yacht rock radio sirius 2023

What happened to yacht rock radio on siriusxm?

What Happened to Yacht Rock Radio on SiriusXM?

SiriusXM’s Yacht Rock Radio, a beloved channel dedicated to soft rock and easy listening, ceased to exist in July 2017, leaving fans in a state of confusion and mourning. What led to this sudden discontinuation? Let’s dive into the details and explore the history of the channel to find out what went wrong.

History of Yacht Rock Radio

Launched in 2012, Yacht Rock Radio was a labor of love for SiriusXM. The channel was designed to pay homage to the smooth, laid-back sound of the 1970s and 1980s, featuring the greatest hits from iconic acts like the Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, the Doobie Brothers, and Hall & Oates. The channel quickly gained a dedicated following, with fans adoring the seamless blend of nostalgic sounds and the station’s retro atmosphere.

Popularity and Reception

Yacht Rock Radio experienced unprecedented success during its early years, attracting a vast audience of adults aged 25-55. The channel consistently ranked among the top 10 most-listened-to channels on SiriusXM, with over 3.5 million listeners tuning in every month. Critics praised the channel for its impeccable programming, attention to detail, and ability to curate the perfect mix of songs and artists.

The Tragic End

So, what went wrong? On July 3, 2017, SiriusXM abruptly shut down Yacht Rock Radio, citing a reorganization effort aimed at creating a more "flexible" channel lineup. Fans were devastated , taking to social media to express their shock, sadness, and outrage. Many considered Yacht Rock Radio to be an integral part of their daily routines, and its demise left a void in their entertainment.

Rumblings of Closure

Red flags were raised months prior , when SiriusXM began reducing Yacht Rock Radio’s playlist to incorporate more contemporary music and eliminating certain programming segments. Many listeners speculated that the channel’s demise was imminent, but nothing could have prepared them for the devastating announcement.

Legacy Lives On

While Yacht Rock Radio may be gone, its impact on SiriusXM’s channel lineup and music fans is still felt. The channel’s archives and playlist are still accessible online, and SiriusXM’s commercial-free Yacht Rock station , available through the SiriusXM app, continues to keep the legacy alive. Additionally, Yacht Rock Radio’s fan base has continued to grow, fostering a strong sense of community among devotees.

Reception and Response

In response to the backlash, SiriusXM executives apologized for the sudden shutdown and expressed their gratitude to Yacht Rock Radio’s loyal fans. While the company failed to acknowledge any wrongdoing, SiriusXM pledged to revive or relaunch a Yacht Rock Radio-inspired channel in the future. Although this promise has yet to be fulfilled, fans remain hopeful.

Comparative Analysis: Channels Surviving and Failing

To provide some context , we can look at other SiriusXM channels that have fared similarly or worse:

As we can see, even popular channels can face closure if they don’t adapt to changing tastes and preferences. In Yacht Rock Radio’s case, its focus on 70s and 80s music made it less adaptable to the rapidly changing musical landscape.

Yacht Rock Radio’s discontinuation is a stark reminder of the ever-shifting nature of the entertainment industry. Although fans mourn the loss of this beloved channel, SiriusXM’s promise to revive a similar station gives hope for the future. The legacy of Yacht Rock Radio continues to live on, with fans finding solace in online playlists and archival content. As the world moves forward, one thing remains clear: music will always be a constant in our lives, and we must continue to celebrate its timeless power.

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Ron Harrell is a columnist for Barrett Media. He founded Harrell Media Group, specializing in radio and audio brand consultation, fractional management, and talent coaching. He has worked in every role on the Programming and Branding side during his career, becoming management and executive-focused in the post-Telecom Act era. Ron has held leadership roles for media groups such as ABC/Citadel, CBS Radio, Chancellor Media, Cumulus Media, Hope Media Group, Hubbard Broadcasting, and WAY Media. 

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If you follow the genre of music identified by soft rock artists like Michael McDonald, Hall & Oates, Steely Dan, Ambrosia, Pablo Cruise, and Kenny Loggins, you know Yacht Rock has become more than a weekend feature for radio station critics.

The Labor Day Weekend. It’s the first reminder of summer’s closing days. It’s back to school for the traditionalists. More importantly, it’s the final season of emotional significance for Yacht Rock.

If you follow the genre of music identified by soft rock artists like Michael McDonald, Hall & Oates, Steely Dan, Ambrosia, Pablo Cruise, and Kenny Loggins, you know Yacht Rock has become more than a weekend feature for radio station critics.

The smooth sounds of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s occupy full-time status on the SiriusXM satellite dial, Pandora and iHeart Radio’s streaming channels, and a few FMs like Key 97.3 , Key West, FL., and 106.3 Mac FM, Smooth Sailing , Cheboygan, MI. Cincinnati ’s Q102 programs Yacht Rock music on the WKRQ-HD2 station as the brand Smoothinati .

However, the SiriusXM channel receives the most attention in radio’s social media circles. I learned the genre’s name in the late 2000s through the Yacht Rock mockumentary video series. The opening music is the intro to Michael McDonald’s Sweet Freedom . For those of us DJ-ing on pop radio in the mid-’80s, that song intro is a jock favorite to ramp-up. 

For non-radio readers, ramp-up means talking over a song’s introduction. To take you even deeper into this non-scientific world, radio DJs often judged themselves on their ability to “walk up that ramp” to the point where the vocal begins or a noticeable music crescendo happens in the song intro. 

During a review of the performance, called an aircheck session, you might see a radio DJ smile and virtually high-five their Program Director and proudly say, “I hit that post!” Years later, we discovered the audience wasn’t as impressed with this tactic as we had hoped, but we continued to perform this emotionally satisfying high-wire act.

It’s a rhythmic piece of audio art not shared by every radio talent. If you think it doesn’t make a difference, watch JoJo Cookin’ Kincaid’s Q-106 San Diego video aircheck and convince me the audience didn’t feel it.

Back to the Yacht Rock mockumentary series. The grainy, primitive video was hosted by one of the show’s creators, Hollywood Steve. He would introduce each of the twelve episodes, telling the stories behind the origins of the smooth, soft rock movement. The acting, by design, was campy and exaggerated. I laughed and shared the link with friends and radio colleagues who grew up being influenced by that era of music.

The video series would pop up in my algorithm periodically through the years, but I didn’t think about Yacht Rock until radio talent coach Steve Reynolds started posting his opinions about the SiriusXM channel in 2019. His first post critiqued a song being played on the Yacht Rock channel. 

“Unfamiliar, stiff! Stop!” are the words used in Steve’s first Facebook post. It got the attention of his fellow radio comrades and became a fun way to engage and be sarcastic about a music genre many of us loved or disliked. Either way, the interaction and passion were created through music.

The radio industry Yacht Rockers community is opinionated, just like everyone listening to the radio. In our pending political election season, passion and opinion belong to the spoken-word formats. The News/Talk stations will benefit from increased audience listening and advertising spending through November 5th. 

However, music stations must be aware of the gift of emotional relief their stations offer in this hostile and noisy political season. Our audiences are non-verbally asking for something to remove their brains and hearts from the tension of the season. But we can’t just play it. We have to engage the conversation with the audience.

According to radio industry veteran consultant and analyst Guy Zapoleon, Top 40 music is showing signs of emerging from one of the format’s longest doldrum cycles. Before reading his data, I would’ve agreed. I’m listening to Top 40 radio more often these days. Whenever I tune in, I hear Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, or Teddy Swims songs, and I happen to like those new songs. If Top 40 is experiencing a Rebirth, as Zapolean claims, it’s good for all formats because it brings people to the radio dial and the radio devices.

How do we create audience engagement through our music? We can thank Taylor Swift for giving us a Masterclass during the Eras Tour. Smart radio programmers and marketers took advantage of the passion her music and personality created, and those stations aggressively aligned their products with the moment.

Whether you’re playing Guns N’ Roses on your Classic Rock station or TobyMac on your Contemporary Christian Music station, the audience found you because of the music. Yes, they stay or leave for other reasons, but the passion for the music opened the door of opportunity.

Radio DJs/Hosts/Presenters can be different by engaging with the music you play. Spotify and Pandora playlists can’t perform that magic. Maybe the engagement branches into social media, video, and event content. But it starts with your primary product’s connection through Top 40, Adult Contemporary, Hip/Hop, Country, Gospel, Classic Rock, Jazz, or Yacht Rock music. Let the audience know or feel that you’re aware of the music you’re playing. The audience is aware.

Find your Yacht Rock and create the engagement. But don’t include Christopher Cross’s “Arthur’s Theme.” That doesn’t fit the format. 

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Yacht Rock radio

• Thread starter Juan
• Start date Jun 19, 2020
• Latest activity Latest activity: Mar 30, 2021
• The Equipment Zone
• SiriusXM Satellite Radio

Supporting Founder

• Jun 19, 2020

Looks like it disapeered...replaced by MLB...anybody know where it moved?  

SatelliteGuys Pro

It moved to ch 113 if i remember right.  

SatelliteGuys Master

c-spand said: It moved to ch 113 if i remember right. Click to expand...

It was reminding people they were changing to a new port 311. I saw on ch lineup online  

• Jun 22, 2020

Yacht Rock is now available via Sirius satellite on channel 105. I heard a promo and '80s on 8 and confirmed it.  

harshness said: Yacht Rock is now available via Sirius satellite on channel 105. I heard a promo and '80s on 8 and confirmed it. Click to expand...

• Jun 29, 2020

Is it still Memorial Day to Labor Day only on 105, or is it year-round now?  

CubsWin said: Is it still Memorial Day to Labor Day only on 105, or is it year-round now? Click to expand...

harshness said: When this thread started, it was streaming only. SiriusXM is pretty unpredictable. Click to expand...

spiderman865

Satelliteguys family.

• Jul 2, 2020

Been on newer SiriusXM radios on channel 311 for months.  

spiderman865 said: Been on newer SiriusXM radios on channel 311 for months. Click to expand...

Juan said: If your radio doesn't stream Click to expand...

harshness said: Are their Sirius or XM radios that can stream from the Internet or are you muddying the waters by injecting streaming apps into the conversation? Click to expand...

• Jul 3, 2020

• Jul 4, 2020

• Jul 6, 2020

Newer SiriusXM radios get a lot more channels. 2018 Dodge Charger, 2019 F-150's, 2020 Lincoln Nautulis are an example. Check out the SiriusXM home page and put those vehicles in and click show me content for my radio. www.siriusxm.com/channellineup?intcmp=GN_HEADER_NEW_WhatsOn_FindaShoworChannel_ChannelLineupByPackage  

• Mar 30, 2021

This is one of my favorite stations here, but how often do they change the music ? Sees like the same songs all the time with one or 2 changes (not a complaint) .  

The Great American Southwest

Jimmy 440 said: This is one of my favorite stations here, but how often do they change the music ? Sees like the same songs all the time with one or 2 changes (not a complaint) . Click to expand...

• Scott Greczkowski

Welcome HOME!

Scott Greczkowski said: Not often and every time I turn it on it’s a Michael McDonald song playing. I do like the channel though. Sent from my iPhone using SatelliteGuys Click to expand...

Are the “SiriusXM” radios based on Sirius, XM or something else?

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