Satellite Energizes Radio

Rolling Stone: The expanding world of satellite radio is giving programmers and DJs a new degree of freedom - practically unheard of since the earliest days of free-form FM. XM chief programming officer Lee Abrams stated, "Much as FM liberated radio back in the late Sixties, satellite is liberating radio now." But, despite its rapid growth and hype in the press, satellite radio's audience (i.e. Sirius and XM) is tiny compared to the ninety-five percent of Americans who listen to conventional radio. "We have more listeners on our three stations in New York than satellite has customers," says Rick Cummings, president of Emmis Communications' radio division. Wow....that sure puts things into perspective!  But, the appeal is clearly there and the demand is growing...According to XM, "sixty percent of drivers who get a free trial in their new cars opt to sign on as paying subscribers." As more and more people start to tune out terrestrial FM radio for various reasons, satellite radio will only get more popular as services and hardware deliver more value (i.e., commercial-free music and specialty stations)..."Radio fell into the hands of people who completely forgot about the human touch," says Sirius programmer and DJ Griffin. "They wrecked it. And now we're un-wrecking it."