Sirius/XM on the iPhone, finally!
For those of you who, like me, are iPhone users and Sirius/XM subscribers, our time has come. Thanks to Pocket Tunes Radio, we can now stream our favorite satellite stations direct to our iPhones. And yes, this includes Howard Stern, for fellow addicts like myself. There are a ton of other radio stations to choose from, but I’ll be using it primarily for Sirius/XM.
Nothing this sweet comes without a price, so if you’re interested, you’ll need to pony up $10.00 for the app, but it’s money well spent if you’ve been waiting for a way to listen to Sirius/XM on your iPhone (without jailbreaking it). Oh, one other little caveat – Sirius charges $2.99 per month now for streaming Internet Radio, so you need to be signed up for that as well. They charge by the month, so for the price of a cup of coffee, again – to me – totally worth it.
Check out Pocket Tunes Radio on
Check out the Macworld review of Pocket Tunes Radio (by NormSoft).
Listen: Steve Earle’s Satellite Radio (mp3) – from Washington Square Serenade
The Death of Satellite Radio At Hand?
Ouch.
A good day it was not for Sirius-XM. Bankruptcy rumors knocked 50% off the stock, which closed at – ehh – 6 cents.
I’m starting to realize that as much as I love the technology and all I love about it: Howard Stern, E Street Radio, Backspin, Deep Tracks, Jam On, Classic Rewind, The Bridge, Outlaw Country – that the reality is it may not have much of a future.
In the internet age, where SO MUCH is available in a few clicks, and the technology of free internet radio in the car not far away… well, how can they possibly convince more people to shell out $150 a year for satellite radio?
I hope it sticks around, and as a shareholder, I hope there isn’t a bankruptcy (and that the stock slingshots back up), but I’m not holding much hope.
Sirius XM drops 50% on reports of possible bankruptcy (CBS MarketWatch)
Light of the Moon
My main way of staying somewhat in tune with the jam band scene is by listening to Sirius-XM’s Jam_On channel. In rotation these days is this fun tune by Al & the Transamericans. They’re a supergroup of sorts: moe‘s Al Schnier is joined by members of Strangefolk, Okemah, and the Gordon Stone Trio. Okay, well supergroup to some, since I’ve only heard moe’s music.
The tune is a bluegrass / roots tune with a banjo leading the way. A fast paced knee-shaker. The crowning moments for me come during the guitar/banjo solo, where the band’s jam background sneaks in for some nice atmospheric playing.
Al & the Transamericans – Light of the Moon (mp3)
Buy: This Day & Age
MySpace: myspace.com/althetransamericans
Sirius Backspin Will Return, and doggone it if it ain’t raining
As a guy who came of age in the classic age of early hip-hop, aka the 80’s – I was seriously bummed when Sirius’ Backspin channel was canned after the Sirius – XM merger. Sirius and XM did a pretty good job of consolidating, and holding on to the genres, whether on the Sirius or XM side. Old School Rap, unfortunately, was a casualty with no replacement on the XM side.
Fast forward to today’s press release, that, due to subscriber complaints, Backspin will make a triumphant return on January 15th! Sweet! I can can get my fix of the greats: Kurtis Blow, Doug E. Fresh, Eric B. & Rakim, Grandmaster Flash, and all the other Old School pioneers.
1/19 Update: Backspin is indeed back. I confirmed today. It doesn’t show up in the menu yet (probably not until Sirus-XM’s next update, whenever that is). You can find it on Channel 39 on the Sirius side.
Stay tuned for an Old School mix I’m putting together, featuring a bunch of my favorites from the era.
So the question you’re asking yourself at this point is: “Why the photo of Keith Sweat in a lightning storm?” Well, Keith is most definitely old school, and something rare has come to the my hometown – Rain. I’m talking all day, steady, beautiful rain. And since the late 80’s, when Make It Last Forever was released, “In the Rain” has been one of my favorite rain songs. Okay, yes, I know Zeppelin’s “Rain Song” is legendary, and so is CCR’s “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” and “Who’ll Stop the Rain”, and of course, Prince’s “Purple Rain”.
Buut, old Keith’s rain tune always pops into my head when the rain falls, which isn’t very often in these parts. Listen to Keith’s rain song, won’t you?
Keith Sweat – “In the Rain” (mp3)
From the 1987 album, Make It Last Forever
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The Woes of Satellite Radio
Eek! I thought I was getting such a bargain when I bought a bunch of Sirius stock a few years ago at $2.50 a share. I watched in delight as it rose to almost $8.00 after Howard Stern signed on. Well, it’s 2008, the economy is in the shitter, Sirius is now SiriusXM, and do you care to guess what the stock closed at today? $5.00? $3.00? $1.00?
Right, try $0.16. That’s s-i-x-t-e-e-n cents.
I’m starting to wonder if I’ll hear anything on my receiver when I start my truck six months from now. I’m wondering if this downward spiral can ever make a significant rebound.
Maybe it only truly appeals to a certain segment of society, primarily music lovin’ geeks like me. I LOVE my SiriusXM Satellite radio!! Granted, I’m sort of pissed about some recent consolidations of “redundant” stations that eliminated two of my favorites – Backspin and Sirius Disorder – but the selection of music (commercial-free) is so far better than terrestrial radio that you can’t even make the comparison.
I’m surprised satellite radio isn’t a lot more popular than it is. But given the economy, the availability of music on the internet (iTunes, music discovery sites like Last.fm, Pandora, and Rhapsody), music on smart phones, and the looming collapse of the U.S. auto industry – well, things ain’t looking so bright for SiriusXM.
Me? I’ll be subscribed until Satellite Radio is six feet under. Sorry, I need my variety of music. I need another way to discover new music. And dammit all, I need my Howard Stern!
You guys and gals are music lovin’ fools like me. Who can’t live without their satellite radio? Who could give a rat’s behind?
Sirius XM at 17 cents – look out below – Nov. 19, 2008 (CNN Money)
