Ten Reasons I Love XM Satellite Radio

There is no product that improves the quality of my life for as little money as my XM Satellite Radio.

Scan the archives of this blog and you’ll find that I don’t endorse products unless I’m absolutely convinced that my readers will benefit from my recommendation. If you don’t already subscribe to XM you should at least consider these ten reasons I find it to be such a great value.

My philosophy on affiliate marketing is to think of products that I already love enough to share with my friends without a commission and then see if they have an affiliate program. When I realized that I had already told just about everyone I know about XM, it rose to the top of my list!

I first mentioned it on this blog in an article called Five Devices I Can’t Live Without, before I even knew that XM had an affiliate program. When I realized that they were paying 20% to affiliates, I couldn’t write this article fast enough.

1. It’s So Inexpensive!

A while back, I was riding with my friend in his car listening to his snazzy XM Satellite Radio. I was intrigued with the fact that the artist’s names and song titles scrolled across his screen every time a new song came on.

“So that’s who sings that song!” I said to myself. “How much do you pay for this anyway?”

“$12.95 a month.”

“For what?”

“XM Radio.”

“No, I mean how much does the service cost.”

“$12.95.”

“A month.”

“Yes.”

“That’s it?”

“That’s it.”

“I pay like $80 for my cable bill and I don’t even watch TV!”

The next day, I bought a radio, activated my service, and cancelled my cable! We’ve recently reactivated it now that we’re in a better financial position, but I still use my XM service about ten times more than my cable.

2. Excellent Music Programming

The music programming on XM is extremely rich.

Instead of hearing the same old loop of 20 songs on local radio, I am constantly exposed to great new music on XM.

I love the fact that I can discover new bands and get the artist and song title right on my receiver. I love the fact that I have access to music that I can’t find anywhere else.

There are 69 commercial free stations covering every taste and genre.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Channel 54: Lucy :: Alternative Music from the ’90’s. Reminds me of college!
Channel 45: XM Cafe :: Mellow Alternative. Good to write to!
Channel 65: The Rhyme :: Old School Hip Hop. The good stuff!
Channel 73: High Standards :: American Songbook. Get your Sinatra fix!
Channel 79: On The Rocks :: Online Exclusive. Lounge music with class!

3. Constant Access to News/Talk Channels

I have to have my information fix. XM lets me take the news with me. With live feeds from CNN, Fox News, CNBC, BBC, and more, I’m always in the know.

Plus, the selection of talk radio is unparalleled. Talk hosts with opinions all across the spectrum are at my fingertips including a whole station dedicated to Oprah (for my girlfriend of course!)

4. Portable Radios Offer Amazing Flexibility

When I heard about what the new line of portable receivers can do, I was blown away. I was just telling myself the other day that I wish I could record my favorite shows because I’m not always available when they’re on. Within a few days of that thought, I found out that the portables can do exactly that!

A portable XM Satellite receiver like the Samsung Helix is like having an iPod, XM radio, and digital recorder all in one! Plus, you get all this for a fraction of the price.

No matter where you are, you will have access to your favorite music, news, talk, & sports! As a self-proclaimed information junkie, this is a dream come true; plus, the recording feature makes it even better. Now you can listen to Art Bell at anytime instead of staying up all night!

5. Unique Specialty Programming

There is a lot of really creative programming on XM that you can’t get anywhere else. For example, being in the movie industry, I like to listen to channel 27 - Cinemagic. It plays nonstop movie soundtracks and scores. They mix it up with moments from movies in-between songs. Very cool!

There are several stations dedicated to comedy. Where else can you find stuff like this?

There is always something unique to listen to such as a live concert, Bob Dylan & Tom Petty as DJs, or interviews with artists. This type of programming is what makes XM special.

6. Sports Programming

If you are a sports fan, you have to get XM. There is such a huge selection of sports radio including ESPN and FOX Sports, as well as live, local broadcasts of hundreds of games in NCAA football, the NFL, NBA, NHL, PGA Golf, Major League Baseball, NASCAR, and just about any other sport you can think of.

7. I Can Access it Anywhere

I love road-trips, partially because I can give my undivided focus to my XM radio across the country. Instead of going in and out of reception and dredging through dead spots across the desert, my XM goes with me wherever I am.

8. Online Access is Included!

I’m listening to XM through the internet right this moment while I write this post! I love the fact that I can access my favorite stations even if I don’t have my radio with me.

9. Stock & Sports Ticker on my XM Receiver

This feature alone is enough to justify the price of getting an XM radio. I love having a ticker in my car! (once again, information junkie.)

10. Big Money Affiliate Program

You can’t beat 20% for an affiliate program. It doesn’t cost anything to join and there are additional perks. Click here to read more.

How to Get Started

1. Try it for Free!

Demo the content by signing up for a free trial of XM Online.

2. Pick Out a Radio

Visit my XM page and click on “Shop Now” to get a Special Deal on XM Radio. Radio’s start at just $39 and include free activation ($15 Value) and one free month of service ($12.95 Value).

(Important! I only get a commission if you shop through my page!)

I would recommend starting with either the Roady XT (because it’s very inexpensive), or the Samsung Helix (because it is unbelievable!)

3. Activate your XM Satellite Radio

Tune your radio to channel 0 to get your 8 digit radio ID. Call XM Listener Care toll-free at 1-800-XM-RADIO to activate your XM service or log on to
http://activate.xmradio.com.

Click here to get started with XM!

Enjoy!

Welcome to XM satellite radio! I’m sure you will enjoy it as much as I do. Don’t forget to come back to this page when you are ready to upgrade or add radios.

If you love it as much as I do, you’ll be telling everyone you know. If that’s the case, you might as well get paid! Check out this article for more information on becoming an XM iRep and getting a 20% commission on referrals!

Other Resources:

Learn all about xm radio at unofficialxmblog.com.