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''Desi Live Radio Program'' was the first nationally distributed South-Asian radio show in the United States. The show was produced and hosted by Johney Brar (DJ JoN-E of
BBC Soundcrew BBC Soundcrew is a Canadian DJ group from Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Created in 2000 by Johney Brar (DJ JoN-E) and Gurjit Bolina (MC LoudMouTH) BBC Soundcrew was created to advance the South-Asian music scene across North America. BBC Soun ...
) and distributed by HumDesi Radio Network (a division of WorldBand Media) in
HD Radio HD Radio (HDR) is a trademark for in-band on-channel (IBOC) digital radio broadcast technology. HD radio generally simulcast, simulcasts an existing analog radio station in digital format with less noise and with additional text information. HD R ...
format. The program first aired on CHRY 105.5FM then moved in 2008 to HD Radio airing in
New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
/
New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...
-
WRKS WRKS (105.9 FM, "The Zone") is a radio station licensed to Pickens, Mississippi, although its studio is located in Ridgeland, Mississippi. Launched on July 2, 2009, the station's format is sports, with programming from ESPN Radio. WRKS is ow ...
98.7 FM HD-2,
Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
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KPWR KPWR (105.9 FM broadcasting, FM) – branded as ''Power 106'' – is a commercial radio station in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, broadcasting to the Greater Los Angeles area. KPWR is owned and operated by Alex Meruelo's Meruelo Group, t ...
105.9 FM HD-2,
Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
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WKQX WKQX (101.1 FM broadcasting, FM) is a commercial radio station licensed to Chicago, Illinois, featuring an alternative rock radio format, format known as "Q101". Owned by Cumulus Media, the station serves the Chicago metropolitan area. WKQX's ...
101.1 FM HD-2, San Jose/Bay Area -
KIOI KIOI (101.3 FM, "Star 101.3") is an commercial hot adult contemporary-formatted American radio station licensed to San Francisco, California, United States, and owned by iHeartMedia. The radio studios and offices are in the SoMa district of ...
101.3 FM HD-2 and
Washington Washington most commonly refers to: * George Washington (1732–1799), the first president of the United States * Washington (state), a state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A ...
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WTOP WTOP may refer to: Radio stations *WTOP-FM 103.5 FM, a radio station in Washington, D.C. *WHUR-FM 96.3 FM, a radio station licensed to Washington, D.C. that held the WTOP-FM call letters from 1949 until 1971 *WFED 1500 AM, a radio station licensed ...
103.5 FM HD-2.


FM Radio

BBC Soundcrew's "Desi Live" Radio Program was hosted By Johney Brar (DJ JoN-E) and aired every Monday 8:00pm–9:00pm (EST) on CHRY 105.5FM
Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...
. Shows could also be listened to on their website as well as Rogers Cable Channel 945. 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. Desi Live Radio Show was sandwiched between the popular hip hop program "Backroad Radio" 6:00pm–8:00pm and "Everyday I have the Blues" the long running jazz/blues show hosted by Vince Vitacco (9:00pm–11:00pm) The show primarily played
bhangra Bhangra may refer to: * Bhangra (music), a genre of Punjabi music * Bhangra (dance), a folk dance of Punjab region * ''Bhangra'' (film), a 1959 Indian Punjabi-language film See also * Bhangara, Nepal Bhangara, Nepal is a village development c ...
(
Punjabi Punjabi, or Panjabi, most often refers to: * Something of, from, or related to Punjab, a region in India and Pakistan * Punjabi language * Punjabis, Punjabi people * Punjabi dialects and languages Punjabi may also refer to: * Punjabi (horse), a ...
) music along with urban Indian beats and music from local talent. The show took great strides in its first year with its popularity soaring. Each show was also made available online at bbcsoundcrew.co

so listeners can listen anytime as even the old shows were archived.
“BBC Soundcrew, one of Toronto’s top Indian and Bhangra DJs, has sought to create a presence and medium for South Asians to explore their culture, not only in Toronto, but for Canada’s diverse Indian population."
"Desi Live" was produced 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 at the network on October 27, 2008.


HD Radio

Johney Brar signed a deal to move his show to the United States market with a national syndication deal with
HD Radio HD Radio (HDR) is a trademark for in-band on-channel (IBOC) digital radio broadcast technology. HD radio generally simulcast, simulcasts an existing analog radio station in digital format with less noise and with additional text information. HD R ...
provider WorldBand Media (in partnership with
Emmis Communications Emmis Corporation is an American media conglomerate based in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. Emmis, based on the Hebrew word for "Truth" (''Emet'') was founded by Jeff Smulyan in 1980. Emmis has owned many radio stations, including KPWR ...
, beginning in late November 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, airing weeknights 8:00pm–10:00pm on HumDesi Radio (HD Radio) hosted by Johney Brar (DJ JoN-E). The show aired in the following cities:
New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
/
New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...
-
WRKS WRKS (105.9 FM, "The Zone") is a radio station licensed to Pickens, Mississippi, although its studio is located in Ridgeland, Mississippi. Launched on July 2, 2009, the station's format is sports, with programming from ESPN Radio. WRKS is ow ...
98.7 FM HD-2
Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
-
KPWR KPWR (105.9 FM broadcasting, FM) – branded as ''Power 106'' – is a commercial radio station in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, broadcasting to the Greater Los Angeles area. KPWR is owned and operated by Alex Meruelo's Meruelo Group, t ...
105.9 FM HD-2
Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
-
WKQX WKQX (101.1 FM broadcasting, FM) is a commercial radio station licensed to Chicago, Illinois, featuring an alternative rock radio format, format known as "Q101". Owned by Cumulus Media, the station serves the Chicago metropolitan area. WKQX's ...
101.1 FM HD-2
Washington Washington most commonly refers to: * George Washington (1732–1799), the first president of the United States * Washington (state), a state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A ...
-
WTOP WTOP may refer to: Radio stations *WTOP-FM 103.5 FM, a radio station in Washington, D.C. *WHUR-FM 96.3 FM, a radio station licensed to Washington, D.C. that held the WTOP-FM call letters from 1949 until 1971 *WFED 1500 AM, a radio station licensed ...
103.5 FM HD-2
San Jose -
KIOI KIOI (101.3 FM, "Star 101.3") is an commercial hot adult contemporary-formatted American radio station licensed to San Francisco, California, United States, and owned by iHeartMedia. The radio studios and offices are in the SoMa district of ...
101.3 FM HD-2 This was the first attempt to nationally syndicate a Desi/Bhangra Show in North America, making Johney Brar the youngest nationally syndicated South-Asian DJ in North America. As of October 2009, Desi Live changed timeslots from 8:00pm–10:00pm weeknights to its new home 9:00pm–12:00am Friday's and Saturday's. As of July 2010, Desi Live began airing one night a week, Saturdays 9:00pm - Midnight. The last show for Humdesi Radio aired on May 21, 2011. Humdesi Radio was sold shortly after this, officially cancelling all shows on its network.


Desi Live TV

In 2015, concepts were pitched to two prominent Canadian television networks of turning the radio show in to a live dance music television program, appealing to ethnic music audiences around the country. While the idea gained interest from the networks, it was put on hold by Johney claiming that certain rules and restrictions of what we can do on the program by the networks would likely make the show unprofitable. Due to this, the pilot episode of "Desi Live TV" was never shot.


Notable Guests

Trish Stratus Patricia Anne Stratigeas (; born December 18, 1975), better known by the ring name Trish Stratus, is a Canadian professional wrestler, yoga instructor, actress and former fitness model. She is signed to WWE. An inductee of the 2013 WWE Hall ...
-
WWE World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is an American professional wrestling promotion. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority-owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. A global integrated media and entertainment company, ...
Hall of Famer
Shaun Majumder Shaun Majumder is a Canadian actor and comedian. He is best known for his role on ''This Hour Has 22 Minutes,'' where he worked from 2003 until 2018. He won a Gemini Award for his work on the series in 2006. Early life Majumder was raised in Bu ...
- Canadian comedian/actor
Vikas Kohli Vikas Kohli is an Indian musician and music producer, whose work covers a variety of genres from punk, jazz, hip-hop, to Country, Metal, and Bollywood pop. He is known for his expertise in song arrangements and his one-on-one artist development ...
- Audio Producer of
Fatlabs FatLabs is a Canadian home recording studio in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 2003 by Vikas Kohli. The studio is known for its ability to work with a variety of genres. Filmography Mission Istaanbul FatLabs Vikas Ko ...
recording studio in
Mississauga, Ontario Mississauga is a Canadian city in the province of Ontario. Situated on the north-western shore of Lake Ontario in the Regional Municipality of Peel, it borders Toronto (Etobicoke) to the east, Brampton to the north, Milton to the northwest, ...
, Canada Lara Levi - CEO of Death Row Records
Sonjay Dutt Retesh Bhalla (born April 7, 1982) is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) as a Glossary of professional wrestling terms#agent, producer and Glossary of professional wrestling terms#manage ...
- Professional Wrestler
John Leguizamo John Alberto Leguizamo Peláez (, ; ; born July 22, 1960 or 1964) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and film producer. He has appeared in more than 100 films, produced more than 20 films and documentaries, made more than 30 televisio ...
- Emmy Award winning actor


External links


Excalibur News Article on Desi Live and BBC Soundcrew - "Bhangra Hits the Airwaves"

Campus Life Magazine Article on BBC Soundcrew, "A Voice for South Asian Community"

Radio World Magazine Article on WorldBand Media, "Emmis Partners with ethnic broadcaster to populate several HD Channels"

Radio World Magazine Article, "Emmis Will Use HD3 Channels in Top Markets for South Asian Listeners"


References

{{Reflist American music radio programs