Any “merger” these days tends to mean one thing: layoffs. And there was one XM fatality that really grabbed my attention over the past few weeks. A downer for me, as this was one of my favorite things about XM Radio.In the late 70s and early 80s, I was a big fan of a local station (WLBS) that played R&B and disco, leaning toward either album cuts or the extended remixes, which they preferred to spin. Between this station and WJZZ, which played mostly fusion jazz, I was an avid radio listener. I leaned more into WJZZ when WLBS changed to a hard rock format, and then sort of drifted away from radio when WJZZ sold out and went “$mooth Jazz”. A few other stations had come and gone over the years (“The Bear”, Ted Nugent’s rock station out of Detroit, being one of the more memorable), but nothing really grabbed my attention again until I got an XM Radio receiver about five years ago.

It took me awhile, but while I thought I’d never like a format that had a DJ in it, since I was more into the music. I listened to the 50s channel out of curiosity, then started tuning in regularly, and got to know the DJs. The special programs were neat, but the DJs put some life into it. These DJs weren’t just talking heads (which are pretty much all we have today on FM radio), but knew their music.

Matt The Cat was an asset to XM5. I learned a few weeks ago that he was a victim of a round of layoffs from XM Radio. The logic baffles me: he had to have one of the more popular call-in radio shows on their entire network. His knowledge of blues and R&B is encyclopedic, and his passion made a lot of us discover more of this music, far beyond what we ever would have discovered ourselves. His weekly feature, Harlem, showcased early R&B from the 40s and 50s. Needless to say, Matt’s Night Prowl show no longer airs, and the 7pm to 12am time slot is now on autopilot. I also noticed that Ken Smith’s mid-afternoon show was also not to be found, although he still appears as program director for the 50s channel. Mr. Lee, fortunately, was spared the axe, and is still able to provide a little breath of life to the channel. I still notice that other XM channels still have their lineup: the 60s still has Phlash Phelps and Terry Motormouth Young, last I heard.

It’s sad to see a good talent like Matt The Cat get taken off of the air. But his knowledge, enthusiasm and professionalism will get him into another radio gig soon, I’m hoping. If he has to go underground and broadcast on the ‘net until the next good gig comes along, well…I’ll be tuning in as much as I can.

But I will say that if XM starts chopping more good talent, and watering it down with inferior Sirius replacements, XM will be able to count me among the ranks of former subscribers. There are still some good reasons for me to remain a subscriber, but…I’m watching…