XM/Sirius Merger Gets FCC Chairman's Approval

The proposed merger of satellite radio giants XM and Sirius inched toward approval as the FCC chairman said he would likely allow the $5 billion deal in exchange for several concessions. FFC chair Kevin Martin has requested the companies turn over 24 channels to noncommercial and minority programming. Martin also requested that the two companies have a three-year price freeze for customers, which would affect the duo's plans for the "a la carte" (or pay-per-channel) subscription the companies expected to roll out three months after the merger. The FCC's recommendation for approval sets up a final vote to see whether the merger will finally go through after more than a year of scrutiny.

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Song Stories

“Time to Pretend”

MGMT | 2008

Listening to MGMT’s breakthrough song, one might interpret it as being about the excesses of rock stardom, but it’s actually about the duo’s pet praying mantis. Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden told Rolling Stone they got the idea from the insect's jerky movements. The mantis died, but the two bandmates kept the egg sack and allowed the hundreds of eggs to hatch. “We tried to name them all, but they died after a day,” said Goldwasser, with VanWyngarden chiming in, “But the praying mantis dance inspired us.”

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