Specials

SIRIUS XM Radio has announced another big broadcasting event that highlights their diverse programming and the unparalleled national coverage they can deliver. The company will broadcast live from the NAACP National Convention. The event, scheduled to last from today, July 12th through Thursday July 15th, will bring listeners inside this historic gathering and include interviews of notable guests and seminal figures from the African-American community.

The Power (XM 169/SIRIUS Internet Radio 820) and P.O.T.U.S., SIRIUS XM’s non-partisan channel dedicated to “The Politics of the United States” (SIRIUS 110/XM 130) are scheduled to carry First Lady Michelle Obama’s speech in its entirety from this year’s event marking the NAACP’s 101st anniversary as an organization dedicated to pursuing civil rights.

SIRIUS XM host Mark Thompson will host his daily show “Make it Plain” live on SIRIUS Left (July 12-15 5-8pm ET) from the convention, interviewing political and community leaders and taking calls from listeners across the country to explore the day’s speeches, events and happenings.

Sirius XM has brought many diverse programming options to the forefront of their content platform, a feature of satellite radio that is often overlooked. Readers interested in learning more should explore the Sirius or XM websites.

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Many people use the memorial Day weekend to catch up with friends, enjoy a day at the beach, or simply relax. Trace Adkins and Sirius XM’s The Highway take the time to remind listeners that there’s a real reason to have this Memorial Day Monday off. Memorial day is about Veterans. Even being a Veteran myself, I sometimes forget about the commitments and sacrifices that have been made by those that serve this nation. However, I always take the time on Memorial Day to reflect on not only my own service, but to all of those serve.

The Highway (Sirius Channel 60, XM channel 16) is going to let the entire weekend be a tribute to all the men and women who have ever served our country. Listeners can call 877-499-DRIVE now and leave a message explaining who you’d like to honor and why. Then listen up as Trace Adkins personally plays back as many messages as he can. That and all the newest new country will be sure to have you celebrating ALL the reasons to enjoy the long holiday weekend.

The Highway plays the nations hottest Country tunes including artists such as Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley, Keith Urban, Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Sugarland, Rascal Flatts. Many of these artists have a brand of music that crosses over into pop, and even rock.

Take the time this weekend to thank a Veteran.

One of the greatest things about satellite radio is not commercial free music, news stations, or even the talk channels. It is actually unique content that simply can not be heard anywhere else. Traditional radio stations can not dedicate the time necessary for dedicated artist channels, or even in depth specials that feature a lone artist. Starting April 19th, and running through April 23rd, J. Geils front-man Peter Wolf will join Little Steven Van Zandt on Sirius XM’s Underground Garage (Sirius ch. 25 and XM ch. 59)

Peter Wolf likely has one of the most unique and compelling stories in Rock N Roll history. True Rock fans need to make sure that they take the time to tune into some or all of content. To be honest, four days is probably not enough time. Peter Wolf offers a unique look at the music industry because he was not only part of a popular band, but also had a successful solo career. Believe it or not, he started as a D.J. at Boston’s WBCN FM.

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Starting this coming Monday Snoop Dogg Nation, a commercial-free channel featuring music, interviews, and specials celebrating the career of the hip-hop icon, from his early days with Dr. Dre to his newest album, Malice N Wonderland will be taking over Hip Hop Nation on Sirius (ch. 40) and XM (ch. 67).

Snoop Dogg Nation, hosted by Snoop Dogg himself, will feature everything from his early collaborations with Dr. Dre, to Snoop’s first release in 1993, Doggystyle. Listeners will hear Snoop Dogg host an audio tour of his entire catalog, sharing stories about each album, including a track by track listen of his latest album. Snoop Dogg Nation will also feature a special countdown during which Snoop will count down his top 20 favorite hip-hop songs of all time.

Additionally, Snoop Dogg, will sit down with Hip-Hop Nation host Renada for an in-depth and revealing interview. Snoop will discuss creating his new album, his life as a ‘family man,’ his views on the music industry and more.

Based on what I have seen of Snoop Dogg on his own TV series Fatherhood and his episode of Man Caves, this should prove to be some interesting and compelling radio. One can only hope that Snoop gets interested enough in satellite radio that Shade 45 gets bumped for an all new Dogg Pound 45.

Sirius XM Radio announced it will launch Halloween Radio, a channel devoted to all things Halloween, offering listeners of all ages the ultimate 24/7 Halloween soundtrack. Halloween Radio, Sirius ch. 126 and XM ch. 120, will launch October 26 at 10am ET and run until November 1 at 6am ET.

Leading up to Halloween, from October 26-29, Halloween Radio will air themed segments including favorite holiday stories and memories from a variety of Sirius XM hosts such as Martha Stewart, Cousin Brucie, Jane Pratt, Jay Thomas, Judith Regan, and Chris “Mad Dog” Russo. The channel will also feature classic scary stories, music, listener comments, stories and personal Halloween memories, and a special appearance by Rosie O’Donnell, whose Sirius XM daily morning show premieres this fall.

On the eve of Halloween the channel will begin to broadcast catchy, creepy, fun, scary sounds beginning at 5pm, including creaking doors, wolves baying, footsteps, bubbling potions, a fog horn, breaking glass, the sounds of being chased through the woods, eerie screams, the echo of dripping water, a heartbeat and thunder to help set the mood for Halloween parties at work or at home and to set the mood for trick-or-treating.

Visit sirius.com/halloween to sample Halloween Radio by playing with the spooky sounds on the interactive soundboard.

I have long been a Monty Python fan. In fact, I was watching their skits and movies long before I should have. Monty Python will always carry a special place for me. In my youth, movies such as The Holy Grail, Life of Brian, and The Meaning Of Life became classic staples of school conversations, with one liners and scenes that simply resonated and have lasted throughout the years. I am such a fan, the John Clease is the navigation voice on my Tom Tom that guides me as I drive.

Sirius XM’s Monty Python channel launched late last week, and will continue through October 25th. Once again, I can hear the classic comedy that carries a place for anyone who has ever seen one of their movies, or watched their television series. Who can forget the frenchman saying, “Your mother is a hampster and your father smells of elerberries”

If you have not caught the Monty Python channel yet, make it a point to tune to Sirius channel 105 or XM channel 151. If you have a favorite Monty Python moment, you can request it during special “Monty Python Request” shows that will air each day. Tune in, and bring back all of the troops classics.

This Friday, August 14th, Sirius XM Radio will launch The Woodstock Channel to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Woodstock Music & Art Fair held at Max Yasgur’s farm in Bethel, New York in 1969.

The Woodstock Channel will start Friday and run through Sunday, August 16 on Deep Tracks, Sirius ch.16 and XM ch. 40. The show will be devoted to the historic music festival featuring music, interviews and memories from the artists who were there, including Graham Nash, Leslie West, Arlo Guthrie, The Band, Creedence Clearwater Revival and Joe Cocker.

Sirius XM subscribers will hear music from artists in the exact order that they performed at the festival each day beginning with Richie Havens and ending with Jimi Hendrix. The Woodstock Channel will also feature complete performances from Santana, Janis Joplin, Sly & The Family Stone, Johnny Winter and Jefferson Airplane as they happened at the original 1969 festival.

During the limited-run channel, listeners will hear content from Woodstock – 40 Years On: Back To Yasgur’s Farm, the new 6-CD boxed set to be released on August 11 and also exclusive interviews with the stars and filmmakers of Taking Woodstock, the new comedy about a man who inadvertently played a role in making Woodstock into the famed happening it was.

For more information about The Woodstock Channel, you can visit sirius.com/deeptracks.

The holiday weekend and radio seem to go hand in hand. Barbecue on the grill, friends and family getting together in the sunshine as the radio plays. It is holiday weekends where the value of radio comes to life, and Sirius XM have the capability of offering more than any other radio format. Sirius XM is dishing up some great content for every taste imaginable with special programming all Memorial day weekend long. There will be special concerts, performances and interviews across SIRIUS XM’s commercial-free music lineup.

The entire schedule for the weekend can be found at www.sirius.com/memorialday or www.xmradio.com.

Memorial Day weekend broadcast highlights after the jump…

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