Sirius XM Decks the Halls With 5 Channels of Holiday Music

[sonicbryen]

Maybe my memory is distorted but I almost recall some channels not coming back after being preempted for holiday music. Maybe I'm thinking of how many FMs pull a format flip.

I do have a valid concern though about SXM dropping 40s/4 and Escape. The Sirius mindset isn't about niche programing but just the most popular - they do their best to not have a "long tail" musically... that puts these two channels in the low hanging fruit category.

I know the FCC gave SXM another extension on when they have to allocate space for minority or whatever it is programing... perhaps they are making room by sacrificing two more amazing channels. How unfortunate if that's the case - I don't know of anywhere you can get the sound of 4 on 4 and the care of programing that goes into the listening experience.

[Liquid Stranger]

Hopefully Escape will only be off for 2 weeks and be back on the 20th.

[EricfromTx]

[Mr. D.T.]

[tdevine]

FWIW when Sirius and XM were included in Arbitron Escape actually had pretty high numbers, probably why it survived while Moving Easy did not. I wouldn't worry about Escape going anywhere. Now 40's on 4 is a different story but I still wouldn't worry (much).

[sonicbryen]

I also think there have been channels that were preempted for Holiday music that did come back but were gone within a year.

I'd hate to loose either channel considering that they are extremely hard to find in the world. I am disappointed at what has happened to the 40s channel though. The addition of the 50s music changes the sonic texture of the channel, I don't hear the features they used to have anymore, they blow a train horn more than they say "Savoy Express" and the voice over guy they have now sounds like he just wrapped up puberty. Who was doing their voiceover previously?

I'm skeptical of things ever getting better with Sirius in charge. I had both services for a time shortly after they launched and ended up switching to XM exclusively because of channels like the 40s - they were masters of creating an experience when you listen. Now most of that experience is just NexGen segueing into the next element. The life is gone out of all the decades channels - with the 60s hit particularly hard.

I got into radio because of the kind of radio XM provided and once again that sort of radio hardly exists. It's sad.

[XM_rocks]

[marker101]

it still baffles me as to why they are not going to create a special grouping for the channels like they did last year. like its so difficult.

now it's like sirius.



anywhere.

[johnnyelectron]

Escape - one of the highest rated TSL stations on XM Siri - hope it returns in all its glory!
Regarding "Holiday Traditions" on 4 - I hope that they have enough bandwidth to goose it up and put it in stereo as there's a lot of 60's Xmas music with some great separation in the day!

And I hope to heck that both channels will be here when all is said and done!

[DiscoKid]

Well, we can only hope that Escape returns after 12/19/2009.

It will be a disgrace if this channel disappears.

Get those emails ready!!!

[Panther D]

Well I emailed XM and this is what I received back.
Hello Richard,
As the program director of the station, I want you to know I protested the decision as well, and will forward your comments to the upper management. However, Holiday Traditions will be featuring a lot of music recorded in the era, so it should be enjoyable. The 40s channel is coming back on December 26th. There is 100% certainty of that, so please don't think of unsubscribing(!) We need more people like you who care about this channel and let it be known!
Thanks again,
H.Numan
Maybe everyone who likes 40 on 4 should e-mail their concerns. I gave them the link to this sight to read. Lets see what happens.

Richard

[marker101]

I think the channels being pre-empted will be back.

"Love" always gets picked on, so that's no surprise.

Hopefully Holiday Traditions will dig a little deeper and have a larger playlist this year. Last year's offering was good, but it could have been much better. Hopefully they include some of the holiday programming that was featured on the 40's on 4 normally.

Swapping a country channel for the country Christmas station makes sense, thankfully Village fans get to keep their channel this year.

Pops is normal and natural

But Escape is baffling why it's going away for Hanukkah (use The Bridge!! ) -- Escape dropped in a lot of Christmas music in their normal playlist that was very enjoyable before the holiday, then of course the All-Christmas marathon. The 9 days without it will be rough, but it's return will be welcome on Dec. 20. I'll have to dig out my recordings to get me through.

I'm not going to panic at this point. If it's these channels' "turns" to be pre-empted, then let it be.

[DiscoKid]

I like your attitude marker.

It will be tough those nearly 2 weeks without Escape. I too liked how they would drop in a Christmas song every hour, then half hour then every fifteen minutes as it gets closer to Christmas.

I remember in 2004 when Chrome got bumped. That was rough because it was for more than a month.

Hopefully Escape will still be around this time next year

[albo60s]

Im not happy about Escape being preempted.
Next time pick another channel SXM.
It would be ok to have some Xmas music on Esacape, but to mute the channel for weeks is not acceptable.

[daver40]