Although the Olympics in Vancouver started on Friday the 12th, it is not too late to tune in to Sirius 85 Iceberg for coverage and interviews with artists who are at the games, and live performances from Whistler’s Live Festival. 

Barenaked Ladies, Wintersleep and Bedouin Soundclash are among just some of the artists who will be there.

Be certain to also tune in to any of the Sports Channels on SiriusXM for occasional snippets of coverage from the Olympics. While I have been unable to ascertain if the US channels will be covering any Olympic events, I will be periodically checking to see if they will be doing any of their own updates or live coverage.

I personally look forward to watching the hockey coverage as Canada looks for gold performances from both the mens and womens teams amongst a competitive field.

A new year is upon us! This is the end of another holiday season and the end of the 2009 year. I always look back on a year with positive reflection and how far I have come as a person personally and professionally. Being able to write about a product I believe in and am passionate about is a great honour and a ton of fun. I love challenging myself to write about different channels and business issues related to SiriusXM. Please keep the comments, kudos and criticism coming.

I was talking to someone not that long ago about Terrestrial Radio versus Sirius, and some of the limitations imposed by the CRTC that choke local radio into having a fitted format. I am referring mainly to the rules specifying that a station has to play a certain amount of Canadian content every hour and every day. Locally where I am at, the station makes sure at quarter to the hour that it gets in the Canadian content to meet its requirements. While Canadian artists are great to hear, especially for me being a Rush fan, it gets to be part of a cycle that becomes boring and tiresome.

When listening to Sirius, occassionally I might hear a song that I will turn off because I could hear it on Terrestrial Radio any other time. If I want to hear Canadian content, I would at least like to hear a variety! Well Sirius takes care of this for me through channel 85, the Iceberg.

On Iceberg you can hear the great standards of classic and modern rock from artists like Neil Young, The Tragically Hip, and of course Rush. In between you can hear eclectic styles and Independent Label Rockers that you might not have heard of. I have been turned on to some great talent that I might not have otherwise heard.

Iceberg programmer George Christie and his crew do an excellent job with this station and I encourage all readers to cool off to some great tracks on the Iceberg.

The Mainstage will feature performances from independent Canadian groups, Wintersleep, The Cliks and In-Flight Safety, taking place at the festival’s first night on Friday, June 19th at 7.45pm from Yonge and Dundas Square in Toronto.

This year’s NXNE takes place from June 17th to Sunday June 21st. The Mainstage performance will air on Sirius channel 85, the all-Canadian music station, Iceberg.

[Via Sirius Press]

The Sirius Canadian Concert Series continues with the satellite corporation’s newest entry into the broadcast line-up, complete coverage of Serena Ryder’s upcoming April 25th concert.

Sirius’ all-Canadian radio station, Iceberg (channel 85) will be providing a recording of the sold-out show, airing the Saturday night show on the following Sunday, April 26th at 7am and again at 7pm EST.

Ryder is the recent recipient of 2009′s Juno Award for Adult Alternative Album of the Year and won the 2008 Juno for Best New Album. She is currently touring North America in support of her latest album, is it o.k..

[Via Sirius Press]

Sirius Radio Canada and Live Nation have formed a partnership that will see both companies gaining extra audience exposure with a mutually beneficial business plan. The two will act together to air showss from premier Canadian bands with Sirius’ sponsorships and Live Nation’s concert hosting experience.

March 1st saw the kick-off the new arrangement with a performance by Toronto artist, Lights, from her hometown’s Phoenix concert hall. Further programming from Canadian musicians are slated to appear soon through the partnership.

Sirius listeners can check out broadcasts of the concerts via the Canadian rock channel, Iceberg 85.

[Via Sirius Satellite Radio Canada]