From 24 February 2003, 1Xtra - the BBC's new digital Black Music Station - will dedicate two hours a week to the UK Asian fusion scene. The Panjabi Hit Squad will be on air every Monday night between midnight and 2.00am following the success of their monthly show.

The trademark Squad sound is the soundtrack to the urban Asian experience - mixing up Bhangra and Bollywood beats with old and Nu Skool Hip-Hop, Dancehall and UK Garage, with added MCs and Indian percussion.

This schedule change reflects the increasing influence that Asian fusion music is having in the urban music scene and 1Xtra is getting right behind it. On landing the weekly show, the Punjabi Hit Squad said: "We're absolutely thrilled 1Xtra has given us a weekly show providing a much needed outlet for Asian fusion music. We can't wait to deliver the beats to the listeners who are clearly demanding it."

Willber Willberforce, Programmes Editor 1Xtra, said: "This is a really exciting time for the Asian fusion scene and 1Xtra is delighted to have secured the talents of the Punjabi Hit Squad on a weekly basis. "The new show will push the genre and further represents the diverse sound of 1Xtra."

Punjabi Hit Squad: Monday nights, midnight - 2.00am from 24 February 2003.

ABOUT PANJABI HIT SQUAD

The members of Panjabi Hit Squad have been at the forefront of the UK's massive Asian Fusion scene since the early 90s. The Squad was formed in the Summer of 2001 by two of the biggest names in the genre : ADC (Asian DJ Culture) and DJ Markie Mark.

The trademark Squad sound typifies the Fusion scene at the moment - mixing up Bhangra and Bollywood beats with old and Nu Skool Hip-Hop, Dancehall and UK Garage breakz, with added MCs and Indian percussion. The soundtrack to the UK Urban Asian experience.

Panjabi Hit Squad have toured extensively around the UK and recently in Norway, France and Germany. They also headlined the DJ Stage at the recent 23 1/2 days of Bollywood festival at Selfridges. Their song Shaher was the title track on the Selfridges Urban Desi compilation.

PHS were the first from the Asian Fusion scene to work with mainstream Garage MCs, through recent collaborations with MOBO award winner CKP and Kofi-B. They have performed alongside So Solid Crew, Mis-Teeq, Ms Dynamite, DJ Spoony and the Heartless Crew.

The mission statement of PHS is simple : to raise the profile of Asian Fusion within the mainstream and gain the recognition our genre deserves.

You can listen to 1Xtra online by clicking here.