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SXM Spa getting booted from Channel 68

M

Mediafrog+

Just caught this earlier this evening, but plenty of chatter on other forums:

SiriusXM is replacing Spa on Channel 68 with their Message Worship channel, which is currently one of their app-only “XTRA” channels. Spa apparently will still be available on the app, though it might also wind up in the 300s range included on newer satellite receivers.

I listen to Spa quite a lot at home while reading or surfing the internet, but it is usually a bit too laid back for in-car listening for me (gotta stay awake!)

Saw many comments online about this, and people are not happy about losing the channel on older car radios.
 
Caught the on-air announcement: Spa is moving to Channel 746 on the app, and will also be available on receivers with the “360L” capability.

A few other changes:

LIFE with John Mayer moves from 14 to 4

The Bridge moves from 27 to 14

Message Worship, which was an app only channel, goes to 68

ALT2K moves from 313 to 27

A few other channels are rebranding.

Supposedly the moves take place at 3am ET (0800 UTC) February 2.

Also there is some chatter that the Message Worship move to 68 may only be for February and March, with future location TBD. SXM may take into account any blowback from eliminating Spa from the satellite radio lineup.
 
Mediafrog+ said:
<...>some chatter that the Message Worship move to 68 may only be for February and March, with future location TBD.
Click to expand...
Lent?

More exposure to the channel for those with older equipment?
 
RadioInsight story:


One correction to that story: Message Worship is not a new channel, as it has been available on the SXM app for some time. This move makes it available to a much wider audience with satellite receivers.
kwthom said:
More exposure to the channel for those with older equipment?
Click to expand...
Praise & Worship music appeals to a younger demographic than standard CCM. I’ve sampled Message Worship on the SXM app and it is pretty much the same as Air1 and the other P&W formats on FM radio.

We’ll see what blowback there is from the Spa move. Might be a similar situation to when SXM dumped its “Escape” Easy Listening channel. Huge negative response, and the channel was eventually reinstated.
 
Of all of Sirius XM's music channels, Spa might be the least likely option for in-car listening. Its somnolent mix of New Age noodling, burbling nature sounds, etc., made it something of a musical Quaalude. I'd be asleep within minutes if I ever listened to it for more than a few minutes while driving. In the home, on the app is exactly where the channel belongs, serving as background music or an alternative to sleeping pills.
 
CTListener said:
Of all of Sirius XM's music channels, Spa might be the least likely option for in-car listening. Its somnolent mix of New Age noodling, burbling nature sounds, etc., made it something of a musical Quaalude. I'd be asleep within minutes if I ever listened to it for more than a few minutes while driving. In the home, on the app is exactly where the channel belongs, serving as background music or an alternative to sleeping pills.
Click to expand...

When one of my nieces was little, we used to play Spa in the car on our way back from dinner so she'd pass out. She would always protest when we told her it was bedtime. With Spa, she'd zonk right out, and we could carry her into the house and lay her down!

Those were about the only times I've ever used Spa in the car!
 
I like Spa for occasional listening. It was two notches up from Watercolors, the Smooth Jazz channel. If I'm driving and Watercolors was playing something odd, I'd go up to Spa for a while. It is very relaxing. Maybe not everyone's cup of tea but I think banishing it to the 700s is a little harsh.

It plays George Winston, Andreas Vollenweider and other New Age artists. Interesting to note that Escape, the Beautiful Music channel, remains where it is. As said above, listener protests got Escape returned to its channel after Sirius tried to make it app-only.
 
I am not surprised the Message Worship channel ended up on 68. It's the satellite radio version of Air1. And Air 1 has shot up in popularity, with concert tours and engaging personalities.
As long as they don't touch Watercolors with a 100-foot pole...
 
CTListener said:
Of all of Sirius XM's music channels, Spa might be the least likely option for in-car listening.
Click to expand...
I rarely listened to Spa in the car as the music is a little too soothing for driving, especially at night on a long trip. That’s why I am only mildly annoyed about it becoming app only. I do listen to Spa quite a bit at home while reading, surfing the internet on my iPad, or posting here to RD, so it’s good it’s still available online.
CTListener said:
Its somnolent mix of New Age noodling, burbling nature sounds, etc.,
Click to expand...
I’ve never heard nature sounds on Spa; it is, as stated elsewhere, mostly New Age and Ambient music, though a few other similar genres are mixed in.

There are a number of similar channels on the app:

www.siriusxm.com

SiriusXM Sleep Channels: Instrumental Music, Ambient Sounds & Nature Noises

Explore 17 channels designed to help you achieve your best rest yet.
www.siriusxm.com www.siriusxm.com

There is even a “Night Noise” channel with white, pink and brown noise.
 
Mediafrog+ said:
I rarely listened to Spa in the car as the music is a little too soothing for driving, especially at night on a long trip. That’s why I am only mildly annoyed about it becoming app only. I do listen to Spa quite a bit at home while reading, surfing the internet on my iPad, or posting here to RD, so it’s good it’s still available online.

I’ve never heard nature sounds on Spa; it is, as stated elsewhere, mostly New Age and Ambient music, though a few other similar genres are mixed in.

There are a number of similar channels on the app:

www.siriusxm.com

SiriusXM Sleep Channels: Instrumental Music, Ambient Sounds & Nature Noises

Explore 17 channels designed to help you achieve your best rest yet.
www.siriusxm.com www.siriusxm.com

There is even a “Night Noise” channel with white, pink and brown noise.
Click to expand...
I’m not sure I want to know what “brown noise” is….
 
Mediafrog+ said:
Praise & Worship music appeals to a younger demographic than standard CCM.
Click to expand...

This is surprising because I’ve listened to Message Worship this week and the song selection is older and slower tempo than the regular Message channel. If anything, I’d consider this Christian AC. I would think this appeals to an older demographic, not younger.
 
Not sure when it happened, but Message Worship has moved to Channel 79. Kirk Franklin’s Praise is now on Channel 68. Spa continues on Channel 746.

Channel 79 is usually a place for temporary formats, so there might be further changes eventually.
 
Mediafrog+ said:
I rarely listened to Spa in the car as the music is a little too soothing for driving, especially at night on a long trip. That’s why I am only mildly annoyed about it becoming app only. I do listen to Spa quite a bit at home while reading, surfing the internet on my iPad, or posting here to RD, so it’s good it’s still available online.

I’ve never heard nature sounds on Spa; it is, as stated elsewhere, mostly New Age and Ambient music, though a few other similar genres are mixed in.

There are a number of similar channels on the app:

www.siriusxm.com

SiriusXM Sleep Channels: Instrumental Music, Ambient Sounds & Nature Noises

Explore 17 channels designed to help you achieve your best rest yet.
www.siriusxm.com www.siriusxm.com

There is even a “Night Noise” channel with white, pink and brown noise.
Click to expand...
We have an automated station called Smooth Chill on DAB, playing similar chill out music to fall asleep to, with just one ad break an hour:

www.smoothradio.com

Smooth Radio Playlist - Last Played Songs

See the Smooth Radio playlist and the last played songs - Always the Best Music.
www.smoothradio.com www.smoothradio.com

Unfortunately, the segue between each song is punctuated by an unnaturally loud and forceful voiceover going "SMOOTH! CHILL!" which invariably wakes you up when you try and fall asleep to it. I presume it's because we're still in the diary era and never took up the PPM, but still.
 


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