Edition #40: The latest news from SiriusXM.
Channel changes, plenty of events, including: F1 in Miami, the Kentucky Derby, and so much more in this week's edition of the newsletter.
Friday, May 5th, 2023 (Cinco de Mayo!)
Welcome y’all to the first SeriousXM newsletter of the month of May! I’m glad you are here and subscribing to find out what’s happening inside the company.
This is your weekly free look but of course, if you want to donate to support me and my work, follow these links…
It has been a busy week for SiriusXM, capped off by the first week of SXM’s new studios in my backyard… South Florida, specifically South Beach. I already covered a lot of what would happen this week in the last edition so I won’t get to that here. However, I’ll still cover a few things like F1 in Miami. That’ll be later in the sports section.
But right now, let’s get to the very latest.
The Latest News
SXM Canada’s Top of the Country contest finalists.
This week, SXM Canada plus the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) is inviting Canadians to help choose their 2023 SXM Top of the Country champion. Voting is now open for Canadians at topcountry.siriusxm.ca through 10:00am ET (7:00am PT) on May 10th.
Eight semifinalists are in the running to secure a spot in the finale with the finalists going to perform at CMA Fest in Nashville plus perform at exclusive Canadian events and win some cash prizes.
This year's semi-finalists are:
Hailey Benedict – St. Albert, Alberta
Noah Derksen – Winnipeg, Manitoba
Teigen Gayse – Kelowna, B.C.
Amanda Jordan – Smith Falls, Ontario
Mark Ledlin – Vancouver, B.C.
The Prairie States – Edmonton, Alberta
Dayna Reid – Elmvale, Ontario
Lydia Sutherland – Montréal, Québec
The competition will culminate in the SiriusXM Top of the Country Finale during the CCMA's Country Music Week 2023, where the finalists will be able to showcase their talents. The event will be broadcast live on SiriusXM's Top of the Country Radio (SXM 171) and will feature a highly anticipated headlining act.
Channel Changes
There really wasn’t any news at all, except for the first story, so we’re going right to channel changes now. This covers permanent and temporary limited-run channels, so remember that.
Hits Uno is here!
Later today at 5:00pm ET (2:00pm PT) on Channel 321, Hits Uno will start broadcasting 24/7 from SiriusXM’s new studios on South Beach.
I will do my best to try and record the first few minutes of the launch of the channel and then try to bring it to you in next week’s edition of the newsletter so stay tuned for that.
Carrie’s Country is coming...
You can now add Carrie Underwood to the list of artists having their own full-time permanent channel on SXM. Coming up next month in June, SXM will launch Carrie’s Country in a TBD channel slot.
The country music superstar who first claimed fame almost twenty years ago on American Idol as its fourth season winner, will have her own 24/7 channel devoted to her music but also songs from artists that she likes. She’ll handcraft everything but also showcase different music that’s not necessarily country, like music from AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, and The Rolling Stones. From country, expect artists like Keith Urban, Dolly Parton, Brad Paisley, Miranda Lambert, and more.
It’ll be a different mix that’s similar to when Garth Brooks had his own channel on SXM, The Garth Channel. That was on Channel 55, but again, its unclear if SXM will put her channel there to fill the gap as Channel 55 is temporarily being used as a pop-up home for limited-run channels.
Additionally, it will feature original programming, morning workout, and late-night hard rock blocks, Sundays filled with inspirational music, country titles (of course), and more. She’ll have programs like Find Your Path (named after her bestselling book) that’s mainly about fitness, another called Take The Wheel where friends, peers, and fans will take turns as special guest DJs, and another feature called Reflection where she looks back at career milestones and memories, set to music that makes up her life.
She’ll even share things she’s passionate about, like fitness, wellness, gardening, and more.
Duran Duran Future Past Radio
If you like the group Duran Duran, well for a limited time, there’ll be a 24/7 home for you.
Duran Duran Future Past Radio on SiriusXM launched on the SXM app yesterday and will remain in the app until June 2nd. Plus, for one week, from May 18th-24th, it will also be available on one of SXM’s limited-run channels, Channel 105. This is all in anticipation of their worldwide tour that’ll kick off May 27th, also called Future Past.
On this channel, you’ll hear all smash hits and songs from their 15 studio albums, plus several live albums and more. the band members will talk about their music and the music that inspired the band’s sound from the early days through today. You’ll also hear three special programs during its run, including…
Club Duran Duran - Fridays at 11:00pm ET (8:00pm PT), which will be an hour of remixes.
Weekends Live - Saturdays at 3:00 and 8:00pm ET (12 Noon and 5:00pm PT), full of live album performances.
Whooosh! Wednesdays - Wednesdays at 9:00pm ET (6:00pm PT), playing the best of band member Simon Le Bon’s weekly show feature on The Spectrum (SXM 28).
Rockville Radio
The biggest hard rock music festival in the nation is coming up, but SiriusXM wants you to feel jazzed up about it now… with Rockville Radio.
Welcome To Rockville is coming up later this month in Daytona Beach, Fla. at the Daytona International Speedway, so SiriusXM has launched this limited-run channel that’ll run from now until June 3rd on the SXM app and on Channel 505, which is one of ten of SXM’s online-only Limited Edition channels.
There’ll be music, interviews, live performances, and more from the biggest names in hard rock (a category yours truly doesn’t know anything about it at all), including Slipknot, Avenged Sevenfold, Godsmack, and more.
The limited-run channel will also take over Octane (SXM 37) during the upcoming festival weekend on May 19th-23rd. Oh, and what a surprise… Octane’s own Metal Ambassador, Jose Mangin (who I talked about in an edition from two weeks ago), will emcee the whole event the entire weekend.
SXM Originals is new as well.
There’s no publicity surrounding this channel. No fanfare here, but it launched this week very quietly.
Its called SiriusXM Originals and can be found online-only on Channel 781. SXM calls it a home for App-Only Music Series and More. In other words, on-demand music and pop culture content that’s created only for the SXM app, now playing 24/7 on its own station.
It’ll feature content such as the new podcast/countdown show The List to soundtracks for a session or occasion. Anything that’s only available on the SXM app will be played here.
Events
Its time to get to the latest events of the upcoming week. There are a lot of them, even on a week where there’s not much SXM-company-related news.
Gordon Lightfoot passed away. SXM will honor him.
Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot, best known for his folk classics “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” “Sundown,” and “If You Could Read My Mind”, passed away on Monday of this week, according to a statement on his Facebook page. He was 84.
As a result, SiriusXM is honoring him. They already aired a Guest DJ special he once did for Willie’s Roadhouse (SXM 59) and you can listen to it now on the SXM app. Also, Outlaw Country (SXM 60) will air a new tribute episode of the Steve Earle Show in dedication to Mr. Lightfoot on Saturday, May 6th (tomorrow) at 9:00pm ET (6:00pm PT).
Also, his 2019 sitdown with Mary Sue Twohy will air on The Village (SXM 741; online-only) later today, Friday, May 5th at 3:00pm ET (12 Noon PT), tomorrow, Saturday, May 6th at 6:00pm ET (3:00pm PT), and Sunday, May 7th at 1:00pm ET (10:00am PT).
The Brooklyn Mirage on BPM.
One of NYC’s crown entertainment jewels, The Brooklyn Mirage, is opening back up again for the Summer, and BPM (SXM 51) will be hyping it up by looking back at last year’s events.
This weekend will be replays of different sets recorded live by different DJs as the channel prepares for its upcoming 2023 collaboration with the venue. Once more details arise out of that, you’ll read it here in the newsletter.
For now, here’s this weekend’s schedule, looking back at last year.
Tomorrow, Saturday, May 6th
11:00am ET (8:00am PT) - An interview with BPM program director Geronimo and the Brooklyn Mirage team.
12 Noon ET (9:00am PT) - The Chainsmokers
1:30pm ET (10:30am PT) - Gryffin
3:00pm ET (12 Noon PT) - Above and Beyond
7:30pm ET (4:30pm PT) - Marshmello
Sunday, May 7th
12 Noon ET (9:00am PT) - Marshmello (repeat)
1:30pm ET (10:30am PT) - The Chainsmokers (repeat)
3:00pm ET (12 Noon PT) - Loud Luxury
5:00pm ET (2:00pm PT) - Geronimo’s interview with the Brooklyn Mirage team (repeat)
5:30pm ET (2:30pm PT) - Above and Beyond (repeat)
7:30pm ET (4:30pm PT) - Gryffin (repeat)
A Bon Jovi Radio special from Miami.
Bon Jovi was in Miami to help kick off SiriusXM’s new studios in Miami and while here, he did a special for his own SXM radio channel called Bon Jovi Radio (SXM 709; online-only). From ‘New Jersey’ to Miami, he takes listeners on a track-by-track through his legendary New Jersey album as it turns 35 years old.
It premiered yesterday, but its available now on the SXM app and can be heard again at the following times…
Today, Friday, May 5th at 9:00am and 10:00pm ET (6:00am and 7:00pm PT)
Tomorrow, Saturday, May 6th at 7:00pm ET (4:00pm PT)
Sunday, May 7th at 6:00am ET (3:00 am PT)
Monday, May 8th at 12 Noon ET (9:00am PT)
Tuesday, May 9th at 3:00pm ET (12 Noon PT)
Wednesday, May 10th at 6:00pm ET (3:00pm PT)
The Smashing Pumpkins takeover.
This weekend, Billy Corgan, James Iha, and Jimmy Chamberlin, better known as The Smashing Pumpkins, are taking over Lithium (SXM 34) to play their favorite ’90s alternative and grunge artists and influences. Plus, they’ll discuss their flannel-era classics and introduce you to their brand new three-part rock opera concept album, Atum (pronounced “autumn”).
It’ll be available later today, Friday, May 5th at 6:00pm ET (3:00pm PT) until Monday, May 8th at 3:00pm ET (12 Noon PT).
A new show from Pearl Jam Radio.
A new show is coming out from Pearl Jam guitarist Stone Gossard and his friend and fellow artist Regan Hagar, who both run the record label Loosegroove Records, and it’ll be available on Pearl Jam Radio (SXM 22). The program will ironically be the same name as the record label.
During each episode of the show, Loosegroove Records, Gossard, and Hagar will interview artists on their label and play music from the releases they’re putting out this summer.
The program debuts later tonight, Friday, May 5th at 6:00pm ET (3:00pm PT) and will feature a conversation with Brittany Davis. It will be rebroadcast tomorrow, Saturday, May 6th at 11:00am ET (8:00am PT), Sunday, May 7th at 9:00pm ET (6:00pm PT), and Monday, May 8th at 8:00am ET (5:00am PT).
Future episodes will include Jonny Polonsky, Jamie Hall from Tiger Cub, James and the Cold Gun, and Mason Jennings. Additionally, in a later episode, Gossard and Hagar will talk about the release of their latest Brad record and re-issue of their debut album, Shame. All of that will be coming up on their new show.
Sports
Time to get to the sports side of the events page and oh boy, there’s a lot. Its a busy time of the year for sports fans. You got NBA and NHL playoffs right now in Round 2, MLB and MLS regular seasons still at it, and the final month of the Premier League season is here.
🏇: A call to the horses for the Kentucky Derby.
The biggest horse racing event on their calendar every year is almost here. Its the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby, home to The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports.
NBC Sports Audio (SXM 85) is the place to be for full live race day coverage tomorrow, Saturday, May 6th. First, a four-hour special edition of Down The Stretch live at 10:00am ET (7:00am PT), followed by a three-hour pre-race show at 2:00pm ET (11:00am PT), which will then lead into NBC Sports’ coverage of the race from 5:00-7:30pm ET (2:00-4:30pm PT). As always for many many years now, race track announcer Larry Collmus will have the live race calls.
This is the first leg of Horse Racing’s Triple Crown, with the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes later to come.
⛳: Annika Sorenstam now has her own program.
Legendary LPGA golfer and Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam now has an SXM program of her own, airing on SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio (SXM 92). Her new program is simply called… Annika and it debuted this past Tuesday night.
She’ll be co-hosted with her husband Mike McGee and will take calls from listeners, discuss her experiences in golf and business, provide helpful tips, break down today’s game and players, and more. The program will air at least twice a month.
⛳: Golf is in Charlotte this weekend.
Meanwhile, SXM PGA Tour Radio will be in Charlotte for this weekend’s Wells Fargo Championship from Quail Hollow Club. Coverage will be on later today, Friday, May 5th at 12 Noon ET (9:00am PT) with Saturday, May 6th, and Sunday, May 7th coverage starting at 1:00pm ET (10:00am PT).
🏎️: Formula One is in my backyard!
If you didn’t know by now, yours truly’s backyard is in South Florida, closer to Miami. So all the spotlight is in my backyard this weekend for Formula One racing fans…
Its the second annual Miami Grand Prix, taking place at the Miami International Autodrome near Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. To put this into context, that’s 20 minutes away from where I live. Yeah… I’ll be that close, though I don’t have that rich money to attend it, so SXM will do for me and for plenty of others.
The race will be heard on ESPN Xtra (SXM 81) starting with qualifying tomorrow, Saturday, May 6th at 3:55pm ET (12:55pm PT) with the race itself on Sunday, May 7th at 3:30pm ET (12:30pm PT).
🏁: NASCAR is in the Heart of America this weekend.
Quite literary. They’re in Kansas this weekend for its races up there. And just in case you still live under a rock, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (SXM 90) has all the coverage.
Saturday, May 6th
8:00pm ET (5:00pm PT) - NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: Heart of America 200
Sunday, May 7th
3:00pm ET (12 Noon PT) - NASCAR Cup Series: AdventHealth 400
This week’s Driver2Driver channels are (online-only)…
Chase Elliot - #9 on SXM 980.
Joey Logano - #22 on SXM 981.
Bubba Wallace - #23 on SXM 982.
Done. That’s it for this week’s edition. I hope you get to enjoy what you can out of this weekend, the first one in May. Today’s Cinco de Mayo too if you celebrate that. Otherwise, just be safe, have fun, and enjoy your weekend.
I’ll do my best to capture the debut of Hits Uno today (only the first few minutes to avoid copyright issues) and will try to bring it to you in next week’s edition.
I’ll talk to you next weekend. Until then, thank you, and have a good one.
SeriousXM is a newsletter service of TheRolyPoly Productions.
