XM Satellite Radio Launches Exclusive Music Programs For Fall 2004 Featuring Bon
Fall Season of Original Series Kicks Off With ‘Artist Confidential’ Featuring Bonnie Raitt Live atthe XM Performance Theater This Sunday 8 PM ET
XM Satellite Radio, the nation’s leading satellite radio service with more than 2.1 million subscribers, today announced the debut of its exclusive, original music series for the Fall 2004 season featuring many of the music industry’s biggest stars. XM’s new season kicks off Sunday, September 12th at 8 PM ET with the groundbreaking, one-on-one interview and performance series “Artist Confidential,” this week featuring nine-time Grammy-winner Bonnie Raitt. In the coming weeks music legends Tom Petty, Snoop Dogg, Quincy Jones and many others will deliver exclusive, original XM shows on a variety of XM channels for music fans nationwide.
“XM’s new exclusive music series again demonstrates why XM has been called the ‘HBO of satellite radio,'” said XM Satellite Radio President and CEO Hugh Panero. “It’s an honor to be collaborating with this remarkable group of artists whose participation has allowed us to further enhance our critically- acclaimed commercial-free music lineup. These compelling original programs will give our listeners a musical experience far beyond any other radio offering.”
ARTIST CONFIDENTIAL (new shows to premiere the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month, 8PM ET): “Artist Confidential” offers exclusive one-hour live performances and candid, one-on-one interviews with celebrated artists, beginning with renowned singer/guitarist Bonnie Raitt this Sunday, September 12, at 8 PM ET. Upcoming guests include the Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir, Don Henley, Wynton Marsalis, Cat Stevens (Yusef Islam), Rush and Emmylou Harris. Hosted by XM program director and on-air host George Taylor Morris, “Artist Confidential” offers intimate conversations with great musicians, who will reveal rare insights on their lives and art, and live performances before an audience of fans and friends at XM’s state-of-the-art Performance Theater in Washington, D.C. As with all XM music programming, each episode is broadcast without commercial interruption. This week’s show will be broadcast simultaneously on four XM channels: XM Live (Channel 200), Deep Tracks (Channel 40), XM Cafe (Channel 45), and The Loft (Channel 50).
THEN … AGAIN … LIVE!: [premieres on XM Live (Channel 200) and three other channels beginning September 19th at 8 PM with a new episode airing on the 3rd Sunday of each month] XM has selected some of the most acclaimed albums of all time and invited the original artist to recreate their masterpiece live — in sequence, before an audience of fans — from today’s vantage point, and with the benefit of 21st century technology. These stunning new renditions of albums that are musical touchstones to entire generations of fans include Cheap Trick’s At Budokan, The Allman Brothers’ Eat A Peach, Jethro Tull’s Aqualung, and Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd. Each XM presentation of an historic reliving of a legendary album is inter-cut with the artist’s personal observations on their landmark work.
FROM BE BOP TO HIP-HOP WITH QUINCY JONES: [premieres on Sunday, September 19th at 7 PM ET on XM Live (Channel 200) with new episodes airing each Sunday] The most-nominated artist in GRAMMY history, Quincy Jones is a living legend, and one of the entertainment world’s most beloved icons. For the first time in a broadcast forum, Quincy has agreed to share his wisdom, his passion and many personal stories from his stellar career. Conceived, written and hosted by “Q” himself, XM’s From Be Bop To Hip Hop With Quincy Jones walks listeners through the timeline of contemporary music from Quincy’s unique perspective, voiced in his own eloquent words. Brimming with style, substance and soul, it’s a rarefied journey.
WELCOME TO DA CHURCH WITH BIG SNOOP DOGG: [premieres in October on RAW (Channel 66)] This musical tour de force will feature the one and only Snoop Dogg dropping tracks, previewing cuts, and welcoming friends to the XM airwaves direct from his own L.A. crib. A music icon, film star, and hip-hop Renaissance man, Snoop Dogg hosts and calls all the shots on this monthly 90- minute marathon of music, mayhem and more on RAW (Channel 66).
TOM PETTY’S BURIED TREASURES: [premieres this Fall] Coming soon, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Tom Petty is XM Radio’s raconteur and on-host par excellence. Each month from his L.A. home, the Grammy-winning singer- songwriter, Heartbreakers ringleader, Traveling Wilbury, and rock legend will pull together a set of little known musical delights and classic tracks alike — many vintage, each a treasure. It’s an hour of radio magic woven together with Petty’s articulate and passionate take on the wonder of it all.
SHORTLIST MUSIC PRIZE: [premieres on Friday, September 17th, at 10 PM ET on XMU (Channel 43)] In a partnership based on a shared passion for quality new music and a desire to provide greater exposure to under-appreciated artists, XM is teaming with the critically-acclaimed Shortlist Organization to sponsor its 2004 Prize. XM’s Shortlist programming kicks off next week with a special to coincide with the announcement of the 2004 Shortlist nominees. The program will feature the music of the nominees and exclusive live tracks and interviews. This fall, XM will broadcast a series of hour-long programs built- around individual Listmakers (judges) discussing “who deserves the Shortlist prize and why” with XM and its listeners. XM’s Shortlist programming culminates in November with the exclusive, live broadcast from Los Angeles’ historic Wiltern Theatre of the 2004 Awards concert featuring Shortlist nominees and special guests. Past recipients of the Shortlist Prize include N.E.R.D., Sigur Ros and last year’s winner, Damien Rice. The 2004 prize will include a $10,000 check sponsored by XM and a future program broadcast on XM dedicated to showcasing the winner.