The Los Angeles Times reports that a renaissance is taking place on the FM dial in India as the easing of regulation has been the catalyst to a radio station boom.

Private FM stations were virtually unheard of. But that began to change in the 1990s, when the government embarked on broad-based economic reforms that have resulted in an economy now growing at a clip of 9% a year. In the last five years, broadcasters have bought nearly 300 licenses to operate FM stations in 100 cities, with most of that expansion happening within the last two years.

What they hope to capitalize on is the Indian love of music, which plays an integral part in people’s cultural lives, be it in their prayers, festivities, marriages or folk traditions. The overwhelming influence of Bollywood and its musical extravaganzas has also ensured that there is a background score playing in the daily lives of ordinary Indians.

via artsjournal