News Articles From Days Gone By
Four New Sirius Offerings
(31 August 2009)
SiriusXM has introduced four new devices to make life a little easier for satellite radio fans. The first is the new SkyDock for iPhones (see RUsirius.com story dated 24 August). There is also the Sirius TTR1 Wi-Fi radio, the Sirius Stratus 6 entry level satrad, the high-end XM Onyx and the XM Express RCi. Everything should be available fot this year's holiday shopping season. more>>
A Sirius Transmission
(31 August 2009)
This year's transmitLIVE, presented by Sirius, is being linked up with the Rifflandia music festival. The big event promises to provide a comprehensive showcase of artists in Victoria, British Columbia as summer draws to an end. "While we ensure that our artists are getting in front of the music industry, our partnership with Rifflandia will ensure the festival experience for fans that wish to experience four days of great music in BC's capital," said Transmission executive producer Tyl van Toorn. transmitLIVE, part of the Transmision music conference, takes place from 22-26 September. more>>
WorldSpace on the rocks...again.
(31 August 2009)
An agreement to sell international satcaster WorldSpace to Yenura Pte. Ltd., an entity headed by WorldSpace boss Noah Samara, has apparently fallen apart after lenders exercised their right to terminate. Yenara had won bankruptcy court approval to purchase substantially all of WorldSpace's assets in March (see RUsirius.com story dated 23 March 2009). more>>
HD Radio technology rolls along.
(31 August 2009)
Toshiba continues to produce new hardware for HD Radio. The latest entries are the TB2178FG and the TC94A90FG chipsets. Recently approved by HD Radio purveyor iBiquity, they provide a new front-end for vehicular-based HD Radios. "We are very pleased that iBiquity Digital has approved our new chipset for next generation HD Radio receivers," said Toshiba's Kazuteru Saginao. "We look forward to working with radio manufacturers to build the highest quality HD Radio automotive products available." more>>
Don Was gets Sirius.
(25 August 2009)
Don Was, the legendary Detroit-based producder, debuts with "The Motor City Hayride" this Saturday on Outlaw Country (Sirius 63, XM 12) at 10:00 PM(ET). The well-known producer of artists like Bonnie Raitt, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson is currently based in Los Angeles but has been recording segments for the show in the Motor City over the course of the past few months. Says Was, "I thought, what can I bring to this thing that (Outlaw Country host) Mojo Nixon can't? Well, none of the (air personalities) are from Detroit. People like that music in Detroit too!" In addition to musical selections from country, folk and rockabilly acts like Tammy Wynette, Bob Dylan and Jack Scott the show will feature interviews with Detroit icons including Mitch Ryder, attorney Geoff Fieger and Detroit Tiger Nate Robinson. more>>
Dennis Mudd slacks off.
(25 August 2009)
Saying he wanted to spend more time with his family, Slacker founder and Chief Executive Officer Dennis Mudd is stepping down. He's transitioning his responsibilities with the internet broadcaster to president Jim Cady. Slacker has been competing in the netcasting business since 2007 (see RUsirius.com story dated 14 March 2007) and has released its own BlackBerry and iPhone apps in addition to a personal music player. The company has raised about $70 million in funds from venture capital firms such as Centennial Ventures, Rho Ventures and Sevin Rosen Funds. more>>
Enter SkyDock
(24 August 2009)
SiriusXM is set to introduce a satellite radio dock for the iPhone and iPod that will turn them into complete receivers. The dock apparently has a special power cord that uses a vehicle's wiring as an FM transmitter. The SkyDock is expected to sell for less than $100. The satcaster is conducting a special press conference later this week to make the official announcement. more>>
Get ready to xplod into HD Radio.
(20 August 2009)
Sony is announcing the availability of four new Xplod in-dash receivers compatible with both satellite and HD Radio. The new units come with Radio Data System (RDS) technology, allowing FM stations to send artist and song information for display. The CDX-GT640UI, CDX- GT540UI, CDX-GT340 and the CDX-GT240 are priced at $160, $140, $100 and $80 respectively. more>>
A Sirius Wild Willie Weekend
(20 August 2009)
Willie Nelson celebrates the release of his new album, "American Classic," this weekend on Willie's Place (Sirius 64, XM 13). The music icon will tell stories about the tracks on the album every hour throughout the weekend as he relaxes at Carl's Corner, about 40 miles north of Waco, TX. Willie's new album contains his new renditions of American standards like "Stardust," the title of a previous but similar offering released in 1999. more>>
Polaris gets Sirius.
(18 August 2009)
This year's Polaris Music Festival sponsored by Sirius (see RUsirius.com story dated 26 May 2009) is about to get underway at Toronto's Masonic Temple on 21 September. The short listed artists will all be performing, including Elliott Brood, Hey Rosetta! and Patrick Watson. Says Polaris Music Prize founder Steve Jordan, "Each year we cross our fingers in the hopes that all of our short listed artists can be present to bask in the glow of their nomination and share the love with their fellow nominees." The show is being broadcast live on Sirius. more>>
New FCC Chairman...same issues
(18 August 2009)
SiriusXM has been briefing new Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski about Wireless Communications Service interference with the satellite radio signal. The FCC is in the process of opening up the WCS frequency bands (2.3 GHz) that are adjacent to those used by SiriusXM and the satcaster doesn't like it. Neither anyone else who enjoys listening to the satrad while driving in traffic. Testing has indicated that some devices operating over a predetermined amount of power can cause interference if the person in a nearby vehicle receives a phone call, a likely event in congested urban areas. more>>
Ondas' new Arabic Content
(17 August 2009)
European satellite radio company wannabe Ondas has announced that it has signed an agreement with Saudi-based Rotana to provide songs, interviews, concerts and other related content. Says Ondas boss Dave Krueger, "Our research has shown consumers are prepared to subscribe to this type of highly-targeted programming as it is simply not available elsewhere. Around 4% of our potential European consumer base of over 500 million people have already shown a strong interest in Arabic programming, rising to 15 and 20% in countries such as France, the UK and Spain." more>>
On the Verge
(17 August 2009)
XM Canada is getting ready for the another Verge awards, an event celebrating Canadian talent. "XM Canada s proud to continue showcasing and supporting the amazing talent that's found right here in our backyard," says Jeff Leake, XM Canada Director of Music Programming. Fans have been voting for their favorite bands and can continue to do so via the website. This year's show features performances by Metric, The Weakerthans and Hey Rosetta! and is being broadcast live from The Mod Club in Toronto on The Verge (XM channel 87). more>>
Robert Lanza gets sirius with Deepak Chopra.
(14 August 2009)
Dr. Robert Lanza, chief technology officer of Advanced Cell Technology, is the featured guest on Deepak Chopra's program tomorrow on Stars (Sirius 102, XM 55) starting at 12:00 PM(ET). The show focuses on Lanza's research and his new book "Biocentrism." Says Chopra, "Having interviewed some of the most brilliant minds in the scientific world, I found Dr. Robert Lanza's insights into the nature of consciousness original and exciting. His theory of biocentrism is consistent with the most ancient wisdom traditions of the world which says that consciousness conceives, governs, and becomes a physical world." more>>
A Sirius Upgrade
(14 August 2009)
Standard and Poor's has upgraded SiriusXM's credit rating on the basis of its debt refinancings and improved results. The satcaster's credit rating is now B-minus, upgraded from triple-C-plus, indicating S and P's "increased comfort" with the company's near-term liquidity, according to analyst Hal Diamond. The new rating puts the satcaster's credit rating one notch above that of highly speculative. more>>
Playboy at the Mustang
(13 August 2009)
SiriusXM's Playboy Radio will be broadcasting from the world famous Mustang Ranch, east of Reno, NV. The big event takes place on Friday, 4 September and the public (no one under 18, please) is invited to attend. "Afternoon Advice," which spaces from 11:00 AM(ET) to 3:00 PM(ET) and "Night Calls," which is in the 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM(ET) with Tiffany Granath and Christy Canyon respectively are scheduled for the Reno visit. Playboy Radio can be heard on Sirius and XM channels 99. more>>
TSS-Radio is Sirius!
(13 August 2009)
Satellite radio retailer TSS-Radio has been named the 94th fastest-growing private company by Inc. Magazine. Specializing in satellite radio receivers and selling only on the Internet, the company is said to have a wide selection of products together with experienced support personnel. Says TSS-Radio co-founder Taylor Mitchell, "We love satellite radio and our primary motivation is making sure that everyone has the best setup possible to enjoy the great talk, sports and music content wherever and whenever they want. That we have been able to build a successful business around our passion is a bonus." more>>
Take note!
(13 August 2009)
SiriusXM continues to issue notes to settle up its debt to Liberty Media. As previously reported (see RUsirius.com story dated 26 June 2009), the XM portion of SiriusXM had issued notes to the tune of $350 million. Now the satcaster is issuing $250 million in senior notes to qualified institutional buyers. more>>
Zune HD is ready to ship.
(13 August 2009)
This is it! It's bigger than iPod, bigger than iPhone, bigger than Blackberry. Hell, it's bigger than Uranus! It's the long-awaited, long-promised Zune HD from Microsoft and it's finally available next month. With a 3.3-inch glass screen, 16:9 widescreen display, HD-Radio receiver, HD video output and WiFi it's ready to ship on 15 September. With a price of $220 for the 16GB model and $290 for the 32GB model (see RUsirius.com story dated 11 August) it's just what we've always wanted. If only Microsoft could convince us. more>>
Sirius Testament
(12 August 2009)
On Monday, 10 August, Bay Area metal band Testament recorded a segment for SiriusXM's "Artist Confidential." The group has been touring to promote its latest offering, "The Formation of Damnation." The tour includes this year's Priest Feast in Europe with Judas Priest and last year's Metal Masters tour. The SiriusXM segment is scheduled for broadcast later this year on Liquid Metal (Sirius 27, XM 42). more>>
Howard miffed at Rosie's SiriusXM announcement.
(12 August 2009)
Rosie O'Donnell is coming to SiriusXM (see RUsirius.com story dated 25 June 2009) and Howard Stern doesn't like it...at least not the way it was done. The "King of All Media" wanted O'Donnell's show to be on his block of channels, either Howard 100 or Howard 101. Instead, the satcaster decided to put Rosie on Stars (channel 102). The move was announced by Lisa G on Howard 100 news, another sensitive issue for Stern, who said, "What a GREAT idea to have this announced by Lisa G from Howard 100 radio. My plan would have been to unroll this in a series of interviews in which we would show up together and do interviews together. It would have been huge." more>>
HBCU gets Sirius.
(12 August 2009)
The Heritage Sports Radio Network has announced that it is partnering with SiriusXM to broadcast Historically Black College and University (HBCU) sports nationally. "This is an unprecedented partnership that brings us closer to fulfilling our mission which is to be the 'voice of HBCU sports.' With this deal, HBCU sports fans finally have a place to call home and the new address is Sirius/XM," says HSRN CEO Omarr Bashir. The HBCU "game of the week" starts Saturday, 29 August. more>>
HD Radio at IEEE
(12 August 2009)
Several HD Radio sessions are scheduled for this year's IEEE Broadcast Symposium in Alexandria, Virginia. "Modern FM and IBOC Coverage Measurement Techniques at NPR Labs" is featured along with "Results of the Field Trials for IBOC at Increased Power Levels," and "Building a Real-World HD Radio Application." Just thought HD Radio fans, and there probably aren't very many of you, might be interested. more>>
The Performance Rights Act saga churns on.
(11 August 2009)
In a story that just won't seem to go away (see RUsirius.com story dated 5 August), advocates of the Performance Rights Act are turning to the Federal Communications Commission. It seems that radio stations are refusing to air commercials by the Music First Coalition promoting the rights of artists to receive payments in return for their music being played on the radio. As usual, the National Association of Broadcasters contends that, especially in the current economy, radio stations can't afford to pay any additional fees. Meanwhile, the FCC is putting the case up for review and comment. more>>
ZuneHD price leaks out!
(11 August 2009)
Microsoft's latest entry into the consumer electronics business, a Zune capable of receiving HD Radio (see RUsirius.com story dated 31 July), is apparently going to cost over $200 on Amazon, a price consistent with that reported by Best Buy. A Zune HD radio/MP3/Video player with 16 GB is apparently available for pre-order at $219.99. A 32 GB model should sell for $289.99. more>>
William and Noah...continued.
(10 August 2009)
Botswana officials may have entered into questionable deals involving convicted congressman William Jefferson, who has been assisted to some degree by WorldSpace CEO Noah Samara (see RUsirius story dated 7 April 2009). Apparently Samara has testified that in 2002 he told Jefferson about a trip he was taking to Africa. Upon being informed of Samara's travel plans, Jefferson said that if he would add Botswana and other venues that he (Jefferson) would arrange for meetings with top officials. more>>
Performance rights for Canada...are you sirius!
(10 August 2009)
Apparently music and sound recordings from Canada that are streamed to the United States are subject to royalty payments. In a story being followed by RUsirius.com (see RUsirius.com story dated 2 March), a new agreement now exists between SiriusXM, College Broadcasters, Inc., and the National Religious Broadcasters Music License Committee with SoundExchange governing the royalty rates of recordings through 2015. The new rates have been negotiated under the Webcaster Settlement Act of 2009, which gives SoundExchange the authority to neogtiate alternative rates and terms to those set by the Copyright Royalty Board in 2007. "SoundExchange is always looking for creative business solutions as long as they are also fair to the creators of the music," says Michael Huppe, SoundExchange General Counsel in a statement about satellite radio. "Agreements like this one are an important step forward for the industry and should enable SiriusXM to grow its webcasting business while appropriately compensating artists and rights holders." more>>
Woodstock! Siriusly!
(10 August 2009)
SiriusXM is celebrating the 40th anniversary of Woodstock with The Woodstock Channel, which launches this Friday, 14 August at 12:00 PM(ET) and runs through Sunday, 16 August, on Deep Tracks (Sirius 16, XM 40). The temporary channel features the music of and interviews with the artists who were there on the farm in 1969 including Graham Nash, Leslie West, Arlo Guthrie, The Band, Creedence Clearwater Revival and Joe Cocker. During the weekend, music will be presented in the order in which the artists performed at the actual event, starting with Richie Havens and ending with Jimi Hendrix. more>>
Murdoch to consumers: "Pay!"
(7 August 2009)
In an era when more and more consumers are turning to the Internet for their news and information, media mogul Rupert Murdoch sees an opportunity. The News Corp. CEO says he will charge for all the online content associated with the newspapers and television stations he owns. "We intend to charge for all our news Web sites," says Murdoch. "If we're successful, we'll be followed by all media." more>>
It's all Stern's fault!
(7 August 2009)
There have been what must seem like countless excuses for the poor financial performance of SiriusXM. But, according to CNBC host Dennis Kneale, part of the problem is two words: Howard Stern. Says Kneale, "I feel so bad - there's being run by one of what I think is the best executive in media, Mel Karmazin, a great salesman. But in the end, does it turn out they just overpaid for Howard Stern and they have too much debt?" There have been no comments from the "King of All Media." more>>
Mel says "Cash-in your clunker!"
(7 August 2009)
SiriusXM boss "Mellow Mel" Karmazin is delighted about the Government's "Cash for Clunkers" program. By encouraging consumers to trade-in their old cars for new ones it helps the auto market, which helps satellite radio. Says Mel, "Production schedules are resuming. Cash for Clunkers programs are working, and we are cautiously optimistic that the second half of 2009 will show improvement." He hopes the "clunker" isn't the SiriusXM stock price. more>>
Cousin Brucie at the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame
(7 August 2009)
Legendary Top 40 disk jockey and SiriusXM personality Bruce Morrow is scheduled to broadcast his show tomorrow night live from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. He'll be in the lobby stage from 7-11 PM(ET) for his show "Saturday Night Party," featuring Top 40 hits from the post-Beatles '60s. If you don't happen to be in Cleveland for the big event, the show is on '60s at 6 (Sirius, XM channel 6). more>>
Talkin' Tech at the NAB Show
(6 August 2009)
Next month's National Association of Broadcasters Show in Philadelphia will feature numerous engineeering sessions to help station staffs in day-to-day operations and, mostly, to smooth the transition to HD Radio. Topics like tower failure prevention and emergency operations are being covered along with the interpretation of the results of recent HD Radio field testing (see RUsirius.com story dated 4 August). The big event takes place in Philadelphia on 23 September. Cheesesteaks anyone? more>>
Sirius gets Sirius.
(6 August 2009)
SiriusXM posted a loss in the last quarter of $157 million compared with a loss of $84 million during the same period a year ago. Since there are currently more outstanding shares the loss per share is down from 6 cents a share last year to 4 cents a share today. Revenue grew to $591 million, an increase of one percent. Says SiriusXM boss "Mellow Mel" Karmazin, "Growing our revenue in the face of broad declines in the advertising and automotove markets is a remarkable accomplishment, and we are well positioned for a rebound in auto sales." On the subscriber front, the satcaster currently has 18.4 million, which represents a net loss of 186,000 during the quarter. more>>
Not dead yet!
(5 August 2009)
The Performance Rights Act, effectively defeated in the House of Representatives (see RUsirius.com story dated 4 June 2009), has been resurrected in the Senate. "This is legislation that is going to move," says Senator Pat Leahy (D-VT), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. "The time to sit down and talk is now." The National Association of Broadcasters still won't budge, however. NAB Chairman Steve Newberry still says that additional fees will "upend local radio broadcasting." Stay tuned! more>>
Acura is sirius about Bluetooth.
(5 August 2009)
It looks as if Acura is ready to make a commitment to Bluetooth connectivity as well as iPod/USB adapters and satellite radio. All three are going to be standard features across vehicle lines starting with the 2010 model year. Acura and Honda had already been supporting satellite radio and iPod installations using a dedicated text display (see RUsirius.com story dated 20 March 2007). more>>
NPR Labs HD Radio tests continue.
(4 August 2009)
In a continuing story being covered by RUsirius.com (see RUsirius.com story dated 23 July), NPR Labs is accelerating its testing efforts in an attempt to identify, to the satisfaction of all interested parties, the levels to which HD Radio signals can be raised. "Everybody wants an answer about how to manage power in light of adjacent neighbors," says John Kean of NPR Labs, "because we expect analog to be around for many years to come." Despite the efforts of the National Association of Broadcasters and iBiquity, NPR Labs prefers that the Federal Communications Commission wait until NPR can deliver its latest testing results before allowing broadcasters to increase their power levels by as much as 10dB. more>>
Old Audis get Sirius.
(4 August 2009)
Following the lead of Volkswagen (see RUsirius.com story dated 25 June), Audi is now offering purchasers of all Sirius-equipped certified pre-owned vehicles an introductory three-month trial offer of the "Sirius Everything" package. "Sirius is all about delivering the best in-class entertainment service that our customers expect to find in Audi vehicles," says Audi of America Chief Operating Officer Mark Del Rosso. "The Audi experience has always been more than just driving, and that's why we know our customers want Sirius sports, news talk and 100% commercial-free music in their certified pre-owned Audi vehicles." SiriusXM is happy just to have the opportunity to rope in a few more subscribers. more>>
Aguilera, Walsh Online
(3 August 2009)
Christina Aguilera and the Eagles' Joe Walsh are launching an ouline radio station in cooperation with Clear Channel and Front Line Management. The company says it plans to roll out additional stations produced by other artists. A.P.E. Radio CEO Evan Harrison said of the new venture, "At their core, artists tell stories. A.P.E. Radio will be an additional creative platform to connect with fans and further that storytelling, while ultimately exposing fans to new music." more>>
RIP GTM
(3 August 2009)
Radio icon George Taylor Morris has passed away at the age of 62, of throat cancer. Morris had most recently been the morning host of Deep Tracks (XM 40, Sirius 16) and the host of "Artist Confidential." Prior to his association with SiriusXM, Morris had been with WZLX in Boston where he was among those experimenting with a strange and unlikely connection between "The Wizard of Oz" and Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" in 1997. Originally from King City, CA, Morris began working in radio as a high school sophomore. He went on to stations in Lake Tahoe and Santa Barbara prior to becoming the news director of WHLI in Hempstead, NY, finally making his way to WWDJ in the New York metropolitan area. Eventually, Morris was hired as news anchor of NBC's The Source prior to his association with WZLX. more>>