70 bands live-to-air in 10 days on XM Satellite Radio during
Canadian Music Week and South by SouthwestTORONTO, March 4 /CNW/ - XM Canada (TSX:XSR), the country's leading
satellite radio company, continues to be one of the biggest supporters and
promoters of Canadian music. During Canadian Music Week (CMW), occurring from
March 11-14, XM Canada will show their support by having one of their very own
host the Independent Music Awards and by opening their recording studio for
live-to-air acoustic sets by some of Canada's hottest up-and-coming bands.
"This is the fourth year XM Canada and CMW have teamed up for the
Independent Music Awards," says Neill Dixon, President of Canadian Music Week
"XM Canada's continued support during CMW has helped foster and showcase great
Canadian musicians looking to break-through in the saturated music industry."
On Saturday March 14th, XM will bring The Independent Music Awards
live-to-air, hosted for the second year in a row by XM Canada's very own
Director of Music Programming, Jeff Leake. Broadcast from the Royal York Hotel
and on The Verge (XM Canada's rock channel 87), Canadian bands such as the
Arkells, USS, Crystal Castles and Hey Rosetta!, to name a few, will rock the
airwaves of XM Satellite Radio.
"XM Canada is proud to support the independent music scene and help pay
homage to Canadian musicians who have broken the mould while also giving the
opportunity to up-and-coming bands looking to do the same," says Jeff Leake,
14 year veteran in the terrestrial and satellite radio industry. "For those
unable to attend, we'll be broadcasting the Indies Music Awards live-to-air,
allowing fans and XM listeners the chance to rock-out to their favourite
Canadian bands during CMW as if they were there."
In addition to broadcasting the Independent Music Awards, XM Canada will
open up its Avenue Road recording studio in Toronto and invite Canadian
artists to perform two live-to-air acoustic sets. XM expects to broadcast 30
Canadian bands over the course of two days, something unheard of in the radio
industry.
XM Canada's The Verge will also continue to promote Canadian musicians at
South by Southwest 2009 (SXSW) in Austin Texas (March 18-22) by teaming up
with Six Shooter Records. XM Canada will provide travel grants for Canadian
artists to attend SXSW, and will feature daily broadcasts of Canadian artists
performing at the festival on The Verge.
For more information on XM Canada's live broadcast of Canadian musicians
during CMW please visit: www.thevergeonline.com
About Canadian Satellite Radio Holdings Inc.
Canadian Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. (TSX: XSR) operates as XM Canada
and is Canada's premium digital audio entertainment and information company
with the best signal coverage across the country. With 130 digital channels of
choice, XM Canada offers Canadian listeners the most unique and original
Canadian and international programming, including commercial-free music
channels, exclusive live concerts and sports coverage, and the best in talk,
comedy, children's and entertainment programming. A free seven-day trial of XM
Radio Online is available at http://www.xmradio.ca/freetrial/. Visit
www.xmradio.ca for programming and subscription information.
XM Canada is the satellite entertainment leader in the Canadian
automotive market with long-term factory installation agreements with
manufacturers that own close to 60 per cent share of the domestic vehicle
market. XM's industry-leading products are available at shop.xmradio.ca, and
at retailers nationwide.
XM programming is available by subscribing directly through XM Canada and
is also available as streams of commercial-free XM music channels on TELUS
Mobile Radio and Rogers Wireless Radio on Demand. XM Canada is the exclusive
music channel provider on Air Canada's flights and is available in select Avis
Budget Group rental vehicles.
To find out more about Canadian Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. (TSX: XSR),
visit our website at www.xmradio.ca/about/.
For further information: Cohn & Wolfe, Nell Crichton, Lorena Cordoba,
(416) 924-5700 Ext. 4085, 4089, nell.crichton@cohnwolfe.ca,
lorena.cordoba@cohnwolfe.ca
