Originally Posted by MNXMFan

For me, its not JUST the $2, but the $2.99 before that, then the $3-5 from power, then the $3 from cable, then the $3 from Netflix, and the list goes on and on.

And this is the first year ever that pay did not increase at all for me. We are all making sacrafices during these hard times, and for a company like Sirius not to understand this (as a luxury service) is stupid.

And, to pass on a music royalty fee that is TWICE what they actually pay in royalties (actually, almost 3 times, but I digress) is absolutelly stupid. Everything is going up, but quality. And I guess I'm just tired of paying the increases. If this was simply a passthrough (as the FCC agreement REQUIRES btw) it might be a bit better (at about 6-10 cents, I'd pay that). But since I can get better music for free, and get most talk for free or less (audible), I would be an absolute MORON to sit back and continue paying 38% more today than what I paid a year ago prior to the merger.

Not to mention, we were ALL promised that this merger wouldn't result in increased costs, but it would result in cheaper programming options and a better selection. Lets see, since the merger:

1. No more XMRO free, at all, unless you pay $2.99
2. Best of Sirius $4
3. Music Royalty fee $2
4. Multiple radios $2 more

So, even for dual subscribers who used to pay $26 a month (which I wasn't one), you are now paying $22 a month. And for someone who was paying $12.95 a month, I am now paying $18 plus tax for RADIO, and getting FAR less out of it.

And yes, I realize that I pay far more for cable ($150 to be exact), but for that, I get many more hours of entertainment, plus Internet and Phone service. Do I get $20 of entertainment out of XM now? No way. Would I have gladly paid $25 three years ago for the same thing? You bet. But I can get better playlists elsewhere, and the one channel that I couldn't see myself living without (The Virus) isn't alone worth $20 a month.

Originally Posted by Tgajr

I agree. This will be a bad time for this. I dont understand why they havent dumped Oprah and Martha by now and added some better channels.

Originally Posted by Ehilbert1

Amen!!!

I agree with everything you said. Don't me wrong I love Sirius and I understand they need to survive,but come on. They just had a rate hike not to long ago and they dropped the free Internet and started charging for it. It's way to soon to do this. I don't think they get it that people will leave. People who discover Slacker and Pandora love it and guess what its free. I have a lifetimed Sirius radio so it really won't effect me,but my father and other family members it will. Yea I know an extra $2 shouldn't break you,but its all the other things that are going up in price too. I just think its bad timing.

If someone is with Sirius just for the music then I can definately see them leaving. There are a lot of free services out there and thanks to this forum I've discovered them.

Originally Posted by kryptonite

Pandora has a few ads, don't they? Slacker has ads, but you can pay to get rid of the ads.


I wonder if it'll be a matter of time until they have to pay royalty fees. This royalty fee doesn't sound like it'll be limited to satellite.

Originally Posted by MNXMFan

Slacker and Pandora already pay the fees, and they are actually HIGHER than they are for Satelite Radio. As a matter of fact, what Sirius isn't disclosing is that if you listen online, they pay MORE royalty fees than if you listen via a radio. Radio is percentage based, internet is per song per listener based.

Originally Posted by kryptonite

Pandora has a few ads, don't they? Slacker has ads, but you can pay to get rid of the ads.


I wonder if it'll be a matter of time until they have to pay royalty fees. This royalty fee doesn't sound like it'll be limited to satellite.

Originally Posted by Scott Greczkowski

Well from all signs of things, this appears to be BOGUS.

Check out Free Radio Alliance: Oppose a Performance Tax on Radio or Save Radio STARTPAGE

It hasn't even been voted on yet and if it is it is not expected to pass in this session.

Originally Posted by The Butler

6.5% of the monthly $12.95 subscription is 84 cents. So how can they claim this is just the increase in the royalties? They've been paying this fee for a number of years. If it's just the increase in the roayalty fee over the last year, it's about 6 cents a full paying sub.