Sirius XM to Launch U2 Channel Curated by the Band on Wednesday

On Wednesday, July 1, Sirius XM will debut U2 X-Radio, a channel devoted to the music and influences of the rock band U2.

The channel will launch in North America at 3 PM EDT. It will broadcast on channel 32 of Sirius XM—a subscription-based satellite radio service.

Alongside U2’s music, U2 X-Radio will feature an exploration of the band’s history and influences as well as conversations with band members and guests.

Guests scheduled to appear on the broadcast’s first week include Bono, The Edge, Paul Oakenfold, Cait O’Riordan, Phoebe Robinson, David Byrne, Chris Rock, Bryan Stevenson and Matthew McConaughey.

Bono will host a show called ‘Bono Calling,’ during which Sirius XM’s website says he will explore “seven questions about life, work, hope, and the future with guests from every discipline, from world leaders to local activists to movie stars.” The first of these guests will be comedian and actor Chris Rock.

The Edge, meanwhile, will host a programme called ‘Close to the Edge.’ Also featuring guests, the show will be “a series of revealing conversations about the creative process and more,” according to Sirius XM.

All the channel’s content will be curated by the band, with help from their long-standing creative director Gavin Friday and radio host Bill Flanagan.

Commenting on the launch, Bono emphasized his love of radio. “Radio introduced me to music so you could say that radio introduced me to my life," he said. "It has kept me company all my life. Music dared me to dream outside the four walls of my childhood bedroom.”

The Edge focused on U2 X-Radio’s ability to keep the band active during the COVID-19 lockdown. “U2 X-Radio gives us a chance to stay connected with our audience in a new way—to speak directly from our homes to listeners across North America,” he said.

Though Sirius XM only broadcasts to the United States and Canada, Irish listeners will be able to catch the broadcast’s best moments in a monthly highlights show.