For the second time this year, opera fans are angry at radio, but this time it’s satellite radio catching their ire. Sirius XM has cut the Metropolitan Opera’s in-car radio channel, making it exclusively available on the SiriusXM app. For listeners wishing to continue enjoying the Met Opera Radio in their vehicles, they will need to use the SiriusXM app via CarPlay, Bluetooth, or by connecting an Android phone.
This move has sparked significant backlash from opera enthusiasts, leading to the formation of an online petition protesting the removal of the Met Opera channel from SiriusXM’s regular car radio lineup. The petition, initiated by a former member of the Met Opera, expresses disappointment and concern over the decision, citing it as a disregard for classical music and its audience. The petitioner highlights that classical music still holds a substantial audience base, with 35% of Americans listening to the genre, as reported by Nielsen.
The petition voices, “The removal of the Met Opera channel is indicative of an alarming trend where profit-driven corporations overlook art forms that do not conform to mainstream tastes… We urge SiriusXM Radio to restore the Met Opera channel immediately and respect all genres’ diversity in its programming lineup.”
Despite the channel’s removal from car radios, the Met Opera will continue its 24/7 streaming on the SiriusXM app. Additionally, two Met Opera performances will be broadcast each week on the Symphony Hall channel. These broadcasts are scheduled for Sundays at 3 p.m. ET and Wednesdays at 9 p.m ET, ensuring that classical music fans still have access to some of the Met’s performances.
