The Senate last night voted to nullify the FCC's decision to loosen media ownership rules which allows media companies to own a newspaper and a television station in the same market.

Sponsored by Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND), and 26 other senators - including Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama - the unusual "resolution of disapproval," was approved by a voice vote.

Dorgan said the FCC action opened a "gaping loophole for more mergers of newspapers and television stations across the country."

Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez said he was "disappointed with the Senate's action" and would recommend to the president that he veto the bill.

"The FCC's approach modernizes a 30-year-old rule in a way that improves the financial viability of the newspaper industry, which faces an increasingly competitive media market," he said.

Obama issued a statement supporting the vote.

"Today the Senate stood up to Washington special interests by voting to reverse the FCC's disappointing media consolidation rules that I have fought against," he said. "Our nation's media market must reflect the diverse voices of our population, and it is essential that the FCC promotes the public interest and diversity in ownership."

If we're wondering what is currently occupying the focus of the FCC, we now have a big clue. Don't dismiss this event, this action by the Senate could impact the FCC in general in a very big way.

[AP via Orbitcast Forums]

The Federal Communications Commission has dismissed the application by Satellite CD Radio Inc. (aka Sirius Satellite Radio Inc.) to launch and operate the FM-6 satellite.

The FM-6 satellite was to replace two of Sirius' satellites - FM-1 and FM-2 - and would ultimately reduce the number of satellites in Sirius' network.

Sirius will still be allowed to reapply. The reason the FCC dismissed the application is because Sirius didn't provide enough information on how the satellite would be disposed of. In other words, the space-junk strategy, or as the FCC puts it "orbital debris mitigation plans."

The agency asked for two additional items, which - for all intents and purposes - are just too darn technical to translate into a post that you're not going to read anyway.

So if you're a satellite-geek, go ahead and click the jump to read the additional requests, or read the full FCC document (PDF) yourself.

Barrington Research analyst Jim Goss writes in a recent report that he feels Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. is "better positioned" than XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. to achieve profitability should the merger not go through.

"We continue to believe that the FCC will likely approve the merger, although the time frame remains unclear," write Goss.

Barrington adds that, "if the merger is blocked or the approval language contains unacceptable conditions, we would continue to favor Sirius as the better standalone operator." Goss said that Sirius is "better positioned" than XM "to achieve profitability in a shorter time frame with relatively less downside risk."

In a report on XM, Goss noted that, "In the event that this does not occur, we feel some risk would exist in the stock."

[RadioInk]

That's the basic thought that is being floated around on Seeking Alpha today. The long-winded article essentially comes to the conclusion that the delay in reaching a decision on the merger between Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. and XM Satellite Radio is a result of "the FCC's determination to establish its authority."

It's an interesting theory, though I'm not so sure that the rest of the article gives it much validity (it's filled with obvious statements). Here's the basic gist of it:

"...this publication continues to perceive this merger as arguably the defining moment for the current and future FCC. Any approval that fails to enforce the FCC's authority via significant conditions beyond those proposed by the companies will effectively result in the FCC being labeled a 'rubber stamp' regulator for years to come -- at least with respect to major license transfers."

In other words - from a 50,000 foot view - the FCC is hemming and hawing over this merger in a way to as to impose a sense of its authority.

Ultimately, M&A Research (the author of the article, who has historically been uber-conservative in their predictions over this deal), feels the FCC "will impose conditions which will force the companies to either submit to unwillingly or to reconsidering the combination altogether."

I don't know exactly how correct it is - but it's a curious thought to entertain. What's your opinion? Why do you think the FCC is taking so long?

[Seeking Alpha]

Remember how Neil Diamond's channel was supposed to be only a 2 week run? Well, due to "fans' requests" Neil Diamond Radio has been extended another 2 weeks through the end of May.

To celebrate the channel's extension, Neil Diamond will guest host his own show on Neil Diamond Radio, personally selecting music by recording artists playing unique renditions of songs he wrote, such as UB40's reggae version of "Red, Red Wine" and Frank Sinatra singing "Sweet Caroline."

Diamond will also share stories behind his new album, "Home Before Dark."

The show, artfully named "Neil Diamond Hosts On Neil Diamond Radio" will air on Sirius channel 3 this Friday, May 16th at 5pm and 9pm. Encore broadcasts will air Saturday, May 17th at 9am, 12-noon and 3pm; as well as this Sunday, May 18th at 1pm, 4pm and 7pm (all times Eastern).

Public-interest groups Public Knowledge and Media Access Project want to make sure the FCC understands their position on the Sirius-XM merger in light of a recent letter from Chester Davenport the Managing Director of Georgetown Partners.

While they confirmed that they did indeed meet with Georgetown Partners, the groups reiterated that they "take no position with respect to [Georgetown Partners'] specific proposal that 20% of the merged XM/Sirius company's spectrum capacity be leased on an arms-length basis to an independent entity."

"This approach could be a useful supplement to, but not a substitute for, the 5% non-commercial, educational set aside," they state in their letter to the FCC.

Should the Federal Communications Commission determine that Georgetown's proposal is in the public interest, both Public Knowledge and Media Access Project support the minority-owned group's proposal to assist non-commercial, educational programmers.

Both Public Knowledge and Media Access Project have proposed that roughly 5% of broadcast capacity from a merged Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. and XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. be dedicated to non-commercial and educational programming, of which Sirius-XM have no editorial control.

Georgetown stated in its letter to the FCC that they would agree to the proposal to set aside 5% of their own capacity for non-commercial, educational  programming. Additionally, they stated that there might be "technical barriers" that would hinder this content from being delivered to a merged entity and proposed a plan to overcome these so-called barriers.

In the filing, the public-interest groups conclude:
"In the interest of clarity, [Media Access Project and Public Knowledge] wish to state that neither they nor any person or organization associated with them have requested or received consideration of any kind from [Georgetown Partners] or any person or organization associated with them in exchange for their willingness to submit this letter of support."

[View FCC Filing (PDF)]

XM will broadcast extensive coverage of the 92nd running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 25th live from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

"The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" will be heard on the IndyCar Series Racing channel (ch 145) starting at 1pm ET, with the pre-race show at noon ET. This is the first running of the Indy 500 since the unification of the IndyCar Series and CART/Champ Car.

Andretti Green Racing drivers Danica Patrick, Tony Kanaan, Marco Andretti, and Hideki Mutoh will join team co-owner Michael Andretti at the speedway for a special edition of their weekly XM radio show "Andretti Green Racing Hour," which will air on May 21st, 7pm - 8pm ET, on XM Sports Nation (ch 144).

XM Sports Nation will also include daily coverage of the Indy 500, led by the motorsports show "Powershift" hosted by Joe Castello. Castello will host his show (which airs 8-10pm ET on weeknights) live from the speedway on May 22nd and 23rd, and he will host special editions of the show from the track on May 24th at noon ET and May 25th at 11am ET.

XM's IndyCar channel will also be carrying Indy 500 qualifying on May 17-18, Carb Day events and the Firestone Freedom 100 race May 23rd, and the IMS Radio Network show "Indy Live." A full list of dates and times is available here.

(Pop quiz: Guess who's car is pictured?)

Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Lou Reed will host his own weekly show, entitled "Lou Reed's New York Shuffle," on Sirius starting this Saturday, May 17th.

"Lou Reed's New York Shuffle" will feature an eclectic mix of music running the gamut from jazz to vintage rock, and everything in-between. Reed will co-host the show with music producer Hal Willner, who recently collaborated with Reed on the concert film Berlin.

Lou Reed said, "For years, I've always been a fan of eclectic radio, such as FM radio in the past when you could hear stations play widely divergent music, ranging from rock to country to jazz to opera. I loved the days when DJs who did their own programming set the bar high. I learned from these DJs and it's a delight, with my friend Hal Willner, to do this type of radio today on Sirius. We will try to bring Sirius' listeners audio from all parts of the world that covers the whole musical spectrum."

In the 1960s, Lou Reed led the Velvet Underground as the antidote to the counterculture hippies of the time. Produced by Andy Warhol, they became a band with an avante-garde vision beyond the realms of popular music.

In addition to Reed's success as part of the Velvet Underground, he scored a major solo hit with his gritty urban anthem "Walk on the Wild Side" and has released over 20 solo albums since 1972. Lou Reed's talents were recognized in 1996 when the Velvet Underground was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. In 2006, he played a series of now legendary shows at St. Ann's Warehouse in Brooklyn, on a stage designed by the painter Julian Schnabel. Reed's performance was recorded live and released as a film by Schnabel in 2008. Lou Reed most recently collaborated with The Killers on the alternative rock hit, "Tranquilize."

"Lou Reed's New York Shuffle" will air on Sirius Disorder (ch 70), Saturdays at 6pm ET. Encore broadcasts will air on Sundays at 12-noon ET and Mondays at 4pm ET.

Pictured: Lou Reed answers questions from the audience at the 'Celebrating Berlin With Lou Reed At The 2008 Tribeca Film Festival' held inside the Directors Guild Theater on May 4, 2008 in New York City. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, author, actress and plastic surgery petri dish Dolly Parton issued a statement yesterday condemning a bit on Howard Stern where one of her audio books was manipulated to form racist and sexually graphic phrases.

This isn't the first time that "The Howard Stern Show" has altered recordings to string together sentences, but it's the first time - of recent memory - that someone has actually taken it seriously. The bit was aired on the Stern Show last week.

"I have never been so shocked, hurt and humiliated in all my life," Parton said in a statement on Wednesday. "I cannot believe what Howard Stern has done to me.

"In a blue million years, I would never have such vulgar things come out of my mouth. They have done editing or some sort of trickery to make this horrible, horrible thing. Please accept my apology for them and certainly know I had nothing to do with this."

Parton concluded: "If there was ever going to be a lawsuit, it's going to be over this. Just wanted you to know that I am completely devastated by this."

Listen to audio of the Stern bit after the jump...

[Reuters/Billboard]
Thanks Chris!

Great American Country (GAC) host Storme Warren will be joining XM Radio as the host of the afternoon drive slot on Highway 16 starting on June 9th.

Warren's live afternoon drive show, which will air 2pm - 6pm ET, will debut on Monday, June 9th.

Warren's addition coincides with the upcoming opening of XM's new Nashville headquarters at the Sommet Center Arena Tower where the show will originate from daily. The brand-new, state-of-the-art facility will house office space, operations, production facilities, and seven studios - including a stunning, glass-walled performance studio overlooking downtown Nashville and the Ryman Auditorium.

Before his show's debut, Storme Warren will also participate in XM's exclusive coverage of the 2008 CMA Music Fest, June 2nd - June 9th, which will feature live concerts from the Chevy Stage, Fan Club Parties, and other live performances.

He will also continue as host and co-executive producer of "Country Music Across America" on Great American Country Television.