XM Satellite Radio CEO Hugh Panero, along side the recently signed Ludacris, rang the bell at NASDAQ this morning and also made an appearance on MarketWatch. Watch the video here.

Panero addresses the possible conflict with the RIAA regarding XM’s upcoming satellite radio/mp3 devices, reinforcing the fact that they comply with all the RIAA requirements. It’s a nice little video to watch, check it out.

USA Today has an absolutely intriguing interview with Hugh Panero, President/CEO of XM Satellite Radio, and they surprisingly didn’t toss the kind of softballs we’ve become used to from most interviews.

One key question to highlight is over the issue of interoperability:

Q: Where are you in developing radios that consumers could use for either XM or Sirius?

A: The companies have worked together on an interoperable platform based on the government’s desire to explore that technology. But it’s several years away. It depends on manufacturers deciding whether this is a product they want to support and consumers deciding what price are they willing to pay for it.

So he’s not dismissing interoperability but he’s also pointing out that it’s not going to happen anytime soon. Hugh is also pointing out that the interoperability initiative was not based on the desire of XM or SIRIUS, but rather the government. What exactly that entails is hard to say.

Another great question/answer:

Q: What keeps you up at night?

A: Everything keeps me up at night. Arrogance is the demise of any business, and you have to be very careful not to fall into that trap.

Hell yeah Hugh! I absolutely love that statement, because time and time again I’ve seen that to be a major problem with companies that are experiencing massive growth (referring to personal experience here).

Anyway, it’s a truly great interview, give it a read here.

The Wall Street Journal today has an inspired article written by someone who is obviously hooked on satellite radio (much like everyone reading this blog). The thing I like about the WSJ article is that writer Jeffrey Zaslow focuses on the comedy channels (specifically he talks about XM, but it applies to Sirius too) which provides content that you would NEVER hear on terrestrial. Ever. Terrestrial can throw against the wall as many ideas as they want (Jack, Jill, HD Radio, whatever) but in the end they can’t give us true comedy in it’s untainted entirety. In the end, the laughs you get from terrestrial are watered down versions of what is possible.

The NAB can whine and complain, or talk about how great they think they are, but in the end - they’re inferior to satellite - and they know it.

Go read the WSJ article, it’s definitely worth it.

Billboard Radio Monitor has a great interview with Eric Logan (E-LO!), EVP of Programming at XM Satellite Radio. One of the most interesting questions was about the decision to drop MTV/VH1 from the lineup, and Eric’s response really gives some insight about where satellite radio in general will be a few years from now:

“[Channels like] 20 on 20, Highway 16, the City, Sweet 62, Watercolors and our decades channels, because of the sheer size of our audience base, are some of the most powerful and biggest radio outlets in the U.S. today. Our content strategy is to really create our own brands … which is why the decision was not to renew with MTV or VH1. “

An interesting Business Week article on investor pitches reveals a quick tidbit about XM Satellite Radio possibly expressing interest in buying this unnamed wireless information technology company. Microsoft also apparently was interested in them. No clue who they are, but hey, since we’re speculating tonight - figured it’s worth bringing up.

Check out the article here (scroll down to “CUTTING TO THE CHASE”).

MarketWatch: When Sirius Satellite Radio CEO Mel Karmazin was asked at an investor conference whether Apple’s announcement of the iTunes-equipped cell phone, the Motorola ROKR, could open the door to the possibility of a Sirius-enabled iPod, Karmazin responded that Sirius considers its upcoming Sirius S50 MP3/Satellite Radio unit to be equivalent to the iPod.

Karmazin said the Sirius S50 offers as much variety as listeners can experience on an iPod, with the advantage of letting users discover new music. Mel also said that Sirius’ talks with various MP3 makers and other electronics manufacturers are ongoing.