NEW YORK, May 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Sirius XM Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) announced today that its gospel music channel, Praise, will become Kirk Franklin's Praise, a commercial-free music channel executive produced by multi-Grammy® Award-winning, multi-platinum selling, crossover gospel artist Kirk Franklin.

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Kirk Franklin's Praise channel will give SiriusXM listeners the opportunity to hear contemporary and classic gospel music from artists such as Shirley Caesar, Fred Hammond, Mary Mary, Donnie McClurkin, Marvin Sapp, Isaac Carree, LeAndria, Bishop T.D. Jakes, Mali Music and Lecrae.

Kirk Franklin's Praise will be available via satellite on channel 64, and through the SiriusXM Internet Radio App on smartphones and other connected devices, as well as online at siriusxm.com. The 24/7 commercial-free gospel music channel will launch on Friday, May 24, at 12:00 pm ET.

Kirk Franklin will celebrate the launch of Kirk Franklin's Praise with a live performance and an intimate Q&A in front of an audience of SiriusXM listeners for SiriusXM's "Artist Confidential" series. The performance will air on Kirk Franklin's Praise channel, on Monday, May 27 at 8:00 am ET and throughout the following week.  SiriusXM's "Artist Confidential" with Kirk Franklin will also be available on SiriusXM On Demand for listeners listening via the SiriusXM Internet Radio App for smartphones and other mobile devices or online at siriusxm.com. Visit www.siriusxm.com/ondemand for more information on SiriusXM On Demand.

"I am so honored and excited to be able to have this platform to bring music fans the biggest stars and the freshest new talents in Gospel music," said Mr. Franklin. "Over the years, SiriusXM has shown a real commitment to Gospel music and I am proud to be working alongside their staff to build this new channel."

"We are thrilled to have Kirk Franklin bring his passion and enthusiasm to SiriusXM and help change how gospel music is heard," said Steve Blatter, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Music Programming, SiriusXM.

SiriusXM listeners will also continue hearing Houston-based Pastor Rudy Rasmus sharing his unique style of applying love to real-life, spiritually uplifting and motivational situations on his weekly Love Revolution show, airing Sundays at 12:00 pm ET, with an encore broadcast on Wednesdays at 6:00 pm ET.  Popular hosts Gina Rogers, Meta Washington, and Fred Mills will also continue presenting gospel music to SiriusXM listeners.

For nearly two decades, Franklin has been a multi-platinum-selling pioneer in gap-bridging musicianship, uniting audiences across gospel, hip hop, pop and R&B. His irresistible rhythms and rhapsodies have resulted in albums that consistently top both Billboard's Gospel and Christian charts, as well as ascend triumphantly into the Top 10 of the R&B/Hip Hop chart. His unprecedented penetration into the mainstream has fortified him to also become a New York Times bestselling author for The Blueprint: A Plan for Living Above Life's Storms (Gotham/Penguin). Franklin is also the host and executive producer of the gospel talent show "Sunday Best," the highest-rated gospel program in BET network history now heading into its sixth season. To date, the trendsetter has garnered nine Grammy Awards, 39 Stellar Awards, 16 Dove Awards (CCM), eight NAACP Image Awards, two BET Awards, an American Music Award, a Soul Train Award and numerous others.

More recently, Mr. Franklin has been hard at work alongside the House of Blues creating a brand new Gospel brunch experience.  Kirk Franklin's Gospel Brunch at the House of Blues debuted this month at all of the HOB locations around the country and will continue each and every Sunday (check local clubs for times).

Kirk Franklin's Praise joins SiriusXM's roster of channels created with iconic artists, including Bruce Springsteen's E Street Radio, Ozzy Osbourne's Ozzy's Boneyard, Pearl Jam Radio, Eminem's Shade 45, Willie Nelson's Willie's Roadhouse, B.B. King's Bluesville, Elvis Radio, Jimmy Buffett's Radio Margaritaville and Siriusly Sinatra.

SiriusXM's "Artist Confidential" series features important and timeless names in music sitting down for candid interviews, intimate conversations exclusively with SiriusXM studio audience members, and live performances.  SiriusXM's "Artist Confidential" series has featured Paul McCartney, Santana, Coldplay, Phil Collins, Foreigner, Don Henley, Bonnie Raitt, Rush, Smashing Pumpkins, Moody Blues, Robert Plant, Sting, Bob Weir and over 100 others.

For more information on SiriusXM, please visit www.siriusxm.com.  

About Sirius XM Radio

Sirius XM Radio Inc. is the world's largest radio broadcaster measured by revenue and has 24.4 million subscribers.  SiriusXM creates and broadcasts commercial-free music; premier sports talk and live events; comedy; news; exclusive talk and entertainment; and the most comprehensive Latin music, sports and talk programming in radio. SiriusXM is available in vehicles from every major car company in the U.S., from retailers nationwide, and online at siriusxm.com. SiriusXM programming is also available through the SiriusXM Internet Radio App for Android, Apple, and BlackBerry smartphones and other connected devices. SiriusXM also holds a minority interest in SiriusXM Canada which has more than 2 million subscribers.

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This communication contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about future financial and operating results, our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions with respect to future operations, products and services; and other statements identified by words such as "will likely result," "are expected to," "will continue," "is anticipated," "estimated," "believe," "intend," "plan," "projection," "outlook" or words of similar meaning.  Such forward-looking statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our management and are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond our control.  Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements. 

The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements: our competitive position versus other forms of radio and  audio services; our dependence upon automakers; general economic conditions; failure of our satellites, which, in most cases, are not insured; our ability to attract and retain subscribers at a profitable level; royalties we pay for music rights; the unfavorable outcome of pending or future litigation; rapid technological and industry change; failure of third parties to perform; changes in consumer protection laws and their enforcement; and our substantial indebtedness.  Additional factors that could cause our results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, which is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and available at the SEC's Internet site (http://www.sec.gov).  The information set forth herein speaks only as of the date hereof, and we disclaim any intention or obligation to update any forward looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this communication.

P-SIRI

Contact for SiriusXM:
Samantha Bowman
212 901 6644
samantha.bowman@siriusxm.com

Contact for Kirk Franklin:
John Vlautin
Spin Lab Communications
818 763 8900
jv@spinlab.net

SOURCE Sirius XM Radio