Sirius Vs. XM

I know it has been a while since I posted anything. Oh well, life is busy. However, today I read something that caused me to brush off the old soapbox. I would first like to say that I am a Sirius Satellite Radio subscriber...and I love it. The reasons I love it are numerous, but for those of you who have ever spent a significant amount of time in a car in Panama City, I need not explain it further.

Earlier this year Sirius and XM (the only other satellite radio provider in North America) announced a merger that would join both companies. This is probably going to be good for me an about 13 1/2 million other people. What many people do not know is that satellite radio content is not governed by the FCC. This, subsequently, is why Howard Stern moved to Sirius. Well, that and a few hundred million other reasons.

It is estimated that he cleared 200 mil in stock bonuses by meeting subscriber quotas. Who the hell cares, I do not listen to his crap. This is pertinent to my current bother. Stern is called a "Shock Jock" for pushing the limits of terrestrial broadcast regulations and more importantly good taste. He is not alone in his Endeavour of political incorrectness.

XM hosts a pair of Stern wanna-be's known as Opie and Anthony. Recently, XM suspended the pair's morning show for comments they made on an uncensored channel. This has outraged many subscribers and sponsors and XM is dealing with a substantial backlash.

I do agree that if you sell your service as "uncensored" then maybe you should not reprove your staff for saying something widely considered as unspeakable. You are asking for it XM! Lift the suspension. You made your bed...

On the other hand. What the hell where these idiots thinking. They put an incredibly offensive homeless man on the mike and laughed hysterically as he made comments regarding the rape and beating of Condoleezza Rice.

Here is my problem:

I like some music that is very hard. I mean rugged, industrial, Nine Inch Nails kind of jam. I do not like all of it. What I especially do not like is music that is hard for the sake of being hard. That sucks. If you want to be hard, be hard, just be good first. As long as it is good I will listen to it hard, soft, or in the middle.

These two morning show jackasses need to follow the same rules. Some of the funniest things I have ever heard happened to be the raunchiest things I have ever heard. Some were not. The point however, is the same. Funny is funny, clean or dirty. But just because some dirty things are funny does not mean dirty is a suitable replacement for substance any more than hard is. Anyone can say something provocative to get a rise out of people. They could talk about eating babies or something equally deplorable, but if they do it only because they lack the talent to say something tangible then they should be shot.

If you have XM, cut them a break. It needed to be done. If you are XM, think about how you market your service. Otherwise you might offer up some second-rate imbecile and get yourself bit in the ass. Damn that stings.

Ancient Chinese Proverb: "A closed mouth gathers no foot."