WASHINGTON, (XM Satellite Radio) - XM Satellite
Radio (Nasdaq: XMSR), the nation's leading satellite radio service with more than 5 million subscribers, today announced GRAMMY-nominated multi-platinum- selling artist
Ludacris will host a weekly music show exclusively for XM. "Disturbing Tha Peace Presents Ludacris' Open Mic" will feature music hand- selected by the artist, including songs from Ludacris' vast personal music collection, as well as special guests and interviews with other artists. The show will debut in January 2006 on XM's uncut hip-hop channel RAW (XM channel 66).
"This is the beginning of a great partnership and I really look forward to growing with XM and their millions of subscribers," said Ludacris. "XM Satellite Radio is affording me the opportunity to expose our audience to a wider variety of music and ideas."
Born Christopher Bridges, multi-platinum hip-hop recording artist Ludacris is one of the most recognized names in popular music today. A former radio personality from Atlanta with an impressive knowledge of music, Ludacris has enjoyed enormous success since his major-label debut in 2000 and his music has been embraced by urban media outlets, as well as MTV and pop radio. Beyond his own work as a recording artist, Ludacris is CEO of Disturbing Tha Peace Records, which is home to some of the top-selling artists in R&B and Hip Hop, selling over 15 million records.
In addition to his own lucrative music career, Ludacris has branched out into acting, most recently with a standout performance in the independent film Hustle and Flow, winner of the Sundance Audience Award. He also starred in the critically acclaimed film Crash, which has earned him a Supporting Actor nomination at the First Annual Black Movie Awards, and will be featured on the October 6 episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show." A committed philanthropist, Ludacris is also dedicated to giving back to the community through his Ludacris Foundation, which has recently provided free housing for over 100 people.
"Ludacris' passion for and knowledge of music, along with his remarkable talent as an artist, are a natural fit with XM," said Eric Logan, executive vice president of programming for XM Satellite Radio. "The addition of Ludacris to the XM artist family is a testament to XM's commitment to create the best original music programming available on satellite radio."
