For the millions of people who subscribe to satellite radio, it’s a reliable source of time travel: big band sounds from the 1940s, alternative grunge, classic R&B, early millennium pop smashes, the Beatles, hours of Howard Stern interviews. The possibility to get lost in the past is endless.

But at the other end of the spectrum, some channels are focused on current pop, rock and hip-hop. Then there’s the Highway, the modern country music channel — which, even in an era of endless listening options, still frequently serves as the genre’s crystal ball for future country stars and their hits. In a format where radio is king and often heavily regimented on commercial stations where labels push specific singles for airplay, Highway programmers indulge in the freedom to play whatever they want.