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Montreal’s Elephant Stone Announce 10th Album ‘ASHA’ and Drop Fierce Lead Single “Everything Evil”

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Elephant Stone have announced their 10th studio album, ‘ASHA’, due August 28 via Elephants On Parade/Little Cloud Records, and the lead single “Everything Evil” arrives as one of the most direct and aggressive things Montreal’s Rishi Dhir has ever committed to tape. A sub-two-minute proto-psych-punk blast, raw and hooky and over before you’ve caught your breath, it sets the tone for an album that carries enormous personal weight. ‘ASHA’ is the Sanskrit word for “Hope,” and the record is named after Dhir’s late mother, who passed away earlier this year. “It feels like there’s a lot of evil in the world right now,” says Dhir, “and ‘Everything Evil’ is a direct response to that — it’s short, it’s angry, and it gets straight to the point.”

The album moves through darker and more expansive terrain than the single suggests, balancing Elephant Stone’s signature raga-rock foundations with a newfound urgency born from grief. It opens with the hypnotic “Here Comes The Rising Sun” and closes with the ethereal “Spirit, Take Me Away,” featuring a guest appearance from Amy Millan of Stars and Broken Social Scene. Produced, engineered, and mixed entirely by Dhir at his Montreal home studio, Sacred Sound, ‘ASHA’ draws on two decades of blurring Western psych-pop with Indian classical tradition and a collaborative history that includes The Black Angels, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Beck, and his role in psych-supergroup MIEN.

This is an album made at a defining moment in an artist’s life, and it sounds exactly like that. Limited-edition vinyl is available for pre-order now via Little Cloud Records.

‘ASHA’ Track Listing:

  1. Here Comes The Rising Sun
  2. Everything Evil
  3. Fascists Killed Yer Rock ‘N’ Roll
  4. I Got A Pill
  5. Broken Arrow
  6. A Beautiful Fate
  7. Parallel And Contrary Motion
  8. Sleepwalking In Prague
  9. Spirit, Take Me Away (feat. Amy Millan)

KJ Apa Stars as Jimmy Stewart in JIMMY, Opening Nationwide November 6

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Burns & Co. Entertainment and Fathom Entertainment have announced that JIMMY, the highly anticipated feature film about the life of Jimmy Stewart, will open nationwide on November 6, 2026. KJ Apa leads the cast as Stewart, guiding audiences through the most transformative years of the beloved American icon’s life, from his Academy Award win for Best Actor in The Philadelphia Story to his service as a combat pilot and commander in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, flying 20 missions over Europe and rising to the rank of colonel, before returning home to find George Bailey waiting.

The ensemble cast surrounding Apa is genuinely impressive. Kara Killmer plays Lady Julia, Neal McDonough takes on Stewart’s father Alexander, Max Casella plays Frank Capra, Jason Alexander portrays Louis B. Mayer, Christopher McDonald steps in as Lionel Barrymore, and Sarah Drew plays Hedda Hopper. Rob Riggle, Julian Works, Jemma Donovan, and Jen Lilley round out a cast that brings Hollywood’s golden age and the European theatre of World War II to life with real weight. Aaron Burns directed from a script by Justin Strawhand, and Kelly Steward Harcourt, Jimmy’s daughter, serves as Executive Producer.

Fathom CEO Ray Nutt will host KJ Apa and debut JIMMY footage at CinemaCon on April 16. Burns & Co. has also announced a Give Back campaign in partnership with Vet Tix, a veteran-led nonprofit, with the goal of providing 1 million donated tickets to veterans and their families. All donations are 100% tax deductible with 100% of proceeds going directly toward donated tickets. And for those who fall hard for the film, Nutt has already confirmed that ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ returns to theatres December 18 for its 80th anniversary.

Tickets go on sale this September at FathomEntertainment.com and participating theatre box offices.

Grammy-Winning Bluegrass Savant Billy Strings Announces Massive Fall 2026 U.S. Tour

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Billy Strings is taking his Grammy-winning bluegrass to arenas and theatres across the U.S. this fall, with a run that stretches from September through December and hits Denver, Los Angeles, Baltimore, New Orleans, Fort Worth, and more. The newly announced dates round out an already packed 2026 schedule that kicks off April 2 with a three-show run in St. Augustine, Florida, and includes a slot at Willie Nelson’s annual Fourth of July picnic in Austin alongside Wilco, Sheryl Crow, and Margo Price.

Strings arrives at these dates riding serious momentum. His 2024 album ‘Highway Prayers’, produced with Jon Brion, won Best Bluegrass Album at the Grammy Awards in February, his second consecutive win in the category. That kind of back-to-back recognition at the highest level of the industry speaks to exactly where Strings sits right now: at the absolute top of his genre and pulling audiences that go well beyond it.

The fall leg alone covers 20 cities across the country, from the Paramount Theatre in Denver to the Kia Forum in Inglewood to the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. This is a full-scale touring operation from an artist operating at full capacity, and every date on this list is worth showing up for.

Tickets and full details are available now.

Tour Dates:

Apr 2 – St. Augustine, FL – St. Augustine Amphitheatre

Apr 3 – St. Augustine, FL – St. Augustine Amphitheatre

Apr 4 – St. Augustine, FL – St. Augustine Amphitheatre

Apr 8 – Tampa, FL – Benchmark International Arena

Apr 10 – Savannah, GA – Enmarket Arena

Apr 11 – Savannah, GA – Enmarket Arena

Apr 14 – Greensboro, NC – First Horizon Coliseum

Apr 17 – Charlottesville, VA – John Paul Jones Arena

Apr 18 – Charlottesville, VA – John Paul Jones Arena

Apr 22 – Charleston, WV – Charleston Coliseum

Apr 24 – Fishers, IN – Fishers Event Center

Apr 25 – Fishers, IN – Fishers Event Center

Apr 26 – Fishers, IN – Fishers Event Center

Jul 4 – Austin, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater

Jul 14 – Roanoke, VA – Berglund Center

Jul 17 – Portsmouth, VA – Portsmouth Pavilion

Jul 18 – Portsmouth, VA – Portsmouth Pavilion

Jul 21 – Boston, MA – Agganis Arena

Jul 22 – Boston, MA – Agganis Arena

Jul 24 – Portland, ME – Cross Insurance Arena

Jul 25 – Portland, ME – Cross Insurance Arena

Jul 28 – Hartford, CT – PeoplesBank Arena

Jul 31 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

Aug 1 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

Aug 28 – Ionia, MI – Ionia Freak Fair

Aug 29 – Ionia, MI – Ionia Freak Fair

Sep 18 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena

Sep 19 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena

Sep 20 – Denver, CO – Paramount Theatre

Sep 25 – Los Angeles, CA – The Orpheum Theatre

Sep 26 – Inglewood, CA – Kia Forum

Sep 28 – San Diego, CA – Pechanga Arena

Oct 2 – Oakland, CA – Oakland Arena

Oct 3 – Oakland, CA – Oakland Arena

Oct 6 – Eugene, OR – Matthew Knight Arena

Oct 9 – Everett, WA – Angel of the Winds Arena

Oct 10 – Everett, WA – Angel of the Winds Arena

Oct 23 – Huntsville, AL – The Orion Amphitheater

Oct 24 – Huntsville, AL – The Orion Amphitheater

Oct 30 – Baltimore, MD – CFG Bank Arena

Oct 31 – Baltimore, MD – CFG Bank Arena

Dec 4 – New Orleans, LA – Saenger Theatre

Dec 5 – New Orleans, LA – Smoothie King Center

Dec 9 – Sugar Land, TX – Smart Financial Centre

Dec 11 – Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena

National Music Centre Announces Three 2026 OHSOTO’KINO Recording Bursary Recipients and Opens Call for Indigenous Music Incubator Applications

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The National Music Centre (NMC) today announced the 2026 recipients of the OHSOTO’KINO Recording Bursary, which has expanded this year to support three recipients instead of two. The growth is made possible through the continued support of TD Bank Group, a funder of the program since 2022.

The OHSOTO’KINO Recording Bursary recipients are traditional powwow drum group Mountain Kree from Mountain Cree Camp in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta; Ojibwe queer singer-songwriter and beadworker Larrisa Desrosiers from Couchiching First Nation in Treaty 3; and award-winning fiddle player and composer Wesley Hardisty, a member of the Dene Nation, from Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories, who has played notable festivals and events including the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.

Alongside the announcement, NMC is opening applications for the next edition of the OHSOTO’KINO Music Incubator. The program, designed for emerging First Nations, Métis, and Inuit artists from across Canada, will take place at Studio Bell in Calgary, Alberta, from September 14-18, 2026. Applications are open until May 17, 2026, at 11:59 pm MT at studiobell.ca/ohsotokino.

The OHSOTO’KINO Recording Bursary gives Indigenous artists the opportunity to record in NMC’s professional studio spaces and explore its renowned living collection of rare and iconic musical instruments, with the goal of creating a commercial release. The OHSOTO’KINO Music Incubator supports emerging Indigenous artists through mentorship, career-development workshops, and live performance opportunities. Participants in both programs are selected by NMC’s Indigenous Programming Advisory Committee, which helps shape Indigenous-led programs and exhibitions at Studio Bell.

“We received a record number of applications for bursary opportunities this year. This indicates the program is gaining much traction, particularly within the traditional music community. We’re also very grateful for TD’s support in making it possible for an additional group to take part in the bursary this year. Indigenous music is truly on the rise,” said David McLeod (Minegoziibe Anishinabe, formerly Pine Creek First Nation, Treaty 4), NMC Board Member and Chair of NMC’s National Indigenous Programming Advisory Committee.

Launched in 2022 and supported by TD Bank Group, the OHSOTO’KINO Indigenous Programming Initiative has amplified the voices of Indigenous artists from communities across Canada. OHSOTO’KINO focuses on three elements: creation of new music in NMC’s recording studios, artist development through a music incubator program, and exhibitions via the annually updated Speak Up! gallery. The name OHSOTO’KINO – a Blackfoot phrase meaning “to recognize a voice of” – honours the Blackfoot people and the traditional territory where the National Music Centre is located.


The National Music Centre (NMC) has a mission to amplify the love, sharing, and understanding of music. It is preserving and celebrating Canada’s music story inside its home at Studio Bell in the heart of the East Village in Mohkinstsis (Calgary) on Treaty 7 territory. NMC is the home to four Canadian music halls of fame, including the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and Quebec’s ADISQ Hall of Fame. Featuring musical instruments, artifacts, recording equipment, and memorabilia, the NMC Collection spans over 450 years of music history and innovation. A registered charity with programs that include exhibitions, artist development, performance, and education, NMC is inspiring a new generation of music lovers. For more information about NMC’s onsite activities, please visit studiobell.ca. To check out the NMC experience online, including video-on-demand performances, made-in-Canada stories, and highly entertaining educational content, visit amplify.nmc.ca.

Photo Gallery: Black Label Society, Zakk Sabbath, And Dark Chapel At Toronto’s Queen Elizabeth Theatre On March 29, 2026

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All photos by Mini’s Memories. You can contact her through Instagram or X.

The 61st ACM Awards Week Just Got Bigger With Lauren Alaina, Rodney Atkins, Randy Houser, Ashley Cooke, Dasha, and More Added to Las Vegas Events

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The 61st ACM Awards Week is adding names fast. Lauren Alaina, Rodney Atkins, and Randy Houser are now confirmed to join headliner Riley Green at ACM Lifting Lives Country on the Green: Riley Green & Friends, taking place at Topgolf Las Vegas on Friday, May 15. Tickets are $200 for VIP Early Access and $150 for General Admission at AXS.com, with all proceeds benefiting ACM Lifting Lives.

On Saturday, May 16, ACM Next Wave: Country’s Beach Bash at Mandalay Bay Beach gets even stronger with the addition of Ashley Cooke, Dasha, Flatland Cavalry, Braxton Keith, and Tucker Wetmore, joining previously announced members of the Opry NextStage Class of 2026, including Willow Avalon, Graham Barham, Tyler Braden, Alexandra Kay, Vincent Mason, Emily Ann Roberts, and Hudson Westbrook. Ashley Cooke and Dasha co-host the event. Tickets start at $150 for VIP and $75 for General Admission at AXS.com.

The 61st ACM Awards returns to its Sunday night timeslot, continuing a legacy that stretches back to 1966 and includes history-making moments like the first major awards show to exclusively livestream on Prime Video. Additional performers, nominations, presenters, and the host will be announced in the coming weeks.

Tickets for all ACM Awards Week events are on sale now at AXS.com.

National Canadian Film Day Returns April 15 With 2,000 Free Screenings Across Canada and 150 More in 49 Countries Around the World

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National Canadian Film Day returns on April 15, and the 2026 edition is the biggest the event has ever been. This year brings 2,000 free screenings in every province and territory across Canada, plus nearly 150 screenings in 49 countries internationally, a 62% increase over last year. The theme is Let’s Dream Together, and the programming assembled under that banner is genuinely remarkable in its range and ambition.

National Canadian Film Day. April 15th. Free movies. Everywhere. For everyone.

Programming highlights across the country include: 

  • A tribute to incomparable Oneida actor the late Graham Greene, with screenings of his work taking place across the country, including at the Woodland Cultural Centre in his home community of Six Nations. 
  • Over 40 film premiere and sneak preview screenings of 11 films, including a pre-release launch of Mile End Kicks in theatres across the country, plus participation from filmmakers and stars such as Chandler Levack, Allan Hawco, Bretten Hannam (L’nu), Robert Bateman, and many others. 
  • 30th anniversary screenings of Hard Core Logo across the country, including a three-day retrospective at the Calgary Underground Film Festival with director Bruce McDonald and star Callum Keith Rennie in attendance; and a screening in Toronto with Victoria Beard, Peter Dreimanis, and Thyrone Tommy, presented by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television. 
  • A two-week Canadian Film Showcase by the Vancouver International Film Festival, with more than 50 screenings, and special guests Carl Bessai, Sook-Yin Lee, and Bruce Sweeney, among many others.
  • A massive event hub at the Scotiabank and Carlton theatres in downtown Toronto, featuring over 20 screenings, and special guests such as Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs (Mohawk), Philippe Falardeau, Sherry White, Colm Feore, 2026 Oscar winner Chris Lavis, and many more.  
  • RCtv, our annual livestream for over 10,000 high school students, will showcase the brand new release Youngblood, and an interactive Q&A with director Hubert Davis and star Ashton James, hosted by programmer Aisha Jamal.
  • 150 international screenings in nearly 50 countries around the world in partnership with Global Affairs Canada and film festivals and cultural organizations worldwide.
  • Over 150 screenings of 23 of this year’s Canadian Screen Award nominees, including all eight Best Picture nominees. 

Other special guests confirmed to participate in this year’s CanFilmDay include: 

Neil Affleck, Eric K. Boulianne, Miryam Charles, Richard Crouse, Miranda de Pencier, Mathieu Denis, Sophie Deraspe, Jayne Eastwood, Ann Marie Fleming, Piers Handling, Ali Hassan, Andy Hines, Kaniehtiio Horn (Mohawk), Emma Hunter, Zacharias Kunuk (Inuk), Micheline Lanctôt, Ron Mann, Graeme Manson, Diana Matheson, Stephen McHattie, Don McKellar, Kevin McMahon, Michael McMahon, George Mihalka, Moze Mossanen, Jennifer Podemski (Anishinaabe), Alison Reid, Mary Beth Rubens, Eva Thomas (Ojibwe), R.T. Thorne, Auden Thornton, D. W. Waterson, Larry Weinstein and Mary Young Leckie.

National Canadian Film Day is free, it is everywhere, and it is one of the most straightforward expressions of what Canadian culture looks like when it decides to show up for itself. Visit canfilmday.ca to find screenings near you or to register your own free community event.

Julianna Barwick and Mary Lattimore Deliver a Breathtaking Live Studio Session for KEXP

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Julianna Barwick and Mary Lattimore brought their singular combination of harp, vocals, and keys into the KEXP, performing “Perpetual Adoration,” “The Four Sleeping Princesses,” and “Melted Moon” in a session hosted by Cheryl Waters that is as quietly stunning as anything either artist has put their name to.

J-Metal Powerhouse BABYMETAL Announces World Tour 2026 and Deluxe Edition of ‘METAL FORTH’ With Halestorm and Violent Vira in Support

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 Today, the renowned J-metal group BABYMETAL celebrates Fox Day with the announcement of their World Tour 2026 across North America and Latin America, as well as details of a Deluxe Edition ‘METAL FORTH’. Supporting them on their North American tour dates will be Halestorm and Violent Vira.

Tickets for dates in the US and Canada will be available starting with an artist presale that begins on Monday, April 6th at 10am local time, and you can sign up now until April 5th at the LINK HERE. A Citi presale will begin on April 6, with additional presales running throughout the week ahead of the general onsale starting Friday, April 10 at 10am local time. Tickets for Latin American dates will be available starting with an artist presale on Monday, April 20th at 10am local time through April 21st at 11pm local time. Tickets go on sale to the general public starting on April 22nd.

BABYMETAL is also thrilled to share that METAL FORTH (DELUXE EDITION) will be released via Capitol Records on June 26, 2026. The deluxe edition will be available digitally and on vinyl which will feature a zoetrope design, with ten icons from the record brought to life in motion. It will feature three live performances off the record and two remixes from Major Lazer and Jordan Fish of the standout track “from me to u (feat. Poppy).”

Meaning “beyond metal,” METAL FORTH made its debut last year at #9 on the Billboard 200, marking the band’s first-ever U.S. Top 10 album. This is the first time in history that an all-Japanese fronted group has made this list. The project amassed over 200 million global streams and sold 36,000 equivalent album units in its first week.

METAL FORTH also debuted at #10 on Spotify’s Top Albums Debut U.S. Chart and #2 on the U.S. iTunes Download Album Chart. In Japan, the album entered at #1 on the Oricon Rock Chart, #1 on the Digital Albums Chart, and #3 on the overall Oricon chart. Internationally, the album landed Top 10 in Germany, a career-best after charting at #24 with THE OTHER ONE and #18 with METAL GALAXY. It also broke the Top 20 in the UK, where it hit #2 in the Rock Charts, remaining in the top 40 for 5 consecutive weeks, and achieved career-high positions in the Netherlands and France.

The news comes ahead of their highly anticipated Main Stage slot at Download Festival, which takes place at Donington park June 10th – 14th.

Disc 1, Side A
1. from me to u (feat. Poppy)
2. RATATATA (BABYMETAL, Electric Callboy)
3. Song 3 (BABYMETAL, Slaughter to Prevail)
4. Kon! Kon! (feat. Bloodywood)
5. KxAxWxAxIxI

Disc 1, Side B
6. Sunset Kiss (feat. Polyphia)
7. My Queen (feat. Spiritbox)
8. Algorism
9. METALI!! (feat. Tom Morello)
10. White Flame ー白炎ー

Disc 2, Side C
1. from me to u (Major Lazer Remix)
2. from me to u (Jordan Fish Remix)

Disc 2, Side D
3. from me to u (live from The O2)
4. My Queen (live from Intuit Dome)
5. Algorism (live from Saitama Super Arena)

North America Tour Dates
August 30 – San Diego, CA* – Petco Park
September 2 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena
September 4 – Chicago, IL – Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
September 5 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center
September 7 – Toronto, ON – RBC Amphitheatre
September 9 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
September 10 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
September 12 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
September 13 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
September 15 – Charlotte, NC – Truliant Amphitheater
September 16 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
September 18 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
September 19 – Louisville, KY – Louder Than Life**
September 21 – St Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheater
September 23 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion
September 25 – The Woodlands, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Sponsored by Huntsman
September 26 – Austin, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater
September 29 – Albuquerque, NM – First Financial Credit Union Amphitheater
October 1 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
October 3 – Sacramento, CA – Aftershock Festival**

*Supporting My Chemical Romance
**Festival

Latin America Tour Dates
November 28 – São Paulo, Brazil – Espaço Unimed
December 1 – Buenos Aires, Argentina – Movistar Arena
December 3 – Santiago, Chile – Arena Movistar
December 7 – Lima, Peru – Costa 21
December 12 – Mexico City, Mexico – Estadio Fray Nano

Formed in 2010, BABYMETAL quickly gained popularity in Japan for their explosive live shows. By 2013, they had become a force of their own — opening for Red Hot Chili Peppers, Korn, and Lady Gaga, and bringing the ferocity of metal to a global audience. With over 15 years of history and a diehard international following, BABYMETAL isn’t just a band — they’re a movement redefining what heavy music looks and sounds like. Fronted by three dynamic women — SU-METAL, MOAMETAL, and MOMOMETAL — BABYMETAL has helped reshape the face of metal, inspiring a new generation of women and girls who see themselves in this sound and on these stages.

SiriusXM Canada, Nissan Canada Inc. and Nissan Canada Extended Services Inc. announce three-year Extended Service Subscriptions

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SiriusXM Canada, Nissan Canada Inc. and Nissan Canada Extended Services Inc. (NCESI) today announced that customers who purchase a Platinum Added Security Plan (ASP) for any new Nissan or INFINITI vehicle will receive a three-year Extended Service Subscription to SiriusXM.

This enhanced offering provides Platinum ASP customers with access to a broad range of SiriusXM audio entertainment programming, featuring commercial-free music, live sports, exclusive talk and comedy, news, and original programming.

The three-year SiriusXM Extended Service Subscription is available on Nissan and INFINITI vehicles equipped with standard SiriusXM satellite service or with SiriusXM’s with 360L, where supported, SiriusXM’s most advanced audio entertainment platform.

SiriusXM with 360L delivers a more personalized and immersive listening experience by combining satellite and streaming technology. The platform offers a wide selection of additional music channels curated to match every mood, access to on-demand shows and performances, live sports content that is designed to make it easier for listeners to find games and sporting events, personalized “For You” recommendations, intuitive content discovery tools, and the ability to create custom Artist Stations based on favourite artists or bands.

SiriusXM with 360L is available on select Nissan and INFINITI models, including the 2026 INFINITI QX60 and QX80, and Nissan Ariya, Armada, Kicks, LEAF, Murano, Pathfinder, and Rogue.

In addition, each eligible three-year SiriusXM Extended Service Subscription included with the Platinum ASP features SiriusXM streaming outside the vehicle, allowing subscribers to listen wherever they are – at home, at work, or on the go – through the SiriusXM app on smartphones, tablets, computers, and connected devices. This ensures customers stay connected to their favourite SiriusXM content beyond the drive.

Customers who purchase a Platinum Added Security Plan for vehicles not equipped with SiriusXM satellite capability will receive a three-year subscription to SiriusXM’s All Access streaming plan. The All Access streaming plan includes access to 425+ channels of ad-free music, sports, talk, news, comedy, video, podcasts, exclusives, and other programming. 

“This collaboration underscores our shared commitment to delivering exceptional value and premium experiences to Nissan and INFINITI customers,” said Rob Keen, Senior Vice President, Customer Lifecycle, Marketing & Partnerships, SiriusXM Canada.  “By pairing SiriusXM’s most comprehensive entertainment package with Nissan’s Platinum Added Security Plan, customers receive long-term peace of mind and world-class audio entertainment.”

“Providing customers with added value throughout their ownership journey is central to Nissan Canada’s customer-first approach,” said Denver Pinto, President Nissan Canada Extended Services Inc. “This new SiriusXM Extended Service Subscription enhances the ownership experience by offering premium entertainment both inside and outside the vehicle.”

For more information on all the programming that SiriusXM offers and all the ways subscribers can listen, visit siriusxm.ca.