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Top 10 Stations On Sirius And XM

Based on weekly cume via RAIN

At Sirius:
   1. Howard Stern’s “Howard 100”: 1,200,000
   2. “Hits 1” (CHR): 584,800
   3. “Howard 101” (description here): 501,100
   4. “New Country”: 468,300
   5. “Big 80s”: 417,900
   6. “Octane” (hard rock): 383,700
   7. “Classic Vinyl” (early classic rock): 347,100
   8. “Classic Rewind” (later classic rock): 335,500
   9. “The Pulse” (90s and contemporary hits): 330,000
  10. “Totally 70s”: 309,400

At XM:
   1. “Top 20 on 20” (CHR): 1,049,200
   2. “Flight 26” (modern AC): 741,600
   3. “80s on 8”: 698,300
   4. “70s on 7”: 687,400
   5. “60s on 6”: 581,300
   6. “Highway 16” (new country): 579,500
   7. “Top Tracks” (classic rock): 534,900
   8. “The Blend” (Lite pop hits): 532,400
   9. “The Heart” (love songs): 493,400
  10. “Fox News” (news/talk): 464,800

WMG Settles With XM Over Inno

XM Satellite Radio and Warner Music Group today announced that they have resolved the lawsuit brought by WMG over XM's Pioneer Inno, a portable satellite radio with  recording features. The companies did not disclose the terms of the deal.

A similar agreement between XM and Universal was announced on December 17. Both agreements are multi-year deals that cover current and future XM radios. Sony BMG and EMI remain parties in the original lawsuit against XM.

COMMENTARY: This deal happened just in time to show up on WMG's balance sheet this quarter. But Wall Street didn't seem to care; pushing the stock down another 3.54% to $6.00 in mid-afternoon trading. Thats a 5% drop from the 52 week high of $24. (Track the up to the minute stock price here.)
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Doug's Universal Toll Booth Collects From XM

Universal Music Group has settled a lawsuit against XM over a player that records XM programming by extracting a per unit fee from the satellite radio service similar to the per unit charge it gets from every Zune sold.

DEALS WITH DOUG -

Never one to be daunted by falling sales, Universal's Doug Morris seems determined to shore up  his eroding bottom line with payments from others who profit from their association with music.

Internet radio and satellite broadcasters are being asked to pay more by all the labels. Devices manufacturers from Microsoft to Nokia are cutting special revenue sharing deals with Universal as are services like YouTube. Then there's Morris's broader initiative to have all device manufacturers pay Universal and the other major labels for a "Total Music" subscription built into each player sold.  Sounds interesting, but the devil is usually in the details and thus far Morris has not provided any.

EXTRA CREDIT: "Universal Bans Song Streams, Cuts Nokia Free Music Deal. WILL THE REAL DOUG MORRIS PLEASE STAND UP?"

XM Plans 27 Hours Of Global Live Earth Coverage

XM will broadcast "Live Earth: The Concerts for a Climate in Crisis," the 24-hour, seven-continent concert series on July 7, 2007. XM's coverage will include 27-hours of continuous, live coverage from all nine concerts featuring more than 100 music artists.

The Live Earth concert series will begin in Sydney, Australia and continue across all seven continents to Tokyo, Japan; Shanghai, China; Johannesburg, South Africa; London, United Kingdom; Hamburg, Germany; Istanbul, Turkey; and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, before concluding at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Each city's concert will be broadcast live in its entirety beginning live at 9 p.m. ET on July 6, on XM's main Live Earth channel, "Live Earth All Access".   The channel will feature around-the-clock coverage with highlights of performances, backstage interviews and more, throughout the day.

Read the full schedule and complete press release after the jump.

Who Needs Broadcast Radio? Microsoft To Unveil Sync

Both General Motors and Ford will unveil a deal with Microsoft in the coming months that will put the software company's technology into some automobiles, The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday. The system, known as Sync, is designed to allow hands-free mobile phone communication and other wireless information transfers in the car, including email and music streaming and downloads sources told the WSJ.

With free unlimited streaming via the internet; who needs broadcast or satellite radio?

FCC Chair Says No To XM & Sirius Merger

Shares of XM and Sirius Satellite Radio plunged Wednesday after the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission send that FCC rules prevent a merger. The FCC rules that allowed the creation of the satellite business specifically forbid a merger between the two broadcsters

Investors took the comments to mean that Martin and the FCC won't agree to change the rules.  XM's shares dropped 9.9% to close at $15.43 on nearly triple its average trading volume and Sirius fell 7% to $3.86. (more @ BusinessWeek)

XM Adds 442,000 Subsribers in 4thQ

XM today announced that they added more than 1,695,000 new subscribers in 2006, ending the year with more than 7,625,000n. Based on preliminary results, XM achieved positive cash flow during the fourth quarter of. XM added more than 442,000 new net subscribers during the fourth quarter of 2006 alone. This compares with Sirius who ended 2006 with 6,024,000 subscribers, an 82% increase over 3,316,560 at the end of 2005.

"XM completed another year of significant subscriber growth, despite retail softness, and did so with continued cost controls, achieving positive cash flow from operations during the fourth quarter," said CEO Hugh Panero

Watch Out Sirius & XM! Internet For The Car Is Here.

Seamless wireless internet service is coming for your car. This year for only $49 a month. It won't matter if you're a Verizon, Cingular or Sprint customer. This one taps into them all via 3G and WiFi. Avis has already signed up. (WiFi Planet)

Watch out XM and Sirius satellite radio. Who needs you when there are thousands of channels to choose from?

Sirius Ends '06 Up 82% And Profitable

As merger rumors with XM continue to swirl, Sirius Satellite Radio ended 2006 with approximately 6,024,000 subscribers, an 82% increase over the company's 2005 ending base of 3,316,560. Based on preliminary financial data Sirius achieved its first ever quarter of positive free cash flow in the fourth quarter of 2006.  Rival XM still has more subscribers but is not yet profitable and growth rates for both have slowed in recent months. (details)

XM On Your iPod. Sirius On Your Computer And Cell.

The lines between new media and their delivery systems continue to blur as technologies advance and consumers demand multi-function devices.

Apple has filed a patent application that allows the user to tune "into a wireless signal (e.g. AM/FM radio, digital radio, or WiFi)" using either a wireless card or "the capability to accept accessories to add the necessary functionality" according to Orbitcast and Macintosh News Network. Later in the application, Apple names XM as a possible partner. (more)

And Sirius is pushing a new online subscription service as "Sirius Internet Radio" and promising exclusive online content rather than just as an add-on to its satellite service. The company has also just hired former VeriSign executive Tom Irvin who has considerable experience in ringtones and cellular furthering speculation that Sirius understands that their future does not with satellite delivery. (more)