Z100 Disappeared From Sirius XM and People Noticed
Updated June 18 2020, 7:54 p.m. ET
So many of us have special routines to get through our day. Many of these routines involve listening to podcasts, YouTube ASMR, or satellite radio stations. Several users on Twitter had their routines abruptly shifted after tuning into their favorite channel on Sirius XM only to discover it wasn't available anymore. Users started to question, what happened to Z100 on XM?
Sirius XM had a channel refresh on June 18.
According to Radio Insight, Sirius XM had a refresh in its channels, something the service does often. Several of its stations switched channels and some new features were added. Dave Matthews Band Radio, which used to be a part of SiriusXM's rotation, became a permanent fixture.
The station, which features exclusives, never-before-heard interviews, unreleased concerts, live songs, and solo material from the Dave Matthews Band, is now on Channel 30.
Pop Rocks, the pop alternative station, moved from Channel 17 to Channel 12. With that change, people who were tuning into the channel for Z100, which used to be on Channel 12, were caught off guard. Instead of tuning into the channel to listen to Z100, listeners were left confused and a bit angry.
What happened to Z100 on XM?
It really started back in 2013 when a deal was struck between iHeartMedia, which owns Z100, and Sirius XM. At that time, the satellite company shrunk the iHeartRadio programming, leaving only two channels left on the service – KIIS-FM Los Angeles and Z100.
With the new refreshing of the channels that happened on June 18, only KIIS-FM Los Angeles is left on XM. IHeartMedia Z100 is now off the service and is no longer on Sirius XM.
Twitter noticed what happened to Z100 on XM and were not pleased.
It didn't take long for people to flood Twitter with questions for Sirius XM, asking what happened to their beloved Z100.
"@SIRIUSXM WHERE DID @elvisduranshow GO ?!?," one person tweeted. Adding, "Z100 is literally the reason I’m paying for XM radio! #wtf #elvisduran #z100 #sirusxm #bringitback."
"@iHeartRadio I haven't have station z100 on my xm since this morning, come to find out that its now streaming only!!!" another tweeted. "WTH!!! R U TRYING TO END MY LIFE!!! HOW CAN YOU DO THIS!!!??? REVERSE THIS!!! NOW!!! PUT IT BACK!!!! I NEED MY Z100 BACK SO WHEN IM DRIVING SOMEWHERE FAR!!!"
A third took to Twitter and wrote, "@SIRIUSXM hey why is Z100 no longer available in my car and now channel 769 on the app?"
Where can we listen to Z100?
All is not lost because Z100 is still around, just not on Sirius XM anymore. Instead of being able to listen to it on satellite radio, it's streaming only and available in several different ways.
Sirius XM answered a question on Twitter about where they can listen to Z100 and said, "The channel has moved to streaming. You can listen to it on PC, phone and other at home devices."
These details were further clarified in an answer to another question saying, "Z100 is currently streaming on CH. 769."
The kicker for some seems to be the fact that users paid to be able to use a Sirius XM subscription, some saying being able to listen to Z100 was the only reason they signed up, only to now have it be free on the iHeartRadio app.
".@SIRIUSXM Very disappointed that you guys no longer carry @Z100NewYork on channel 12!" one person tweeted. "You duped me into prepaying for a year and then you dropped Z100 which is free on @iHeartRadio anyway. I paid you for nothing! Thanks for stealing my money. I will never renew!"