I signed up for the 3-day demo online to check it out and as far as the music stations I would want to hear I would not throw my money in this pit. They are as bad as corporate radio as far as being overly repetitious and playing tired old hits. Their smooth jazz channel played as many pop oldies as a BA station and I literally logged on twice in one day and heard the same two songs in a row (a rather bland Paul Hardcastle song into Fagen's IGY..which is over 20 years old!) Went to the singer/songwriter channel hoping for some new stuff and was treated artists doing acoustic versions of their hits (i.e. Edwin McCain's "I'll Be" and Sting, Norah Jones, and Sade. How innovative, you can get this on terrestrial radio for free.
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Same old Same old
- Thread starter AnotherCat
- Start date
But at least you dont get 20 minutes of commericals and blithering idiots talking down to you. The playlists are larger than most FM stations. Take the early classic rock channel with 1800 songs, followed by the later classic rock channel with 2000 titles, and I'd like to see any terrestrial FM station match those numbers. If KSLX here in Phoenix plays 800 titles I'd be shocked. When you listen to Top 40 or current hit channels, you're going to have repetition, thats the name of that format.
I have both XM and Sirius and they're both better than terrestrial FM. I think XM does better on some formats and Sirius does better on others. Don't really know much about smooth jazz on XM or Sirius since I don't listen to it. As to the singer/songwriter stuff, I only listen to that occasionally, but I think XM may be better in that department. If you like current Top 40, Sirius definately does better there. As to repetition, it may depend on what channels you're listening to. I don't find either service to be nearly as repetitious as FM for the channels I listen to (mostly oldies some classic rock, some top 40/Hot AC, and some of the more eclectic channels).
Honestly, much of what he's saying regarding Sirius is correct. Sirius does have its share of rotation problems. As an example, I took a 40 minute drive this morning and heard two Chicago songs twice in 30 minutes on Totally 70's. I've also heard the same artist twice in three songs on the Jazz Cafe.
Most of the channels also do sound a lot like terrestrial radio without the commercials. It's that way by design. People listen to what's familiar to them, and most people don't just want a jukebox. The most successful channels on Sirius are the mainstream channels. Much of the woes he's describing about the Jazz Cafe are the very same issues smooth jazz is experiencing nationwide. There's just not that much product out there, and the format sounds very much the same as it did 10 years ago. Sirius can't do much about that.
Personally, I have both XM and Sirius, and I enjoy both of them. Both are a good product despite some of their faults, and they're worth the small cost I pay for them. Of course, I don't have very many different formats available where I live. If I still lived in a big city, I'm not sure I'd have either, though I might have finally broken down with smooth jazz having gone away in Dallas.
Most of the channels also do sound a lot like terrestrial radio without the commercials. It's that way by design. People listen to what's familiar to them, and most people don't just want a jukebox. The most successful channels on Sirius are the mainstream channels. Much of the woes he's describing about the Jazz Cafe are the very same issues smooth jazz is experiencing nationwide. There's just not that much product out there, and the format sounds very much the same as it did 10 years ago. Sirius can't do much about that.
Personally, I have both XM and Sirius, and I enjoy both of them. Both are a good product despite some of their faults, and they're worth the small cost I pay for them. Of course, I don't have very many different formats available where I live. If I still lived in a big city, I'm not sure I'd have either, though I might have finally broken down with smooth jazz having gone away in Dallas.
i also have both services. i mainly listen to the rock stations. and the only rock station i hear repeats on is hair nation. and buzzsaw to a degree. but both have a light rotation category with those wow songs. i really have been enjoying sirius. i have been hearing songs that i havent been hearing on xm. but the hits channels do repeat often. but all hits channels do that. thats why they call them hits.
JeeperOne
Banned
Hi everyone:
On top of what everyone else has said, there's these features....
1). TWO channels of Howard Stern (If you're a Stern freak that is)
2). Home AND Away broadcasts of EVERY NFL game and MANY NBA, NHL & NCAA games
3). Playboy Radio
4). Liberal AND Conservative talk radio channels.
5). Traffic & Weather channels for MANY major cities.
All that AND MORE is ON TOP OF the 100% commercial free music.
Do you honestly think that TERRESTRIAL radio can stake a claim to that, AnotherCat?
Cheers
Pat
On top of what everyone else has said, there's these features....
1). TWO channels of Howard Stern (If you're a Stern freak that is)
2). Home AND Away broadcasts of EVERY NFL game and MANY NBA, NHL & NCAA games
3). Playboy Radio
4). Liberal AND Conservative talk radio channels.
5). Traffic & Weather channels for MANY major cities.
All that AND MORE is ON TOP OF the 100% commercial free music.
Do you honestly think that TERRESTRIAL radio can stake a claim to that, AnotherCat?
Cheers
Pat
I'm taking this spate of bashers with a huge grain of salt.
This guy is particularly full of it, comparing siri or xm for that matter, to broadcast?
You're probably lucky if you hear 7 or 8 songs an hour on fm, an all music channel may average 15 an hour.
As far as the repetition I think its overrated.
Siri does repeat but eventually every one does and if I hear Weather Report's Heavy Weather today and then tomorrow so what? Repetition is a problem when you play the same song 2 out of every 8 plays. Like FM.
My wife and I recently drove a 20 hour round trip 3 days apart. We stayed on Reggae for the most part (she doesn't share my classic rock interests) and I noticed 3 or 4 of the songs we heard up we heard going back. That was fine by me.
I think it gives a channel connection. I had XM and they were proud of not repeating but that forced them deep into too many obscure tracks I had no interest in.
One thing I've noticed and wonder if its chance or planning but several times I've caught siri playing the same artist simultaneously on multiple channels.
This guy is particularly full of it, comparing siri or xm for that matter, to broadcast?
You're probably lucky if you hear 7 or 8 songs an hour on fm, an all music channel may average 15 an hour.
As far as the repetition I think its overrated.
Siri does repeat but eventually every one does and if I hear Weather Report's Heavy Weather today and then tomorrow so what? Repetition is a problem when you play the same song 2 out of every 8 plays. Like FM.
My wife and I recently drove a 20 hour round trip 3 days apart. We stayed on Reggae for the most part (she doesn't share my classic rock interests) and I noticed 3 or 4 of the songs we heard up we heard going back. That was fine by me.
I think it gives a channel connection. I had XM and they were proud of not repeating but that forced them deep into too many obscure tracks I had no interest in.
One thing I've noticed and wonder if its chance or planning but several times I've caught siri playing the same artist simultaneously on multiple channels.
Having a 'project' on the 80's format and why it failed on terrad, and, studying the viability of a real
80's station that could succeed now in a top 50 market, I studied 33 stations and they all suck[ed]
so badly by being roped and tied by the narrow playlist mindset. Then, I finished the project by comparing
it to Sirius' 80's stuff whixh is 1 billion times better. Sad, but true....80's could have made it fine on reg radio.
Maybe this time around, at least, in one market that will d-i-v-e-r-s-i-f-y to compete with Sirius
and other new forms of music that will eat radio's lunch if left unchecked. It'll be a challenge,
any maybe this is just to much of a small-niche format, but, what was done to that format was
a tragedy. I am saddened to report this, being quite successful in prgrmg for years. I get
to pick the whole format/switch and rarily have I failed to do the right things and blow it out of
the ratings park, but I worked the 80's format when it was really the 80's and never looked back
because I passed on it as an alternative because of all the disasters. Pitiful and blind on my part.
Let's hear it from the radio squad --- can it make it on FM radio sounding like 80's Sirius? I cringe
to ask, but .... it's just gotta be asked.
80's station that could succeed now in a top 50 market, I studied 33 stations and they all suck[ed]
so badly by being roped and tied by the narrow playlist mindset. Then, I finished the project by comparing
it to Sirius' 80's stuff whixh is 1 billion times better. Sad, but true....80's could have made it fine on reg radio.
Maybe this time around, at least, in one market that will d-i-v-e-r-s-i-f-y to compete with Sirius
and other new forms of music that will eat radio's lunch if left unchecked. It'll be a challenge,
any maybe this is just to much of a small-niche format, but, what was done to that format was
a tragedy. I am saddened to report this, being quite successful in prgrmg for years. I get
to pick the whole format/switch and rarily have I failed to do the right things and blow it out of
the ratings park, but I worked the 80's format when it was really the 80's and never looked back
because I passed on it as an alternative because of all the disasters. Pitiful and blind on my part.
Let's hear it from the radio squad --- can it make it on FM radio sounding like 80's Sirius? I cringe
to ask, but .... it's just gotta be asked.
K
Keef59
Guest
So, Another Cat must work for a traditional radio co. because he doesn't care for what he's heard on
Sirius or XM. That same logic would dictate that everybody here who looooves the satellite services
must own several hundred shares of that incredibly LOW Sirius stock. Or, you're all lining up to blow
Howard. Jesus. I think Sirius and XM reek, too. I don't work for a radio company. I love music...
all kinds...and from what I've heard, so far, Sirius has the same rotation problems that traditional
radio has. I'm not going to pay for that.
Sirius or XM. That same logic would dictate that everybody here who looooves the satellite services
must own several hundred shares of that incredibly LOW Sirius stock. Or, you're all lining up to blow
Howard. Jesus. I think Sirius and XM reek, too. I don't work for a radio company. I love music...
all kinds...and from what I've heard, so far, Sirius has the same rotation problems that traditional
radio has. I'm not going to pay for that.
J
jim9000
Guest
Well, I now have the equipment. First got the old Sportster Replay because it was cheap, but I had some issues. Ended up with a Starmate 4 and I can now say that the initial post is completely wrong.
I have listened to a number of channels and noticed very little repetition. Playlists seem to be quite deep. Sure, some songs are heard more than once. If I heard a song that I liked and never heard it again, I would be disappointed. They don't repeat anything like FM, and the variety is amazing. I'm hearing things that I didn't know existed.
As for the singer/songwriter channel I am assuming that the original poster was talking about The Coffee House (30). Of course they play acoustic rock and not just singer/songwriters. That is what they say on the air and on the web site.
I have no real comment about the smooth jazz channel because I don't know the format. 102.9 in Raleigh dropped the format for all 80's and now Oldies right after I moved to the area. I don't really hear it anywhere else, but it sounds great to me on Sirius. How many markets even have a smooth jazz station? I'm thinking not many, which is another example of how satellite radio is different.
I have noticed very little in the way of similarities to regular terrestrial radio.
I have listened to a number of channels and noticed very little repetition. Playlists seem to be quite deep. Sure, some songs are heard more than once. If I heard a song that I liked and never heard it again, I would be disappointed. They don't repeat anything like FM, and the variety is amazing. I'm hearing things that I didn't know existed.
As for the singer/songwriter channel I am assuming that the original poster was talking about The Coffee House (30). Of course they play acoustic rock and not just singer/songwriters. That is what they say on the air and on the web site.
I have no real comment about the smooth jazz channel because I don't know the format. 102.9 in Raleigh dropped the format for all 80's and now Oldies right after I moved to the area. I don't really hear it anywhere else, but it sounds great to me on Sirius. How many markets even have a smooth jazz station? I'm thinking not many, which is another example of how satellite radio is different.
I have noticed very little in the way of similarities to regular terrestrial radio.
Two Chicago songs in 30 minutes - who cares? I'm just a plain old listener and two Chicago songs in 30 minutes would not ruin my day. So where do these "rules" come from that say you can't play two songs by the same artist within XX minutes? Or two songs from the same year or whatever else people dream up.
Is there research that says the average listeners tunes out if they hear two songs by Chicago in 30 minutes?
I've always been curious about this.
Cheers,
Jim
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