Popular mandate

Like many Chinese young people, Zhu has always been a music fan. He grew up listening to various music styles, Chinese and Western, pop and rock. One of his colleagues, who is a Canadian, gave Zhu the on-air name, Mike D, coinciding with one of the founding members of American hip-hop group Beastie Boys. Zhu also started to listen to Beastie Boys, which was formed in 1979, the year he was born. The job at CRI enabled him to interview many international artists. In 2017, when Taylor Swift held a concert in Shanghai as a part of her 1989 World Tour, Zhu met the American singer-songwriter.

"Before I went to Shanghai, I had a bet with my friends. I said that I would take a photo with her as one of the first Chinese radio hosts," recalls Zhu. "After I met her, I told her about the bet and she immediately put her arm around me for the photo. I was surprised."

Among shows that Zhu hosts are Hit Morning Show and Big Drive Home.

"I get up early in the morning even before sunrise since I have to start my show at 7 am. I also start to work when people end their day and are on their way back home since another show broadcasts late afternoon," says Zhu. "Besides playing hit songs, I love talking to listeners like they are my old friends."

His show, Top 20 Countdown, which follows Western pop charts, covers 25 Chinese cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

Zhu says he finds it rewarding to be able to bring different people together and bond with them through a shared love for music.

"When I think that there are millions of people listening to my shows, I feel a sense of achievement," he says.

On his morning show, Zhu says once a listener picked the James Blunt song You Are Beautiful for her 10-year-old son. The listener told Zhu that 15 years ago, she had picked the same song for her own birthday on the same show. "The same woman is a mother now and the show is still here for her. That makes me happy."

Zhu also notes that taste in music is changing as listeners in China today have many ways to get Western music, which in turn is motivating radio shows to catch up with the times.

"There are many who have grown up listening to Hit FM. They are loyal fans and the show has become a habit for them. It's also very encouraging to constantly receive feedback from new listeners," he adds.