The XM Xperience

The stainless steel mesh walls, black rubber ceilings and futuristic blue lights suggest that a hardcore trekkie may have designed the interior. But the only stars that this enterprise is concerned with are the ones whose life-sized pictures line the walls—Jagger, Hendrix, Springsteen, Joplin and Sinatra.

This is XM Radio's new broadcast center in downtown D.C., the source of 100 channels of subscription satellite radio, the world's largest all-digital studio complex, the future of radio and the workplace of a few lucky Blazers.

"I'm speaking to a national audience"

XM is to radio what cable is to television. Subscribers pay a monthly fee to receive 100 channels of specialized programming across the music spectrum ranging from Vibra—rock in Spanish—to Highway 15—non-stop country.

The BNC-produced show, The Blair Soapbox, is currently on the channel BabbleOn, which features young and sassy talk shows.

According to media instructor Christopher Lloyd, Blair's involvement with XM began last year when the latter approached BNC in hopes of forming a partnership—one Lloyd says is beneficial to both parties. "They get programming to fill airtime, and we get some experience for our kids," he explains.

Lloyd believes XM gives students a voice while allowing BNC a chance to showcase its talent. "In a day and age where teenagers and their views are dismissed by many in our culture, this forum can provide people with a look into what a professional student-run organization can do," he explains.

BNC's Radio Executive Director senior Eli Roth says that when XM's coverage turns coastal on Nov 15, the change will bring the benefit of national exposure to BNC. "If XM becomes the next big thing, then teenagers in California are going to know about Blair High School in Silver Spring," he says. "And that is very cool."

Junior Phil Vogel, producer of The Blair Soapbox, believes that being on national radio means living up to a higher standard of production. "We have the responsibility to make an XM-quality show, while still abiding by the Blair guidelines," he says.

But by no means, says Vogel, does that responsibility detract from the fun of XM. "I would liken it to working at Disneyland," Vogel proclaims. "It's like a party!"

The Blair Soapbox, however, does deal with serious issues, like the threat of bioterrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but the producers still know how to lighten things up. "We are starting a soap opera called Feet McNeil," says Vogel. "It's about the trials and tribulations of the biggest loser in school." After a pause, he adds, "And he's played by me."

"They let me walk in and go on the air"

Some Blazers also contribute to other shows on BabbleOn where their content is not as restricted. Senior Zack Schwartz is a frequent guest on The Red Zone, a show where you can hear an interview with music group Black Ant, the self-dubbed "world's first urban hip-rock band," in one segment and an interview with Sue Storm, a lady who talks to angels, in the next.

Schwartz says he enjoys the laid-back atmosphere of The Red Zone. "It's very casual, very relaxed," he describes. "We just sit back and talk about whatever's cool."

And Red, host of The Red Zone and Red's Love Shack, knows what's cool. Senior Henry Upton's involvement started after Roth called him up to be a phone guest during an episode of Red's Love Shack and the show's producer wanted Upton in the flesh. "Red liked me, so I came in the next week and the next week, and now I'm the regular Wednesday guy," Upton says.

Not everyone at XM, however, is as fond of Roth and Upton, who tend to push the limits of appropriate material. "We're generally too obscene for their tastes," Upton says. "So they're a little wary of us."

XM is not regulated by the Federal Communications Commission, but according to Upton, BabbleOn nevertheless attempts to maintain a general code of decency. "They don't want to offend the people in the Midwest, which Eli and I do," he admits.

No matter. The self-proclaimed "Hilarious Buddy Comedy Duo" has bigger dreams for the future. "One day we will have our own show," Upton declares. "Then we will be able to offend Midwestern farmers' daughters regularly."

"Strange girls kiss me"

Although the thought never crossed his mind before he began going to XM, Schwartz is now seriously considering an occupation in the field. "I wasn't so interested in a career in radio when I started," he says. "But now that I'm there all the time and I love it so much, I'm thinking about it."

According to Lloyd, students who work at XM benefit from the opportunity to work with other professionals in communications. "In broadcasting, contacts are everything, and this is a great chance for students to build up those contacts," he explains.

For Roth, the benefits of working at XM are more immediate than career advancement. "I got to kiss a random girl last week because the theme of the show I was on was: ‘are you a good kisser?'" he says.

While senior Alfonso Rosales hasn't gotten any lip action yet during his XM career, he has become the producer and host of Channel Surfing, his own weekly show about television. Rosales says that he loves the topic and is able to create innovative concepts for the show. "I think of segment ideas like ‘The Real World's five dumbest moments' or ‘15-second Survivor,'" he explains.

Rosales estimates that in addition to his two-hour weekly timeslot, preparation for his show takes him about five hours per week. With all the time Rosales puts in, one might think that he's raking in the dough. But that's not the case. "It takes a while to get on payroll," says Rosales, shrugging.

And, in fact, none of the Blazers have made their way on quite yet. But Schwartz doesn't mind. He shrugs and says, "I'm paid in fun."