Pandora Passes Sirius XM On iTunes
Whether Sirius XM investors like it or not, iTunes has become a sort of measuring stick of what is hot and what is not. If you can make it on iTunes, you have your hands onto something. For years, Sirius and XM fans have seen a partnership with Apple as the holy grail of determining the success of the company. A partnership never came to fruition, but Sirius XM did finally release an app that is available through iTunes.
Early success of the Sirius XM app vaulted it to the number one music download on iTunes. Within a couple of weeks, the app surpassed 1 million downloads. Now, a week later and much to the chagrin of investors, the Sirius XM app has fallen below Pandora. At this point Pandora enjoys the #12 position and Sirius XM sits at #15.
What this proves is that the competition on Internet radio will be strong. It also proves that Sirius XM, even with strong brand recognition, needs to do as much as they can to remain on top. To do that they need to find a way to compete with the high points that attract people to services such as Pandora. Pandora sports customized channels, something that Sirius XM should consider. Pandora is virtually free because of advertised support. This is something that Sirius XM can not compete with. Thus, Sirius XM needs to focus on exclusive content as they work towards improving the Internet service to offer more capabilities that are appealing in services like Pandora.
Launching the app without Howard Stern was a mistake, as he and his channels are a big driver for satellite radio. Until the Stern mess is cleared up, Sirius XM needs to point out that the other exclusive content available on their Internet service is worth the price of the subscription. This can only be accomplished through good marketing, and exposing people to the content. One week of free service is not enough time for consumers to evaluate the value of becoming a subscriber.
In my opinion, Sirius XM needs to increase the free trial to a point where they can at least capitalize on the word of mouth impact that apps tend to have. If a consumer downloads the app, and does not get a chance to experiment with the service and expose themselves to the value of a subscription, then that is opportunity lost. The “gotta-have-it” factor is diminished by the fact that many simply can’t even offer an informed opinion about Sirius XM.
Sirius XM also needs to get good channel descriptions on the app as soon as possible. Consumers don’t know what the Loft is, nor Faction. Some channels are self explanatory, but others simply leave someone guessing. Sirius XM needs to feature their D.J.’s, and talent. Consumers need to be able to navigate the app as easily as possible. The app needs to provide a wow factor that encourages exploration and participation.
The fact that you can get Sirius XM on an iPhone is great. The company needs to continue to improve the app and the consumer experience in order to maintain a competitive advantage. Presence on the top of the iPhone charts is critical to the perception of consumers, and consumer perception is critical to the success of Sirius XM’s app. It is a vicious circle, but if Sirius XM wants to stay in the game, they have to dance the dance.
Position – Long Sirius XM
In my unbiased opinion, SiriusBuzz is far more credible than SatWaves. I’m not suggesting that means a whole lot, but on a relative basis SiriusBuzz is far more credible.
How long as Pandora app been out and how long has SiriusXM app been out. SiriusXM is a clear winner. Pandora had the jump, but SiriusXM has made its splash. You are way too early to rush on this article after only what 3 or 4 weeks. Thats the problem with blogs and journalist. Anything for sensationalism.
Tyler, I have also crapped in my pants before, doesnt mean I am incontient(spelling). I defended Brandon before on an individual case by case basis. He gets no blanket apology from me. I am going to say this one more time. Its not a competition. Tyler, to be honest, this site spends more time on that site than the reverse. Trust me, Im on both everyday. Occasionally that site will respond to an article from here, but you seem to write in response to Brandon sometimes. As you have a duty to counter him. Thats fine. Just saying what I see. I know you want good information out there. We all do. Hes no Motely Fool, hes no WSJ, and hes no street.com. Hes a great journalist that gets it wrong sometimes. Your a great journalist that takes less chances on being wrong. Ive been over this before. Two different styles.
Both of you are warriors, fighting for the same side. Truth and honest debate.
Relmor…..
I don’t spend time on Satwaves. I get emails from people pointing out gross erros, and then see a bunch of people actually believeing that the liberty deal can be reversed, or that the bond deal will erase Sirius XM debt when the bond deal was dealing with XM debt, or that subscribers will be positive in Q1 or Q2. These gross errors are what draw a response. The correction needs to be made, and since they wont make the correction themselves most of the time, someone needs to get the truth out there. If not for the gross errors, there would be no need to put up an article of response. If they would get things like these right in the first place, then investors would have good information to work from and with.
I have responded to what I consider bad articles by Motley fool. However, many of their articles are clear opinion pieces. When a site wants to call themselves a journalistic site, they need to do a bit of research. When they say that the bond deal is paying off one set of debt, when it is actually paying off another, that is not an opinion. It is poor research, and a lack of understanding of the wording in the filing.
Brandon can feel free to correct me when I get something wrong. Perhaps the reason you do not see such articles from him is that I take the time to understand the issue prior to writing about it. I take that time because I do not want bad information disiminated with my name attached to it.
This is not about writting style or taking risks. Reversal of the malone deal was not taking a risk, it was bad research and uninformed opinion. Thinking that subs would be positive is not taking a risk. I don’t reven know what to call it! Subs will be negative….period. Misunderstanding the bond deal is not taking a risk, it is misunderstanding the deal.
If you call my style conservative, that is fine. I put myself out there as much as anyone, but I make sure I am on decent footing when I do it. Last Q, I said subs would be negative by as much as 500K or so. At the time, dozens said I was out on a limb. Now, that the number came to fruition, it was Brandon out on a limb? Come on, be real.
Yes, he has put out bad information. I was voiceful in my opinion that the LIberty deal was non reversable. If you remember, even before the site split, I was the number 1 advocator of it being a done deal. To stop worrying about it going away, or getting a better offer, or a buyout from someone else. I said it was never going to happen. As for what debt would be paid with the notes, I also said there was no way in hell the 2014 debt would be touched with ANY of that money. That is a sort of speculation, and if someone wants to think 150 million of that and stock is going to wipe that out, then let there delusions continue. Thats an opinion. About the R/S, I disagree with Brandon too, and say it everytime.
About positive sub numbers, I drank a bit of koolaid, but it wasnt SW koolaid, it was the jerk Tuna. He is usually very conservative, I didnt know he was just saying that to set up a bull trap. No one did. Except you and few others too knowledgeable about how subs are counted to allow that. Thank you. You helped convince me that day to have my finger on the sell button, and it paid off for me. Not the only reason, but one of them. So i thank you for keeping me grounded.
You dont take chances however. By taking chances, I mean being the first to speculate on a possibility. I like that kind of journalism personally, as an investor, as it is more helpful to me to keep ahead of the game. I am smart enough to discredit bad specualation, and I hope all readers are. Why we exchange and debate the articles after they are written. To offer counter points.
relmor2003 says:
July 11, 2009 at 10:52 pm
So to imply you should rate them as compared to where Pandora is, is a bad guide. I think its impressive to be anywhere near a free app that popular(musicwise). Where would SiriusXM rate as a sports app? Talk radio app? How about a live concert app? Since its all of those, they could be on many lists. They are on a music app, but its only one part of there service. Talk radio, concerts, personalities, comedy shows, and news, etc…
if you would search the app store or itunes, you would find that siriusxm is the #1 app (paid or free) on talk radio category. it is 3rd on comedy (1st in free) and somewhere around 25th (paid and free) in the news category.3rd in personalities(free app is 1st).. i think this is all related to how siriusxm app is tagged tho. i didnt find the app under the concerts category. but all you have to do is type a keyword in search and if sirius or apple has tagged that word , then the sirius app will appear in that ranking.
oh and btw. under radio – it is 2nd (1st free), ahead of pandora radio which is 4th overall.
obviously i am making the assumption that the order is based on popularity/downloads.
Thanks for that information. Im glad they list the app in other categories. Why I said its apples and oranges. Apparently Cos1000(as posted elsewhere) and John also agree with me.
PS. My “me’s” above, is really about 15 posters too, who dont let facts get swept away by speculation. There are plenty of counter opinions offered, and factual information offered on SW for information to be credible. Ive read 100 articles by WSJ, Barrons, and Street.com, and Motely fool that are so full of errors and lies, YOUR ATTENTION TO SW is unwarrented. Go out and counter articles like I do, and spread your facts. Your facts now have less of an audience now that SB isnt using your articles anymore, per your request. Which seems counter productive to me, but you obviously have your reasons. If I ran a site, and SA picked up some of my articles, and changed the names, and took link credit, or whatever, I would say o well, at least they general populous gets at least some good information. But whatever, thats not the point of this discussion.
Unwarrented might be the wrong word. Maybe, misfocused. Due to readership numbers, you would be more worried about lies from major newspapers. Never read one article from you about the CNET add service 2wice printing BK or old debt articles on price surges. So I interpret that as you either dont care, or dont have to time to adress bs, and lies. But you have time if its from SW. So your inconsistant.
1. There are 15 solid posters who comment and chat the fool.com, why don’t you hang out there (rhetorical)?
2. You assume that we have less of an audience now. You might be happy about SA picking up your articles but, as you admit it only SEEMS counterproductive and we must have our reasons.
3. Lets try and keep the comments section, simply comments and on topic (I am talking to all). Any further questions or replies can be handled via the forums.
4. For the record, I never read SW and don’t ever plan to. I honestly wish people would stop emailing me about the inaccuracies.
I spend just as much time addressing lies here, as I do SW, or SA, or MF, or yahoo boards. Or any where they allow poster comments. I call these journals, I call the NASDAQ about fat finger trades, and fight with my broker almost daily. So to say your “worried about facts” as you see, is inconsistant. I day your “worried about facts, if its coming from SW only”.
Hence, it seems personal.