Capitol Hill Soundtrack Newsletter

While the stages may be intimate, SiriusXM and Pandora’s Small Stage Series features performances from music and entertainment’s biggest names. Since launching in August, the Small Stage Series has treated fans to more than a dozen exclusive performances at iconic venues across the country – and we’ve just announced more! H.E.R. will be live at the world-famous Apollo Theater on November 2nd and Alicia Keys will also take to the Apollo stage on November 11 for a one-night-only special with fan favorites and a preview of all-new music from her highly-anticipated eighth studio album. Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats will perform live from Tipitina’s in New Orleans on November 13. SiriusXM subscribers and Pandora listeners can win tickets, but you’re still invited even if you can’t join in person. Visit SiriusXM.com/SmallStageSeries for more info on how to win tickets and where to listen live.

Calling all podcast lovers — there’s a lot happening at SiriusXM and Stitcher! SiriusXM recently signed The Last Podcast on the Left, bringing the award-winning comedy horror podcast back to wide-distribution and ad-free listening on Stitcher Premium. This month Stitcher also signed The Bellas Podcast hosted by WWE Hall of Fame Inductees, TV personalities, and best-selling authors Brie and Nikki Bella; Rory Farrell and Jamil “MAL” Clay’s podcast New Rory & MAL; and top-ranking business podcast The Ed Mylett Show. SiriusXM also announced a new creative and strategic agreement with Audio Up to develop new original scripted concepts and inked an exclusive multi-year agreement with “Crime Junkie” network Audiochuck.

Check out our latest policy blog on how SiriusXM and Pandora are combating stream manipulation and spin fraud. Twenty years ago when piracy was an existential threat to the music industry, streaming companies like Pandora flipped piracy on its head by making music accessible and affordable. But now the industry is facing a new threat – streaming fraud – and once again we’re at the forefront of efforts to combat it. Learn more about how SiriusXM and Pandora are investing time and resources to protect the integrity of the digital music ecosystem of today and ensure bad actors don’t divert royalties that legitimate creators and artists deserve.

U2 just launched the biggest-ever Artist Takeover on Pandora, featuring special Pandora station “Modes” devoted to their first three albums: Boy, October, and War. U2’s Artist Takeover marks the first time an artist has created an ongoing series of self-curated Modes on Pandora. Band members share never-before-heard stories behind the making of each album, delve deep into the creation and recording of pivotal tracks, and share classic songs from the artists who influenced and inspired them all in one unique listening experience. Additional album Modes are expected to be rolled out on Pandora’s U2 Radio station in the coming months. Learn more and experience U2’s Artist Takeover on Pandora here.

Thanks to everyone who joined us at the Eaton Hotel for the All Things Go Creator Summit presented by SiriusXM and Pandora. The female-focused music festival kicked off All Things Go weekend with an evening of two panels: Women in Music moderated by SiriusXM Alt Nation host Madison and Women in Media moderated by The New Yorker’s Jia Tolentino. The evening featured dynamic women in different roles across the industry and covered a range of important and timely issues. If you weren’t able to attend, be sure to check out All Things Go on Instagram where you can see the full Women in Music and Women in Media discussions.

This Latinx and Hispanic Heritage Month, SiriusXM and Pandora are celebrating the Latinx and Hispanic stars making an impact on music today with new stations, programming and events focused on uplifting the sounds of their culture. We are proud to support the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s Annual Leadership Conference! Check out the conference conversations we had with Latin artists Danny Felix and Mariah Angeliq. To celebrate the month, Pandora also launched its new Satélites station highlighting the discovery of the next generation of musical innovators who are influencing the direction of contemporary Latin urban and popular music and will host an exclusive Pandora LIVE El Pulso event featuring a performance from 5 time Latin GRAMMY-winning artist J Balvin. Tune in to SiriusXM for a broad array of exclusive special programming honoring the histories, cultures, and contributions of artists and celebrities of Latinx and Hispanic descent across our music, talk, comedy, and kids channels, including a celebration of Mexican Independence Day with Los Dos Carnales and a new monthly series with Becky G, “Las Poderosas,” which is dedicated to the Latina artists leading the Latin music movement. Click here for our full programming schedule!

Calling all DC music fans! Come see us at All Things Go Music Festival’s All Things Go Creator Summit presented by SiriusXM and Pandora at the Eaton Hotel on October 15. For the third consecutive year, the female-focused music festival will also host a conference and panel discussion as part of its programming. The Creator Summit will host two panels, Women in Music and Women in Media, featuring notable voices in music, entertainment and journalism. Meet the full lineup of speakers and RSVP for free here! All patrons attending the All Things Go Creator Summit will be required to show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 or a negative test result within 72 hours prior to the event.

Welcome to “The Home of SiriusXM”, our largest multi-media ad campaign ever. The ads personify the variety and depth of content that SiriusXM offers listeners daily – all living under one roof — and feature a wide cast of famous talent and voices living in SiriusXM’s House, from established icons to trending TikTok creators: “Gizmos” starring Kevin Hart and LL COOL J; “Yelling” featuring Dave Grohl and Kevin Hart; “Sunday”  featuring LL COOL J, Bebe Rexha, Kehlani, Jeff Lewis, Helio Castroneves, Anitta and Normani; “Chores” featuring Normani, Diplo and SiriusXM’s Sway Calloway; “Bathroom” featuring Bella Poarch and Brett Favre along with Diplo, Normani, and SiriusXM’s Sway Calloway, Storme Warren and the Morning Mashup crew from SiriusXM Hits 1. Learn more about the campaign and how you can listen to SiriusXM at home or on the go, no car required.

What’s your discovery mode? As music and podcast fans, we’re used to asking the question, “Have you heard …” about the latest viral sensation. But one question most fans rarely ask is “How did you find it?” The range of content available has made how you discover new music more important than ever before, both for creators and for fans, which is why we’re constantly looking for new ways to foster the right discovery journey for listeners. Read our latest policy blog on the different ways to discover new content across Pandora, SiriusXM and Stitcher and how this unprecedented access to digital content has changed how fans engage with new music, artists, and podcasts.

SiriusXM and Marvel Entertainment have launched Marvel Podcasts Unlimited, a premium audio entertainment subscription for Marvel fans worldwide, available exclusively via the new free Marvel channel on Apple Podcasts. Marvel Podcasts Unlimited provides subscribers with early and exclusive access to a growing assortment of original, new scripted and unscripted podcast series from one of the world’s largest and most beloved entertainment brands, featuring fan-favorite characters such as Wolverine, Star-Lord, Hawkeye, Black Widow, and Doctor Doom. In 2019, Marvel and SiriusXM announced a multi-year agreement to create new original audio entertainment series for major podcast platforms including SiriusXM, Pandora, and Stitcher. Learn more and subscribe today!

SiriusXM and Pandora are celebrating the return of live events with the Small Stage Series, a series of performances with premier artists spanning music genres and styles, and comedy, held in small iconic venues. Featuring artists including Brandi Carlile, Coldplay, Dave Matthews, Glass Animals, H.E.R., J Balvin, John Mulaney, Kane Brown, Kenny Chesney, Shaggy and Twenty One Pilots, SiriusXM subscribers and Pandora listeners in cities across the country will get the chance to see their favorite artists live in intimate settings, along with an exclusive keepsake to commemorate what might be some subscribers’ first live event in a very long time. To maintain the highest public health standards and/or requirements, SiriusXM will adhere to health and safety protocols for each venue, and all state and local health mandates to protect attendees, staff, and artists. Learn more about the Small Stage Series here.

SiriusXM’s newest satellite, SXM-8, has completed in-orbit testing and is now ready for service. Launched on June 6 from Cape Canaveral, SXM-8 will provide continuous, reliable delivery of SiriusXM’s audio entertainment and information services to consumers in the United States and will expand SiriusXM’s coverage area in Canada and the Caribbean. SXM-8 will also extend the health of SiriusXM’s satellite fleet and its satellite-delivered services through at least 2036. SXM-8 is the ninth high-powered, digital, audio radio satellite built by Maxar Technologies for SiriusXM.

Stitcher announced the signing of Eric Eddings and Brittany Luse for the relaunch of their beloved Black culture show For Colored Nerds, which is expected to premiere later this year. Each week on For Colored Nerds, Luse and Eddings will use smart conversation, celebrity guests, and archival media to take a deep-dive into an aspect of Black culture that’s ripe for dissection. Stitcher will produce the series with Luse and Eddings; SXM Media will be the exclusive advertising and sales representative for the podcast. Read more about the hosts and show.

TikTok Radio just launched exclusively on SiriusXM! Sonically synched to the TikTok experience, the groundbreaking, full-time SiriusXM music channel will sound like a radio version of the platform’s “For You” feed. A talented and diverse group of TikTok creators including Billy (@8illy), Cat Haley (@itscathaley),HINDZ (@hindzsight), Lamar Dawson (@dirrtykingofpop), and Taylor Cassidy (@taylorcassidy) will present music and share the stories behind the trends throughout each hour. We’re celebrating launch week with guest hosting sessions from TikTok’s top creators and trending artists such as Alex Warren, Bella Poarch, Dixie D’Amelio, Ed Sheeran, Lil Nas X, Spencer X and more. Start listening today!

Check out our latest Policy Blog on Connecting Artists and Fans in a Socially Distance World. Finding new and innovative ways to connect creators, artists, and fans has always been a part of SiriusXM and Pandora’s DNA. But as the Covid-19 pandemic shuttered live events across the globe, that effort took on new importance. Find out how we reoriented our platforms and created new opportunities for creators to continue to develop their art and build their fan base. And hear from indie musician Drew Young on how he navigated the unprecedented experience. Read more here.

We’re very proud of our Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players! The list features professionals from across the music business that excel in the R&B and hip-hop music space! A big congratulations goes out to:

– Dion Summers, VP of Music Programming, SiriusXM

– Ronnie Triana, Director of Music Programming, SiriusXM

– Sway Calloway, host of Sway in the Morning on SiriusXM

– Josh “J1” Raiford, Director of Hip-Hop for Pandora and Program Director for SXM Pandora Now

Stitcher recently released its second annual Stitcher Podcasting Report finding that podcast listenership is skyrocketing, with 57% of Americans having listened to a podcast. The pandemic may have brought much of the world to a screeching halt, but did not slow podcasting down. Compiled using more than two years of data collected directly from the Stitcher App – and user-reported data and demographics from a Stitcher listener survey – the report offers a comprehensive look at who and where these listeners are, behavioral patterns, trends shaping the medium and the factors contributing to its growth. More people are listening, more shows are being launched, and we’re seeing a rise in listening hours, too. Learn more about what we found and read the report here.

Pandora is expanding its ‘Billionaires’ artist milestone program with the launch of eight new stations highlighting the top artists who have achieved one Billion streams on Pandora in Pop, Country, Hip Hop, Alternative, Dance, Classic Rock, R&B, and Hard Rock. In 2018, Pandora kicked off its ‘Billionaires’ program by presenting artists with a commemorative plaque. Now, Pandora is rolling out complementary stations composed of top tracks from all of the artists who have one Billion or more streams in that genre. When an artist hits that threshold, they will be added, and their music will be featured at the beginning of the station to mark the occasion. Start listening today!

SiriusXM Connected Vehicle was named 2020 Company of the Year in the Telematics Industry by Frost & Sullivan, recognizing our connected vehicle platform and groundbreaking new safety solution, ACN+. Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents a Company of the Year award to the organization that demonstrates excellence in terms of growth strategy and implementation in its field. The award recognizes a high degree of innovation with products and technologies and the resulting leadership in terms of customer value and market penetration. Visit SiriusXM’s Connected Vehicle Services website to learn more about the award and our products.

Pandora’s Artist Marketing Platform (AMP) introduced Track Reporting, providing even deeper insights into tracks’ performance on Pandora, the ways that listeners are discovering and engaging with artists, and how Pandora can not only help increase streams, but create new fans. Launched in 2014, AMP pioneered self-serve artist marketing for the streaming era, offering creators a free suite of online marketing tools that help artists increase their spins, reach new audiences, and grow their fan base. Artist Audio Messages, which enable artists to communicate directly with their fans on Pandora via personalized audio messages, has now driven over 12 billion listener impressions! Check out the new features here.

Congratulations to Marissa Rives, Program Director for SiriusXM’s Fight Nation, and Claire B. Lang host of SiriusXM’s NASCAR Radio for being named to Cynopsis Media’s Top Women in Media for 2021! Marissa has been honored in the “Directors Who Do It All” category, while Claire is recognized in the “Game Changing On-Air Talent” category! You can check out the entire list of honorees here.

Join us for a virtual event on equity and diversity in the talent pipeline. Representative Yvette Clarke and the Multicultural Media Caucus, in conjunction with SiriusXM, will present a discussion on ways to promote diversity and equity in the audio entertainment industry, as well as effective means of progress for the future of the industry. The event will be livestreamed on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube Tuesday, June 29 from 3-4pm Eastern. More details available here.

In honor of Black Music Month, SiriusXM, Pandora, and Stitcher launched three exclusive limited-engagement channels, a groundbreaking original podcast, and specialty music programming across genres. SiriusXM launched two channels saluting groundbreaking Black artists with The 2PAC Channel and The Prince Channel. Pandora’s popular Black Music Forever Station extended to its own SiriusXM channel, Black Music Forever Radio. SiriusXM, Pandora and Stitcher also launched a new original podcast, All Music Is Black Music. Hosted by Selema Masekela, with narration by Dr. Dwandalyn Reece of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, explores how African American music and culture have shaped the wider contemporary music landscape. Additionally, Pandora launched a Black Music Month microsite to give listeners an opportunity to discover, experience, and participate in the celebration Black music. And Pandora hosted a virtual Pandora Playback event  with Memphis rapper Moneybagg Yo. The special HBCU edition of the series also featured a celebration of the music and culture of HBCU’s. Click here to learn more about all our Black Music Month programming.

SiriusXM encourages everyone to lead, love, learn, live, and listen with pride this June. Celebrate with special programming from music, talk, entertainment, and comedy channels. You’ll hear celebrity Guest DJ takeovers, deep dives into topics like health disparities and advocating for change, exclusive comedy blocks, and so much more. We’re also passing the mic to SiriusXM’s LGBTQIA+ hosts who bring their unique perspectives, talents, and personalities to our airwaves. Celebrate the trailblazers who are cracking jokes, dishing on the latest news, playing your favorite songs, and speaking up for what they believe in. Read more about them and tune in to hear what they have to say!

Check out our latest policy blog, “You Make the Song, We’ll Match It.” With tens of millions of songs available instantly at the press of a button, the scale of today’s digital music catalog can feel overwhelming. Many assume that getting your music on a modern streaming platform is as easy as simply uploading any recording. But to do it well, for rightholders and listeners alike, the reality is more complex. That reality is one of the most critical facets of the modern music industry – ensuring that artists and songwriters are properly matched with their songs and compensated efficiently. Learn more about our approach here.

A big congratulations to all our Billboard Country Power Players! The list features professionals from across the music business that excel in the country music space. Our honorees selected this year are:

– Beville Dunkerley, Head of Country, industry and artist relations, Pandora/SiriusXM

– Jen Danielson, Head of country programming, Pandora

– JR Schumann, Senior Director of Music Programming

– Storme Warren, on-air host of The Highway and Exit 209