Will "AT40" be dropped on XM?

[mrjukebox]

now that the XM-Sirius merger is a done deal,will XM drop "AT40"?-I've been hearing that there'll be no duplicity as far as the various channels are concerned-I'd be interested to hear what others have to say on the subject.

[Caseyfan4everRyanfanNever]

It could go either way:

I think that the committment for AT40 on the 70s is stronger than the 80s where they have Rick Dees as well. Since Sirius 70s doesn't have a real countdown, Sirius-XM would probably be more reluctant to get rid of AT40 on the 1970s than on the 80s. Besides Rick Dees on XM 80s, Sirius 80s has "Big 80s Big 40s" hosted by former MTV VJ Nina Blackwood.

Therefore, I see a bigger battle on the 80s.

Another factor has to do with the fact that AT40 is owned by Clear Channel (Premiere's parent company) and with an all-but certain removal of the Clear Channel stations on XM, there's a possibility that AT40 would be taken off for that reason.

On the other hand, to stay competitive with Terrestrial radio, Sirius-XM may want to choose AT40 shows hosted by Shadoe (Shadoe already serves as a voice on Sirius 70s).

There are all kinds of scenarioes, but until a decision is reached and announced, we won't know what fate the merged Sirius-XM has in store for the future of AT40 being broadcast there.

[vto66]

I hope and pray to You-Know-Who that both the 70s and 80s versions of AT40 stay on after the XM-Sirius merger. From what I've read, both AT40's are among the highest-rated shows on their respective channels, so the new regime would be wise to keep them both around for as long as possible. Besides, I don't get "AT40: The 80s" on any local terrestrial stations.

[pzimm7700]

I believe I saw a post on the XM radio board that AT40 was near the end of it's deal and the contract would need to be renewed.

Also, to the person who said Sirius doesn't have a 70's countdown show..."Satellite Survey" is theirs, it comes on Saturdays at noon and Sundays 3 times.

[JessieLou]

I hope not! I love when they do AT40, they should totally do that marathon like the one they did in 2006 again.

[Caseyfan4everRyanfanNever]

The best way we can ensure that SiriusXM won't drop AT40 is to write the program directors of the 70s and 80s and let them know how much we appreciate them carrying it. From what I've heard, there are many others who are not members of this board who do so and that's helped in the past.

Those of you who were members of this board in Feb 2003 will remember that Bruce Kelley, 80s PD at that time, cited a bunch of negative emails as justification for the decision to take AT40 off XM. Although we later discovered that XM took the show off for other reasons (i.e. they bought the rights to Flashback and they ended in Feb or Mar 2003), if enough of us write and let them know how much we appreciate AT40 and want it to remain on the air, there's a better chance that they'd renew the contract to broadcast AT40. I remember the days when it was impossible to find those shows and I'm grateful for the chance to hear them once again.

The email addresses for 70s on 7: [e-mail]
and 80s on 8: [e-mail]. I'd try the 70s first since the PD there, John Clay, sounds more interested in AT40 than Rick Stacy, the 80s PD. You can also contact them through the website (http://www.xmradio.com)

[vto66]

Aug 14, 2008 10:20:22 GMT -5 Caseyfan4everRyanfanNever said:

The best way we can ensure that SiriusXM won't drop AT40 is to write the program directors of the 70s and 80s and let them know how much we appreciate them carrying it. From what I've heard, there are many others who are not members of this board who do so and that's helped in the past.

Those of you who were members of this board in Feb 2003 will remember that Bruce Kelley, 80s PD at that time, cited a bunch of negative emails as justification for the decision to take AT40 off XM. Although we later discovered that XM took the show off for other reasons (i.e. they bought the rights to Flashback and they ended in Feb or Mar 2003), if enough of us write and let them know how much we appreciate AT40 and want it to remain on the air, there's a better chance that they'd renew the contract to broadcast AT40. I remember the days when it was impossible to find those shows and I'm grateful for the chance to hear them once again.

The email addresses for 70s on 7: [e-mail]
and 80s on 8: [e-mail]. I'd try the 70s first since the PD there, John Clay, sounds more interested in AT40 than Rick Stacy, the 80s PD. You can also contact them through the website (http://www.xmradio.com)

Hey folks!!!!!

I just E-Mailed John Clay to voice my (and our) support for XM's American Top 40 replays and the hope that they will continue in the wake of the XMSirius (or is it SiriusXM?) merger. I received an immediate response from Clay only moments after I sent out the message!!!! ;D He said he'd pass along my comments, but doubts that the show will be going away due to its "immense popularity." ;D Hopefully that's a good sign.

[jdelachjr2002]

I don't have satellite radio in my house right now (with SIRIUS music channels on Dish Network the exception). I do plan on purchasing once the merger goes through. Hopefully I will be able to listen to AT40 shows on there as well as I do OTA.

[pzimm7700]

Well everyone, we may be just a few short weeks away from finding out the fate of AT40 on XM. There is a rumor floating around that the merged music channels from XM/Sirius will be starting around or on November 5. That may be when we find out what the case is going forward.

[Caseyfan4everRyanfanNever]

I personally don't think they are going to drop AT40-according to one of the DJs on XM, AT40 is very popular with fans and Mel would be out of his mind, if he removed a program that had strong support.

[pzimm7700]

Oct 13, 2008 23:15:51 GMT -5 Caseyfan4everRyanfanNever said:

I personally don't think they are going to drop AT40-according to one of the DJs on XM, AT40 is very popular with fans and Mel would be out of his mind, if he removed a program that had strong support.

The question isn't whether it is popular or not. It's how much is it costing them to air it (is XM footing the bill for Billboard royalties or is Premiere?), will it cost them a large number of subs that keeping it is in their best interest, or do they think just having the satellite radio and the formats people want be good enough? Those are the questions a lot of this may come down to. As I said, they are going to merge a lot of the duplicate channels, and in the case of the 80's channels, that would be 3 countdown shows possibly with Nina Blackwood's Big 80's Big 40, American Top 40, and Rick Dees. Now most of us don't see that as a problem, but it could be one for management and program directors.

I, like you, hope the show is not removed. But I think of the three, depending on the financial arrangements that could be the one to go if any of them do.

[UnknownEric]

Aug 14, 2008 12:06:41 GMT -5 vto66 said:

I just E-Mailed John Clay to voice my (and our) support for XM's American Top 40 replays and the hope that they will continue in the wake of the XMSirius (or is it SiriusXM?) merger. I received an immediate response from Clay only moments after I sent out the message!!!! ;D He said he'd pass along my comments, but doubts that the show will be going away due to its "immense popularity." ;D Hopefully that's a good sign.

A bad sign is that John Clay was just fired...

[pzimm7700]

along with about 80 others.

[vto66]

Oct 15, 2008 8:30:09 GMT -5 UnknownEric said:

Aug 14, 2008 12:06:41 GMT -5 vto66 said:

I just E-Mailed John Clay to voice my (and our) support for XM's American Top 40 replays and the hope that they will continue in the wake of the XMSirius (or is it SiriusXM?) merger. I received an immediate response from Clay only moments after I sent out the message!!!! ;D He said he'd pass along my comments, but doubts that the show will be going away due to its "immense popularity." ;D Hopefully that's a good sign.

A bad sign is that John Clay was just fired...

Two words...Uh Oh!!!!
Now, I'll NEVER get to hear any of those Fall 1979 AT40 shows without the opening Shuckatoom theme.
Unless, of course, 1) the new regime decides that AT40 is worth keeping around due to its popularity.
or 2) Premiere decides to make the 1979 shows available in its terrestrial-radio version of "AT40: The 70s."
Who knows what will happen, folks, but until then let's "keep our feet on the ground and....Awww you know!!"

[Shannon Lynn]

Discovered the following report online...

At least 50 staffers were reportedly laid off ahead of schedule at Sirius XM Radio Inc. today, accelerating the company's termination plans due to leaked information.

According to Radio & Records, the mayhem began yesterday, when an employee accessed the internal Ultipro payroll site and was surprised to find a termination date of October 15th next to their name. Within moments fellow staffers were alerted as other employees logged in to learn their fate.

R&R further reports that an emergency management meeting was reportedly held Monday afternoon, and the formal termination memos from HR issued shortly afterward.

Among those said to be in this round of cuts: Eight-and-a-half-year vet Kurt Gilchrist, senior PD of XM's Decades channels; George Taylor Morris of XM Deep Tracks and senior director of original programming; Kandy Klutch, from XM '80s on 8; John Clay PD of XM's '70s on 7; PD Billy Zero and "Dean of Music" Tobi from XMU; alternative channel Ethel MD Erik Range and jock Rick Lambert; and Bill Hutton, PD of classic alternative channel Lucy.

Radio & Records also is hearing that while some are leaving immediately, other staffers are staying for another couple of weeks, when a second wave of terminations may come.