U2 X-Radio Launches Exclusively on SiriusXM July 1

Rhea-AI Summary

SiriusXM is launching the exclusive U2 X-Radio channel on July 1, 2020, at 3 p.m. ET, featuring music and discussions centered around the iconic band U2. The channel will celebrate their four-decade career with original programming, including shows hosted by band members and special guests. U2 aims to connect with their audience during this time of social distancing. SiriusXM emphasizes the channel as a unique listener experience filled with insights from U2's history and influences.

Positive

• Launch of U2 X-Radio enhances SiriusXM's content offerings and exclusivity.
• Original programming includes various engaging shows, increasing listener engagement.
• SiriusXM reaches a wider audience during social distancing, enhancing subscription potential.

Negative

• U2's inability to tour may indicate a temporary decline in traditional revenue streams.
• Uncertain market conditions could impact subscriber growth despite new content.

NEW YORK, June 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- SiriusXM and U2 announce today that the band's much-anticipated U2 X-Radio channel will launch Wednesday, July 1 at 3 p.m. ET, exclusively on SiriusXM Channel 32. A complete immersion into the work and influences of the band from the Northside of Dublin, U2 X-Radio is U2 as you have never heard them before. An extraordinary and unique audio experience exploring the band's history, idols, influences and current passions, plus inspiration, conversation, culture, commentary and ideas from the band and guests. All curated by U2.

The dedicated and exclusive channel will come to life with music and radio shows that celebrate music from across the globally-acclaimed four-decade career of Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen, including their biggest hits, deep cuts, live concert recordings and rarities, as well as music from artists that are connected to or inspire the band.

U2 X-Radio will also feature unexpected and entertaining conversations across music, culture, politics and art, in the form of new interviews and original programming, presented by guest presenters and band members, guest DJ sessions and more. U2 X-Radio will immerse listeners in the world of U2, introducing so many friends, old and new, fascinating stories, as well as artists, writers, thinkers and activists who are changing the world.

The band team behind U2 X-Radio includes U2's trusted, long-time creative director, artist and musician Gavin Friday, along with friend and radio host Bill Flanagan, author of 'U2 at the End of the World.'

Bono said, "Radio introduced me to music so you could say that radio introduced me to my life… It has kept me company all my life… Music dared me to dream outside the four walls of my childhood bedroom… Radio Caroline, Radio Luxembourg, all my heroes, far away at sea, pirate radio rocking me to sleep… Radio is all around, it is air you can be on… revolutionary sounds coming down to meet me on the airwaves… Music is everything to me, I like to sing and I have been known to talk… This will be a bit of both… From the Northside of Dublin, this is the U2 group on the radio."

The Edge said, "Like most of the world, U2 find ourselves in a strange suspended moment.  We can't tour, we can't even really get in a room and record together. U2 X-Radio gives us a chance to stay connected with our audience in a new way - to speak directly from our homes to listeners across North America.  We are coming up with ideas every day - new music, new guests, new subjects to talk about. U2 X-Radio gives us a unique opportunity to engage in a sort of trans-Atlantic town hall.  Bono said yesterday, 'Can you believe we have a radio station to play with?'  Thanks to our friends at SiriusXM, U2 is going to be on the air and in your ears as much as you want us to be - even while the old world is changing around us." 

Adam Clayton said, "I listen to a lot of radio, I like it as I always find it so informative. America was the land that took radio big and wide, to a whole other level, one that exposed listeners to new voices, ideas and concepts. That is the spirit in which we bring you U2 X-Radio. We hope you enjoy it."

Larry Mullen said, "It all sounds exhausting to me but if people really want to listen to us for 24 hours a day, this is the way to do it."

"With an unrivalled, globally-decorated, and decades-long career that has propelled music, culture and global activism, U2 represents the very spirit of music evolution and positive change" said Scott Greenstein, President and Chief Content Officer, SiriusXM.  "We are proud to be launching U2's very own channel as a further extension of their musical vision, delivering an exclusive listener experience and original content from the band members themselves that creates an audio world found nowhere else. Welcome Bono, The Edge, Adam and Larry to the SiriusXM family and our listeners."

U2 X-Radio list of original programming includes:

BONO CALLING: Bono explores seven questions about life, work, hope and the future with guests from every discipline, from world leaders to local activists to movie stars.  First up, BONO CALLING CHRIS ROCK.

CLOSE TO THE EDGE: The Edge talks with fellow musicians, artists and thinkers. A series of revealing conversations about the creative process and more.

DISCOTHÈQUE: Electronic music pioneer, Paul Oakenfold, presents a weekend dance show featuring U2 remixes and club mixes alongside electronic music from other artists and friends for the ultimate summer soundtrack. (More Manchester than Miami!)

DESIRE: A show hosted by the U2 audience themselves. Each episode, a different voice will take to the airwaves to tell their own U2 story and play their five favorite tracks.

ELEVATION: A weekly show celebrating good news and ideas from the worlds of science, medicine, faith and the arts. Hosted by Irish broadcaster and writer John Kelly, ELEVATION will feature music and poetry; interviews with artists, activists, thinkers and scholars; plus, the occasional member of U2. Upcoming guests include civil rights attorney Bryan Stevenson ('Just Mercy').

(GUEST) PLAYS U2: Tune in to hear fellow artists and friends talk about their favorite U2 songs. First show - MATTHEW McCONAUGHEY PLAYS U2.

Plus, a weekly show from Irish DJ DAN HEGARTY on U2 X-Radio.

For more information on U2 X-Radio please visit https://www.siriusxm.com/u2x-radio. 

U2 X-Radio is an example of SiriusXM music channels created with iconic and leading artists including The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Pearl Jam, Eminem, LL COOL J, Grateful Dead, Phish, Dave Matthews, Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, Diplo, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra and more.

Over 100 SiriusXM channels – including U2 X-Radio – are available for free for anyone with an inactive SiriusXM radio in their car as well as on the SiriusXM app through July 6. To listen to U2 X-Radio on your SiriusXM radio simply tune to channel 32, and to listen on the SiriusXM app visit: https://www.siriusxm.com/U2Free. 

The SiriusXM app is available on mobile phones, tablets and computers, as well as on a wide variety of connected devices in the home including smart TVs, devices with Amazon Alexa or the Google Assistant, Apple TV, PlayStation, Roku, Sonos speakers and more. The SiriusXM app also offers additional features such as SiriusXM video, Personalized Stations Powered by Pandora that listeners can curate themselves, and an On Demand library with more than 10,000 hours of archived shows, exclusive music performances, interviews and audio documentaries.

About U2 
Bono, The Edge, Larry Mullen and Adam Clayton met at Mount Temple School, Dublin and formed U2 in 1978 before signing to Island Records. Acknowledged as one of the best live acts in the world, U2 have released 14 studio albums and have sales in excess of 170 million. They have won numerous awards; including 22 Grammys, more than any other band or group; two Golden Globe Awards for Best Original Song in 2003 (The Hands That Built America) and 2014 (Ordinary Love); an Oscar nomination; and the Amnesty International Ambassador of Conscience. Their most recent album 'Songs Of Experience' (2017) debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, setting the recently declared "Artist Of The Decade" (Pollstar Magazine) apart as the only band in history to have topped the chart in four successive decades, including eight albums that reached number one in the U.S.

www.U2.com

About SiriusXM

Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: SIRI) is the leading audio entertainment company in the U.S., and the premier programmer and platform for subscription and digital advertising-supported audio products. Pandora, a subsidiary of SiriusXM, is the largest ad-supported audio entertainment streaming service in the U.S. SiriusXM and Pandora together reach more than 100 million people each month with their audio products. SiriusXM, through Sirius XM Canada Holdings, Inc., also offers satellite radio and audio entertainment in Canada. In addition to its audio entertainment businesses, SiriusXM offers connected vehicle services to automakers and directly to consumers through aftermarket devices. For more about SiriusXM, please go to:www.siriusxm.com.

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The following factors, among others, could cause actual results and the timing of events to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements: our substantial competition, which is likely to increase over time; our ability to attract or increase the number of subscribers, which is uncertain; our ability to profitably attract and retain more price-sensitive consumers; failure to protect the security of personal information about our customers; interference to our service from wireless operations; a decline in the effectiveness of our extensive marketing efforts; consumer protection laws and their enforcement; our failure to realize benefits of acquisitions or other strategic initiatives, including the acquisition of Pandora Media, Inc.; unfavorable outcomes of pending or future litigation; the market for music rights, which is changing and subject to uncertainties; our dependence upon the auto industry; general economic conditions; existing or future government laws and regulations could harm our business; failure of our satellites would significantly damage our business; the interruption or failure of our information technology and communications systems; rapid technological and industry changes; failure of third parties to perform; our failure to comply with FCC requirements; modifications to our business plan; our indebtedness; damage to our studios, networks or other facilities as a result of terrorism or natural catastrophes; our principal stockholder has significant influence over our affairs and over actions requiring stockholder approval and its interests may differ from interests of other holders of our common stock; impairment of our business by third-party intellectual property rights; and changes to our dividend policies which could occur at any time. Additional factors that could cause our results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, which is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and available at the SEC's Internet site (-1%26h%3D716401572%26u%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.sec.gov%252F%26a%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.sec.gov&a=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sec.gov" rel="nofollow">http://www.sec.gov). The information set forth herein speaks only as of the date hereof, and we disclaim any intention or obligation to update any forward looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this communication.

Source: SiriusXM

Media contacts for SiriusXM:

Angela Burke
Angela.burke@siriusxm.com

Carolina Dubon
Carolina.dubon@siriusxm.com

Media contacts for U2:

US:
Cara Donatto
Cara.Donatto@umusic.com

Christine Wolff
Christine.Wolff@umusic.com

International:
Brídín Murphy Mitchell
bridin@rmplondon.co.uk

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SOURCE Sirius XM Holdings Inc.

FAQ

What is U2 X-Radio on SiriusXM?

U2 X-Radio is an exclusive channel on SiriusXM featuring music and original programming centered around the band U2.

When does U2 X-Radio launch?

U2 X-Radio launches on July 1, 2020, at 3 p.m. ET.

How can I listen to U2 X-Radio?

Listeners can tune in to U2 X-Radio on SiriusXM Channel 32 or through the SiriusXM app.

What type of content will U2 X-Radio feature?

The channel will include music, interviews, conversations, and shows hosted by U2 members and guest presenters.

What is the stock symbol for SiriusXM?

The stock symbol for SiriusXM is SIRI.