The end of satellite radio?

[TropicalTroubador]

I just read an interesting article making a case for the impending end of Sirius XM, which of course would send RM back to the Internet:

http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/featur ... hp/3786146

Some interesting and amusing points, pro, con, and otherwise, are also made in the comments.

So...would the end of Sirius XM be good or bad for Radio Margaritaville? I hope it would bring back the old format of slightly more indie Trop Rock than they now play.

[SeattleParrotHead]

It figures! I just added Sirius to both my cars!

[SharkOnLand]

Hmm. I don't agree. There's a difference between listening to your own mp3s and listening to radio. Radio introduces me to new stuff, that I eventually end up buying. I'd have never bought a Boat Drunks CD without being introduced to them by RM.

I think the record companies have a stake in keeping radio alive, for that very reason. People won't buy music they haven't heard, and if you're only listening to your own collection of mp3s, you aren't being exposed to new music. The record companies (and the artists) need people to be exposed to new stuff.

The only thing that would keep me from my Sirius is if I couldn't afford it anymore.

[citcat]

um.......I have Sirius in my van and on my Dish network and Radio Margaritaville has been and IS on both....

[FINSUPinIdaho]

90% of my listening on satelite over the last 3 years (and that is all I listen to, just cant stand terrestrial ) is either Howard Stern, Bubba the Love Sponge or news/sports. The other 10% is RM. Satelite radio will not fail, they will just change names and proceed.

[Bwana Paul]

I think this guys arguments are a bit weak.

[seanr]

90% of my listening on satelite over the last 3 years (and that is all I listen to, just cant stand terrestrial ) is either Howard Stern, Bubba the Love Sponge or news/sports. The other 10% is RM. Satelite radio will not fail, they will just change names and proceed.

Let's hope they bring Bubba back seems to still be up in the air

[ph4ever]

I sorta agree - it COULD be the end. I had Sirius and when I sat down and thought about how much time I didn't spend in my car at that time, and how much time I didn't listen at home it just didn't make sense to spend that money.

I've got a HD radio now and it's awesome!!! 2 channels per HD station and I get good music. Can't ask for more for free.

[chippewa]

Hmm. I don't agree. There's a difference between listening to your own mp3s and listening to radio. Radio introduces me to new stuff, that I eventually end up buying. I'd have never bought a Boat Drunks CD without being introduced to them by RM.

I think the record companies have a stake in keeping radio alive, for that very reason. People won't buy music they haven't heard, and if you're only listening to your own collection of mp3s, you aren't being exposed to new music. The record companies (and the artists) need people to be exposed to new stuff.

The only thing that would keep me from my Sirius is if I couldn't afford it anymore.

Heck, yes. I get tired of only listening to stuff I already have. I don't even have satellite, but the only time I listen to terrestrial radio is for a little bit of local news and sports broadcasts. If I'm at a computer about all I listen to is internet radio.

[FINSUPinIdaho]

Let's hope they bring Bubba back seems to still be up in the air

Yes, I told my wife do not re-up me for another two tears (christmas gift) until I hear if Bubba is going to be back. That guys and his team floor me every day. Unbelievable radio. Those with thin skin and a extreme sense of PC, need not listen though....

I also spend 550-700 miles a week in my truck making sales calls, so to me it is money well spent. Those morning terrestrial radio guys (Bob and Tom, etc...) just make me want to toss cookies. Sooo frigging cheesy and contrived.

[NelliBli]

I absolutely LOVE my XM radio, and it's even better now that I can get Radio Margaritaville. My daughter was even impressed when we drove home from Philly before Thanksgiving (to Buffalo) and is going to have her radio activated! I've had XM since the beginning & I don't want to lose it!!

[caly]

I had RM on in my Edge and my Mom gets in and says.......That's a Jimmy Buffett song isn't it? She thought it was amazing timing and I said it was all Jimmy all the time. That concept blew her away. She will be 80 in 6 months and had not heard of satellite radio in a car.

[Hockey Mon]

I think the reports of XM/Sirius's death are greatly exaggerated.

[docandjeanie]

I hope it doesn't happen. I listen to either internet live 365 vip or satellite, very little other radio.

[BFinnsUp]

I read the posts before I read the article and thought that the one thing that could kill Sirius XM is internet radio in the car. So, when I read his article I had to agree that that was a serious threat. The good thing is that we would still have access to RM.

[SharkOnLand]

If anything kills Sirius/XM it will be their own foolishness pre-merger. They had bidding wars trying to one-up the other on content. Stern gets like $100 million a year or some outrageous number. If anything, those contracts will be the downfall of Sirius/XM as we know it.

If they do end up going under though, I'd imagine someone will buy up the infrastructure for pennies on the dollar, and we'd have a new satellite radio provider...

[Burny Charles]

I think this guys arguments are a bit weak.

I agree. His best argument for the end of satellite radio is on the financial side of it and the fact that it is not free. All of his other points are kind of stupid. They're all based on evolving digital technology to listen to your own music. "First there were records, then cassettes and CDs", radio survived through all of these.