To be booked for concerts on All India Radio (Akashvani) Chennai, a musician has to pass an AIR audition and be given a grade: B, B-High, A or Top. A first-time applicant pays Rs 1,298 including GST, folk and tribal artistes pay nothing at the fresher stage, and divyang applicants and senior citizens are exempt, according to Prasar Bharati’s audition guidelines.
In the Carnatic world an AIR grade is still a common line on a musician’s profile, and sabhas often look for it. Here is how the system works for a singer or instrumentalist applying through the Chennai station.
Who can apply
The Music Audition System FAQ sets these conditions:
- Indian citizens living in India, aged 16 or above, with no upper age limit. Indians abroad can apply if they have a permanent Indian address and can attend when called.
- A separate application for each category, such as Carnatic vocal, violin or mridangam.
- Applications are made online on the Music Audition System portal, with a photo, signature, age proof and address proof.
- Only recordings made in AIR studios count. Private recordings and albums are not accepted, and there is no category for film singers.
Fees
| Application | Total with GST | SC/ST total |
|---|---|---|
| Fresher | Rs 1,298 | Rs 1,003 |
| Upgrade (B to B-High, B-High to A) | Rs 2,478 | Rs 1,888 |
| A to Top | Rs 6,018 | Rs 4,543 |
| Folk or tribal fresher | Nil | Nil |
| Divyang, senior citizens, AIR and DD staff | Nil | Nil |
The SC/ST figures reflect a 25% cut on the audition fee; the Rs 100 application fee is not discounted.
How a Carnatic audition runs
- Preliminary: a fresh classical candidate performs live before a Local Audition Board at the station.
- Recording: those who pass are recorded. A Carnatic vocal or instrumental fresher records 30 minutes; percussionists record 40.
- Grading: the recording goes to the Central Audition Board, which awards a grade or rejects it.
Solo performers are given accompanists by the station; any personal accompanist must hold at least a B-High grade. Light music and folk freshers audition live at the station and receive a B grade if successful. Harikatha has its own format of two 15-minute items.
Moving up, and the risks
- Upgrades go from B to B-High and then to A. For Carnatic music, the B-High to A recording is 55 minutes.
- There is no waiting period before re-applying, except for Top grade.
- Top grade is open only to artistes who have held an A grade in the same genre for more than 10 years. After a failed Top attempt, there is a gap year.
- A B-grade artiste must win an upgrade within five years or be dropped from the list.
- An upgrade attempt can also lead to a downgrade. Board decisions are final and cannot be appealed.
Other categories at the Chennai station
The guidelines cover far more than Carnatic kutcheri music. Categories include Carnatic light music (mellisai and devotional songs), light instrumental, music composers (graded II, I and Top), folk and tribal music, choral groups of up to 20 singers with no more than six instrumentalists, Western music and fusion groups of up to 16. Chennai is one of four cities, with Kolkata, Mumbai and Shillong, where the Zonal Audition Committee for Western music sits, so local choirs and bands can audition here. Tribal artistes who cannot travel may be recorded where they live.
A light music or folk fresher sings three songs of five minutes each; an upgrade asks for four. Composers submit three compositions at the fresher stage.
The Chennai station and its artistes
Akashvani Chennai began broadcasting on 16 June 1938 from Marshall’s Road in Egmore, with a speech by C. Rajagopalachari, and moved to its Kamarajar Salai campus in Mylapore on 19 July 1954, Mylapore Times recorded. The station’s own published list of classical artistes as of 1 January 2020 runs to roughly 650 names, about 139 of them Top grade. That list is the best guide to the competition you will face.
Dancers follow a separate Doordarshan process. Its February 2025 guidelines open applications from 1 to 30 April and 1 to 30 November each year, set a minimum age of 18 for B grade, and charge Rs 2,000 for a B-grade audition.
Quick answers
What is the minimum age for an AIR music audition?
16 years, with no upper limit.
How much does a first AIR audition cost?
Rs 1,298 including GST, or Rs 1,003 for SC and ST candidates. Folk freshers, divyang applicants and senior citizens pay nothing.
Can I send my own recording?
No. Only recordings made in AIR studios are considered.
How do I reach Top grade?
Hold an A grade in the same genre for more than 10 years, then apply to the Central Audition Board.
Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
Sources
- Guidelines for AIR Music Auditions (Prasar Bharati)
- FAQs, Music Audition System (Prasar Bharati)
- Online Music Gradation System (Prasar Bharati)
- AIR Chennai classical music artists list as of 01.01.2020 (Prasar Bharati)
- Guidelines for gradation and audition of dance artists in Doordarshan, 27.02.2025 (Prasar Bharati)
- All India Radio is 75; moved to Mylapore in 1954 (Mylapore Times)
