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Anyone else disappointed by the daytime music of SXM bluegrass channel?

Aug 8, 2026 - 8:34:59 AM
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1 posts since 11/3/2025

After a few years of subscribing to SXM satellite radio (I get the discount price by telling them I want to quit each year) all I can say is there's a HUGE difference between the evening /weekend "feature" shows on the Bluegrass Country channel, and the daytime music choices!
The featured evening shows have a good mix of classic and the better recent bluegrass releases. In general they are very listenable and interesting.
Not so the typical daytime programming!
Weekdays daytime seem to feature new releases, that possibly are promoted by the Nashville music companies. Payola seems likely.
This modern excuse for bluegrass seems like a by the numbers project, Nashville corporate music trying to sound like bluegrass. I won't mention specific artists but most of them are pretty boring and forgettable. Stupid band names, stupid stage names, nice studio production values but no real creativity. Too much tinkle-tinkle mandolin (not Monroe style), not enough banjo.

I seldom listen for long, but I tune in every so often hoping to hear something better.
After a few years I have learned that for good music, listen in the evenings or weekend afternoons.

Bill

Aug 8, 2026 - 9:00:23 AM

Owen

Canada

19572 posts since 6/5/2011

I only ever listen (?) while driving, and I haven't tried to differentiate between daytime/evening/weekend/weekday offerings. In any event I find that I'm regularly coming out with: "I thought this was a bluegrass channel??!?!??" and toot-de-sweet switching over to blues. Elvis or the USB stick.     [Will probably say "Adios" when the contract (?) expires this fall ........... and then have to figure it out all over again  sad ... i.e. how to put some "blues" onto a stick.]

Aug 8, 2026 - 9:51:30 AM

82260 posts since 5/9/2007

I grew disappointed with Sirius XM.
I now listen exclusively to YouTube offerings on Spectrum TV.
I simply turn it on to a particular style and pretty much give it it's head 24/7.

I plays stuff I've known for years along with what it thinks is in similar veins.
Of course I can tell it to play certain recordings if that's what I want.

Aug 8, 2026 - 9:59:19 AM
Players Union Member

rminke

USA

61 posts since 10/7/2010

Have you tried "banjoradio.com"? I think Kyle does a great job if programming his station & it is really pretty reasonably priced.

Aug 8, 2026 - 10:46:21 AM

519 posts since 1/12/2024

I like Sirius XM. Like Bill, I call them up every year to cancel and get another year at the introductory rate. I listen to it driving and I Bluetooth it from the app to some speakers down in my basement bar. I listen to Bakersfield Beat more than Bluegrass Junction. I listen to Bluegrass Junction on occasion to see what's playing, I always try to catch Ned's More Banjo driving out to the Sunday afternoon jam, but I'm only into bluegrass because there is a lot of banjo in it and I'm a banjo player. There are enough other stations that I like to listen to.

Aug 8, 2026 - 11:10:55 AM
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Players Union Member

Texasbanjo (Moderator)

USA

33071 posts since 8/3/2003

I've been a customer for many years and I have no gripes or complaints with the music. Of course, I only listen when in the car and it's usually early morning or sometimes weekends. There are times when I hear music I don't prefer, but usually that lasts only a song or two and then something comes on I enjoy.

Aug 8, 2026 - 2:32:12 PM

Owen

Canada

19572 posts since 6/5/2011

quote:
Originally posted by rminke

Have you tried "banjoradio.com"? I think Kyle does a great job if programming his station & it is really pretty reasonably priced.


I took a cursory glance ... apparently I have to "create an account" before I get any info about $$.  That seems to be pretty normal nowadays, but it's not the way I like to do business.  sad

Edited by - Owen on 08/08/2026 14:32:40

Aug 8, 2026 - 2:38:59 PM

7252 posts since 10/13/2007

There are many weak shows on the bluegrass station, but also some good ones. Love when the McCourys do a show, when Mougin does his show, Nedski banjo sunday and a couple other traditional shows.
Ken

Aug 8, 2026 - 2:50:53 PM
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16659 posts since 10/30/2008

I agree the daytime program is the WORST. I constantly point out of my wife "now THAT sounds like real bluegrass! NOT!!!!"

I blame the programmer in NYC. He seems to be an idiot about the music.

On the other hand, I can listen to and enjoy the other deejays and I even think the two NEW shows by Steve Mougin and Allison Brown are pretty good. Of course being a traditionalist I like Chris Jones' TrueGrass best, along with Handpicked by ME - Del McCoury!. It's hard to say this, but I can even listen to "DeRailed" newgrass more comfortably than the "general" programming.

When I'm driving I truly can't keep the general programming of Bluegrass Junction "on" very long before something drives me to another channel for older country, comedy or news.

And I just got the bill for another year with a VERY substantial price increase. I'm going to complain and look for the lower rates.

Aug 8, 2026 - 3:13:42 PM

519 posts since 1/12/2024

quote:
Originally posted by The Old Timer

And I just got the bill for another year with a VERY substantial price increase. I'm going to complain and look for the lower rates.


The last time I called, I didn't even have to threaten to cancel. I just told her it was too much. She gave me the introductory price without even a discussion and said, "that should do it til next year." 

Aug 8, 2026 - 3:54:21 PM
Players Union Member

NNYJoe

USA

137 posts since 2/15/2023

I use the Bluegrass Country app on my phone which plays in my car via Bluetooth.
It is what old guys remember as WAMU out of Washington DC.
Eclectic at times, never Top 40 Bluegrass like SXM and wonderfully historical sometimes.
I particularly enjoy Dick Spotswood’s “Obscure Music Hour.”

Aug 8, 2026 - 4:42:38 PM

KCJones

USA

3990 posts since 8/30/2012

It's pretty good but it's still just the radio. Of course it's gonna have Nashville payola 'hits', that's just how the radio is. When I subscribe (get free trials sometimes that I forget to cancel), I notice it gets pretty repetitive after a few weeks. Not as good as a typical streaming service of course but it's still good radio, good bluegrass music.

Aug 9, 2026 - 7:23:31 AM

RB3

USA

2818 posts since 4/12/2004

When I bought a new car last year, I got a free year of SiriusXM. I tried the Bluegrass channel, but I didn't like what I heard, so I quit listening to it. When I want to listen to music, I've got about 1200, individual mp3 files from the old days of Napster on a tiny USB memory stick plugged into my car.

Aug 9, 2026 - 3:27:57 PM

877 posts since 11/9/2003

It sure any the same as when Kyle was there. It appears the biggest majority of the music is computer generated from their files. They have been playing music lately that just isn't bluegrass. I have just about quit listening to the channel and instead choose Bluegrass Podcasts out of New Zealand and Australia.

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