Dave Alvin Joins XM Satellite Radio To Host New American Roots Music Show Beginning September 18

Alvin signs to join XM’s “X Country” roster of Americana country greats including Jack Ingram, Robbie Fulks, Robert Earl Keen, and Blackfoot

Washington D.C., August 31, 2006 -- XM Satellite Radio (NASDAQ: XMSR), the nation’s leading satellite radio service with more than 7 million subscribers, announced today that Grammy-award winning roots rock legend Dave Alvin will join its talent roster to host a music program exclusively for XM.

Dave Alvin’s XM show “9 Volt,” named for his song dedicated to his transistor radio listening days “Plastic Silver 9 Volt Heart,” will premiere the week of September 18 on XM’s Americana music channel X Country (XM 12). The show will be an hour-long exploration of American roots music, where Alvin will draw the music that has inspired his career of more than 26 years and 11 solo albums. Alvin will pay homage to all styles, including roots from the Blues to R&B to Folk to Roots Rock to Rockabilly and more.

Dave Alvin’s “9 Volt” can be heard the third week of every month on X Country (XM 12); Monday at 11 am, with replays on Thursday at 7 pm and Saturday at 11 am. All times are Eastern. Alvin joins other music masters Jack Ingram, Robbie Fulks, Robert Earl Keen, and Blackfoot in contributing to the X Country channel (XM 12).

“I have always wanted to become a DJ and am thrilled with the opportunity to share the music, sounds and artists that have inspired me throughout my career with XM subscribers,” said Alvin.

“We’re thrilled to bring the deep musical perspective of American roots rock legend Dave Alvin to the XM audience,” said Jessie Scott, X Country program director, XM Satellite Radio. “’9 Volt’ listeners can expect to hear Dave’s picks from an eclectic mix of American music.”

Dave Alvin helped to kick-start the roots rock scene in the early 1980s with the band the Blasters and has since gone on to a career as a solo performer, songwriter, producer, and sideman that’s been as well respected as it is eclectic, contributing to nearly 100 recording projects.

Commercial-free channel “X Country” honors the roots of country music from all over America, including Honky Tonk, Western Swing, Swamp Rock, Alternative Country, Rockabilly, Southern Boogie, and Roots Rock, and infuses sonic personality that is unmistakably now.

X Country is one of the nine unique country music-dedicated channels on XM Satellite Radio, including: “America” (XM 10); “Nashville” (XM 11); “Willie’s Place” (XM 13) ; “Bluegrass Junction” (XM 14); “The Village” (XM 15); “Highway 16” (XM 16); “US Country” (XM 17); WSIX (XM 161).

Schedules for Dave Alvin’s “9 Volt” show, and a complete XM channel lineup can be found online at: www.xmradio.com.

About XM Satellite Radio
XM (Nasdaq: XMSR) is America’s number one satellite radio service with more than 7 million subscribers. Broadcasting live daily from studios in Washington, DC, New York City, the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Toronto and Montreal, XM’s 2006 lineup includes more than 170 digital channels of choice from coast to coast: the most commercial-free music channels, sports, talk, comedy, children’s and entertainment programming; and the most advanced traffic and weather information.

XM, the leader in satellite-delivered entertainment and data services for the automobile market through partnerships with General Motors, Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, Nissan, Subaru, Suzuki and Porsche, is available in more than 140 different vehicle models for 2006. XM’s industry-leading products are available at consumer electronics retailers nationwide. For more information about XM hardware, programming and partnerships, please visit http://www.xmradio.com.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements in this press release include demand for XM Satellite Radio’s service, the Company’s dependence on technology and third party vendors, its potential need for additional financing, as well as other risks described in XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc.’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 3-9-06. Copies of the filing are available upon request from XM Radio’s Investor Relations Department.

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Marie Farrar

XM Satellite Radio

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