BBC Soundcrew
Encyclopedia
The BBC Soundcrew was created in 2001 to help develop the North American South Asian/Desi Music scene. Created by Johney Brar (DJ JoN-E
) and Gurjit Bolina (MC LoudMouTH) BBC Soundcrew was created to advance the Desi Night Life scene across North America.
Based in Toronto
, Canada
. BBC Soundcrew has made their mark with their own ventures including the Top South-Asian DJ Website in Canada (BBCsoundcrew.com), BBC Soundcrew Gear, successful mix CDs and remix albums, their own record label (Funky Dhol Productions) and the only weekly primetime urban Indian/Desi radio program in North America
(Desi Live
on 105.5 FM
Hosted By DJ JoN-E) which has moved to national syndication in the United States as of December 2008.
BBCsoundcrew.com
BBC Soundcrew's "Desi Live" Radio program hit the airwaves in December 2004 after the Green Light was given from the Board of Directors of CHRY Radio Station. After the approval, "Desi Live" was given a Prime Time Monday Night slot (8-9pm EST) to help add some diversity to the Monday Night lineup on CHRY 105.5FM.
The "Desi Live" Radio Show was sandwiched between the popular Hip Hop Program "Backroad Radio" 6-8pm and "Everyday I have the Blues" the long running Jazz/Blues show Hosted by Vince Vitacco (9-11pm)
The show primarily played bhangra (Punjabi
) Music along with urban Indian beats and music from local talent.
The show has taken great strides in its first year with its popularity soaring. Each show was also made available online at bbcsoundcrew.com http://www.bbcsoundcrew.com so listeners can listen anytime as even the old shows were archived.
"Desi Live" was managed and hosted by BBC Soundcrew"s Johney Brar (DJ JoN-E) and was considered the #1 Urban Bhangra Radio Program in North America. With visitors dropping by the studio every week and segments such as "The Old Skool Track of the Week, Top 5, Featured Album, Use it or Lose it (The audience decides if a new debut track should be kept in rotation on the show), and artist interviews.
Johney Brar announced in October 2008, that he will be leaving CHRY 105.5FM permanently at the end of the month, concluding his four years of programming on CHRY on October 27, 2008.
provider WorldBand Media
, Starting in late Nov 2008.
The shows title remained "Desi Live
," however the show expanded from a 1-hour format to a 2-hour format. Desi Live
also began airing live programming 5 nights a week, the show currently airs weeknights 8PM - 10PM on WorldBand Media's HumDesi Radio Network (HD Radio)
The Show Airs in the following Cities:
New York
/New Jersey
- WRKS 98.7 FM HD-2
Los Angeles
- KPWR
105.9 FM HD-2
Chicago
- WWWN 101.1 FM HD-2
Washington, D.C.
- WTOP
103.5 FM HD-2
San Jose
/Bay Area - KIOI
101.3 FM HD-2
Listeners across the world can tune in to live streaming on the company's website www.humdesiradio.com or www.bbcsoundcrew.com
This is the first attempt to Nationally Syndicated a Desi/Bhangra Show in North America, making Johney Brar the youngest nationally syndicated South-Asian DJ in North America.
In October 2009, Desi Live has changed timeslots from 8-10pm Weeknights to its new home 9pm-12am Friday and Saturday.
As of July 2010, Desi Live airs one night a week, Saturday's 9PM - Midnight.
North American Bhangra Charts
BBC Soundcrew (DJ JoN-E) - BreakThrough (2003)
Various - Urban Bhangra (BBC Soundcrew (DJ JoN-E) - Soun Rab Di)
BBC Soundcrew (DJ JoN-E) - Got Yourself Desi Remixxx Feat Nas (2004)
BBC Soundcrew (DJ JoN-E) - Desi Live the Mixx CD Vol. 1 (March - 2005)
BBC Soundcrew - Punjabi MC VS Eminem Mashup (Single 2005) (Produced By DJ Din)
BBC Soundcrew (DJ JoN-E & DJ Davy) - Desi Live the Mixx CD Vol. 2 (March - 2008)
All Albums and Singles are made available at BBCsoundcrew.com Music
DJ JoN-E
Johney Brar , also known as DJ JoN-E, is a North American South Asian DJ, Producer and Radio Jockey...
) and Gurjit Bolina (MC LoudMouTH) BBC Soundcrew was created to advance the Desi Night Life scene across North America.
Based in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. BBC Soundcrew has made their mark with their own ventures including the Top South-Asian DJ Website in Canada (BBCsoundcrew.com), BBC Soundcrew Gear, successful mix CDs and remix albums, their own record label (Funky Dhol Productions) and the only weekly primetime urban Indian/Desi radio program in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
(Desi Live
Desi Live
Desi Live Radio Program is a nationally syndicated urban South-Asian radio show hosted by Johney Brar on the HumDesi Radio Network in the HD Radio format...
on 105.5 FM
CHRY-FM
CHRY-FM is a Canadian radio station. It is the campus radio station of York University, broadcasting over FM on 105.5 MHz in Toronto, Ontario. It has come to serve as a community radio station for the residents of the Jane and Finch corridor in North Toronto....
Hosted By DJ JoN-E) which has moved to national syndication in the United States as of December 2008.
BBCsoundcrew.com
Radio
BBC Soundcrew's "Desi Live" Radio Program Hosted By Johney Brar (DJ JoN-E) and Aired Every Monday 8-9pm (EST) on CHRY 105.5FM Toronto. Shows would also be listened to on his website BBCsoundcrew.com/desilive.htmlBBC Soundcrew's "Desi Live" Radio program hit the airwaves in December 2004 after the Green Light was given from the Board of Directors of CHRY Radio Station. After the approval, "Desi Live" was given a Prime Time Monday Night slot (8-9pm EST) to help add some diversity to the Monday Night lineup on CHRY 105.5FM.
The "Desi Live" Radio Show was sandwiched between the popular Hip Hop Program "Backroad Radio" 6-8pm and "Everyday I have the Blues" the long running Jazz/Blues show Hosted by Vince Vitacco (9-11pm)
The show primarily played bhangra (Punjabi
Punjab region
The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...
) Music along with urban Indian beats and music from local talent.
The show has taken great strides in its first year with its popularity soaring. Each show was also made available online at bbcsoundcrew.com http://www.bbcsoundcrew.com so listeners can listen anytime as even the old shows were archived.
"Desi Live" was managed and hosted by BBC Soundcrew"s Johney Brar (DJ JoN-E) and was considered the #1 Urban Bhangra Radio Program in North America. With visitors dropping by the studio every week and segments such as "The Old Skool Track of the Week, Top 5, Featured Album, Use it or Lose it (The audience decides if a new debut track should be kept in rotation on the show), and artist interviews.
Johney Brar announced in October 2008, that he will be leaving CHRY 105.5FM permanently at the end of the month, concluding his four years of programming on CHRY on October 27, 2008.
Desi Live - HD Radio
Johney Brar signed a deal to move his show in the United States for a national syndication deal with HD RadioHD Radio
HD Radio, which originally stood for "Hybrid Digital", is the trademark for iBiquity's in-band on-channel digital radio technology used by AM and FM radio stations to transmit audio and data via a digital signal in conjunction with their analog signals...
provider WorldBand Media
WorldBand Media
WorldBand Media Inc. is a North American media company specializing in the production and distribution of ethnic based media content. It currently owns and operates HumDesi Radio, a national South Asian radio network broadcasting in The United States and on a number of digital platforms across...
, Starting in late Nov 2008.
The shows title remained "Desi Live
Desi Live
Desi Live Radio Program is a nationally syndicated urban South-Asian radio show hosted by Johney Brar on the HumDesi Radio Network in the HD Radio format...
," however the show expanded from a 1-hour format to a 2-hour format. Desi Live
Desi Live
Desi Live Radio Program is a nationally syndicated urban South-Asian radio show hosted by Johney Brar on the HumDesi Radio Network in the HD Radio format...
also began airing live programming 5 nights a week, the show currently airs weeknights 8PM - 10PM on WorldBand Media's HumDesi Radio Network (HD Radio)
The Show Airs in the following Cities:
New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
/New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
- WRKS 98.7 FM HD-2
Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
- KPWR
KPWR
KPWR is a commercial radio station located in Los Angeles, California, broadcasting to the Greater Los Angeles area on an analog signal and in HD Radio...
105.9 FM HD-2
Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
- WWWN 101.1 FM HD-2
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
- WTOP
WTOP-FM
WTOP is an all-news formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Washington, D.C., serving Metropolitan Washington, DC area. WTOP is owned by Hubbard Broadcasting.WTOP is one of two all-news stations in the Washington, D.C...
103.5 FM HD-2
San Jose
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
/Bay Area - KIOI
KIOI
KIOI FM is a radio station licensed to San Francisco, California. The Clear Channel Communications-owned station programs a Hot Adult Contemporary format.- KPEN :...
101.3 FM HD-2
Listeners across the world can tune in to live streaming on the company's website www.humdesiradio.com or www.bbcsoundcrew.com
This is the first attempt to Nationally Syndicated a Desi/Bhangra Show in North America, making Johney Brar the youngest nationally syndicated South-Asian DJ in North America.
In October 2009, Desi Live has changed timeslots from 8-10pm Weeknights to its new home 9pm-12am Friday and Saturday.
As of July 2010, Desi Live airs one night a week, Saturday's 9PM - Midnight.
Charts
BBC Soundcrew's Desi Live Radio program also runs the Unofficial North American Bhangra Charts which include the top ten Bhangra/Desi Tracks for each week, with requests from listeners of the radio show weighing in.North American Bhangra Charts
Discography
BBC Soundcrew (DJ JoN-E) - Live to Air (2001)BBC Soundcrew (DJ JoN-E) - BreakThrough (2003)
Various - Urban Bhangra (BBC Soundcrew (DJ JoN-E) - Soun Rab Di)
BBC Soundcrew (DJ JoN-E) - Got Yourself Desi Remixxx Feat Nas (2004)
BBC Soundcrew (DJ JoN-E) - Desi Live the Mixx CD Vol. 1 (March - 2005)
BBC Soundcrew - Punjabi MC VS Eminem Mashup (Single 2005) (Produced By DJ Din)
BBC Soundcrew (DJ JoN-E & DJ Davy) - Desi Live the Mixx CD Vol. 2 (March - 2008)
All Albums and Singles are made available at BBCsoundcrew.com Music
