Sirius to Launch New 'Grateful Dead' Channel

[Corned Beef and Cabbage]

Press Release Source: SIRIUS Satellite Radio


Sirius Satellite Radio and Grateful Dead to Create Grateful Dead Radio Channel
Tuesday May 22, 8:00 am ET
Grateful Dead Radio to feature music and concert performances of the band


NEW YORK, May 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SIRIUS Satellite Radio (Nasdaq: SIRI - News) and the legendary Grateful Dead announced today a new radio channel dedicated to the music of Grateful Dead and its band members.
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Source: SIRIUS Satellite Radio

Grateful Dead Radio will be heard exclusively on SIRIUS and feature music spanning the band's long and storied career, live performances from the band's own archives, bootleg performances from fans, previously unreleased recordings, and even special shows hosted by members of the band. Grateful Dead Radio is expected to launch on SIRIUS this summer.

"We have fans who've driven hundreds of miles to see us," said Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart. "Now you can save on greenhouse gas emissions with SIRIUS without driving a mile."

"Grateful Dead's importance in the history of rock n' roll is undeniable. In the 60s they helped to define a generation with their music and their creativity, in the 70s they virtually pioneered the concept of 'jam bands,' and in the 80s and 90s they were among the preeminent live touring bands. They have continued to amass a significant and extremely loyal fan base to this very day," said Scott Greenstein, President, Entertainment and Sports, SIRIUS. "This unique musical relationship makes SIRIUS the premier home for Dead Heads across North America and Grateful Dead Radio will bring the band's music into the future of audio entertainment."

"Listen up, and listen good," said Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir.

Grateful Dead started a musical revolution in the psychedelic landscape of the 60s. The band, well known for constantly touring, kept the hippy spirit alive during the following decades, creating a devoted community of fans. Grateful Dead's numerous studio recordings were often collected from material that they originally played in concert.

Grateful Dead Radio joins a line up 24-hour, commercial-free music channels dedicated entirely to some of the world's greatest recording artists such as Elvis Radio, channel 13, the world's only official, all-Elvis Presley radio channel broadcasting live from Graceland in Memphis. SIRIUS has previously dedicated channels exclusively to the music of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, The Rolling Stones, David Gilmour and Pink Floyd, George Strait, and most recently The Who. SIRIUS is also the exclusive radio home of Shade 45, channel 45, the uncut hip-hop channel co-created with Eminem, "Little Steven" Van Zandt's Underground Garage, channel 25, Jimmy Buffett's Radio Margaritaville, channel 31, and Siriusly Sinatra, channel 75, the only channel dedicated to the music, time and spirit of Frank Sinatra.

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Source: SIRIUS Satellite Radio

 

[AZJoe]

Lets hope it doesnt replace Movin EZ or The Bridge!! I vote for Jam_On! Thats half Grateful Dead already!

 

[Vaka]

This is going to rule. I can't wait. They can't launch this station quick enough...

 

[music_man]

Sirius continues to show why it will rule the industry. Elvis, Sinatra and now the Grateful Dead - awesome. Their blues channels it great too. I just wish their Soul channel was more like XM's, that is where they are lacking. XM's soulstreet kicks Sirius's soultown's butt.

 

[AZJoe]

Sirius continues to show why it will rule the industry. Elvis, Sinatra and now the Grateful Dead - awesome. Their blues channels it great too. I just wish their Soul channel was more like XM's, that is where they are lacking. XM's soulstreet kicks Sirius's soultown's butt.

Sirius cant get adult urban music right, they have 2 channels trying to cover 50 plus years of soul, it just doesnt work. It would be like having a rock channel that plays Elvis, Metallica, Beatles, Led Zep, and Greenday- sure its all rock but it covers too many years. Soul Town will throw out a Sam Cooke classic from the 50s then an 80s hit by Gap Band, it doesnt flow, speaking of which there is no neo soul or funk to speak of on Sirius either. The adult urban audience is pretty much left out in the cold on Sirius, and XM does have it right or at least much better.

 

[stljohn]

Sirius continues to show why it will rule the industry. Elvis, Sinatra and now the Grateful Dead - awesome. Their blues channels it great too. I just wish their Soul channel was more like XM's, that is where they are lacking. XM's soulstreet kicks Sirius's soultown's butt.

Sirius cant get adult urban music right, they have 2 channels trying to cover 50 plus years of soul, it just doesnt work. It would be like having a rock channel that plays Elvis, Metallica, Beatles, Led Zep, and Greenday- sure its all rock but it covers too many years. Soul Town will throw out a Sam Cooke classic from the 50s then an 80s hit by Gap Band, it doesnt flow, speaking of which there is no neo soul or funk to speak of on Sirius either. The adult urban audience is pretty much left out in the cold on Sirius, and XM does have it right or at least much better.

Total agreement AZ. Out of my 16 or so musc presets Soultown is the most poorly programmed by far, without a doubt they have the most unimaginative, FM-like playlist... so sick of the same ole usual songs instead of lesser-played but equally fine songs.

How can you purport to play 80s soul and never... almost never... play Parliment/Funkadelic? Ridiculous.

I also was disappointed Soultown doesn't do the Friday/Saturday night "party" shows that were tradition on black stations in the 80s/90s but then I discovered Heart and Soul does that.