SIRIUS Satellite Radio / US Music Royalty Fee Letter and my reply.

[Jim W]

I just received my renewal form from Sirius. The one year price was $142. 45 plus the US music royalty fee for $21. 79. I too have cancelled my subscription to Sirius, I will not pay for this additional fee. The only way that Sirius will know our dissatisfaction is through their pocket book with us cancelling due to this fee.

Another issue that I have with Sirius is all of the talking now on the network. If I want talk radio, I will listen to talk radio I wanted Sirius for the music. Now there is more talking then music. I will now be listening to CD's when traveling.

 

[Matt400]

I will share an email I had recently with Sirius-

I would like to know what channels are "only music" that is channels

that have no talk segments like what is being run on channel 60 where

they discuss artists life stories and such.

Thanks

Matt

Pretty simple question I thought, this way I could program my unit with just music channels.

Sirius-

Dear Matt,



Thank you for your email regarding the availability of a list of

channels which are only music. We are here to assist!



Matt, we understand your concern and we're glad to help! Our emphasis

is on the music and entertainment you want. Master music programmers

and on-air personalities, who are true experts, host our music. They

back up the music with compelling information about the song being

played. We apologize for any frustration caused by the "on-air host"

discussions. Please know that you have a voice here at SIRIUS and your

comments will not go unnoticed. We do not have access to the

information you have requested.

Huh? did I read that right? This is Sirius writing back telling me they don't know what channels are music only.

 

[SNGLESHOT]

Hey sirius ... you listening??? There are too many commercials on conservative talk radio channels now... way too many. This is not what im paying for that is for sure.

 

[DMcGalliard]

What makes me mad is that my country station are going talk, roadhouse and willys place are getting to be more and more talk. I want music and there lots of ads, talking about shows coming up or who is playing where, in my mine anything but music is ads. Sirius will soon be like the banks forget who and what made their business and the will be a new business model to replace them. That model is here, make your own sound track of maybe 1000 songs on it with features to play different tracks that you like to hear. That would be not much different as lots of roadhouse repeats fair often.
What can we do? I am close to dumping Sirius.
Dave Mc

 

[2Rowdy]

That model is here, make your own sound track of maybe 1000 songs on it with features to play different tracks that you like to hear.





Sounds like an IPOD.

 

[pullya]

I know this will surely show my age, but can someone PM me and explain how an ipod works and where the music comes from that you put on your ipod. I have heard that the songs cost about $1 apiece and I've also heard that people have 1000's of song on their ipod--thats pretty expensive I think. Also I have a stock radio in my truck so will the ipod work with the radio or do I have to stick those earplugs in my ears to listen to music while I drive? And before you ask--Hell No I can't program my VCR! but my 8 track still works just fine---

Jay

 

[Matt400]

Hi Jay,

I don't have an iPod yet but have thought about it. They are very small and store way more music than I would want. Heck if I had 100 songs that would be cool cuz its not like I have a 100 CD's in the truck.

The sound quality is amazing as I have listen to one.



From what I understand you buy music from this place: iTunes - iTunes Music, iTunes Movies & iTunes TV Shows from iTunes Store by doing an online purchase and the song is downloaded to your PC, from there you plug in your iPod to your PC and upload the song to it. Trouble for me at the moment is security issues, my kids have used that site and made for some headaches with virus stuff and when I go there my free AVG anti-virus program pops up a warning box.

I don't like to complicate my life with stuff like that so for now I am just lurking in the iPod thing.



To connect an iPod to your radio you can get one of these so you can listen to the music stored on the iPod.



VCR! can you still get movies on tape? We havent had a VCR in years and the last 8 track I had was in 1974 in my 69 Mustang, wow your an old fart!



Maybe an expert iPod user will jump in here and set us straight.

 

[hwebster]

I had Sirius active when I bought the truck. I did enjoy some stations but not enough to pay for. . 12 Months later - Silence...

Seems that Sirius might experience the silence if they keep going they way they are!

 

[Jim W]

I know this will surely show my age, but can someone PM me and explain how an ipod works and where the music comes from that you put on your ipod. I have heard that the songs cost about $1 apiece and I've also heard that people have 1000's of song on their ipod--thats pretty expensive I think. Also I have a stock radio in my truck so will the ipod work with the radio or do I have to stick those earplugs in my ears to listen to music while I drive? And before you ask--Hell No I can't program my VCR! but my 8 track still works just fine---

Jay

I am not a fan of the I-pod but my wife has one and uses it. Guess who programs and sets up the I-pod?

One way to place music on the I-pod is too copy your own CD's on to your computer then transfer them to the I-pod. This is how I have placed music on the I-pod for her. I only do this for my DW and no one else, since we have purchased the CD's for use. By the way I am 60+.

 

[HBarlow]

My wife loves music and owns a huge number of CDs, perhaps hundreds of them. She also owns two I-Pods. I didn't even know what an IPod was when the first one showed up a year or so ago and still have no idea how to program one. One of her IPODs is now in my Dodge.

The only drawback in my Dodge is it can't be plugged directly into the six disc/Sirius/Bluetooth receiver and has to transmit through space to the FM portion of the receiver. This means the FM station selected has to be changed when traveling to new areas.

 

[Rams-n-Hogs]

You really don't even need an Ipod, either. You can get radios now that have a USB port to plug in a jump drive. My CD changer in my truck just died, and I replaced it with a cd player/radio with a port for an Ipod, (or whatever device), and a USB port.

 

[Adventure Bob]

Im concerned with your ability to say no. If your going to renew your mebership, then dont ***** about the cost. "ah I hate having maid, shes so expensive and now she's raising her rates" Dude? Your just like those folks who ***** about the shows Im watching on TV: if you dont like theres about 300 other channels you can watch.

Anyway, if someone hasnt pointed this out to you yet: If you dont like the price, stop paying the bill.

BTW, Not knowing that you somehow had the service on every radio you own makes me a bad clairvoyant, not bad at math. You know they do make those things in a portable version so you can move them from device to device right?? One subscription, many listening areas?? Hmmm?

 

[HBarlow]

You really don't even need an Ipod, either. You can get radios now that have a USB port to plug in a jump drive. My CD changer in my truck just died, and I replaced it with a cd player/radio with a port for an Ipod, (or whatever device), and a USB port.

I don't know what a jump drive is either.

I'm sure there are better head units available than OEM, perhaps reasonably priced, but the only problem with replacing the OEM radio in our Dodge Rams 2006 and later is the CANBUS technology may prevent aftermarket radio receivers from working with the steering wheel controls, Blue Tooth, or even the speakers and amps. This high-tech electronics has passed my by several generations ago.

 

[Scrappy]

I don't know what a jump drive is either.



I'm sure there are better head units available than OEM, perhaps reasonably priced, but the only problem with replacing the OEM radio in our Dodge Rams 2006 and later is the CANBUS technology may prevent aftermarket radio receivers from working with the steering wheel controls, Blue Tooth, or even the speakers and amps. This high-tech electronics has passed my by several generations ago.

the canbus isn't an issue for the steering wheel controls, there are adapters for that now. and the other issue is only if you have the infinity stereo, the basic 4 speaker system is still oldschool. and it has been a while since I have had a infinity equipped vehicle so there might even be adapters for that now too. you can put an new headunit in these trucks now that have a harddrive built into them so you don't even need an Ipod with them either and it is factory(MyGig)you just need an adapter (lockpick)to run it in our trucks.



Both of my vehicles have Sirius but both are expired and I am not going to renew them because of thes fee and recent lack of music. my current 16 gig Ipod touch has 1700 songs on it and I don't even listen to old fashioned radio any more. the only reason I got the Ipod is I was tired of replacing scratched CDs.

 

[HBarlow]

What brands and features do you recommend?

 

[JohnsonJim]

My question to those complaining about the commercials and "lack of channels" on the Sirius. Have your complaints come about AFTER the merger with XM? And your favorite Sirius channel has now changed?



For those complaining about the commercials in talk radio shows... UM... those shows are originated for terrestrial radio, not designed for Sirius. I guess they could just "cover" the spots and play 4 min segments of "bumper music" LOL



I know of people who had the XM and are now mad because their XM channel changed... I believe that you buy satellite radio for a purpose... no commercials and the fact that they have a channel that you like... I doubt that they think u will like them all but you buy it for one or maybe a half dozen.



My complaint with the old XM was the fact that a lot of the channels had low bit rates. The music sounded awful... like a bad MP3.

 

[Scrappy]

What brands and features do you recommend?

radio choice is subjective, it all depends what you want to do with it. I want indash DVD capabilities (for the kidswhile in trips) Navigation, Bluetooth, B/U camera, and Ipod control. What I am looking at is either using a 30GB HD Mygig radio out of a different Chrysler product and aftermarket Lockpick interface and B/U camera. Or a Kenwood DNX 9140 with a B/U camera also. I want DVD/ Nav/Bluetooth/Ipod control. Both fill the bill but both are going to run in the $2K neighborhood. not cheap but takes care of my wants nicely

 

[gsbrockman]

You know they do make those things in a portable version so you can move them from device to device right?? One subscription, many listening areas?? Hmmm?

Two out of the three subscriptions are Sportsters; thanks for telling me about something that I already purchased 4. 5 years ago. :-{} :-laf



The 2007. 5 RAM 3500 MegaCab has the OEM unit.



My 2004 Dodge Neon SXT (daily driver) has one Sportster.



My wife's 2005 Jeep Liberty Limited 4x4 has the other Sportster.



Kinda hard to have satellite radio in the Liberty & Neon simultaneously if each of us are behind the wheel.



Whenever the wife is at home, her Sportster is in the Sportster Boom Box. :-laf

 

[HBarlow]

$2k is a bit steep but something to consider if and when my OEM receiver ever dies. I use an aftermarket add-on Garmin GPS and like it very much. I ordered but have never programmed the Blue-Tooth in my Dodge. If Texas or local cities move toward outlawing cell phone use while driving I may begin using the Blue-Tooth.

Thanks for educating me and others that new products are now compatible with CANBUS technology and Dodge Ram features. I didn't know that.

 

[steved]

The underlying fact is the government should not have allowed a merger of two companies into a monopoly.

I had two receivers, and my subscription increased within 3 months of the merger.