Washington Post: Bob Dylan — singer, songwriter, former counterculture figure and voice of a generation — has added another line to his rsum: radio DJ.
The enigmatic troubadour has signed on to host a weekly show on XM Satellite Radio, the D.C.-based pay-radio provider. Dylan will select the music, offer commentary, interview guests and answer e-mail from listeners during the one-hour program, which will start in March, XM said yesterday.
Dylan’s hiring is not just a coup for XM, which is in a fierce battle for new subscribers with Sirius Satellite Radio, but also another score for satellite radio over conventional broadcasting.
XM’s chief programmer, Lee Abrams, said his company talked with Dylan’s management for about two years about the Grammy-winning artist becoming a host. XM declined to say what Dylan would be paid for the multiyear agreement. Howard Stern signed a $500 million, five-year contract with Sirius.
Abrams said that Dylan was attracted by the promise of a national audience, a commercial-free program and “total creative freedom” to air whatever he likes. Dylan also will broadcast from wherever he wants.
[via David Gans]