Missing XM Radio X-Country Channel 12

So this month XM Radio merged with Sirius to form some hybrid mutation mega-satellite radio channel with new programs, added news content and Howard Stern. It took me a while to download the channel guides and decipher which channels changed names and numbers, and figure out where my personal favorites were repositioned.

What a shock it was to turn on my radio and see "Outlaw County" replacing my much-loved XM Channel 12, "X (Cross) Country. I quickly searched the dial to see where they relocated X-County, but lo and behold, it was gone. I looked up the guide for the new channel and saw that several of the same artists that I like were listed on the page (Steve Earle, Johnny Cash, David Allan Coe, etc.) and I thought I would give it a chance.

This past weekend I spent several days in the truck driving around California and had a chance to really listen to the music. This is a different channel altogether. First of all I noticed that there are radio "hosts" that actually make comments and talk a lot more than any of the folks on X-Country (Do I really need to listen to Shooter Jennings pontificate on the new kanye West and Guns and Roses albums? And then do I really need to listen to the new Guns and Roses track? No!).

Secondly, the music is different. One morning, on the way to work I heard one favorite (The Gourds version of "Gin and Juice") but the rest of the day I didn't hear much. I ended up listening to Bluegrass Junction instead. On the long weekend, my husband and I listened to the channel almost exclusively and as much as I like and respect Outlaw Country artists, this is not the same as alternative country. Gone are the songs by Uncle Tupelo and the whole No Depression movement. Gone is the wry, political music of Todd Snider and Jack Ingram. Gone is are the crossover artists that defy any classification like the Be Good Tanyas and Chip Taylor. Instead there seems to be a focus on playing "Up Against the Wall Redneck Mother", in one weekend I heard it three times; not that it is a bad song...

I will greatly miss the shows that I grew to love. Especially "Rogue Calls" the call-in request show. I seriously could listen 24/7 to nothing but the request show because X-Country listeners had good taste! There is a reason why I subscribe to XM- and it is because people need a place to learn about new music. iTunes is not, and will never do this for me. I fill up my iPod with music I read about, or hear on X-County, through No Depression magazine, and through friends. Losing my beloved channel 12 is a sad, sad thing.

But, other folks have noticed and are upset, too.

Go to this web site to sign a petition to Bring Back XM Channel 12.

And this great blog post sums up what I've been thinking perfectly.

Come on XM/Sirius, don't alienate your users! Aren't there enough numbers on the dial for you to add in one more? Alternative country deserves it. Bring back X-Country and do it now!