Hip hop nation

Nov 9, 2008
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nj
Anyone notice this is not the "people's choice" anymore?
WPGC 95.5 used the "peoples choice" I dont work in the business but Im guessing it was a
FORMAT.I used to like Hip hop nation and since the merger ,I think the channel has hit the wall.Not as much upbeat music as it once was ,I think its an XM channel now.Oddly if its now a DC-based mixed why didnt they use the original programming?:scratch:
 

v1ru5

Well-Known Member
Oct 24, 2008
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Harrisburg PA.
Without a doubt Sirius fucked up the HH genre royally. No old-skool channel, and like Soul Street Sirius is trying to consolidate 30 years of the sub genre HH into 1 channel plus new music. The best I can tell you is channel surf and hope you get lucky and hear what you want for the moment. I wish R&B and it's sub genres had 19 channels like the Rock genre does.;)
 

Fergz99

Member
Oct 14, 2008
650
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Without a doubt Sirius fucked up the HH genre royally. No old-skool channel, and like Soul Street Sirius is trying to consolidate 30 years of the sub genre HH into 1 channel plus new music. The best I can tell you is channel surf and hope you get lucky and hear what you want for the moment. I wish R&B and it's sub genres had 19 channels like the Rock genre does.;)
What chance do you think there would be for a Public Enemy Radio or Stevie Wonder Radio ? I'm guessing none, but Lynard Skynard Radio is probably on its way
 

HecticArt

Administrator
Oct 19, 2008
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What chance do you think there would be for a Public Enemy Radio or Stevie Wonder Radio ? I'm guessing none, but Lynard Skynard Radio is probably on its way

Please god no! ! ! ! ! !

It would be easy to program though. 4 songs, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
 

TheScionicMan

Last non-Hating Stern Fan
Oct 11, 2008
2,171
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I hope they play the full length version of Freebird a lot!!!

I miss BackSpin...
 

geosync

Well-Known Member
Oct 13, 2008
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They are mixing in backspin songs on HHN, I heard Flow Joe last night. Eastern time it was way late, but I was glad to catch some old school.
 

DScum420

New Member
Nov 22, 2008
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www.siriuslyscrewed.com
They are mixing in backspin songs on HHN, I heard Flow Joe last night. Eastern time it was way late, but I was glad to catch some old school.

I think it's sad you have to hope and pray to catch some old school rap when you previously had it available 24/7.

The only thing this "mergeration" has done is provide us less variety.
 

DAB

Mod Emeritus
Oct 9, 2008
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I think it's sad you have to hope and pray to catch some old school rap when you previously had it available 24/7.

The only thing this "mergeration" has done is provide us less variety.

I think it sad that folks can't understand that hard decisions had to be made in order to save money and hopefully keep this service going. If you guys had your way SXM might as well have just shut the freaking sats off and called it a day. Would you be happen then?
 

Fergz99

Member
Oct 14, 2008
650
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I think it sad that folks can't understand that hard decisions had to be made in order to save money and hopefully keep this service going. If you guys had your way SXM might as well have just shut the freaking sats off and called it a day. Would you be happen then?
Its not that DAB, its what got kept and what got dropped. There are more rock based single artist channels right now then hip hop channels in total.

They kept both the Coffee House and the Loft when they are basically the same channel. The Spectrum, Deep Track, Classic Vinyl and Classic Rewind basically play all the same artists. I'm not saying they are bad channels, but its a lot of cross over and when they are killing genres do we really need 4 channels to cover classic rock ?

If you combine the two main classic rock channels and the loft and coffee house that leaves room for Backspin or Strobe or Boombox, and you will still have channels playing the type of music that was cut. I do enjoy Classic Rewind better, but in order to save something more unique I would be all for combining the two.

Do we need separate channels for The Blend, Pulse and Bridge ? They all seem like the same thing too.

I agree that tough choices were needed, but they should have made them in the rock category. Its by far the largest and fattiest.
 

DAB

Mod Emeritus
Oct 9, 2008
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I agree that tough choices were needed, but they should have made them in the rock category. Its by far the largest and fattiest.

I can't argue against your points, but all I am saying is that they reviewed this and based on all the info they have they made the decisions they did. Right or wrong it was tough and apparently they feel they made the best decisions they could have. Sure we all could look at it from our point of view and say they should have kept this channel, got rid of that one, then those folks would be upset. It was and is a no win situation because regardless of how they sliced it or diced it folks were going to be pissed. So, you do the best you can best on feedback, consutation and surveys that both have taken over the last year or so.

I think there is still plenty of room for tweaking and I honestly think we'll see that going forward. The only problem with Sirius is they are slow to react to things like this, they always have been.

Like you I think I could have come up with a plan that is better than they did? But guess what it would have just pissed off a different group of subscribers. Who could do this where it wouldn't have pissed off subcribers? Could any of us honestly?
 

Troglodyte

Member
Nov 11, 2008
35
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8
Its not that DAB, its what got kept and what got dropped. There are more rock based single artist channels right now then hip hop channels in total.

They kept both the Coffee House and the Loft when they are basically the same channel. The Spectrum, Deep Track, Classic Vinyl and Classic Rewind basically play all the same artists. I'm not saying they are bad channels, but its a lot of cross over and when they are killing genres do we really need 4 channels to cover classic rock ?

If you combine the two main classic rock channels and the loft and coffee house that leaves room for Backspin or Strobe or Boombox, and you will still have channels playing the type of music that was cut. I do enjoy Classic Rewind better, but in order to save something more unique I would be all for combining the two.

Do we need separate channels for The Blend, Pulse and Bridge ? They all seem like the same thing too.

I agree that tough choices were needed, but they should have made them in the rock category. Its by far the largest and fattiest.

Let's keep it real. They kept all the rock channels and the pop channels because that audience is the desired demographic. The people that listen to R&B, Disco and Rap are not. Simple as that. And it doesn't matter if you like all of it.
 

j_mact

New Member
Dec 4, 2008
19
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Only two channels

I have to agree with Troglodyte. It now seems very clear that Sirius only cares about the fans who listen to Rock and Pop music. I have had Sirius since 2005, and every time there has been a "lineup change" Hip-Hop and R&B have taken the hit. Right now, there are really only two stations that play hip-hop 24/7.

There were eight hip-hop and R&B channels in 2005, now there are only five.

Needless to say, I have called to complain as most on this site have. There is very little variety now, for those who listen to hip-hop and R&B.

Not only do I miss Backspin, but I also mix Wax (42), and Slow Jams (52).

DAB, I see you are a big fan of Slacker. Not to change the subject of this post, but I have been thinking of purchasing one, due to the "merger". Can you tell me about it?
 

v1ru5

Well-Known Member
Oct 24, 2008
1,690
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Harrisburg PA.
I have to agree with Troglodyte. It now seems very clear that Sirius only cares about the fans who listen to Rock and Pop music. I have had Sirius since 2005, and every time there has been a "lineup change" Hip-Hop and R&B have taken the hit. Right now, there are really only two stations that play hip-hop 24/7.

There were eight hip-hop and R&B channels in 2005, now there are only five.

Needless to say, I have called to complain as most on this site have. There is very little variety now, for those who listen to hip-hop and R&B.

Not only do I miss Backspin, but I also mix Wax (42), and Slow Jams (52).

DAB, I see you are a big fan of Slacker. Not to change the subject of this post, but I have been thinking of purchasing one, due to the "merger". Can you tell me about it?
After my time is up in February I'm going to cancel. I'm not putting up with Sirius anymore. The reason I dropped Sirius in the first place was because of the lack of R&B programming and what littlle they had they would drop in favor of a ROCK channel. Now Sirius has brought their bullshit to XM dropping dedicated old-skool R&B and disco channels and adding more ROCK channels. I've ALWAYS been against the merger because I KNEW Sirius was gonna' do the same thing to XM. Sirius NEVER messes with the Rock and Country channels, I wonder why?:rolleyes:
 

DAB

Mod Emeritus
Oct 9, 2008
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DAB, I see you are a big fan of Slacker. Not to change the subject of this post, but I have been thinking of purchasing one, due to the "merger". Can you tell me about it?

Since I don't want to take this thread off topic, I will direct you to the Slacker/Pandora Forum, which has a lot of info on the Slacker service and the Slacker G2 device. Check it out! :)

Sirius NEVER messes with the Rock and Country channels, I wonder why?:rolleyes:

I would assume, because the feedback they get from listeners through surveys, along with consultants indicate that the bulk of us are either rock or country fans. This isn't to say that I agree with them cutting back other genres, but when a company is losing money and trying to appeal to the masses in order to add subs and stay in business, then you tend to try to program to appeal to that particular demographic.
 

v1ru5

Well-Known Member
Oct 24, 2008
1,690
67
48
Harrisburg PA.
Since I don't want to take this thread off topic, I will direct you to the Slacker/Pandora Forum, which has a lot of info on the Slacker service and the Slacker G2 device. Check it out! :)



I would assume, because the feedback they get from listeners through surveys, along with consultants indicate that the bulk of us are either rock or country fans. This isn't to say that I agree with them cutting back other genres, but when a company is losing money and trying to appeal to the masses in order to add subs and stay in business, then you tend to try to program to appeal to that particular demographic.
I wouldn't put much stock into what consultants say, I siriously doubt that an equal amout of ethnic and age groups were questioned also, during the 5yrs I've been a Satrad. subscriber I have receiived only 1 questioneer.
I just had a thought. I wonder if they are using our zip codes to make programming decisions?
 

Fergz99

Member
Oct 14, 2008
650
15
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I don't know but maybe if they cared about more genres they could increase their base. Instead of giving up on an entire group, maybe they should try to reach out to them.

It seems like Sirius likes putting all of their eggs in single baskets. For talk all the eggs went to Howard and for music all the eggs are going to rock. Seems short sighted to me, but just like v1ru5 I'm up in February and that will be the end.
 

DAB

Mod Emeritus
Oct 9, 2008
9,434
149
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Louisiana
I wouldn't put much stock into what consultants say, I siriously doubt that an equal amout of ethnic and age groups were questioned also, during the 5yrs I've been a Satrad. subscriber I have receiived only 1 questioneer.
I just had a thought. I wonder if they are using our zip codes to make programming decisions?

I have gotten 2 a year for the last 3 or 4 years myself (I mean surveys). I have no idea what the ethnic breakdown would be, you could be absolutely correct in that the sampling they got back, but I do remember that on each survey it does ask if you are African American or Caucasian, Hispanic, non-Hispanic etc. Still without there being a fair representation the decisions wouldn't be very accurate. I also agree with you on consultant, however the fact remains most companies that deal with demographics use consultants.

I don't know but maybe if they cared about more genres they could increase their base. Instead of giving up on an entire group, maybe they should try to reach out to them.

Well your logic makes sense to me, unfortunately Sirius management has never been a very logical bunch. I just know from what I see that clearly they are looking at demographics and trying to appeal to those that they feel will adopt sat radio in high numbers. Now rather this strategy is correct I can't say. I am like you guys I think you should have a broader appeal to try to draw in as many various subscribers as possible, but maybe they know something we don't. Maybe African American's adoption rate for sat radio is much, much lower than those that listen to Rock and Country? Seems to me that is the kind of info they would be looking at in making their decisions.
 

v1ru5

Well-Known Member
Oct 24, 2008
1,690
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Harrisburg PA.
I have gotten 2 a year for the last 3 or 4 years myself (I mean surveys). I have no idea what the ethnic breakdown would be, you could be absolutely correct in that the sampling they got back, but I do remember that on each survey it does ask if you are African American or Caucasian, Hispanic, non-Hispanic etc. Still without there being a fair representation the decisions wouldn't be very accurate. I also agree with you on consultant, however the fact remains most companies that deal with demographics use consultants.



Well your logic makes sense to me, unfortunately Sirius management has never been a very logical bunch. I just know from what I see that clearly they are looking at demographics and trying to appeal to those that they feel will adopt sat radio in high numbers. Now rather this strategy is correct I can't say. I am like you guys I think you should have a broader appeal to try to draw in as many various subscribers as possible, but maybe they know something we don't. Maybe African American's adoption rate for sat radio is much, much lower than those that listen to Rock and Country? Seems to me that is the kind of info they would be looking at in making their decisions.
And chances are that you are right Dab so with that in mind how about Sirius try to keep the few fans of the genre that they already have. And I single out Sirius because when they were separate companies I was 100% happy with XM. The reason I left Sirius is because of this shit they are pulling now.
 

DAB

Mod Emeritus
Oct 9, 2008
9,434
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Louisiana
And chances are that you are right Dab so with that in mind how about Sirius try to keep the few fans of the genre that they already have. And I single out Sirius because when they were separate companies I was 100% happy with XM. The reason I left Sirius is because of this shit they are pulling now.

I think the answer to that is pretty clear, they combined the channels as they seem to feel was the best for the service. You and I will like not agree with their choices, but they made them and they aren't turning back! I was 100% happy before and I guess fortunately for me I still am. There are some channels I miss, but I am not a single genre or single channel kind of guy! Everyone is different!