The Highway (SiriusXM)
Radio station
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Highway is a commercial-free country music radio station on SiriusXM channel 56. It was created when Sirius and XM merged their competing hit country stations, "New Country" on Sirius and "Highway 16" on XM. The Highway can also be streamed at SiriusXM.com and through its app for mobile devices.[1] Until February 9, 2010, it was heard on DirecTV channel 814.
Canada
| |
Broadcast area | United States Canada |
|---|---|
| Frequencies | Sirius XM Radio 56 Dish Network 6056 |
| RDS | New Country music including the hottest country superstars, up-and-coming artists, and the very latest discoveries direct from Nashville. Plus Nashville Flash music updates throughout the day. |
| Branding | Today's Country Hits |
| Programming | |
| Format | Hit Country Music |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Sirius XM Radio |
| History | |
First air date | November 12, 2008 |
Former names | Highway 16 (XM) New Country (Sirius) |
Former frequencies | Sirius XM Radio 59 |
| Technical information | |
| Class | Satellite Radio station |
| Links | |
| Website | SiriusXM: The Highway |
The Highway broadcasts from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, as well as SiriusXM studio's in New York City.
The Highway is among the most popular music channels on satellite radio. As of 2014, SiriusXM reports it has more than 27 million subscribers.[2]
Most Fridays, listeners visiting Nashville are invited to Chief's on Broadway - a bar owned by Eric Church - to become a part of a live show called the "Music Row Happy Hour"[3] with Buzz Brainard.[4]
The channel spotlights new music through its "Highway Finds" feature.[5] This changed the music business by giving airplay to unsigned and independent artists, creating fresh stars.[6] The channel bypasses the traditional record company lock on the business.[7]
Hosts
- Buzz Brainard
- Cody Alan
- Macie Banks
- Ania Hammar
- Jessica Wade
- Kim Ashley
- Tommy Massad
- Emma Gribbon ("Emmatainment")
Specialty shows
- The Highway Hot 30 Weekend Countdown: Weekly countdown show determined by members of "The Highway Patrol," a free club of listeners who rate the music in a special online application. Saturdays at 9 am and 5 pm, and Sundays at midnight, 6 am, 1 pm and 9 pm Eastern, with repeats all weekend.
- On the Horizon: On the Horizon is a one-hour show that features new songs by up-and-coming artists. Saturdays at 11 am and 7 pm, and Sundays 2 am, 8 am, 3 pm and 11 pm Eastern, with repeats all weekend.
- Outsiders Radio: Every month, Eric Church picks a theme and shares his favorite music around it plus exclusive behind-the-scenes stories.
- Takin' The Wheel: Celebrity guest DJ takeover the show.
- Highway Hang Time: Artists hang in our studios and preview new music. Can also include live exclusive performances.
- Superfan Concerts: Live performances by stars and up-and-coming artists.
- The Music Row Happy Hour: Buzz Brainard hosts Friday 4 pm Eastern live on location from a bar in Nashville with listeners.
Core Artists
Highway Finds
Highway Finds is a talent discovery program created by SiriusXM's The Highway that spotlights emerging country music artists with strong commercial potential. Selected artists receive increased airplay, on-air promotion, exclusive performances, and exposure across SiriusXM's platforms. Since its launch, Highway Finds has helped introduce future stars such as Florida Georgia Line, Dan + Shay, Sam Hunt, Maren Morris, Luke Combs, Old Dominion, Kelsea Ballerini, Parker McCollum, Carly Pearce, Ashley McBryde, and Gabby Barrett to a national audience before they achieved mainstream success.[8]
| Artist | Year | Featured Song | Career Acomplishments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Georgia Line | 2012 | "Cruise" | 1 ACM Duo of the Year; multiple CMA Vocal Duo awards |
| Parmalee | 2013 | "Carolina" | |
| Chase Rice | 2013 | "Ready Set Roll" | |
| Cole Swindell | 2013 | "Chillin' It" | ACM New Artist of the Year; CMA Triple Play Award |
| JT Hodges | 2013 | ||
| Blackjack Billy | 2013 | "The Booze Cruise" | |
| Sam Hunt | 2014 | "Leave the Night On" | ACM New Artist of the Year |
| Maddie & Tae | 2014 | "Girl in a Country Song" | ACM Duo of the Year |
| Dan + Shay | 2014 | "19 You + Me" | 3 Grammy Awards; multiple CMA & ACM Duo of the Year awards |
| Adam Sanders | 2014 | "Somewhere That You Don't Go" | Winner of season 1 of CBS' The Road |
| Kelsea Ballerini | 2014 | "Love Me Like You Mean It" | ACM Female Artist of the Year |
| Maren Morris | 2015 | "My Church" | Grammy winner; CMA New Artist; ACM Female Artist of the Year |
| Old Dominion | 2015 | "Break Up With Him" | 8 consecutive CMA Vocal Group of the Year awards; multiple ACM Group of the Year awards |
| Luke Combs | 2016 | "Hurricane" | 2x CMA Entertainer of the Year; 2x CMA Male Vocalist; Grammy nominee |
| Carly Pearce | 2016 | "Every Little Thing" | CMA Female Vocalist; CMA Musical Event; ACM Single of the Year |
| William Michael Morgan | 2016 | "I Met a Girl" | |
| Seth Ennis | 2016 | "Woke Up in Nashville" | |
| Ashley McBryde | 2017 | "A Little Dive Bar in Dahlonega" | Grammy winner; CMA New Artist of the Year |
| Adam Doleac | 2017 | "Whiskey's Fine" | |
| Jay Allen | 2017 | "Sounds Good To Me" | |
| Brown & Gray | 2017 | "Top Down" | |
| Midland | 2017 | "Drinkin' Problem" | Grammy winner (as featured artists); ACM New Vocal Group of the Year |
| SmithField | 2017 | "If It Ain't You" | |
| Tyler Rich | 2018 | "The Difference" | |
| The Wild Feathers | 2018 | "Big Sky" | |
| Ross Ellis | 2018 | "Ghosts" | |
| Brandon Lay | 2018 | "Yada Yada Yada" | |
| Ingrid Andress | 2019 | "More Hearts Than Mine" | |
| Gabby Barrett | 2019 | "I Hope" | ACM New Female Artist of the Year |
| Niko Moon | 2019 | "Good Time" | |
| Parker McCollum | 2019 | "Pretty Heart" | ACM New Male Artist of the Year |
| Drew Parker | 2020 | "While You're Gone" | |
| Shy Carter | 2020 | "Good Love" | ACM Songwriter of the Year nominee |
| Morgan Wade | 2021 | "Wilder Days" | |
| Hailey Whitters | 2021 | "Everything She Ain't" | ACM New Female Artist of the Year; Grammy nominee |
| Flatland Cavalry | 2021 | "Some Things Never Change" | ACM Group of the Year nominee |
| Laci Kaye Booth | 2021 | ||
| Avery Anna | 2022 | "Narcissist" | |
| Chase Wright | 2022 | "Wish You'd Miss Me" | |
| Nicolle Galyon | 2022 | “It Ain't Pretty” | |
| Mackenzie Carpenter | 2022 | "Can't Nobody" | |
| Griffen Palmer | 2023 | "Second Guessing" | |
| Greylan James | 2023 | "2 Years Back" | Hit songwriter (multiple No. 1s) |
| Lauren Watkins | 2023 | "Shirley Temple" | |
| Austin Snell | 2023 | "Excuse the Mess" | |
| The Castellows | 2024 | "No. 7 Road" | |
| Lakeview | 2024 | "Home Team" | |
| Ryan and Rory | 2024 | "Pour Decisions" | |
| Hudson Westbrook | 2025 | "House Again" | |
| Brandon Wisham | 2025 | "Growin' Up" | |
| Lanie Gardner | 2025 | "Buzzkill" | |
| Blake Whiten | 2026 | "Break Me" | |
| Stella Lefty | 2026 | "Boston" |
