The Independent newspaper recently reported on the launch of Q magazine’s radio arm.

Interestingly, the station has poached young women presenters to overhaul its image:

Rather than a beardy bloke, Blaxill and Q editor Paul Rees, have chosen Samanthi (pictured) as their star turn, a former Xfm presenter who also works for DesiDNA, a BBC2 show on British Asian arts and entertainment. “She’s in her mid-20s and is absolutely consumed by music and film. It would have been easier for us to secure that 40-year-old white guy, but it’s required more depth and thought to bring Samanthi on board,” says Blaxill.

Samanthi will be presenting the Qpm show at 6pm-9pm from Monday to Friday but Q Radio will move further into leftfield on Sunday evenings when, Amber and Nisha, The Broken Hearts, move into the studio. The Broken Hearts are one of London’s most fashionable DJ acts – described by this newspaper as “A Hollywood musical on hallucinogenics”.

A good development, no doubt, that British Asians are being seen past their skin colour and being recognised for their diverse music tastes. Well done to Samanthi for making the move.