"XM is well on its way to making the concept of satellite radio a reality this summer. The satellites are up, broadcast operations are on schedule and we have an incredible staff...stay tuned America, the fun is about to start," says Lee Abrams, XM's chief programming officer.

XM's programming philosophy is to offer a creatively charged mix of music, talk, news, sports, comedy and children's formats. The XM sound will combine leading brand-name channels with distinctive formats produced in XM Radio's fully digital state-of-the-art studios by some of the country's leading artists, producers and radio format designers. To complement its original programming, XM has signed programming agreements with a number of premier content providers, including USA TODAY, NASCAR, Sesame Workshop, the Country Music Hall of Fame, CNBC, the BBC World Service, Hispanic Broadcasting Corporation, Bloomberg, C-SPAN Radio, CNNfn, CNN/Sports Illustrated and many others.

Pat Dinizio, founder, lead vocalist and principal songwriter for The Smithereens, brings more than 20 years of music industry experience to XM as the program director on the channel targeted toward unsigned bands and small independent labels. Dinizio has had numerous hits, one gold album, two platinum albums, and has been hailed as a member of one of the most critically acclaimed and influential bands of the 80's and 90's. On his channel, Dinizio will identify new talent and give undiscovered artists an opportunity to be heard on a national platform. For the last four years, he has served as the spokesperson and chairman of the Advisory Board for B.E.A.M. (Benefiting Emerging Artists In Music), a charitable grants awards programs created by Jim Beam brands which awards $100,000 annually to struggling artists and musicians.

Trinity Colon joins XM as a program director on the contemporary jazz channel. She comes from WLVE-FM/Miami, FL where she served as the station's music director, assistant program director and mid-day host for the smooth jazz format. Prior to WLVE-FM, she was the music director, assistant program director and on-air personality for WJFK-FM/Washington, DC.

Russ Davis is the program director for the modern jazz and new age channels. He brings more than 30 years of radio industry experience to XM. He has worked as a programmer and presenter on Voice of America's "Jazz America," VOA's only regular jazz program. He has also worked as music director and on-air presenter at WQCD-FM/New York, NY as well as at WQXI- FM/Atlanta, GA where he was an innovator in jazz programming. Davis is the recipient of The Gavin Report's 1990 "Jazz Person of the Year," award and was nominated for Billboard's "Radio Personality of the Year" in 1990 as well as the "European Radio Award" in 1997.

Eddie Kilroy, a Nashville legend, brings more than 30 years of radio experience to one of XM's country channels where he is the program director. Kilroy is the founder of his own company, Eddie Kilroy Productions, which provides independent production services to a "very select" group of labels and artists in Nashville. He has been the recipient of such awards as "Producer of the Year for an Album," "Producer of the Year for a Single," "Top Label Producer," "Best New Country Label," "Top Independent Record Company," and "Country Music Producer of the Year." Kilroy has also produced 14 #1 singes, six #1 albums, 33 top ten singles and 47 top 20 singles. He has also produced such artists as Jerry Lee Lewis, Mickey Gilley, Marty Robbins, Faron Young, Louise Mandrell, Zaca Creek and others.

Felton Pruitt is the program director for the bluegrass channel. He is a seasoned radio professional and brings more than 20 years of experience to XM. He was the president and program director for FAT Music Radio Network where he served as on-air personality, music director and hosted the FAT Music Show. Pruitt has also been an on-air personality and MC for Hog Ranch Radio at the Strawberry Music Festival. Pruitt's on-air experience includes work at KHIP- FM/Hollister, CA, KFAT-FM/Gilroy, CA, KTRT-FM/Truckee, CA, KSFX-FM/San Francisco, CA, KSRT-FM/Tracey, CA and KSCS-FM/Turlock, CA.

Bill Schmalfeldt is one of XM's new program director for XM's channel dedicated to Broadway and show tunes. Before joining the radio revolution, Schmalfeldt worked at WGUF-FM/Naples, FL. While he was there, he was the program director and host of the station's morning show. Prior to WGUF-FM, he worked as program director/operations manager/show host at KCLN-FM & KZEG- FM/Clinton, IA where he hosted a daily morning show.

Emma Wilson is the new program director for the youth channel. This channel is dedicated to talk and issues geared completely toward today's youth. Wilson, also known as "Red," has worked in London, New York and Los Angeles. She has toured with 98 Degrees and worked with MTV. She has also written for the CBS TV late night show in addition to being a guest.

Brian Chamberlain is the music director for the soft alternative channel focusing on the more mellow side of modern music. He is the former program director and show host for Discjockey.com where he was in charge of creating new formats and building new ones for the Internet music site. Chamberlain was an on-air personality at WBOS-FM/Boston, MA and WZYC-FM/Newport, NC as well as the afternoon program director, music director and on-air talent for WPXC-FM/Hyannis, MA.

Dan Dixon joins XM as a music director for one of the country channels. Dixon is the former on-air personality for WKKO-FM/Toledo, OH. He has also worked at WAAM-AM/Ann Arbor, MI, and is the former program director for WSDS- AM/Ypsilanti, MI, WCXI-AM/Detroit, MI, WKCQ-FM/Saginaw/MI and WNRS-AM & WNRZ- FM/Ann Arbor, MI.

Dermot Hussey, a native Jamaican, is the music director on XM's 24 hour a day reggae channel. He will work with Program Director, Wayne Jobson, to bring Americans a genre of music that is only heard in a few markets today. Hussey has an extensive production background and has produced programs for the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation Radio Network and well as The Inner Ear. He is also the co-author of "Bob Marley Reggae King of the World."

Patrick Lemiuex is XM's new music director on one of the XM dance channels. Lemiuex was most recently the music director and afternoon drive host on Austin's KAMX-FM where he was responsible for editing music, coordinating research, implementing music clocks, and writing imaging. He has also worked as the music director and on-air talent at WLNF-Biloxi/Gulfport, MS and KSMB-FM/Lafayette, LA.

Curt Mathies came to XM with the goal of creating fresh, innovative content for radio. He will be doing just that as the music director on the alternative country channel. Mathies was most recently the afternoon drive host and music director for WRVG-FM/Lexington, KY.

Crystal McKenzie joins XM as the music director for the 80's channel. Her radio experience dates back to 1984 when she was a mid-day on-air personality on WBJW-FM/Orlando, Daytona Beach, FLs. Since then, she has worked as an on- air personality in markets including Chicago, Indianapolis and Sacramento.

Tobi joins XM as the music director on XM's college/alternative channel, which will focus on new, cutting-edge releases. She brings experience and energy from a variety of west coast stations. She has worked at Los Angeles' Y107 as an on-air personality, KCXX-FM/Riverside/San Bernardino, CA.

Junior Marvin, former lead guitarist for Bob Marley and The Wailers, has become an integral part of music's history and continues to make history today, joining XM's artists family. He will create programming for XM some of which will feature live concerts from Bob Marley. A native Jamaican, he began his musical career at the age of two when he learned to play the piano. He formed his first band at the age of 17 and was taught the blues by none other than T-Bone Walker. In 1977, Marvin's career hit new heights when he joined Bob Marley & The Wailers as the lead guitarist. Inspired by music greats such as guitarist Jimi Hendrix, organist Jimmy Smith, the "Godfather of Soul" James Brown and the "Queen of Soul" Aretha Franklin, Marvin emerged as an integral member of the band and quickly gained worldwide acclaim by playing on such songs as "Exodus" and "Kaya." Marvin's favorite songs from the group include "War," Waiting in Vain," "Heathen," and "Sun is Shining." He will be releasing his first solo CD entitled Burnin' Love on August 1st.

The Insane Clown Posse, which has released several platinum albums in the process of drawing a cult following, has officially joined the XM Satellite Radio Artists Family, embarking on a multi-year partnership to help build and promote XM's revolutionary radio service. ICP, as it is known, combines rock, rap and hip-hop delivered by grease-painted "wicked clowns." The Detroit-based group, led by Joseph Bruce (Violent J) and Joseph Utsler (Shaggy 2 Dope), released its first record in the early 1990s. Since then, it has grown beyond its music to a social phenomenon, attracting, by its own estimate, an army of more than 1 million "Juggalos," or fans. ICP has also created a professional wrestling organization, filmed its own full-length motion picture, founded its own record label (Psychopathic Records) and released its own line of comic books, toys and clothing. The group is preparing to release a boxed CD set on its Psychopathic label. For XM, ICP will produce its monthly Juggalo Show, which began on local Detroit radio, to air on one of XM's rock channels.

Last month, XM announced that music icon Quincy Jones and jazz great, Wynton Marsalis joined XM's artists family. Both Jones and Marsalis will serve as creative consultants to XM's programming and production staff as well as host musical specials. Country music legend Bill Mack also joined the XM family and will host his popular country music show from his Fort Worth studio. XM will create and package up to 100 national channels of digital- quality music, news, sports, talk, comedy and children's programming in its state-of-the-art, all-digital 82-studio broadcast center in Washington, DC. The service will be uplinked to XM's powerful satellites and transmitted directly to vehicle, home and portable radios across the country. XM's consumer service is slated to begin late this summer.

Link for more info: www.xmradio.com