"XM now has a home in the heart of Country," states Lee Abrams, XM's Chief Programming Officer. "We're proud to play a part in the Country Hall of Fame and Museum's historic opening. For country music fans the world over, a trip to Nashville and the Country Music Hall of Fame is essentially a pilgrimage. XM is proud to play a role in amplifying that experience and delivering the sounds of Nashville to fans from coast to coast."

In addition to its daily show, XM's Nashville studio will air daily specials, featuring Country's newest stars as well as rarely heard historical performances and recordings from the Hall of Fame's vast archives.

Under terms of the agreement, a variety of collaborative programming will be offered on several XM channels when XM launches commercial service late this summer. Content will include "The Country Music Hall of Fame Hour," featuring hour-long profiles of country music legends complete with rare, archival recordings; "Today in Country Music History," which will also tap the Museum's historical archives; and "Backstage at the County Music Hall of Fame," highlighting new live performances and re-broadcasts of classic concerts.

Bill Mack Joins XM Family

Bill Mack, the legendary country music and trucker show radio personality and Grammy-winning songwriter, has joined the XM family and will spend opening day at the Hall of Fame. Mack will host his popular country music show from his Fort Worth studio, but the show will now air on XM.

"Bill Mack is more than a radio personality, he's a genuine country legend," Abrams states. "He is a classic fit for XM's national coverage as truckers and fans will hear his legendary show, crystal clear, day and night throughout the United States. Bill is an important addition to XM's lineup of living, breathing radio."

During Mack's decades-long broadcast career, he has assembled a massive following. Mack was awarded a Grammy in 1997 for "Country Song of the Year" for "Blue," a song originally written for Patsy Cline that launched the career of then-13-year-old LeAnn Rimes. The song sold over 9 million copies, was awarded multi-platinum status and also won "Song of the Year" from the Academy of Country Music. Mack is a member of the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame, the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame, and the Texas Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame. He has been nominated in the radio personality category of Country's 3rd Annual "Golden Voice Awards."

As a songwriter, Bill has worked with country music greats including George Jones, Conway Twitty, Jerry Lee Lewis and Dean Martin, who have all recorded his songs. Mack is a member of the "Million-Air Club," a tribute to his composition, "Drinking Champagne," which has been played more than a million times on radio and television.

XM will offer up to 100 channels of digital-quality sound and provide coast-to-coast coverage of music, news, sports, talk, comedy and children's programming. XM successfully launched its second satellite on May 8, completing its constellation.

XM won several awards at the International Consumer Electronics Show in January, including "Best of CES" in the automotive category. XM's strategic investors include America's leading car, radio and satellite TV companies -- General Motors, American Honda Motor Co. Inc., Clear Channel Communications, DIRECTV and Motient Corporation, the company's largest shareholder. XM has a long-term distribution agreement with General Motors to integrate XM radios into its vehicles commencing in 2001. XM-ready radios are being manufactured by such household names as Sony, Alpine, Pioneer, Clarion, Blaupunkt, Delphi-Delco, Visteon, Panasonic, and Sanyo. Radios are being shipped to retailers including Best Buy, Circuit City, RadioShack, Sears and Crutchfield.

Link for more info: www.xmradio.com