Get Galvanized

As of September 16, there is not one single punk rock channel on all of XM radio. XM merged with Sirius Radio earlier this year. The satellite giants reach a combined audience of 17 million listeners and offer a choice between 200+ channels for their subscribers.

What I know is this: one day I got in my car and AC/DC was playing.

I do not routinely listen to AC/DC, nor do I listen to channels that would play AC/DC. Needless to say, I was perplexed.

I began to investigate immediately. Sure enough, I was actually tuned in to the AC/DC channel.

How did this happen?

Well, apparently, neither XM Radio nor Sirius have reason to believe that there is a strong enough audience for a channel dedicated solely to punk rock. So, XM replaced their one and only punk rock channel, Fungus 53 with 24/7 AC/DC. All AC/DC, all day long.

A listener wrote to XM Radio to ask about Fungus 53 and this is a portion of the response he got:

“Thanks so much for taking the time to write with your comments on XM 53 Fungus. We recognize and appreciate the fact that Fungus and punk, ska and hardcore has loyal fans like you, but…Fungus was one of the channels that had a very loyal but also a very limited audience.”

What about the thousands of punks from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s who are alive today and still listen to punk, did they listen to Fungus 53?

How about the kids ages 10 and up who are seen all around urban and suburban neighborhoods wearing shirts that say G.B.H., T.S.O.L. and Ramones, are they interested in a channel like Fungus 53? Don’t forget about live music events like the Van’s Warped Tour that sell out to thousands of punk and alternative music lovers across the country. Surely, a few of those kids would enjoy a station like Fungus 53, no?

By the way, for sake of clarification, here is what XM does find space for on their 200 channel network:
Oprah Winfrey and Friends
Martha Stewart
A separate channel for each of the following decades: 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s
A choice of one of 8 Country Music stations
All Love Songs 24/7
Broadway and Showtunes
A choice of 3 Christian music channels
A choice of 14 rock channels, 7 Hip Hop & R&B channels and 5 Jazz channels.

Other channel choices include numerous options in each of the following categories: Lifestlye, Dance, Latin, World, Classical, Kids, News, Comedy, Talk and Sports.

If you care about freedom of speech, censorship, punk rock, freedom of expression or and mixture of the above, share this blog, write your own blog or write to XM or Sirius Radio. I don’t believe it will cost them one cent extra to have a punk rock channel on the air and I wouldn’t be surprised if a 2008 version of Tipper Gore is somehow a part of this decision. (For the background on Tipper Gore and PMRC, go to FreeMuse.org, the Freedom of Musical Expression website.)

In a world with endless media and communication options, be sure to let your interests be heard by voicing your opinion. You can contact XM Radio at programming@xmradio.com and fungus@xmradio.com. You can also participate in the poll at orbitcast.com and let others know how you feel about XM Fungus and Sirius Punk being removed from programming.