More SiriusXM channel changes

[comfortably_numb]

And yesterday (May 22nd) 68 was still Calm. This is looking like a permanent switch. Fortunately, my sub ends next month.

I do a lot of streaming from the SXM app, and Spa is still there. It's annoying to have to bluetooth it in my car instead of using the radio, but it works. Now, if SXM drops Spa altogether, I'll drop the service completely and never look back.

On another note, they've hijacked Classic Rewind AGAIN this weekend with a "Top 1000" countdown. I'm so sick of this. Why don't they just leave it alone? Who is making these decisions?

 

[TheKrell]

I do a lot of streaming from the SXM app, and Spa is still there. It's annoying to have to bluetooth it in my car instead of using the radio, but it works.

I refuse to stream via my phone (in my car) at all. And I refuse to stream at home. In the car, the signal is likely to drop when I drive off into the mountains. At home, I have higher fidelity options. If Spa is gone forever, it's curtains for my sub next month.

 

[Jim S.]

On another note, they've hijacked Classic Rewind AGAIN this weekend with a "Top 1000" countdown. I'm so sick of this. Why don't they just leave it alone? Who is making these decisions?

I don't listen to Sirius much since I only have it on Dish, so I don't know what they've been doing with Classic Rewind lately, but it's traditional for terrestrial classic rock stations to do a Top X00 format on Memorial Day weekend or July 4th.

 

[comfortably_numb]

I don't listen to Sirius much since I only have it on Dish, so I don't know what they've been doing with Classic Rewind lately, but it's traditional for terrestrial classic rock stations to do a Top X00 format on Memorial Day weekend or July 4th.

I've been listening to Q95 from Indianapolis this weeked and the only change they've made is they've mixed in some live recordings, which is nice.

 

[Bobby]

I remember Memorial Day weekend in 1960. KFWB, my favorite Los Angeles rock and roll station at the time was doing an oldies but goodies weekend playing 50s hits all weekend long. There was no such thing as oldies stations back then so this was really very cool and fun.

 

[comfortably_numb]

Well it's June 1 and Spa is still gone. Called SXM and canceled.

 

[DWS44]

I just googled "Spa" since I'd never listened to it and was curious what kind of music they played. In the search results, this article popped up:

Increase your inner peace as SiriusXM & Calm team up to launch an all-new channel | SiriusXM

The Calm Channel (Ch. 68) will feature soothing music, relaxing soundscapes, and 'Mindful Moments' to help create a peaceful state of mind.

blog.siriusxm.com

In the article, they make the following statement:

As The Calm Channel serves up your relaxation soundtrack throughout May and June, listeners can still hear SiriusXM’s Spa channel on streaming and digital platforms.

The way that reads, perhaps your Spa channel returns in July.

 

[comfortably_numb]

The way that reads, perhaps your Spa channel returns in July

Maybe. But I'm tired of all these willy-nilly channel changes. They don't provide customers any notice, and that's inappropriate.

I'm also growing tired of some of the DJ's who pontificate about various issues. They should shut up and play the music. I don't pay to hear their political views.

At this point, I'm going to utilize free services for awhile and see how much I miss SXM.

 

[Howard Simmons]

Maybe. But I'm tired of all these willy-nilly channel changes. They don't provide customers any notice, and that's inappropriate.

I'm also growing tired of some of the DJ's who pontificate about various issues. They should shut up and play the music. I don't pay to hear their political views.

At this point, I'm going to utilize free services for awhile and see how much I miss SXM.

There's always internet radio.

 

[comfortably_numb]

There's always internet radio.

I'm currently using my parents' Spectrum credentials to stream Music Choice with the iPhone app, which is pretty nice. It has "Soundscapes" which is pretty much the same thing as Spa. And commercial free

Music Choice - Music Media Company

Music Choice is your destination for the best holiday music and videos all season long on Sounds of the Seasons, Classic Christmas, and more.

musicchoice.com

 

[minnow]

Maybe. But I'm tired of all these willy-nilly channel changes. They don't provide customers any notice, and that's inappropriate.

I'm also growing tired of some of the DJ's who pontificate about various issues. They should shut up and play the music. I don't pay to hear their political views.

At this point, I'm going to utilize free services for awhile and see how much I miss SXM.

Some of the personalities on 60's on 6 need a prozac prescription. Yes, the world maybe coming to an end, but I don't need to hear about it from Brucie or Pat St. John.

 

[comfortably_numb]

So far Music Choice has been great. I'd say just about the same as SXM, only without the endless DJ chatter. And it's free. I leave the app open on my phone, and it automatically starts playing over bluetooth in my car. So I think I may have found my replacement.

It's too bad SXM doesn't listen or care what their subscribers think or want.

 

[osu1991]

So far Music Choice has been great. I'd say just about the same as SXM, only without the endless DJ chatter. And it's free. I leave the app open on my phone, and it automatically starts playing over bluetooth in my car. So I think I may have found my replacement.

It's too bad SXM doesn't listen or care what their subscribers think or want.

I like music choice. I used it a lot when I went back to cable 5yrs ago. Also loved it when I had directv decades ago, before it was dropped there.

Now that I’ve dumped cable for Philo, I was just using AccuRadio and amazon music until I was able to add streaming back to SiriusXM. 40s junction is on all the time for me. However I think I still get music choice as part of the locals only package on our cox Vegas acct. I’ll have to look, although that acct is going to Internet only when either my dad or I get out there again and put the antenna back up.

 

[TheKrell]

I just googled "Spa" since I'd never listened to it and was curious what kind of music they played. In the search results, this article popped up:

Increase your inner peace as SiriusXM & Calm team up to launch an all-new channel | SiriusXM

The Calm Channel (Ch. 68) will feature soothing music, relaxing soundscapes, and 'Mindful Moments' to help create a peaceful state of mind.

blog.siriusxm.com

The way that reads, perhaps your Spa channel returns in July.

This web page is still showing "May and June". 10 more days! Then I hope I can qualify as a returning subscriber and get a 3rd gen Dot for free. They recently sent me that offer but for my wife's car.

 

[TRG]

Some of the personalities on 60's on 6 need a prozac prescription. Yes, the world maybe coming to an end, but I don't need to hear about it from Brucie or Pat St. John.

I disagree. Brucie always has a very positive attitude. My wife and I listen to him every Saturday while lounging on the patio.

 

[TRG]

This web page is still showing "May and June". 10 more days! Then I hope I can qualify as a returning subscriber and get a 3rd gen Dot for free. They recently sent me that offer but for my wife's car.

I know you said that you refuse to stream at home. If you change your mind I think you might be pleasantly surprised what an Amazon Dot can do. I'd say that I stream my SXM account more than I listen in my vehicle. Especially with the pandemic. I stream a Dot into an integrated amp and into some nice speakers. I also have a music server connected to a NAS server with over 10k CD's ripped to FLAC. I also have some HiRes 24bit music. Having the Dot streaming in the background while I work is relaxing. And it sounds pretty good if you don't rely on the internal speaker.

 

[comfortably_numb]

Yep, I use my Echo Dots for music streaming around the house. I bluetooth them to my satellite receiver.

 

[TheKrell]

I know you said that you refuse to stream at home. If you change your mind I think you might be pleasantly surprised what an Amazon Dot can do.

Yes, I tried streaming SiriusXM (the Spa channel in particular) to my Dot. But at the time I used the free preview. I don't think it matters whether I was using the free preview or my own car subscription. But I found, to my chagrin, that I could not ask Alexa what song my Dot was playing like I can when streaming Amazon Music. My Echo Show doesn't show that information (like my car does) either. This negates the reason I listen to Spa, which is to discover new (or old) artists I have never heard of before, so I can buy more of their stuff. Artists get only pennies/stream/song, so I think I am helping them to make more music if I buy a download or a whole album.

Yep, I use my Echo Dots for music streaming around the house. I bluetooth them to my satellite receiver.

Do you use the synchronous feature, or individual streams? If you are streaming SiriusXM, can you figure out what song is playing? How do you "bluetooth them" to your satellite receiver? I can imagine if the satellite receiver is a source, but going the other way has me .

 

[comfortably_numb]

Sorry, I meant stream from satellite receiver. FTA music channels.

 

[TheKrell]

Sorry, I meant stream from satellite receiver. FTA music channels.

OK, inquiring minds want to know. Which ones do you listen to?

I do not have a dish on any sats other than Dish's. A few years back, I bought a PC DVB-S tuner intending to record (and automatically separate) Dish's formerly FTA CD audio channels. Alas, about 1 week after I got that going, they encrypted those channels. I have exactly one song recorded off Dish sats. It was Sand In My Shoes by what's her name. MP2@48KHz.

- JB