XM Satellite Radio has launched XM HD Surround powered by Neural Audio. This is the first surround sound technology to be offered by any radio company.

Listeners can hear music in XM HD Surround on the free-form music channel Fine Tuning (XM Channel 76) and the classical pops music channel XM Pops (XM Channel 113). XM will also broadcast a variety of upcoming shows and live music performances at the XM studios in 5.1 surround sound. XM HD Surround promises to enrich the listener’s experience with full envelopment and image detail never before available in traditional broadcast.

The first wave of home audio systems capable of playing XM HD Surround are now arriving at retailers. XM HD Surround manufacturing partners include Yamaha, Pioneer, Onkyo, and Denon.  These systems will carry the XM-Ready and Neural Surround logos. 

XM subscribers can connect an XM Connect-and-Play antenna or the upcoming XM Passport cartridge/homedock to the unit to receive the XM signal. 

Bob Dylan's show on XM Satellite Radio was first annouced to debut in March, but with the month nearly at a close it doesn't look likely that the original deadline will be made.

The folks over at the LA Times picked up this little bit as well. They learned that Dylan's show has been delayed because Bob wants to have certain things in a specific way.

"It's definitely going to happen, but it's taking a little longer than originally planned," said XM spokeswoman Anne-Taylor Griffith. "Bob is super involved in the show, and, like with everything he does, he wants it be just a certain way, and it's taking some time…. We've already received several episodes of the show, and they're absolutely fantastic."

Apparently next month XM will be announcing the show's title and schedule and also release some sample playlists with an expected premiere in early May.

[LA Times Calendar Live] 

XM Satellite Radio has just officially unveiled its new channel lineup, with the addition of 10 new music channels and 7 regional news/talk channels, bringing the total number of channels to 170.

The bump in music channels brings the number of commercial-free channels to 69. As we know, both XM Chill and Big Tracks were added earlier this month, and here's the official lineup of the new music channels being added during April and May:

U.S. Country (XM Channel 17): Country Superstars of the 80s & 90s
Flight 26 (XM Channel 26): Modern Hits of the 90's & Now
XM Hitlist (XM Channel 30): Today's Hit Music
enLighten (XM Channel 34): Southern Gospel
XM Liquid Metal (XM Channel 42): Heavy Metal
The Heat (XM Channel 68): Rhythmic Top 40
Escape (XM Channel 78): Easy Listening
Viva (XM Channel 91): Latin Pop Hits

XM will also introduce six more regional news/talk channels in late spring/early summer. These will individually be announced when they're ready, but they'll be similar to the WLW addition we saw earlier this month. These seven regional news and talk channels are provided by Clear Channel Communications will be part of a new category on the channel guide called "Regional News, Talk & Music Channels."

This new category will also include Clear Channel-programmed music channels KISS, MIX, Nashville, and Sunny, plus the launch of WSIX, with country personality Gerry House live from Nashville. As we all know, Clear Channel will start carrying commercials on these music channels in May, so they are grouped separately from XM's lineup of 69 commercial-free music channels on the new channel guide. (Very good move by XM in my opinion.)

Other changes include some renaming of channels:

XM 32 The Fish -> The Message
XM 52 Unsigned -> The Verge
XM 90 Alegria -> Fuego
XM 165 Ask -> Talk Radio
XM 172 Franc Parler -> SportPlus (Broadcast in French)

The Torch, Music Lab, The Flow, and Luna will be making the move to XM Radio Online, DirecTV and AOL.

Download the entire new XM Channel Lineup here (PDF) or visit the XM Radio New Lineup page to read more.

Apparently XM Radio has started running promos as of late last night for new XM channels coming down the pipe. At this point, the only date that's been heard is April 17th, so we can only assume that all the channels will be added at this date. As suspected, several of these will be "clones" of the Clear Channel content.

Here's the list that people have heard so far:

Flight 26 - clone of CC channel
XM Hit List - clone of CC channel
US Country XM 17 - clone of CC channel
Vibra - Latin Rock
EnLIGHTen - Southern Gospel
The Heat - Hip-hop and R&B.

And of course don't forget to add XMLM to this mix. The pad data shows lineup.xmradio.com being displayed, but currently that's the old page still.

Thanks Brian and Daniel! 

It's just been confirmed on the air the XM's Liquid Metal (XMLM) will in fact be returning to broadcasting via XM's satellites.

XMLM previously was pulled from the birds and exclusive only to XM Radio Online back in early 2005.

XMLM - Channel 42 - will be returning "this spring" officially. It's rumored that on April 1st XM will be adding "several" more music channel additions, some of which may compete with the Clear Channel channels.

Let's leave this chalked up as a rumor, but apparently Eric Logan just teased on the air that
a channel rhyming with "kettle" will be announced on Thursday... which could only mean one channel in my mind: XM Liquid Metal!

Remember that in the beginning of the month, I was told that a "legendary" channel will be making a return to the XM Satellites. Sources have also mentioned that Special X will most likely not be part of the return. Also note that a bulletin was sent out earlier this month stating that new XM music channels will be coming in April, so that might give us a hint into timing.

Let's see what we hear on Thursday. 

Thanks Rev! 

An XM Programming Bulletin was sent recently stating that four new channels will be added beginning in April, that will match the format of Nashville, Mix, Kiss, and Sunny. Very interesting.

[XM Fan] 

Thanks Brian! 

Rick Stacy has been hired as the Program Director for XM Satellite Radio's The 80s on 8. Stacy most recently handled the morning show at Hot AC WNEW/New York is perhaps best-known for his PD/morning host stint at WAPW (Power 99)/Atlanta, which is now WNNX (99X).

Rick Stacy starts work from XM's DC headquarters on March 20th.

[Radio and Records via Beyond XM]

So after this morning's post about Clear Channel requiring XM to add commercials to 4 music channels, I had the chance to talk with the b-b-boys over at XM Satellite Radio about this. While Sunny, KISS, MIX, and Nashville will in fact be taking on commercials (again, thanks to Clear Channel), I'm told that the addition of the new channels last week is meant to offset this. They understand the value of the slogan "most commercial-free music" and are determined to keep it that way.

In fact, I'm told there's a lot more channels coming down the pipe (did we see a glimpse?) and even some surprises... a "legendary" music channel may be making a return to your receivers.