang, Perlis, Langkawi and Taiping can be received on 98.1MHz, Kemaman of Terengganu can be received on 91.6MHz, meanwhile Seremban can be received on 104.9MHz for temporary moment.
Negeri Sembilan can be tuned either 104.9MHz or 98.9MHz.
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