SiriusXM Launches The Beatles Channel

Radio Insight ^ | 5/2/17 | Lance Venta

[raccoonradio]

SiriusXM will debut a new permanent 24/7 single artist channel on May 18 with the launch of The Beatles Channel.

Launching at 9:09am, the channel will feature programming produced in collaboration with and fully authorized by The Beatles’ Apple Corps Ltd. The channel will focus exclusively on music produced by the band and its four members other projects. Among the programs to be heard on the channel will be: Breakfast with The Beatles – A morning show hosted by musician Chris Carter My Fab Four – A daily guest DJ show playing their four favorite Beatles songs The Fab Fourum – A weekly call-in show hosted by Dennis Elsas, author Bill Flanagan and panelists ====

SiriusXM is pleased to announce The Beatles Channel, launching May 18 at 9:09 am ET exclusively on SiriusXM channel 18. Celebrating popular music’s most legendary and influential band, The Beatles Channel has been created by SiriusXM to present unique and exclusive programming in collaboration with and fully authorized by The Beatles’ Apple Corps Ltd. The Beatles Channel will also be available online and through the SiriusXM app.

The Beatles Channel will showcase all-things-Beatles with regular and special programming spanning the history-making careers of the band and its members: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. The channel will explore The Beatles’ entire career including their hits and deeper tracks, live recordings, rarities, and solo albums, while also spotlighting musicians who have inspired, and have drawn inspiration from, The Beatles.

Paul McCartney said, “I still remember the thrill of when we first heard our music on the radio, but I don’t think any of us would have imagined that we’d have our very own Beatles radio channel more than 50 years later. The SiriusXM channel will have it all, 8 Days a Week.”

Ringo Starr added, “Great news, The Beatles will have their own channel on SiriusXM. Now you can listen to The Beatles, Any Time at All. Peace & Love.”

“We are so proud to announce the most popular band in history has joined us for their own SiriusXM channel,” said Scott Greenstein, President and Chief Content Officer of SiriusXM. “We’ve worked with The Beatles and Apple Corps Ltd. to create a channel that is as vital today as when the band’s music was first recorded. The channel will be all-things-Beatles, 24/7. The soundtrack of our world, made by John, Paul, George and Ringo.”

The Beatles Channel will launch at exactly 9:09 am ET on Thursday May 18, and will be celebrated as part of SiriusXM’s free listening preview program, offering 24/7 listening on inactive SiriusXM radios from May 17 to May 30.

The Beatles Channel will present a curated mix of music tailored to a wide range of Beatles fans, along with a variety of regular shows and specials, including:

· Breakfast with The Beatles: A daily morning show hosted by musician and lifelong Beatles aficionado, Chris Carter, featuring music, stories and all things Beatles.

(snip) On June 1, The Beatles Channel will celebrate “Pepper Day” on the 50th Anniversary of the band’s acclaimed Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, playing the album’s new Anniversary Edition stereo mix in its entirety. The album spotlight will be accompanied by commentary by the album’s original producer, the late George Martin, and by his son, Giles Martin, who produced the album’s new stereo and 5.1 surround mixes from The Beatles’ session tapes, guided by his father’s original, Beatles-preferred mono album mix. Apple Corps Ltd./Capitol/UMe will release ‘Sgt. Pepper’ in several Anniversary Edition configurations on May 26.

[shotgun]

Great call!

[SamAdams76]

The Elvis station is still going strong on Sirius. With a preponderance of elderly ladies calling in to say how they love hearing Elvis again and that they are planning a trip to Graceland. I'm old but not old enough to remember Elvis contemporaneously when he was in his prime. My earliest memories of him in real time was when he was playing Las Vegas in those Evel Knievel style white jump suits and sweating like he was performing in some equatorial rain forest.

I remember the day Elvis died. I was 14 years old visiting my grandmother in Alabama. I went into the house and she was crying. I did not know up to that point that my grandmother was ever interested in anything having to do with rock music.

[SamAdams76]

Well I've been listening to the Beatles channel on Sirius and so far, I'm a little underwhelmed. I was hoping for a little more special programming but they are basically just playing the hits, interspersed with a few covers. Some of the covers are interesting. But so far, nothing too special.

I figured they would have a lot of special stuff, like interviews, live performances and other recording artists guest-hosting who were influenced by their music. Maybe that will come later.