XM Radio change in direction

Ben Rubright · Post by **Ben Rubright** » 5 May 2011 11:49 am

I am not sure that this is the proper place to post this but here goes....I just received the following email from Tracy Pitcox concerning Willie's Place:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for all of the calls and emails concerning Willie's Place and their new programming. It does seem that they have dropped all of our "Texas" styled music.

I don't blame Dallas Wayne or Jeremy Tepper for this change and I am sure that it comes from higher up at Sirius.

It is also my understanding that Mr. Nelson is not happy about all of the changes.

They have dropped (among many others) Tony Booth, Johnny Bush, Frenchie Burke, Amber Digby, Landon Dodd, Tony Douglas, Dottsy, Bobby Flores, Tea Goans, Jake Hooker, Georgette Jones, Billy Mata, Darrell McCall, Mona McCall, Frankie Miller, Kimberly Murray, Joe Paul Nichols, Curtis Potter, Lonnie Spiker, Justin Trevino, Ron Williams and Leona Williams.

I was told that the best way to complain is at http://www.siriusxm.com/feedback or by calling 1-866-635-2349 and log a complaint with Customer Care.

I just left them a message myself. As a very influential artist pointed out yesterday, we pay for this service and our voices should be heard.

Tracy Pitcox
Heart of Texas Records
www.heartoftexascountry.com
(325) 597-1895
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What JACK-WAGON made this decision.....it's time to SCREAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and if that doesn't work, then it's time start canceling our XM subscriptions.
I can't say all of the words that I would like to about this but believe me, it would be a long streak of BLUE!!!

Frank Freniere · Post by **Frank Freniere** » 5 May 2011 12:00 pm

Thanks for the notification, Ben.

The subscription just isn't worth it without Texas music, regardless of Howard Stern.

I'll be sending them my voicemail and email opinion.

Doug Johnson · Post by **Doug Johnson** » 5 May 2011 3:05 pm

Guys, you have no idea what a country music void I live in here in Canada. The same 40 tunes of current country music all day long on every station. Boring. The whole reason I got satellite was the wonderful "Texas style" country music being played on Willie's Place. Now it's gone. I have sent my complaint to XM. We'll see what the suits have to say, if I get a reply that is. I will be cancelling if all those great Texas artists are not back on soon. And I might add with Bill Mack as well. I don't get to hear the history of country music unless I can hear what Bill has to offer as well as his interviews and random call in's from the stars I have come to love because of that station. Bring it back XM or I will cancel and so will many others.

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 5 May 2011 3:45 pm

Looks like thy dropped "Roadhouse" too.. Not good..

:

EJL

Hook Moore · Post by **Hook Moore** » 5 May 2011 3:47 pm

I also wrote a request for the powers that control the station to reconsider this part of the change. There are other channels I like somewhat but not enough to pay the subscription price without the music that was played on Willie's place. Probably won't help unless a lot of folks voice their opinions..
Hook

Ben Lawson · Post by **Ben Lawson** » 5 May 2011 6:05 pm

I agree Hook, I sent them an E-mail telling them that we will cancel our subscriptions, one of which is due for renewal, if this is true.

Jim McGinnis · Post by **Jim McGinnis** » 5 May 2011 7:54 pm

I sent an Email today complaining and advised that I will be canceling my subscription.

Alvin Blaine · Post by **Alvin Blaine** » 5 May 2011 8:22 pm

Eric West wrote:Looks like thy dropped "Roadhouse" too.. Not good..

:

EJL

actually they merged Willie's Place and The Roadhouse together and the new channel is called "Willie's Roadhouse" on channel 56. It's more classic country than the Texas Country that was on Willie's Place.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 6 May 2011 2:58 am

This affects me a lot, since I'm friends and I've worked with 13 of the artists on the list Ben posted, plus others that fit the Texas Country format, including Dallas Wayne.

I get XM for Willie's Place, but I also listen to Seriously Sinatra, 40's on 4, 50s on 5, and four of the news channels.

Now, I'm not sure what I'll do subscription-wise. Gonna have to listen to the "new" Willie channel to make a decision.

To y'all out there with iPhones, may I suggest Pandora radio? No news channels, but if you program a Ray Price channel, you'll get classic country. Program Bobby Flores channel and Texas country will come up. Program Benny Goodman channel and Big Band will play identical stuff to XM. Likewise with Sinatra.

There are no news/talk channels on Pandora, however. Otherwise I'd have been gone awhile back.

Bob Vantine · Post by **Bob Vantine** » 6 May 2011 3:46 am

mine is being cancelled today as well as 2 other non-musician fans that live here in town also .

I saw on fb a trucking company with 50 radios might cancel also . I hope XM/Sirius takes a beating for this.

looks like my old CD collection is gonna have some new company ....... Miss Leslie , Amber Digby , and all the other Texas acts really need our support now.

Larry Schoppe · Post by **Larry Schoppe** » 6 May 2011 6:29 am

I am also very unhappy with the programming changes. "Willie's Place" was my favorite channel. I just sent them an e-mail complaining about the changes. Everybody needs to do the same.

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 6 May 2011 8:09 am

Just fired off a love letter to them about the changes ...

We'll see if the Texas sound returns to the airwaves. If Willie is upset, then what the he!! are they doing?

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 6 May 2011 9:48 am

Willie's Place was our number one choice on XM.

Just for grins, I wrote two emails to them, using two different email address. Both emails were responded to by the same "person". While they were a little bit different, they were obviously scripted by someone. I told them that the merger of the two stations resulted in a watered-down version of the originals. I thanked them for the quick reply and then asked if my concerns will be passed on to management. Something tells me that management could not care less. We'll see.

Robby Springfield · Post by **Robby Springfield** » 6 May 2011 12:26 pm

Look my page up on facebook if you want to read the response I got from XM.

Elton Smith · Post by **Elton Smith** » 6 May 2011 1:44 pm

Let um go here's your real Tx music on your computer.http://www.radiofreetexas.org/

Gaylon Mathews · Post by **Gaylon Mathews** » 6 May 2011 5:24 pm

Willie's Place and the Roadhouse were the ONLY reasons I bought an XM radio for both my vehicles. I just sent them hate mail and will be canceling my accounts!

Steve Alonzo Walker · Post by **Steve Alonzo Walker** » 7 May 2011 3:24 am

I cancelled all three of mine yesterday! I don't like Dallas Wayne cause he plays two songs at a time and talks way too much!

Alan Tanner · Post by **Alan Tanner** » 7 May 2011 4:07 am

This decision ranks right up there with the one to "fix" the opry. Fire all the experienced pickers and no more grey heads around. Anyway, I canceled my subscription too. Way too much hanky panky with the renewal fees, and trying to find someone to talk to who you can actually understand, etc. I also found out that a lifetime subscription is only for the life of the radio and nothing else. It is not transferable to another radio. It is a pitiful state of affairs that it is almost impossible now to hear all the great entertainers that was on Willie's. I can get any number of tunes on my computer, but listening in my car or motorcycle is another thing altogether. Back to the ipod and recordings I guess. I hope that XM suffers from this really stupid decision.

Jim Cooley · Post by **Jim Cooley** » 7 May 2011 5:29 am

May their Inbox be full and their phone lines be flooded.

Ben Rubright · Post by **Ben Rubright** » 7 May 2011 5:39 am

One of my radios is 'lifetime'. I was told at the time that I could transfer that 'lifetime' to another radio free once, maybe twice depending on the circumstances (radio ceased to function/purchased vehicle with Serius/XM radio, etc). Thereafter there would be a fee to do it. My understanding of 'lifetime' is the lifetime of Serius/XM itself, which if they keep making decisions like this may not be very long. This decision has the earmarks as being made by a bean-counting MBA. With all the God-awful so-called popular music channels that they offer, you would think that there would be room for one Texas Style Country Music channel. It is obvious that the person making the decision has NO knowledge of what Country Music is and is not....what else is new?????

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 7 May 2011 6:45 am

Howard Stern is making $100 million a year there. Stop paying him, and find other sources for good music. Surely they're out there somewhere.

joe long · Post by **joe long** » 7 May 2011 6:46 am

I am also a "life time" subscriber to Sirris. I fired off my reply to this just a few minutes ago. I am out on the road until late July and we have noticed the channels on Sirris had changed. Couldn't fine Willie's Place anywhere. Not pleased with Sirris at this point.

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 7 May 2011 7:14 am

I sent out second emails and this is the response. Now we have another email address, this time for Willie's Roadhouse. Maybe someone there might actually read and respond to our requests.

We continually rely on customer feedback like yours and research to enhance your entertainment experience. As we strive to create the most diverse listening experience available, we find that the feedback we receive is crucial to our success. We are forwarding your comments to the appropriate programming team for consideration. You can email Willie's Roadhouse directly at TheRoadhouse@siriusxm.com or call at 866-267-0349.

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 7 May 2011 7:47 am

Well, this SUCKS. It was Willie's PLACE and THE ROADHOUSE. Seems like they clipped the best of both of them and left the rest. "Outlaw Country" was getting more "bubble gum" by the day.

Guess it's time to get my Ipod plugged in and load up on my own collection.

No Smiley here..

EJL

John De Maille · Post by **John De Maille** » 7 May 2011 9:18 am

Yes,
I got the same generic reply from my e-mail to them, also. "WE don't want to lose you as a customer, We still play Willie" and assorted other performers, but, no response to deleting the current Texas players. I can't understand why people mess with a good thing, Jeez, leave it alone! I'm going to cancel when my subscription runs out. I already paid for a years worth, due up in September. I wish "they" would stop trying to re-invent the wheel.