The Groove (Sirius XM)
 | |
| Broadcast area |
United States Canada |
|---|---|
| Slogan | Old School R&B |
| Frequency |
Sirius XM 50 Dish Network 6050 |
| First air date | September 25, 2001 |
| Format | Rhythmic Oldies |
| Class | Satellite Radio Station |
| Owner | Sirius XM Radio |
| Website | The Groove |
The Groove is the name of Sirius XM Radio's Old School R&B channel, located on channel 50. The service signed on September 25, 2001 as part of XM Satellite Radio's offerings, broadcasting on channel 64. It was one of the three remaining Sirius XM-owned channels (along with Pop2K and The Village) that was not featured on Sirius's lineup until 2011. As part of XM Radio Canada simulcasting the U.S. service (with the exception of Clear Channel's channels) on April 1, 2007, The Groove was added to XM Radio Canada. As of February 9, 2010, it was heard on DirecTV channel 844, but all of Sirius XM programming was dropped in favor of going to Sonic Tap by DMX.
The Groove focuses mostly on classic R&B, Funk and Old School Dance party tracks from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. The channel is also commercial-free and features DJs, most of them veterans of the early days of Urban Contemporary radio, where most of its core music came from. For Sirius listeners, some late-1970s music through the 1990s can be found on its sister The Strobe, Soul Town and Heart & Soul channels, which are also heard on XM.
On October 22, 2010, The Groove adjusted its direction to include Dance, Disco, and Freestyle classics after Sirius XM removed The Strobe from the roster and placed the channel online. In May 2011, Sirius XM added The Groove to the Sirius lineup. On May 9, 2013 The Groove became available to Sirius receivers for the first time ever.
During part of 2014 The Groove was replaced with an all-Michael Jackson channel, On Friday, August 21, 2015, The Groove was added back to Sirius XM Radio 50 and Dish Network 6050.
On April 21, 2016, The Groove was temporarily changed to the Prince Tribute Channel to commemorate Prince's recent death.