The Copyright Modernization Act (HR 6052), which seeked to change the rules on the licensing and delivery of digital music, has died. XM Satellite Radio ran a grassroots campaign earlier this week, in a mass email sent to all subscribers, urging readers to oppose this legislation.

In the email, XM claimed that HR 6052 would "drive up our costs and stop us from offering radios that allow you to record XM channels for your later listening - in the same way that TiVo allows you to record TV for later viewing."

Well, it's dead. When the bill's sponsor, Senator Lamar Smith, said he'd like to delay HR 6052 until next year, "a collective sigh of relief was let out from a few rows of audience, comprised of consumer device manufacturers and some service providers," according to Public Knowledge.

[Public Knowledge via About The Image] 

XM Satellite Radio will be broadcasting the Farm Aid 2006 concert live this Saturday, September 30th on XM's Americana channel X Country (ch 12).

The Farm Aid concert lineup will feature Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews, as well as musicians Jerry Lee Lewis with Roy Head; Los Lonely Boys; Gov't Mule; Steve Earle; Steel Pulse; Shelby Lynne; and others.

XM's Ray Knight, Jessie Scott and others will co-host XM's coverage of concert starting at 3:30pm ET with artist interviews and live performances from the Farm Aid 2006 stage.

XM Satellite Radio in a recent SEC filing reported that they have lost their arbitration claim to recover  the remaining 20% of the value of the two Boeing 702 class satellites put in orbit (XM-1 and XM-2).

In July 2004, XM reached agreement with insurers that covered 80% of the amount insured. The problem lies with a progressive solar array power degradation issue that is common to the first six Boeing 702 class satellites put in orbit. XM-1 and XM-2 just happen to be the fifth and sixth Boeing 702s launched. XM walked away with about$142 million from the insurers thanks to this.

In August 2004, XM filed for arbitration to get the remaining 20% of the insured amount. It's this claim was rejected, and no further proceeds will be given.

Oh well. You win some, you lose some.

The launch of the Oprah & Friends channel, accompanied by frenzied blogging by your's truly, was also billed as the most successful channel launch in XM's five-year history in terms of ad sales, according to a report by AdAge.

Normally fellow listeners are accustomed to hearing ad spots by the likes of StubHub and BoDog.net - all fine establishments mind you - but not necessarily "A-List" in the world of advertising. So when big names avertisers like Acuvue, Dove, GE, Iams, JC Penney, SlimFast, Splenda, Target, Warners TrueFit, AirTran, Honda and Rinnai all buy into Oprah's XM radio show, one has to be impressed.

While XM is mum over the terms and length of the advertisers' contracts, they have categorized many of the deals as investments worth millions of dollars. Harpo and XM split the ad revenue between each other.

[AdAge]

UPDATE: The photo is of Oprah and Friends all pressing the on-air light together at a breakfast at the Rainbow Room in NYC.

Hugh Panero, CEO of XM Satellite Radio, and Oprah Winfrey rang the NASDAQ Opening Bell this morning to celebrate the debut of the "Oprah & Friends" channel on XM Satellite Radio.

Joining them were Oprah's "friends" who host shows on the new XM channel: Dr. Maya Angelou, Nate Berkus, Jean Chatzky, Bob Greene, Gayle King, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Dr. Robin Smith and Marianne Williamson.

Check out photos from the NASDAQ opening bell after the jump...

The highly anticipated "Oprah & Friends" channel (ch 156) launched today at 11:00am ET on XM Satellite Radio, with a special appearance from Oprah herself as she sat in with Gayle King for the debut broadcast.

"Oprah & Friends" will feature a mix of celebrities and everyday people in conversation with the shows' hosts, as well as caller-driven programming. Names such as Donald Trump, Julia Louis- Dreyfus, Annette Bening, Jon Bon Jovi, Nora Ephron, Carnie Wilson, Norman Lear, The New York Times' columnist Thomas Friedman, former presidential candidate Sen. Dennis Kucinich, and others are scheduled to appear on the channel during the first few weeks of broadcast.

Check out the original shows in the lineup for the "Oprah & Friends" channel on XM after the jump...

Oprah Tracker: Oprah will be on Good Morning America today (Monday) before the NASDAQ opening bell.

UPDATE:
Go watch the video of Oprah and Gayle's appearance on Good Morning America, where Oprah told Diane Sawyer that she looks forward to relaxing and chatting on the channel.

It took a couple days, but finally I was able to get video of the XM plug on The Oprah Winfrey Show. See it after the jump...

Oprah Winfrey and XM Satellite Radio CEO Hugh Panero will be ringing the NASDAQ opening bell on Monday, September 25th, to celebrate the launch of the "Oprah & Friends" channel on XM.

Oprah’s fellow on-air hosts from "Oprah & Friends" will also be there. Remember, later that night Oprah and her friends will also appear on Larry King Live on CNN at 9pm ET.

Sounds like it's going to be a big day.