Whether you drive a car or just like to listen, it’s hard to imagine riding along without some music. And while there are plenty of ways to get your fix, satellite radio is one of the best options for the money and offers a unique experience that isn’t possible with streaming services, podcasts or even traditional AM/FM radio.
The main reason why satellite radio still exists is because there’s something special about hearing human beings string together songs with intention. It’s the kind of thing that doesn’t always work but when it does it feels incredibly intimate and in a time where most people don’t have much free time to devote to searching for great music on SoundCloud or mix sites, satellite radio is an excellent alternative.
And despite the fact that most SIRIUS and XM music channels are very repetitive and seem to be targeted at Kenny Powers-type dudes driving $80,000 pickup trucks, there’s still some great music available on those channels. Just check out a channel like Shade 45, an Eminem-affiliated underground hip-hop station run by New York producer/DJ Scram Jones who can turn a sample of an old track upside down in real time, flip it into a rap song and have the whole track play backwards in a way that makes it sound completely fresh.
It’s also the only place you’ll find a batshit left-wing analog to Patriot that consists of crusty old American Maoists yapping about how they miss unions and the need for jobs they no longer have and news dispatches from Democracy Now (boring), plus a few Chapo Trap House ripoffs.
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