As you may have gathered, I spent a few days in Canada. While taking in Montreal’s Jazz Fest, I noticed XM is a new sponsor this year (XM Canada didn’t exist last summer). I don’t read/speak French, but I picked up a GM/XM brochure which probably says something about 50 vehicles offering satellite receivers. In other Canadian news, XM added over 80,000 subscribers in about 6 months (Sirius has more) and just launched 20 stations for cell phone carrier Telus.
Thanks to Montreal native (and Sling Media VP) Jeremy Toeman for excellent lodging and dining suggestions.
Of the bands I saw at the festival, Amalg?ma was by far the most entertaining. I obviously wasn’t the only one who enjoyed their Latin-flavored, French Canadian form of jazz — the CD was sold-out at the Best Buy tent. Though I can’t image a studio recording compares to their live performance anyway…