Music Airplay on SIRIUS Satellite Radio to Impact Billboard Radio Monitor Chart

08-08-2005

NEW YORK, Aug 08, 2005 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- SIRIUS Satellite Radio, the content leader in satellite radio, today announced that airplay on its flagship pop music channel, SIRIUS Hits - 1, will now impact the weekly Mainstream Top 40 chart published in Billboard Radio Monitor.

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This marks the first time that airplay from a non-terrestrial broadcaster has been factored into the weekly results of Billboard Radio Monitor's pop airplay chart. The Mainstream Top 40 chart panel has consisted of 116 terrestrial radio stations in 99 markets until now.

"The inclusion of SIRIUS airplay information reinforces the impact our subscribers are having on the development and breaking of new and established artists," said Steve Blatter, SIRIUS Senior Vice President, Music Programming. "We are excited that airplay on our flagship pop music channel, SIRIUS Hits - 1, will be reflected in Billboard's national airplay charts and look forward to having airplay on other SIRIUS channels included in their respective charts in the near future."

"This is an important development in the expansion of the Billboard charts. Satellite radio, like other emerging technology acknowledges yet another new way music fans are listening to music across America," said John Kilcullen, President and Publisher, Billboard Information Group.

Songs played on SIRIUS Hits - 1 will be included in the airplay charts published in the August 19 issue of Billboard Radio Monitor, and each week thereafter.

Its SIRIUS Hits - 1 channel is also available in over 8 million Dish Network homes and will soon be available on Sprint cell phones.

For more information about SIRIUS, visit http://www.sirius.com. For more information about Billboard Radio Monitor, visit http://www.BillboardRadioMonitor.com.