What Satellite Radio Has Taught Me About Terrestrial Radio

Before the switch I listened mostly to NPR talk. Now it’s mostly music… mostly oldies–60s through 00s.

Is this proof a high commercial load drove me from music radio? I think it is. Thirty percent of the hour is stuff I don’t want to hear. I now have options.

Stereo-ControlsMy new car has satellite radio. It has AM, FM and weather band too.

Too late. I have moved.

Before the switch I listened mostly to NPR talk. Now it’s mostly music… mostly oldies–60s through 00s.

Is this proof a high commercial load drove me from music radio? I think it is. Thirty percent of the hour is stuff I don’t want to hear. I now have options.

I hear Cousin Brucie on satellite. I’ve listened since I was a teen. I met him while I was in high school. He was a very big deal.

He is currently doing the best work of his career on Sirius/XM. This is the perfect format for him, a guy who was always nice to everybody. The show is built around him, not the reverse.

I’ve also found myself listening to old radio shows. This is way before my time. I enjoy hearing the credits. Some big show biz names used to do network radio dramas.

In those less enlightened times, cops often did things that would be frowned upon today–or so said the scripts. Entrapment and street justice were the rule!

I am disappointed by the fidelity on some channels I listen to. Each is separately compressed to squeeze more content onto the satellite. The cost for that is music that has fewer highs and bass bottom. Some news channels sound like they’re on the phone! I’d sacrifice some choice for higher fi.

Sirius/XM covers network commercials on CNN, FNC, MSNBC, etc. with ‘per inquiry’ ads for dubious products. There are no commercials on the music channels, which is why it doesn’t annoy me to the point of cancelling.

I will renew when my free period ends.

8 thoughts on “What Satellite Radio Has Taught Me About Terrestrial Radio”

  1. Geoff,
    Thank you for telling us why the music on Sirius does not always sound so great due to the compression. I had noticed that and I thought I had a problem with my radio. Some music channels seem to sound better than others. I listen to the Elvis channel (channel 19) a lot. It is hard to believe that all his songs still sound wonderful after all these years. I also like the 50’s and 60’s channels and Cousin Brucie who is still around. I also listen to CNN and CNBC. I have had the satellite radio for seven years now and seldom listen to AM or FM radio anymore.

  2. Love my XM. 23, 25, 26 and 27 keep me amused most of the time. 5, 6 and 7 for special moods only. Otherwise, pandora from my phone through the radio. I am so sick of commercials. We stopped watching television, too. I mean stopped, we don’t download or netflix or anything. I miss the weather and the news (in that order).
    Life is good.

  3. Try Radio Margaritaville. Not Just Jimmy Buffett, but lots of Reggae, some country and other eclectic stuff. Channel 24.

  4. I got Sirius almost 7 years ago and hit it at the PERFECT time. They were offering a special then that I’ve never heard of them offering again. For 4 payments of something like $120-$125 (like I said, it’s been almost 7 yrs), I have a lifetime plan. What’s really nice is that I don’t feel guilty for wasting money when I switch to my iPod or Pandora for extended lengths of time.

  5. WE have satellite radio in the newer cars at work. VERY popular. Everyone has their own favorite ‘presets’. I can always tell who’s been in the car by what’s on the playlist. The boss likes ESPN radio. Our trainee loves The Message, Me? My #1 preset is E Street Radio. But my list also includes ‘Broadway’. WE had one assistant manager who listened to CNN en espaniole because he was learning Spanish and it helped him improve his ear.
    LOVE satellite radio. Maybe some day I’ll be able to have it in my own car.

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