A Major Channel Shift Is Coming To Sirius XM

By
Adam Jacobson
-
244
Sirius XM logo
Sirius XM

“We’re shuffling a few things around to make room for even more great content.”


That’s how the SiriusXM Listener Care center explains a significant realignment of some of its music channels — a move that will put an end to its “50s on 5” and “60s on 6” channels with their relocation far up the channel lineup.

At the same time, “SiriusXM Love” is coming off the satellite radio dial.

The changes take place on Wednesday, November 3. “Same awesome programming, different home,” SiriusXM says.

Yet, that’s not entirely true, as SiriusXM Love will become an online-only offering, at Channel 708.

Meanwhile, a flurry of channel shifts are set to occur, as follows:

  • The Pulse: Ch. 5 (formerly 15)
  • The Coffee House: Ch. 6 (formerly 14)
  • Siriusly Sinatra: Ch. 70 (formerly 71)
  • 40s Junction: Ch. 71 (formerly 73)
  • On Broadway: Ch. 77 (formerly 72)
  • Kidz Bop: Ch. 79 (formerly 77)

However, the biggest move will see the 50s tunes rebranded as “50s Gold,” taking Channel 72. The 60s, with veteran hosts “Shotgun” Tom Kelly and Pat St. John alongside Dave Hoeffel as air personalities, will be branded as “60s Gold,” taking Channel 73.

The “70s on 7” remains on Channel 7; corresponding decade-specific channels remain on Channels 8-11.

There is more: a user blog offers an unconfirmed report that the new lineup will see NBC Sports Audio take channel 85; Caliente: 151; CBS Sports Radio: 158; and SportsGrid: 159. This could not be confirmed as of Thursday evening, Pacific time.

Channel presets on Sirius XM radios should automatically change, the satellite radio company says.

The biggest unanswered question: Where’s the “even more great content” tied to the channel shifts?

SiriusXM was mum as of Thursday evening (10/28).

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244 COMMENTS

  1. This is the worst thing XM has ever done. Who wants to listen to,60 on 73? And, when you mention the hosts on the station, where is the. Dry popular Pflash Phelps? Time to get a new programming director or loose lots of subscribers.

      • The crap they are playing on channel 6 are songs never herd of. I do not mind changing to channel 72 and 73 but it appears Sirius Xmas does not care about their listeners. Expect some long time listeners to nort renew their subscriptions.

    • It is terrible! I fired up my radio this morning, and the preset was already adjusted. The programming featured the exact same music and personalities as the day before. It was as if nothing changed. I’ll be canceling as soon as I can though because it says 73 on my radio instead of 6. Heads better roll!

      • So wait … the programming is exactly the same. Your favorite music and air personalities are still there. “It was as if nothing changed.” EXACTLY — your preset still works as ours did. So its on Channel 73 instead of Channel 6 … “It was as if nothing changed” yet people will still cancel because “it says 73.”?? That just doesn’t make any sense at all. So the channel relocated. People: NBC programming in Miami moved from Channel 7 to Channel 4 and then to Channel 6 between 1988 and 1995. How many viewers boycotted NBC in Miami? Did the programming change? The newscasts did — and for the better. Cancelling SXM should be because the music now sucks, and perhaps if the air talents you liked were pinkslipped. But to do so because Channel 6 moved to Channel 73? Have fun finding 60s tunes on your local radio station while you “protest”

        • It’s just very frustrating especially when you drive for a living it was easier to ouch up or down to avoid songs not into or when the DJ talks to long. Which I wish XM could just play music sometime. Not canceling just irritated gotta go through to punch it in or cancel another preset to put it in there. IDK seems everyone has issues with everything now. Easier to be negative than accepting another thing we cannot change.

        • There are plenty of alternatives that are far cheaper than SXM.
          For me its 50s on 5 not being on channel 5 is why Im cancelling my SXM subscription.

          I already have a 40s, 50s, and 60s, playlist on Youtube Music so Ill be shifting to that and adding more music as time passes.

        • The premise was that it was developed to link the present with the decade. It was basic, practical and a good marketing tool to attract customers. This was back when XM was begging for listeners. I remember because for 8 years I was receiving flyers to listen at half the cost.

        • Imbecilic. Studio 54 dance music totally evaporated. Playlists as well as channel numbers have changed. Only a Sirius employee would post your garbage.

          • It’s so nice to see everyone keeping it classy … I own my garbage! And, for the record, I am not a Sirius XM employee and do not own any stock.

        • Our car doesn’t have preset buttons. We have to push a button and say what channel we want. Obviously 6 was easy to remember for 60s. Who figured 73 was better? SMH.

          • Now that’s intriguing. Do you have an after-market receiver? Every in-dash SXM receiver I have seen offers presets

    • Without the old folks loving the 50’s and 60’s Sirius wouldn’t be in business. They don’t realize how important we can be. Also, the plan I have still doesn’t allow me the higher numbers they are moving some of these stations to. Just to up the price and irritate the subscribers.

    • I agree! I pay a ridiculous price to listen to only 3 stations – 50’s on 5, 60’s on 6 and 70”s on 7 and 2 of the 3 get changed. AND my presets did not change automatically! I didn’t know what was going on til I googled. Not happy and probably will not renew after all these years.

  3. Love was a favorite of mine. There are plenty of places to hear all the hip hop and hard rock variations they offer on terrestrial radio. When a music channel goes to the 70’s it’s one step closer to going out the door. Just think we get all this and a rate increase too! Can’t wat…..to call and cancel.

  4. Typical move by a big business — they do some technical thing to make life easier for themselves, and they don’t care a whit about annoying and frustrating and inconveniencing the customers — THE VERY PEOPLE WHOSE MONEY PAYS THEIR SALARIES!!!

      • Hey, troll. Presets don’t even need to be reset. It says clearly in the article that the presets will be updated automatically.

        • Mine did not change to the new presets. I had to Google what happened to fine where the stations went. Maybe you should not take for granted the the company knew what they were talking about or what they said was true for everyone

          • That’s intriguing and definitely should lead to you contacting SXM. We had zero issues with our presets, our App and accessing 60s Gold on our smart speaker yesterday morning. We still said to Alexa “Play Sixties on Six,” and the new “60s Gold” played.
            THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR COMMENTS. Please note that we are not affiliated with Sirius XM in any way, and if you wish to share your comments and concerns with the company, you may do so directly with their customer service team.

            Adam Jacobson, Editor-in-Chief, Radio + Television Business Report

          • To Adam,
            I tried to contact Sirius directly… No. You get Bangloindiadeshia and they can only read from a script with little comprehension of what’s even being discussed. Wasted time and phone call.

        • Nobody is trolling. The presets will only change on Sirius radios. They do not change on any car radio with the subscription.
          You wake one morning and all off your presets have changed leaving you to wonder if it was the car radio giving problems.
          Sirius could have at least notified its subscribers what it was doing as a courtesy. Evidently caring for subscribers is no longer part of customer service.

  5. Bone head move by Sirius. Everyone loved that 50′ on 5 , 60’s on 6 , 70’s on 7. Etc etc. I’d like to know THE reason behind this stupid idea. They talk that there will be exciting new content. Well , where’s that info. Nope….this was stupid plain & simple. Plash Phelps wasn’t mentioned in the “Veteran” line up article. He’s my reason for getting Sirius ?? Tell us the truth. Why are you making this stupid move ? 60’s belong on Channel 6. Not 173.

    • I think it’s because the stations they replaced them with fail and have convinced themselves if they can just take another’s spot someone will listen. But it’s music for those who need attention not good music.

  6. When I saw that there would be changes, I was predicting tying the 50’s & 60’s together as SiriusXM Oldies Mix. It’s great having each decade on its own channel, but if they needed air space for newer channels then I’m all for merging channels as a new choice for subscribers.

  7. I also love the “Love” channel. I realize there are certain love songs on “The Bridge” and “YachtRockRadio” but not all love songs. I can see why a program director would choose to move “SiriusXM Love” to online only but there are some love songs we won’t get to hear on satellite.

      • Hey Sandra, just reading articles about the change in channels and I found this out

        “Hallmark Channel Radio – Music and carols from some favorite stars from the Hallmark Channel. (Channel 104). Available on the app now through Dec. 26 and on Channel 104 from Nov. 23 to Dec. 26.”

        Hope that helps

        PS: I will miss the Love Channel too. Sucks I can’t listen to it in my car, though I *could* always stream it through my phone via bluetooth. However, I live in an area were service can be spotty. I will miss it in my car, but not end of he world. I can always listen to it at home via Alexa.

  8. I would love for someone from the company to explain this idiotic move they say there adding new content? Then why not put the new content on any other open channels 70s on 7 80s on eight 90s on 9 are staying the same why are you picking on 60s on 6!!! please answer us

    • Yes, how terrible that we have to tune to a different channel number to hear the exact same programming and personalities.

  10. How could this article leave out Phlash Phelps? He is the best radio personality on 60s on 6. He’s been there 21 years and is on air from six am to noon every weekday. Phlash is the reason so many of us renew our subscription.

  11. I am just curious why it is a bonehead move or a terrible idea to move 2 channels from 5 and 6 into the 70’s? There are already plenty of channels up there that are essentially the same style. From a programming stance it makes sense. And as the article states, if you have these channels in your presets they will automatically update to reflect the new channel. So really you lose nothing by it moving slightly up the dial so to speak. You literally have to do nothing to make it happen

    • Some of us don’t have preset ability and changing to 3 different channels all in sequence is a lot easier than going from 5 to 73 on a dial. If they don’t change it back I’m gone as a subscriber.

    • Here is my take and it also reinforces the other person commenting on your post.
      There is extra money for the grocery stores selling the end cap displays. It is an extra revenue producer.
      I would imagine that the lower channels are also commanding bigger revenue and some big money executive is selling those channels at a premium.

  12. I heard something the other day saying why they are changing to channel 73 and it wasn’t kosher. It had to do with a person I can’t stand being involved and I wish I could remember who and what it was about. ImI was busy and not paying much notice to it all except when they mentioned the person and it was like, oh yeah, I see where this is going. Anyone else hear anything?

  13. Big money showing it’s ugly head on my radio stations!! Damndumb move Sirius!! The 60 & 70 programs and announcers are why I Got this pricy venue. What a Stupid – Bonehead Idea. Put the new channels at 73 and up. Money is evil it can change the good to crap.. Dumb move!!!

    • Same exact programming, just need to change a preset. Not really sure how this is a major inconvenience?

      • Because, if you had read previous comments, you would understand. First, The original made sense. 40’s on 4, 50’s on 5, 60’s on six, 70’s on 7, etc. I have one preset on 5. That starts my oldies. The other presets are on something elsewhere. If I want oldies, I select the 50’s then to check the others, I rotate the dial to go incrementally up the channels. When I get into my car, that probably won’t work anymore.
        What a stupid bonehead idea to change a simple meaningful setup. Whatever relationship to channel 5 does the new thing have remotely connected to it? Nothing that makes any sense. How about moving Howard 100 to channel 86 and Howard 101 to channel123 or some other similar stupid move?

  14. Phlash Phelps, PLEASE STAY ON 60s channel. He’s the best morning personality ever & has been everywhere & can relate to all of us. I think they are looking @ pushing aging population away as there are fewer of us every day, BUT DON’T THEY REALIZE THE YOUNGER GENERATION LISTENS VIA A FLASH DRIVE OR BLUETOOTH MUSIC ON THEIR PHONE!!! My generation prefers getting into their vehicle with radio coming on their favorite station without having to push a bunch of buttons or plugging in stuff. I believe the older generations make up most of the audience.

  15. This is a matter of demographics and the first hint was several years ago when 40s on 4 got pushed up the dial. Now the programming , or more likely sales department, has made this move.
    Like cable TV, the choice channel numbers are in the lower range. Give it several more years until the 70s, 80s, etcetera get pushed up as the listening population ages. Again, it’s demographics.

  16. What the Hell is wrong with these idiots….I have three vehicles with Sirius XM and will NOT RENEW…..what, did they do, get rid of PFLASH PHELPS ? I guess they will get rid of Elvis channel next……They are already one of the worst companies to do business with…..You have to play their stupid game to renew…They start out trying to renew you at triple the price until you threaten to not renew ,then they come down……I’m done !!!!!

    • For the record, RBR+TVBR did not report on the status of air personality Phlash Phelps. It is assumed he will remain a part of the lineup that includes Dave Hoeffel, Shotgun Tom Kelly and Pat St. John.

  18. Why does someone feel the need to change every little thing I enjoy? The 60’s on 6 was a simple pleasure. I hope a lot of people cancel their subscriptions and person responsible is held accountable.

    • The same exact channel and DJs are still there. Just changing the name slightly and moving to a new channel number. Change your preset, and continue listening like you have. Not sure why someone needs to be held accountable?

  19. Moving 60’s at 6 to any other channel is brainless.
    I paid for a 12 month subscription and my listening profile is 50’s, 60’s and 70’s on 5,6, and 7 respectively.
    This kind of idiot move will push me to walk away when that pre-paid subscription ends.
    The songs done during this generation blow away any rabble squeezed out in the 2000’s

  20. Is someone trying to justify their job by moving the 50’s and 60’s. Very stupid move. Person should be fired!!!! Will have to think twice about renewing my subscription!!!

  21. Will be canceling at end of my subscription, enjoy too much with the ease of having 50’s on 5 and 60’s on 6.
    Good bye sirus radio, three vehicles.

  22. Separating the decade specific channels just doesn’t make sense. I’ve always manually dialed among them depending on how I felt. And having fun noting progression of popular music over time…guess I’m too old school

  23. Sad to hear the news. Listened to 60s on 6 every day and Phlash Phelps every morning. You are losing a tremendous asset. Probably not going to renew.

  25. Sirius subscribers associate lower channels as the most popular and higher channels as out there on the fringe. So basically they’re implying to all of us “60s on Six” fans that our beloved channel now barely cracks the top 100 in popularity. Replacing “60s on Six” with “The Coffee House”? C’mon… really! Is the best ever decade in music really dying off this quickly or are they just implying that we are?

  26. I don’t care if the transition is seamless or not. I want the channel to identify the decade. I don’t care what reason SiriusXM has for the change. If they are screwing things up, they might as well mess with all of the decades, not just the best ones. I am inclined not to renew. That decision comes at the end of the year. If you add in a rate increase and pull or move Phlash Phelps, that will seal the deal for me. Thanks Sirius. You know how to take care of your subscribers. Jerks!

    • You are really going to cancel your subscription solely on the fact the channel number says 73 instead of 6?

      • I don’t mind the channels being changed. But obviously the music has changed, also. I listened to 60’s on 73 this morning on the way to work and there wasn’t a song played that I knew. It was all “b” side songs. So I’m curious as to what the music will be like this afternoon on my way home.

  27. I am told that Phlash Phelps specifically mentioned that he will have a hard time remembering to say 60s on 73. That leaves me to believe that it was an oversight that he was not mentioned in this article. He will likely very much be on the air. He is among the best they have.

  28. Adding great content? How about a whole channel devoted to Doo Wop And Beyond. Make Cool Bobby B the music director. Along with oldies of this genre, it can include the Beach Boys singing Doo Wop classics like So Young, Billy Joel singing For The Longest Time and much more. It could also include new Doo Wop.

    • A channel devoted to Doo Wop with Cool Bobby B as the music director is a great idea! If you’re a true doo wop fan, I’m sure you’ll agree he plays the best doo wop selections.

  29. What a stupid move!! It is really hard to justify paying for your programs, there are thousands of the fifties and sixties songs to play, you play the same 200 songs over and over, day after day. We are going to cancel when our subscription ends!!

  30. I wrote this comment in the SiriusXM “feedback” area:

    —

    Why are you rebranding 60s on 6 and moving it up to Channel 73? Having it on 6 along with ’50s, ’70s, ’80s and ’90s on channels 5, 7, 8 and 9 was intuitive and easy to remember. Why fix something that wasn’t broken? As Dave Mason sang in 1977’s “We Just Disagree,” LEAVE IT ALONE!

    —

    And this is the form-letter response I received:

    —

    Dear Listener, Thank you for contacting SiriusXM. We’re making these changes to improve your listening experience. This includes renaming some channels and moving a small number of channels to a different number or category that’s more logical or appropriate. Please visit siriusxm.com/channelfeedback where you can send your feedback directly to programming for review and consideration. We are committed to providing you with the best in listener care. If you have any questions, feel free to reply to this email. You can always manage your account online 24/7 by clicking

    Thank you,
    Ahad
    SiriusXM Listener Care
    1 (866) 635-5027

    —

    “A different number that’s more logical”???? Hardly!

  31. Seriously SiriusXM ? 60’s & 70’s & Love channel ? You have many ardent listeners that appreciate and enjoy these channels.

  32. Phlash is the best and “60’s on 6” is the reason I subscribed! WHY mess with a winning combination? Well I sure will vote with my renewals later this year! I have 3 cars to renew and I’d venture to say that the full subscriptions folks are the ones paying salaries of the kids that came up with the channel move!

  33. I- too – am “siriusly” considering not subscribing any longer, due to this bone-headed move. There are plenty of other “oldies” stations online I can listen to. Another idiot move by idiot companies who don’t care about the listeners to this type of music, whatever our ages. There is an old saying that fits well, “A fool and his money are soon parted.” What is SiriusXM going to do when a ton of listeners stop subscribing? I doubt they come back if the decision is reversed after a while and they see their mistake. Too bad, so sad!!!!

  34. If you are going to change ch 5 and ch 6, then WHY not put them on ch 50 and ch 60…….but no, it makes too much sense……………just let it be and leave them without changing it.

    • Would you expect anything less from boomers? They are a generation that has been spoonfed everything their whole life and can’t handle the least amount of change. They and millennials are exactly the same.

      • Mr. Wellington, What’s this about “Spoonfed”, plain and simple you don’t know your history very well. When the call came out for help with Korea, Vietnam and many other actions, which generation went to help this country? If you were around were you burning your draft card? During the 60’s 70’s When inflation was hi would you have worked 2 jobs to help your family out? You are so off base with your hurtful “Spoonfed’ comment.

        • Great points Robert. Why then are the people who handled all those hard times freaking out because they have to tune to 73 instead of 6 to hear the same exact music and personalities?

          • KXL moved from an AM signal to 101.1 FM in Portland, Ore. Now, they are a top 5 radio station instead of an also-ran. I didn’t hear from anyone complaining about how it was no longer easy to go to KEX on the same band, thus making it difficult to go back and forth. Hmmm … #Change

  36. I am canceling my account! I listened to 60s on 6 and the love station. What a waste and a huge mistake on your part!!!

    • I already sent a note to programming with no response or legitimate explanation. I have been a subscriber since 2006 and have 5 subscriptions, mostly for 60s on 6 and Phlash. This is unnecessary and making assumptions about older listeners. Sends a clear message about siriusXM’s preferred targets. Let’s see how it works out for you. I commend the 60s DJs for being so gracious about this.

      • They aren’t getting fired. Same programming. Same DJs. Just different channel number. That is all.

  37. It seems to me that the move may have something to do with money! Maybe the forces behind the new positions an Rudellat 5 and 6 have more money then the 50s and 60s people.

  39. I along with the hundred’s of people who have spoken disagree with this program shifting, Looks like a classic case of management not having anything better to do and some idiot(s) have to justify their job to another idiot above them. It (like previously mentioned) there is no mention of the NEW CONTENT, does that really surprise anyone. The idiots do not have a clue as to what is going to replace to 50’s & 60’s. look for these channels ( 5 & 6 to be vacant for a long time. Like most of the people who have commented, I to will be looking online, FM, AM and Apple for replacements. If found I am out of here. Is it possible that Joe Biden has suggested the change. I apologize for bring politics into this , but the rational is in Biden’s ballpark of smart.

  40. Most of us that listen to these channels are older and do not like changes like this. But it honestly makes no sense to disrupt something unless it improves the product. But since I have not seen the actual reasons they made this change, it does not appear to improve the product, just makes the channel out of sync and harder to find.

  41. I can understand that SiriusXM would want to reserve the low numbered channels for their most listened-to stuff. My suggestion, like the other George, is put the forties station on 40, the fifties station on 50, the sixties station on 60, etc.

  42. Between this and the liberal politics I have to hear on deep tracks with Jim Ladd , I have to wonder what Iam paying for. Got 4 subscriptions and the last thing is the bait and switch with the bill. Got to watch it constantly and the I get to talk to someone in India who I can’t understand .

  45. Everything XM does makes me scratch my head including stopping playing Christmas music right after Christmas it’s a poorly-run company but I only stick with it because I have nowhere else to go

  46. I began my subscription on 7/10/07 with XM radio. I have listened to 60’s on 6 almost exclusively. I do listen to my beloved Angels play baseball when I am in the car while they are playing. Then I discovered Love. I switch between those 2 stations depending on my mood. I even stuck with satellite radio when XM and Sirius merged. I was afraid that I wouldn’t find my beloved Angels and (also beloved) Phlash Phelps. But they remained. Now after 14 continuous years, I’m considering dropping my subscription. There is no reason to shift the station numbers. It’s just someone thinking that things like 60s on 6 or 50s on 5 don’t matter to the listeners. When Love changed channels, I became unable to listen in my car because my car is not able to get that station. So I was forced to download the SiriusXM app. Well, when this old lady figured out how to connect my phone to my car, I got my Love back! I hope the SiriusXM management are reading every one on these comments because I think I’ve seen only one that was not negative. Linking my phone to my car has had one other advantage— I’ve discovered Spotify!! They even create Playlists specifically for me with songs and artists I’ve listened to. That is going to be my option now and this is going to be my goodbye ballad to the XM that I loved so much. Maybe Phlash will have a podcast on Spotify.

  47. I too am not happy with the changes. But SXM does this all the time. There’s constant shuffling of channels in and out seasonally. For example the Billy Joel Channel comes and goes… why not year round? It is obvious that the lower channels are the best placement in the line up and SXM must have a bigger reason to use them ( or sell them ) for other programming… or maybe just moving the 50s and 60s into the upper channels is a way to get people to try other programming on neighboring channels. While I like the idea of putting the 50s on channel 50
    And the 60s on channel 60, I think having all the decades adjacent to each other is best. C’mon SIRIUS, leave the decades on 5 6 7 8 and 9.
    It’s easier to remember for us old timers who are probably paying a big chunk of the freight!

    • Brucie left on his own accord. He rambled on too much anyway. Pat is a much better host for Saturday night.

  49. Just leave alone it was just fine where it was you people could screw up a wet dream let’s go brandon

  50. Sixties on 6 and seventies on 7 is the way it should be! And by the way, it should still be forties on 4!!
    What the ____ is wrong with these people?
    They can’t be sirius!

  51. Well I’m expecting to be dropping xm radio cause of this change. Not happy at all. It’s bad enough nothing but problems with the satellite. My radio keeps going in and out back and forth from work. Yea that new satellite they put in space don’t work for shit and I had enough. So looks like I’m done with this.

  52. No big deal for me, just pre-set changes. Many people care for Plash, I do not. I want to hear music not DJ’s yapping. If it’s a show, like the countdown survey w/Dave H., that’s different.

  53. Bad move on moving 50s snd 60s what you have now makes sense leave well enough alone. Leave the love channel where it is. Shaking my head

  54. I’m not happy about it either. Moving and / or renaming channels isn’t an improvement. It’s confusing. I’m guessing they are going to put something for the Z crowd on the lower channels. I been a subscriber since 2004 to XM. Might be time to look elsewhere.

  55. I’ll be done when my contract runs out .. The hierarchy @ SiriusXM are evidentially sorta brain dead ..Customer Care, my derrière …If they ever want to give Sirius XM an enema, I know exactly where they should stick the hose in ….

    • Exactly why are you cancelling? Other than the channel number, and a slight name change, nothing is changing.

  56. You truly must be the stupidest human’s on the face of the earth. I have been a subscriber for as long as I can remember. And I was a subscriber to the local paper for 50 years until I cancelled it this month. Guess you have “saved me money”.

  57. “….. The biggest unanswered question: Where’s the “even more great content” tied to the channel shift…..”

    Spoiler alert: there will be no more great content. Meaningless marketing buzzwords crafted by a mediocre middle manager.

  58. I agree with all of the above. To many of us dying I guess. There are many young people in there 40’s and 30’s who grew up listening to this music.
    TOTALLY agree why not move to 50,60 etc. or just switch to Amazon music.Spotify which both cost less.Sears didn’t listen to their customer and there gone but the rich market people have there’s

  59. send an e-mail to ‘[email protected]’…..CEO. I received a call inquiring about my issue, the person apologized but had no logical explanation for the change and said she would forward my concern to the “programing people”. Maybe if you fill Jennifer’s e-mail log, it could make a difference
    We can hope !

    • Thanks for the link. Here’s what I said:
      Why move? The single-digit 50s on 5, 60s on 6, etc. etc. worked perfectly and should be a marketing plus. Instead, Sirius is writing off the 50s and 60s audience as too old to be of importance. I, for one, will look elsewhere for my music and be happy when I find it.
      Sirius probably thinks we’re too old to find alternatives.Too bad, Sirius, you should have left a good thing alone. Your marketing whips have done you wrong. Not like you don’t have a few extra channels for your “Important Replacements”. Bye, Bye

  60. What the hell is wrong with you people? Leave well enough alone There is no need to replace great channels with crap channels, put a boomer back in charge, the kid who thought this was a good idea needs to be fired. Reading the other comments, I know I am not alone. Then there’s the app, how do I get it on my flip phone? And what exactly is an app? How about instrumentals on the regular channel line up? Oh wait that would be a good idea and you only like stupid ideas.

  62. 50s and 60s have been moved to the Old Peoples’ area of Sirius, including 40s Junction and Siriusly Sinatra. I feel very elderly today.

  63. There has been NO clarity as to why 50s and 60s are moving. Why wasn’t the “great new content” relegated to the higher numbered stations? I, for one, toggle between 60s and 70s depending on what I see broadcasting on my car’s video display on those two channels … a task not possible with 66 stations in between. Absolutely a bad move, SiriusXM!

  64. I will cancel when contract up. I have 500 songs on Spotify so I don’t have to put up with your idiotic moves

  65. I oppose moving the 50s and 60s channels You could search for music just by pushing the up and down button now that won’t be possible with the 50s 60s 70s and 80s not in a row This seems like a move just to make a move with no thought given to the people who appreciate the grouping of these channels

  66. This is stupid. Used to listen to 40’s on 4 until they moved it. The preset didn’t occur. Enjoy love channel it’s now gone. Frankly the changes don’t make sense. Don’t care foe Billy Joel or Yuck Rock Radio. Then you have 5 Christmas channels all over the lineup. It’s like Comcast for radio, you give me channels I don’t want and take ones I do. I realize 40’s 50’s 60’s and soon 70’s are along time past and us old people are dying but…..

  67. I agree with Michael Rhode. Sears had it all until the executives decided to line their own pockets and not worry about the Customers. They thought the Customer would always be loyal. Well, guess what, they are gone and Sirius will be on the way out too. There are many more avenues where we can find “our” music without paying such high prices. The 60’s on 6 is the best with the best personalities especially Phlash. Why are they keepng 70’s on 7, 80’s on 8 and 90’s on 9. Goes to show you that they do NOT have any Common
    Sense. Look for Sirius XM’s demise…sooner than later. Then all these “hot shots” can stand in the unemployment line and they will wonder why.

    • It’s called streaming audio … SMH. Sirius and XM couldn’t survive as competitors. And SiriusXM only exists because broadcast radio allowed it to. Competition? It’s called the thousands of choices one has with Spotify, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Audacy, etc.

  69. If you have a program that listeners have enjoyed for many years it makes no sense to move it. Sixties on 6 was just a natural location. Sixties on 73 just really sucks! Don’t know who the genius is who made this change but I don’t like the 60’s Gold concept. Sounds very age discriminating to me. I am seriously thinking of canceling both my vehicles in protest. Going to go on so c I’ll media to make this go viral hopefully.

    • Maybe instead of expecting the world to cater to your stubbornness, how about trying to understand change, whether you like it or not? I’m not sure what generation is more fragile, boomers or millenials…

  71. Graham Wellington, We “Boomers” are paying premium prices for this luxury. Are you a piece of the corporate world trying to increase the
    bottom line? By the comments listed here, think of where Sirius stock will be if we all pull our subscriptions. Listen to your audience, Sirius!

    • How is changing the channel number “increasing the bottom line”? The programming and personalities are exactly the same. I’ve been listening to it all morning. No cost cutting measures that I’ve noticed. If not for them mentioning it on air, you would have no idea the channel changed.

  72. Why move? The single-digit 50s on 5, 60s on 6, etc. etc. worked perfectly and should be a marketing plus. Instead, Sirius is writing off the 50s and 60s audience as too old to be of importance. I, for one, will look elsewhere for my music and be happy when I find it.
    Sirius probably thinks we’re too old to find alternatives.Too bad, Sirius, you should have left a good thing alone. Your marketing whips have done you wrong. Not like you don’t have a few extra channels for your “Important Replacements”. Bye, Bye

  73. Look for the DJ’s to disappear as their contracts expire, Brucie first more to follow, they are too much of an expense, probably the sixtys will be music only as went 50’s on five !! They don’t care about their subscribers, just profit !!

  74. Listening to the 60’s on 6 DJs the past few days who have obviously been ordered to hype the channel move, they sound about as enthusiastic as the greeter at a funeral home… obviously they’re about as thrilled about the brainless and senseless move as we are.

    • Yes, I’m sure they are devastated over the fact they still have jobs, and the station is continuing as usual with nothing more than a minor name change.

  75. I participated in the public focus groups for the sxm radio concept held in Boston in 1997. Got $50, a sandwich, and a canned soda. Also listened to Phlash as a dj on real radio in Ft Wayne, IN. Previous comment about same 200 songs played in rotation is very true. Just listen over the course of 3 days. ALSO, by listening closely you will notice the songs are faster than the real recordings. This is easier to tell if you remember dancing to the music. Some songs are so fast they are impossible to dance to. Don’t know how they sped them up without sounding like Alvin and the Chipmunks, but they did. I’m old, and my record collection looks like John Cusack’s in “High Fidelity.”
    The “oldies” FM stations in Northeast Ohio now play 70s and 80s music. We are not the target market. Our sxm dj’s all work from home except Phlash. But he is sorta kinda a wheel, too. We do have other choices, but for me it’s just that what I helped create back in 1997 has outgrown me.

  76. Brand loyalty is commerce 101. Brand identification is commerce 102. What genius messes with a working formula? The 60’s and 50’s audiences are serious about music. Don’t throw them away so casually. We’ve got options.

    • The same exact programming and personalities are still there. Only a different channel number and slightly different name.

      • But 50s on 5 is much more attractive and more brand engaging than 50s gold.
        same with 60s on 6. Sounds much better than 60s Gold. adding Gold just sounds like another cheesy FM oldies station.

        Plus it makes sense to have all the Decades music channels grouped together. Now they are spread out.

  80. It made sense for 50s on 5, 60’s on 6. These numbers were iconic for the listeners. Bad move Sirus, I Guarantee you’ll lose a lot of subsciptions.

  81. Well I wonder how much illegal narcotics and stacks of money we need to get the higher ups there to have them come down from their ivory tower and listen to us common folk and quit f-ing up the satellite. They do not know better

  82. Well! I guess this is just one more way that Joe Biden is trying to mess up our lives! Imagine, him making the 60s music be on the awful #73!!! And on my phone, the little tile for that station just says “60’s Gold”! What is that? This is just terrible. First he makes the ships clog up in Los Angeles and now this. He is ruining this country!!!!

    I’m canceling ASAP because this is just a slap in the face of our Freedom of Choice!!!!

  83. I left a comment on the SiriusXM reply board about them completely moving the Love Channel to online only. Who was the genius who came up with that idea? If enough people go to their site and complain maybe, just maybe, they will reconsider this stupid and ill-conceived move. Money talks and if enough people drop them they might reconsider. I smell marketing executives at work here thinking young people will flock to a satellite service that many could not afford or be willing to pay for for their “exciting” content. Good luck with that one!

  85. This will appear redundant but I would be remiss if I didn’t echo the sentiments of others. This is a really stupid move. Any focus group would have told you that if you had taken the time to care. Simply moving channels doesn’t free up anything for new content. It is insulting to be fed that line and be expected to believe it. Moving Love, which I’ve never heard of, to the app does free up spectrum.

    Hopefully smarter heads will prevail and the 60’s and 70’s will be moved back where they belong.

  86. This is why the moving of channels is insulting to true music lovers. Some of us do not like to have too many presets. I usually put one preset on the 50s, one on the 80s, one on coffeehouse in the teens, one on Bob Marley on 19(I used to put Springsteen at 20, but moved it to Marley), then one on Classic Vinyl on 25 and then New wave at 33 and then NFL radio for the sports, and Howard Stern on 100. THen I would use the manual controls to channel surf . I would go to 50s, if i didnt like it, i would just keep going up to the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s ,00s, etc or I would sometimes go down to the pop hits on 2, 3,, 4

    Also, I kind of have an appreciation for Sirius XM when I feel like they are part of a radio format that encourages casual channel surfing of decades music exposing new listeners to great music in different eras. But shunting 50s and 60s to the boring area, you are depriving “younger” listeners(OK not many of them on Sirius) of the casual exposure to 50s and 60s music.

  87. This really sucks I don’t do coffee shops at 75 years old. Now all the presets have to be changed. I have been a sustainer of XM since it started thinking differently now. Put them back to there regular numbers who ever did this is really not in the grove or some kind of person who should not be in that job.

  88. This is getting more annoying every day. I want music not the constant talking, today I even got a clip from the tonight show about astronauts toilets not working. Really nothing to do with 60s music, I know the reason they used to talk was the dead air time between flipping records and to sell stuff.
    I bought the product because of the no commercial promise…..you promote another station, you talk about a concert, you are wasting my music time and selling me even though I paid. I tried cancelling long ago because of Cousin Brucie but that auto renewal takes a little more effort. I am stating to feel the motivation.

  89. The only problem I have so far is google assistant can’t find 60’sGold (was 60’s on 6) on 73 or any where else, why you had to mess around with that I have no Idea. I talked to Sirius and they couldn’t help me all they said is to uninstall my Google home app and reinstall it and if it still doesn’t work to contact Google. Really pisses me off making a switch like this, leave well enough alone.
    Now I have to figure out how to fix this, I have better things to do with my time.

  92. I agree with a lot of comments above, I do not like the change at all. For years I have been listening to the 60’s, 70’s and some time 50’s or 80’s with just a quick flip on the dial. It is now a pain in the butt. It also made common sense for the channels. Questioning if I need to go ahead and change to something else. I pay a lot for this service on multiple cars for radio, traffic and weather.

  95. I agree that this was a bad move – just as I would also like to see 40s moved back to 4. Back when you could go 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, it was terrific. While I respect that the company has a right to change, I wonder why having these spread all over the place makes more business sense than placing them next to each other?

    • I recommend a 30s on 3 if we’re going to put music from 75 years ago on channel 4. I mean, it would be terrific to make it so easy for hundreds of SXM subscribers to go easily from “Stormy Weather” by Ethel Waters to “Buttons & Bows” by Dinah Shore before flipping over to the Chordettes, Herman’s Hermits, ELO and Bon Jovi before digesting some Sugar Ray. Hooray Satellite Radio!

  96. Had to check the calendar as I thought this was an April Fools Day joke. Unfortunately the joke’s on me. Not a good idea. Time to walk away from Sirius.

  99. Lol I can’t believe how mad people are about this to the point that they’re going to cancel. All thats changing is the numbers of the channel. The channels themselves aren’t going anywhere. So many stupid people here

  100. I am not upset by this, and I am even a boomer. Sounds like they’re not getting rid of anything but Love (from the radio lineup).

    I still think it’s a dumb move that I can see zero logic behind. What’s more logical than 50’s on 5, 60’s on 6, 70’s on 7, 80’s on 8, and 90’s on 9? What is logical about “The Pulse” on 5? Will more people start listening to “The Pulse” because it’s on 5 now? Why would that be?

    This seems MORE arbitrary, not less. I just wonder what the *real* alleged logic is behind it. More curious than anything else.

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