XM vs Sirius Programming - "why is xm too cool for the room??"

[Ovaherenow]

I am one of the few geeks that have both sirius and xm, and XM programming by far is pissing me off.

I got Sirius free as a corporate gift (no I dont' fucking work for them) that a company we work with got them as a barter deal. We also got a free year subscription, which expired 2 1/2 months ago and they have yet to ask me to renew, which goes to show you what kinda messed up company they have over there.

I got XM 10 months later only because Opie and Anthony were there. I was at CES and was able to get a MiFi for $200 bucks new instead of $350 if I bought it there and took the chance. I love the portable ablity, the technology (although I want to fast forward you guys...I can understand not being able to "Save" songs because of copyright issues, but I should be able to fast forward.). and yes the signal isn't clear, but you can always record...

Anyway, I had Sirius with their huge "Car and home" receiver, one they don't even sell anymore except on ebay. The portable unit is the size of a small brick, but is light, and I don't care too much about the size. It truly is commerical free FM radio. I'm tired of XM's too cool for the room shit. I scroll through "over 100 stations of crystal clear music" and mutiple times can't find anything I want on XM, while on Sirius' (albeit chunkier non portable unit) I always find songs i like as well as songs radio doesn't play anymore.

I don't understand why XM can't "fix" or update their programming to increase people's experience with the service. I think part of the reason is they don't have to. If you already purchased a unit, you're probably going to pay for the service even if it sucks because you are in the hole for over a hundred bucks you know?
:icon_evil

They got baseball which was a saving grace for them, and has eased my tension towards the service.

PLEASE XM...UPDATE YOUR PLAYLISTS!
Sirius has stations that are so much better than XM's version, like Hair Nation on Sirius vs Boneyard on XM, Alt Nation on Sirius vs what..Lucy?

Smart Money had a article in the March 2005 issue (i'm going to scan it in this thread tomorrow for your review.) and it says what everyone knows but no one wants to say
"...Sirius is like commerical free FM...while XM comes off as the scary guy in the record store..." Don't give me that "you need to expand your horizons and listen to different music man" fuck you stupid.

I WANT A FUCKING ROCK STATION LIKE KROCK ON XM.

I WANT A TRUE 80S HAIR BAND STATION, NOT BONEYARD.

I WANT A TRUE METAL STATION.

YOU ARE XM...YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE BEYOND FM.....GET CLOSER TO FM WITHOUT COMMERICALS.!!!!

[d0uche_n0zzle]

I'm mean no disrespect, but please go fuck yourself. :action-sm

I HATE FM because of the repetition of the SAME TWENTY FUCKING SONGS!!!!! :fight6:

If the Doggie does that too then fuck them in the ass with a super AIDS infected cock.

I really dig the depth of the playlist on XM. I like to hear alot of different songs from the same artist, if they makes me too cool for the room then so fucking be it. :icon_cool

[PCLoadLetter]

Okay, TERRIFIC!

[MrSquidlow]

I can understand your frustration...
It's one thing to have "different" music on "some" stations, it's another to chase the dial when that's not what you want at that time..
With Sirius you get more current hits and more common hits..
XM ,I would say, is best listened to in conjunction with FM, as your tastes require...
Sirius...Gives you less different...If that makes sense..
I have both and thought the same thing..I hate swithing to FM in my car only because I feel I shouldn't have to..
I really only own XM for OnA, but insist, even when it's painful, to surf thier selections..
Between surfing and adjusting the volume constantly for OnA's management, I can safely say that with XM the "regular" guy needs to be able to drive with one hand...
If it weren't for OnA I would probably only have my refrigerator sized Sirius unit on my dash...

[evilmonkey]

I disagree with this. I dont have Sirius so i really cant comment on their selection. However, if it is anything like commercial radio as far as selection, then that is horrible. I would rather listen to music i have never heard before rather than listening to the same songs i have heard over and over.

As for XM being "too cool for the room", thats bullshit.

They have a really good selection of music that isnt even necessarily considered "good". If they repeated constant hits on their stations, i would cancel the service.

Its all opinions, we all like different things and I'm not going to bad mouth anyone for voicing their opinion.

[Ballbuster1]

I have never heard the stuff on Sirius, so I can't compare them.
I waited to see where O&A would end up to make my decision.
But, it still beats the hell out of regular radio anytime.
I'm quite happy with XM.

[Mike H]

It is all about personal preferences. I like XM (and had it a long time before O&A came aboard) because I have extremely varied musical preferences. A lot the music I like will never be found on terrestrial radio, or a least not very often. In addition, a lot of the music I like is not the biggest hits, which is what you are going to find more often on Sirius/terrestrial radio. I like that XM will play everything under the sun.

But that is really besides the point. If you like Sirius's playlists better, you should get Sirius. Whatever is the case, I think more people are going to be williing to start paying for satellite radio if they are unhappy with what they are being offered on terrestrial radio. We can all probably agree that Sirius is a lot more similar, as far as musical pogramming goes, to terrestrial than XM. For that reason, I think XM is doing the right thing here, in a business sense. If you are happy with the music you hear on terrestrial, I do not think you are going to be as likely to pay for radio (I know that one poll found otherwise, but I do not buy its validity for several reasons). If you are willing to pay for radio, you are going to opt for what is different. And for that reason, I think, you would be more likely to choose XM over Sirius.

[Butt Nugget]

I'm mean no disrespect, but please go fuck yourself. :action-sm

I HATE FM because of the repetition of the SAME TWENTY FUCKING SONGS!!!!! :fight6:

If the Doggie does that too then fuck them in the ass with a super AIDS infected cock.

I really dig the depth of the playlist on XM. I like to hear alot of different songs from the same artist, if they makes me too cool for the room then so fucking be it. :icon_cool

I'm with him. I have been waiting for this my entire, music listening life-and it's finally here. I absolutely detest repitition.

[Ballbuster1]

I'm hearing stuff that I haven't heard in years or never heard
on regular radio. While I can't compare it to Sirius, I am happy
listening to XM. I feel I get my money's worth. That's all that
matters to me.

[highfive]

There are other stations besides 202?

[A_Pinkus]

You know what's the best way to hear songs you know?

Put in a cd.

Learn some new songs, find out about some artist you never knew about.. It will make you much better as a person.

[MilitantRabbit]

Xm's programming is great, albeit different. Comparing aesthetics, XM's receivers look better, less tacky.

If XM wants to vary their programming, perhaps a further foray into some more world genres (punjab, J-Pop, etc.)

[Mike H]

Because of a limit on bandwith, it is tough to do that. They still have to stick to genres that enough people are going to want to listen to to make it worth it.

[Ovaherenow]

First off, both satelite radio companies are better than regular radio, and I'm not disputing that. Secondly, it isn't an "XM vs FM" competition. Of course XM is better than FM, and Sirius is as well. I'm not saying Sirius is FM or regular "MTV" Radio with the same Carson Daily 20 songs playing in a row. What I meant is that Sirius seems to have a greater balance of songs I know (agreed, highest percentage), and songs I haven't heard in a while, and songs I haven't heard. Yes, there is some repetition within channels more so than XM, but I'm not listening to one station for 12 hours a day (unless of course it is XM 202 for obvious reasons), so the repetition isn't repetition if I don't hear it....is it? Nevermind.

Douche, no worries, nothing personal taken when you told me to fuck myself when I was just stating an opinion what I felt to make XM better. It sounds like you are Kevin Straley or work with Coolguy or commute to the XM compound in Chocolate City. If XM is perfect in your eyes and ears, fine. I'm 27 and if I was older like in my 40s or 50s I would probably enjoy XM more than I do now, but to me at least XM can be better by establishing a better selection of tunes. I'm sure that everyone on wackbag has XM and I doubt everyone loves the music selections, that's all.

[MilitantRabbit]

Because of a limit on bandwith, it is tough to do that. They still have to stick to genres that enough people are going to want to listen to to make it worth it.
i know that, but ijust want to have something like what's at www.japanaradio.com, without connecting to the internet

[Skeet Slambone]

I definately think the Boneyard could do a better job on their playlist.

[MrSquidlow]

I don't get to here the radio all day and listen to OnA when I am in my car..
If I don't listen to FM occasionally I won't even know what is being played on regular radio...
Not all popular songs are bad...
I also have a fear of losing time in terms of entertainment...
I lived in Germany for three years...all TV in english is a year behind..
First year was re-runs..1990-1991 was lost...like it never existed..

[d0uche_n0zzle]

I definately think the Boneyard could do a better job on their playlist.

Email in your suggestions, remember it's Your XM!

Work to make it better by giving them your feedback. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

[Smoke]

First year was re-runs..1990-1991 was lost...like it never existed..
Bit Torrent takes a long time on 14.4. :action-sm

[Coffee Diva]

Everything said in this thread is more or less right, and that's how XM and Sirius want it. XM has intentionally positioned itself as the "deep playlist" service, and Sirius has intentionally positioned itself as the "what you love, just tons more of it" service (though they do have freeform channels).

But really, in the end, none of this matters financially. XM is winning for two reasons:

1) It got on the air first.

2) It got the GM contract.

That's it. That's all that matters, up to this point. XM and Sirius could completely swap their music programming strategies tomorrow morning, and XM would still be signing up more subscribers more quickly than Sirius. It's all about the momentum and XM's big lead in pre-installed car radio deals. (If you want a Hummer H2, you're not going to change your mind because the radio is designed for XM instead of Sirius.)

As time goes on, more people will start choosing their satellite radio service based on programming instead of which service happens to get in front of their face first, but that point's probably not going to happen for at least a year, when we find out whether or not Hoo Hoo can really get 1,000,000 people to get Sirius boxes.

[Mike H]

I pretty much agree with you, but I have to give credit to Sirius in this respect...

Before they signed Stern, in the eyes of the greater public, it was XM or nothing. XM had almost 100% of the name recognition when it came to satellite radio for several reasons. Like you said, the fact that it was out there first is a huge reason for that. I also would not underestimate something so simple as the name. Like O&A and many others have said before, there was already AM and FM. XM immediately sounds like it would be the next generation of radio, even to someone who has never heard of it before. Sirius is... well... just another name for a company. Say the word Sirius to someone and they could think you are talking about anything. Say XM and they are likely to hypothesize that it might have something to do with radio. But once Sirius hired Stern, they not only signed a huge personality, but they also got 100 million dollars worth of advertising. They immediately bridged a large part of the gap in name recognition. Now, if I tell someone I have satellite radio, I think more people would be like... "oh, you got Sirius?" XM, in my opinion, needs to pick up the advertising in the next year, just to get their name back out there or else they are going to eventually fall behind.

[CrazyMrPoopSex]

I'm not real happy with the programming. XM really make a effort to never play a rock song that has seen a billboard chart. Some of the stations are just plain awful. Like boneyard. It's like some guy has every rock CD ever made and just closes his eyes, grabs one, and plays a random song. He gets lucky once in a while. Just b/c a station is hit based doesn't mean it will play the same 20 songs over and over. Think of how many great rock songs there have been in the last 20 years. It could play for a long time w/o repeating. A song I've never heard is fine but if it sucks too....then..well...it just sucks.

[Hudson]

Personally I liked the holiday music around X-mas. Xm had a whole station dedicated to the gimmicky songs! I loved it!
I have no problem with xm but I do see the songs I never heard of thing while listening to the 80's, 90's and the Boneyard.
The 70's is pretty straight forward although repetitive at times (thank god Lookingglass's Brandy is not on heavy replay)
but things will change as time goes by

[PCLoadLetter]

XM really make a effort to never play a rock song that has seen a billboard chart.

Some of the stations are just plain awful. Like boneyard. It's like some guy has every rock CD ever made and just closes his eyes, grabs one, and plays a random song. He gets lucky once in a while.

It sounds like you are arguing both sides of the point here.

As for my opinion of the "other" XM channels, I only wish the 80's channel was all 80's ROCK and alternative/new wave... Like a combo of what MTV and K-Rock would've played back then.

F'rinstance, right now they are playing Bette Davis Eyes, and they're following it with Whip It! Two good selections in a row, IMHO... But soon they're going to ruin it with something stupid. :icon_mrgr

[TurboDan]

I have a couple problems with XM's music. I agree with Norton - I love the decades channels, the pop channels are just fine. But, I thought the point of having both deep tracks and top tracks was so one could play hits and one obscure. Top Tracks goes too deep for me alot of the time. I wish they could play a Q104.3 type playlist and leave the deeper stuff to the DEEP CHANNEL!

My other beef is with the hip-hop channels. First of all, my cell phone has better audio quality than The City. It absolutely sucks ass to a point where I can't even listen to it. The sound quality is atrocious. Now, that aside, why can't they play a hip-hop/rap hits format and leave the real "ghetto" and "legit" music to another channel like RAW? I'm from Bay Ridge, not Bed Stuy - give me some hip-hop that they play on Hot 97 and Power 105 that has a good beat and gets you movin'. If I want more "straight from the streets" stuff, I'll go to a channel that is for that.

[Mike H]

You sure it is the sound quality of your stereo and not the channel?

[TurboDan]

Yup. The other channels are just fine.

[MilitantRabbit]

yo guys gotta realize it's digital radio. audio artifacts are common, just not a lot on sirius. if this isn't a problem because you don't care, then keep your XM.

[robification]

i gotta be honest... if o&a werent on XM, i would cancel my subscription. i have both xm and sirius.

from what i noticed, it seems that XM is catering more toward the truckers(smart) and the older crowd while sirius is catering more toward the casual listener. sirius rap/hiphop and rock channels are a lot more diverse than that on XM. it is true that XM plays a lot more deeper tracks. however, there's a reason that a song off of some album 20 years ago wasnt release..... it sucked

if you're more in to oldies, AC, calssical or country, XM has a better channel line up. unfortunately i have no interest in any of these genres. oh... and sirius doesnt have a broadway channel... forgot about that prize.

see... xm has the adult market covered along with the extreme rock market(well... kinda... they canned XMLM while sirius has hard attack) who likes the deep tracks. they neglected everyone in between.

sirius is not like FM without commercials. yes... some stations ARE, but not all. there are channels that fit in to pretty much any type of music you're in to.

btw... i HAVE sent my complaints to XM

[XMScott]

it seems that XM is catering more toward the truckers(smart) and the older crowd while sirius is catering more toward the casual listener.

if you're more in to oldies, AC, calssical or country, XM has a better channel line up. unfortunately i have no interest in any of these genres. oh... and sirius doesnt have a broadway channel... forgot about that prize.




XM is showing me that there is more out there thats not mainstream as you say Sirius supports

And im loving it, If i want mainstream music i probably own it or it sucks

[robification]

the obscure, less popular stuff is available on sirius.... but they also have the mainstream stuff...

my point was that sirius has more diversity(thought i said that in my post)

[NiceHeadDeek]

XM just lost NASCAR to Sirius starting in 2007.

[Ovaherenow]

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050222/ap_on_bi_ge/sirius_nascar_5

So now Sirius is outbidding current XM partners.

XM is going to have
MLB Baseball
Big 10
ACC
O&A.

Sirius is going to have Nascar in addition to
NFL
NBA (not exclusive deal from what I read, but NBA doesn't want to annoy fans with two partners)
NHL (if they even play again)
College Basketball (NCAA March Maddness specificall)
College Radio Network
English Soccer (NOTHING CAN BE MORE BORING THAN LISTENING TO SOCCER ON THE RADIO, SO I JUST "DON'T CARE")

That sucks....