XM (not "Sirius XM") nostalgia

[Buffalo Back Jared]

So every couple of weeks I get hit with some deep nostalgia for how good XM used to be before the merger. Some of the biggest things I miss are Theme Time Radio Hour, Texas Fred's Zydeco Trail Ride on X Country (and just about everything else on X Country), Fungus (especially Rancid Radio) and all of the great XM productions of live performances from venues and festivals around the country.

So, my question for all y'all is, now that we're a couple years into this terrible Sirius XM merger, what do you long-time XM'ers miss most about "how things used to be?"

[Dougie Brootal]

it stinks, and i dont like it.

[mikeyboy]

I miss the old 57th Street studio.

[Dougie Brootal]

i miss being able to tell the difference between the xm music channels and regular fm radio stations. even tho they played alot of the same bands on xm and fm, they played songs other than the big hit singles. i cant tell when my sirius xm is on or my plain fm radio any more. its just the same 3 lady gaga songs all the time on every channel. divided occasionally by taylor swift and nirvana.

[aceofspades7]

it costs a shitload more, they took away fungus, the customer service sucks, and my xmro is constantly shitting the bed. other than that, i still love it - could never go back to terrestrial radio...

[Chigworthy]

I miss the weekend programming on 202.

[Dougie Brootal]

o yeah... the xmro fucks up every couple days... like clockwork.

[Misteriosa]

I miss the old 57th Street studio.

- This ^

- Free, Working, dependable XMRO.

- the old version of Caliente:

this used to be a Salsa only channel. after the merger, they took all the 5 spanish language channels and smooshed them into this one regardless of the other channels previous music genre. they took the country, pop, rock, rap, and oldies channels and combined only because it was in spanish. the channel is barely listenable now.

- XM Chill:

they threw the old playlist format and stop going into deep tracks. now its all the shit you hear on the car commericals and the same few songs every few days.

[Buffalo Back Jared]

-
- the old version of Caliente:

this used to be a Salsa only channel. after the merger, they took all the 5 spanish language channels and smooshed them into this one regardless of the other channels previous music genre. they took the country, pop, rock, rap, and oldies channels and combined only because it was in spanish. the channel is barely listenable now.

You know I forgot about the spanish stations getting washed away. I loved the Mariachi -style channel, even though I don't speak any more spanish than your average waiter at "On the Border".

And Mikey's right about the 57th st. studio -- even though I was never able to get in there, having fans in-studio on the bleachers made a great atmosphere for 202

[Buffalo Back Jared]

I miss the weekend programming on 202.

What did they used to air on weekends? I always listened to X Country on weekends because I thought weekends were "Best / Worst Of..."

[Misteriosa]

What did they used to air on weekends? I always listened to X Country on weekends because I thought weekends were "Best / Worst Of..."

ron and fez owned the weekends and the extra shows that were allowed to be on like smod cast, black philip, weird medicine, etc...

[Chob]

Coming from the perspective of a Sirius subscriber since 2006, all the things you guys are talking about are what I was looking forward to getting in the merger, Cinemagic, Fungus, and other unique music channels. Instead a few channels got a name change and a format change, the Punk channel came and went, and we also had free online streaming that got taken away. It somehow seems the music channels became even more homogenized than before and I feel for XM subs that lost their favorite channels. One thing I'm grateful for is that I started listening to Ron and Fez, but that was via the cameras in the studio since I never got Best of XM. Now I catch it live when I can, and listen via Audible when I can't.

Also the fact that subs of one service can't get content from the other service without paying more is absurd, as is the fact that the separate brands are still getting exclusive channels and Sirius XM hasn't made many strides in making it one company.

[Buffalo Back Jared]

Also the fact that subs of one service can't get content from the other service without paying more is absurd, as is the fact that the separate brands are still getting exclusive channels and Sirius XM hasn't made many strides in making it one company.

Well that was something they claimed we'd all be able to get in order to get the merger OK'd. They said we could a la carte this sumbitch, but that sure as hell never materialized.

[Buffalo Back Jared]

ron and fez owned the weekends and the extra shows that were allowed to be on like smod cast, black philip, weird medicine, etc...

Ahhh, yeah, forgot about smodcasts...

[SinA]

I took a picture when I got a bunch of swag from Earl, must have been 2006.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3085/2576108543_9711947398_o.jpg

[Chob]

Well that was something they claimed we'd all be able to get in order to get the merger OK'd. They said we could a la carte this sumbitch, but that sure as hell never materialized.
The "a la carte" option was a BS package that basically had you paying the exact same as a full sub for less channels if you also wanted "premium" content. At that point you should just get a full sub to get the most for your money. XM receivers still have better tech which Sirius XM seems to be counting on more these days.

[hanso]

Theme Time Radio Hour is gone? I was getting it Mon. 8 est xm40. And it was replayed many times and on other channels. This was post merger.

[Chigworthy]

What did they used to air on weekends? I always listened to X Country on weekends because I thought weekends were "Best / Worst Of..."

ron and fez owned the weekends and the extra shows that were allowed to be on like smod cast, black philip, weird medicine, etc...

This ^. They would replay all 5 O&A shows and all 5 R&F shows (starting Friday night) and fit in those extra shows at night. It made being a weekend worker very tolerable.

[TheRealDray]

I hate the new music channels-dj's no one cares what happened to the lead singer of Survivor at a show in Texarkana-just play the next freaking song w/o talking thank you.

and prolly most of all I really miss having XM on my Directv. I would listen to the show on that as much if not more than on the XM player. I don't know why sirius did away w/ that agreement. DTV would have to have paid pretty good $ for the rights. :confused:

[PapaBear]

Free online streaming.

[moochcassidy]

I miss the old 57th Street studio.

me too.

<object width="600" height="338"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=5244014&amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;sho w_title=1&amp;show_byline=1&amp;show_portrait=1&amp;color=00AD EF&amp;fullscreen=1&amp;autoplay=0&amp;loop=0" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=5244014&amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;sho w_title=1&amp;show_byline=1&amp;show_portrait=1&amp;color=00AD EF&amp;fullscreen=1&amp;autoplay=0&amp;loop=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="600" height="338"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/5244014">Ron & Fez</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/magicloaf">magicloaf</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

[Space Edge]

Well that was something they claimed we'd all be able to get in order to get the merger OK'd. They said we could a la carte this sumbitch, but that sure as hell never materialized.

The "a la carte" option was a BS package that basically had you paying the exact same as a full sub for less channels if you also wanted "premium" content. At that point you should just get a full sub to get the most for your money. XM receivers still have better tech which Sirius XM seems to be counting on more these days.

They actually sell an a la carte package but only 1 Sirius Receiver is able to handle it and you can only get it if you have Sirius.

http://www.sirius.com/packages/alacarte


I miss Fungus and the free streaming but on the other hand I'm a fan of the merger because now I can listen to Howard's channels on my XM radio.

[danner1515]

Fred was the channel I really hated losing in the merger. That station used to play a lot of cool underground 80s stuff witch a decent mix of more popular stuff. 1st Wave has annoying DJs who won't shut up, and they just play really obvious 80s hits. Plus, I can't stand the stupid Saturday Night Safety Dance bullshit they do.

Getting Underground Radio was cool though.

[Chob]

They actually sell an a la carte package but only 1 Sirius Receiver is able to handle it and you can only get it if you have Sirius.

http://www.sirius.com/packages/alacarte


I miss Fungus and the free streaming but on the other hand I'm a fan of the merger because now I can listen to Howard's channels on my XM radio.
That's what I was talking about. It's less channels for the regular monthly price if you want Stern or Sports. Ridiculous.

But it is nice to be able to get Virus/Stern channels on the same receiver for those that like both.

[Caseyelan]

The Joint blows now, all newer shit. No more Rocksteady hour and all that fun stuff.
I miss fungus too. I remember them playing Shellac into Reagan Youth and thinking... THIS STATION IS UNREAL GOOD.
All good things must end. I don't have subs anymore so I am strictly Ipoding now.

[Buffalo Back Jared]

Fred was the channel I really hated losing in the merger. That station used to play a lot of cool underground 80s stuff witch a decent mix of more popular stuff. 1st Wave has annoying DJs who won't shut up, and they just play really obvious 80s hits. Plus, I can't stand the stupid Saturday Night Safety Dance bullshit they do.

Getting Underground Radio was cool though.

Yeah, Fred was pretty good, they played singles, album tracks and b-sides... Kinda like how the rest of the channels were programmed before Mel "FM'ed" them...

[SinA]

XMU used to be my favorite. It's still there, technically, but the format and song selection is totally mainstream. It defeats the point.

On the other hand, I like Outlaw Country more now.

[Buffalo Back Jared]

XMU used to be my favorite. It's still there, technically, but the format and song selection is totally mainstream. It defeats the point.

On the other hand, I like Outlaw Country more now.

You like Outlaw Country more than the old X Country? I think you're the first person I've heard say that.

I don't think the station's crap -- it's still miles better than any of the Nashville stations -- but they mix in way too much standard classic country (Willie's Place stuff) and the guy in the afternoons is straight-up intolerable.

I will say this, though, Hillbilly Jim is a hell of a DJ. I think only Meredith Ochs and Cowboy Jack are better...

[Chigworthy]

You like Outlaw Country more than the old X Country? I think you're the first person I've heard say that.

I don't think the station's crap -- it's still miles better than any of the Nashville stations -- but they mix in way too much standard classic country (Willie's Place stuff) and the guy in the afternoons is straight-up intolerable.

I will say this, though, Hillbilly Jim is a hell of a DJ. I think only Meredith Ochs and Cowboy Jack are better...

It seemed like X country played a lot more Americana and Alt Country. Outlaw Country is like X-Country crossed with Hank's Place. I liked it the old way better.

[Buffalo Back Jared]

It seemed like X country played a lot more Americana and Alt Country. Outlaw Country is like X-Country crossed with Hank's Place. I liked it the old way better.

Yup, I agree completely. Seems like that's what they did with a lot of the sub-genres, just smeeshed them all together into one station. But it's strange w/ Outlaw Country because they kept Willie's Place. Don't know why they keep shoehorning Willie's Place stuff into regular dayside rotation. I mean, if weekend shows or specialty shows like Shooter or Steve Earle want to play classic stuff, that's cool, but it's a little jarring to go from Robert Earl Keen to Patsy Cline without any connection at all.

[hanso]

Theme Time Radio Hour is gone? I was getting it Mon. 8 est xm40. And it was replayed many times and on other channels. This was post merger.

I tried it at that time last week. It was a live concert . But it is on now. Bob Dylan's show is on.

[Chigworthy]

Probably been mentioned, but the punk channel blows chimp now. When I want to listen to punk music, and Linkin Park is followed by Eminem, I'm not listening to punk. I'm listening to Xtreme Moto High School Musical. Has anyone heard the Johnny Mosely show? First of all, how is skiing extreme? And second of all, why does a young Olympic skier with a great life have the vocal delivery of Ben Stein?

[Brad_Rush]

me too.

<object width="600" height="338"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=5244014&amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;sho w_title=1&amp;show_byline=1&amp;show_portrait=1&amp;color=00AD EF&amp;fullscreen=1&amp;autoplay=0&amp;loop=0" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=5244014&amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;sho w_title=1&amp;show_byline=1&amp;show_portrait=1&amp;color=00AD EF&amp;fullscreen=1&amp;autoplay=0&amp;loop=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="600" height="338"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/5244014">Ron & Fez</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/magicloaf">magicloaf</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

Ah.... happier times :(

[Sue_Bender]

I tried it at that time last week. It was a live concert . But it is on now. Bob Dylan's show is on.

I was wondering if they stopped airing them. I'm happy to know that they're still around.

[scottinnj]

Fred & Ethel channels, RIP

Fungus, RIP

I really miss how dedicated the DJs on XM were to playing music, not pushing themselves as part of the "show"
One of O & A's older pre-merger bits were to see if they still could cram in a live read commercial and "hit the post" during a long rock intro.

The DJs used to talk at the top of the hour to set you up for what was on its way, then shutup and play it. Now it's just talk over the song all over the dial. These Sirius DJs stink.

And when the artists are in studio it doesn't have the same vibe. In fact one of the XMU DJs is always acting like the bands, no matter who they are, when they are in studio talking to him it is like they have been best friends since high school.

SHADDUP!!!!

[JohnGacysCrawlSpace]

I hate Jose on Liquid Metal. He makes all metalheads look ridiculous. And the Sirius DJs just yammer on too much. Xena is cool tho.

[underdog]

I hate Jose on Liquid Metal. He makes all metalheads look ridiculous. And the Sirius DJs just yammer on too much. Xena is cool tho.

Jose is fucking awful.