What's wrong with Sirius XM?

[vchimpanzee]

I've heard that people couldn't find certain artists on either the 40s channel or the 50s channel. Or if they found those artists on the 40s channel, only their 40s hits were played when they still were recording in the 50s.

And people have complained that Siriusly Sinatra doesn't have enough variety.

I heard "Gina" by Johnny Mathis on Escape at the dentist but that's mostly an instrumental format.

 

[CTListener]

I've heard that people couldn't find certain artists on either the 40s channel or the 50s channel. Or if they found those artists on the 40s channel, only their 40s hits were played when they still were recording in the 50s.

And people have complained that Siriusly Sinatra doesn't have enough variety.

I heard "Gina" by Johnny Mathis on Escape at the dentist but that's mostly an instrumental format.

Like terrestrial FM, playlists on SiriusXM are generally limited to fewer than 1,000 songs. I believe only 800 or so are in regular rotation (specialty shows and countdowns not included) on each decades channel. Which artists and which songs are played are the decision of one person, the music director for that channel. You're not the first listener to notice excluded artists. Inquiries have been made, complaints have been lodged, but the playlists never change.

 

[vchimpanzee]

I only know what I have read here.

 

[K6JHU]

Bet we are never, ever going to hear the Turtles ever again

 

[CTListener]

Bet we are never, ever going to hear the Turtles ever again

Nope, even though the legal issue is settled and Kaylan and Volman have their money. A deep-seated corporate grudge looks like it will mean more than accurately portraying the music of the '60s on the '60s channel forever.

 

[Prescott Joe]

As a possible alternative, you may want to consider an subscription to KAHM FM 102.1
here in Prescott, AZ. They play a very wide and changing array of music from the
40's onward. Check out KAHM.INFO

 

[vchimpanzee]

There should be a standards channel on Sirius XM. Both services used to have one.

Back when they removed Escape from receivers, Sirius XM Love was made more of a standards channel, but listeners objected, so I imagine it's back to "normal". I liked it when I heard it in a Dairy Queen, before the change. Escape, as some of you may know, was returned to receivers when so many people complained they had to add people to answer the phones.

 

[JBraddock]

Easily Standard Sirius

Escape is easy listening. Siriusly Sinatra is standards.

 

[vchimpanzee]

Escape is easy listening. Siriusly Sinatra is standards.

The artists they added to Sirius XM Love to attract Escape fans, though, were standards artists.

 

[spiritof67]

Nope, even though the legal issue is settled and Kaylan and Volman have their money. A deep-seated corporate grudge looks like it will mean more than accurately portraying the music of the '60s on the '60s channel forever.

Over the long run, The Turtles are going to be known more for their legal actions than their hits.

 

[CTListener]

Over the long run, The Turtles are going to be known more for their legal actions than their hits.

Not to the 99.99 percent of Americans who had no interest in the case. Baby boomers are going to remember "Happy Together" and "Elenore" to the grave, since they heard them on the radio for decade upon decade. I suppose that after all of us are in the grave that future copyright lawyers will study it as precedent, but God help us if copyright lawyers ever become a significant percentage of the national population!

 

[TheBigA]

God help us if copyright lawyers ever become a significant percentage of the national population!

Ha, ha. Then again, if the Music Modernization Act becomes law (as it appears it will), all pre-1972 music will now be covered for digital royalties,. So this one particular case won't even become a precedent. In fact, had this act been passed five years ago, this probably wouldn't have gone to court.

BTW the settlement also included a ten year license for Sirius to play the songs, so there should be no reason for them not to play Turtles songs.

 

[landtuna]

Does anyone have a succinct summary of just what took place re: the lawsuit? I have heard many different tidbits about it but still don't have a very good understanding. TIA

 

[davideduardo]

Does anyone have a succinct summary of just what took place re: the lawsuit? I have heard many different tidbits about it but still don't have a very good understanding. TIA

Ultra-condensed version: The Digital Millennium Copyright Act did not cover pre-1972 recordings for digital transmission systems, leaving those rights to be resolved by the separate states. The owners of the Turtles music sued in state jurisdictions for payment to be determined by the court for their pre-72 music. It was then recognized that earlier music had to have some federal coverage, and this became one of the items covered in the MMA.

 

[TheBigA]

The owners of the Turtles music sued in state jurisdictions for payment to be determined by the court for their pre-72 music.

Having said that, lawyers for CBS pointed out that most broadcasters today play digitally remastered versions of those hits, which is designated by a new copyright date that is in fact covered by the federal law. The judge in their lawsuit agreed. So had the Sirius lawyers been a bit smarter, they would have saved their clients at least $25 million. BTW the lawyer for Sirius also represented Donald Trump in the lawsuit over his university.

 

[CTListener]

Having said that, lawyers for CBS pointed out that most broadcasters today play digitally remastered versions of those hits, which is designated by a new copyright date that is in fact covered by the federal law. The judge in their lawsuit agreed. So had the Sirius lawyers been a bit smarter, they would have saved their clients at least $25 million. BTW the lawyer for Sirius also represented Donald Trump in the lawsuit over his university.

Explains why SXM is so gunshy about going to court, doesn't it? Its legal eagles aren't exactly the best and brightest Noo Yawk has to offer, apparently.

 

[TheBigA]

Explains why SXM is so gunshy about going to court, doesn't it? Its legal eagles aren't exactly the best and brightest Noo Yawk has to offer, apparently.

Lawyers for Pandora aren't much smarter. They also settled for $90 million over pre-1972 music:

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/23/...-labels-settle-suit-for-dollar90-million.html

Copyright owners were making more from these lawsuits than they are from music sales. They had fun for a couple of years, and now the MMA will put it all to rest.

 

[vchimpanzee]

Not to the 99.99 percent of Americans who had no interest in the case. Baby boomers are going to remember "Happy Together" and "Elenore" to the grave,

Don't forget "You Showed Me", which America's Best Music listeners were subjected to numerous times.

 

[TheBigA]

Don't forget "You Showed Me", which America's Best Music listeners were subjected to numerous times.

Not one I would recommend, although it was written by The Byrds lead singer Roger McGuinn. Kind of a fun fact that no one but Roger ever mentions.

 

[JBraddock]

XM's Deep Tracks has played "Chief Kamanawanalea," though it won't be the subject of any royalty disputes on its own.