All Things Satellite Radio

The Sirius FM-5 Satellite, Sirius XM's latest addition to their satellite constellation, is scheduled to launch at 1:10am local time (3:10pm ET) on July 1st from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

The launch was originally targeted for a June 30th launch, but "minor anomaly" occurred which caused a slight delay in plans.

Sirius XM Radio will launch The Michael Jackson Tribute Channel to commemorate the life and music of Michael Jackson.

The limited-run channel launched on Saturday, June 27th at 12:01am ET and will air through Monday, June 29th at 11:59pm ET on Heart & Soul (Sirius channel 51 and XM channel 62).

Michael Jackson's life and career will be celebrated across the satellite radio dial, as numerous Sirius XM channels will devote special features to the "King of Pop" with tributes, personal memories, favorite songs and more.

Jackson died on Thursday, June 25, 2009 at the age of 50.

Jon Zellner, currently senior vice president of music programming at Sirius XM Radio Inc. will be jumping ship to rival Clear Channel Communications Inc. on July 20th, according to Clear Channel.

He will be replaced by Steve Blatter, according to Sirius XM. Blatter will also continue to be responsible for the Sirius XM Talent and Industry Relations Department, as well as the Virus Channel featuring The Opie & Anthony Show.

Customers who purchase a Sirius-equipped "Certified Pre-Loved" Volkswagen vehicle will now be getting a 3-month trial offer of the "Sirius Everything" package.

It's all part of a continuing effort to access potential subscribers purchasing pre-owned vehicles. XM currently has a deal with Acura, Honda and GM. Now this efforts has been extended to Volkswagen - the biggest European car maker.

"It was a rights thing, a contractual rights thing."

That's what Howard Stern told his audience on Monday morning about why he's not on the iPhone App. Of course, that's what we all expected the reason to be from the beginning.

"It was a rights issue and a whole entanglement thing," added Stern on his show. "So, we're not on it. Maybe one day we will be."

Stern show cohort Gary Dell'Abate (aka Baba Booey) added a bit more color to the situation though.

UPDATE: The Twitter page quoted in this article is a fake and is not Gary Dell'Abate. I've confirmed this with Gary himself. I have removed the quoted text so as not to add to the confusion.

The Sirius XM iPhone App has been downloaded more than a half-million times as of Sunday night, according to an internal company memo obtained by Orbitcast.

"That is one of the fastest download rates by any App," writes Scott Greenstein, President and Chief Content Officer of Sirius XM Radio Inc. in the email to employees today.