'Mandatory Metallica' to Launch August 16 on XM

NEW YORK, NY. (SIRIUS XM Radio)--GRAMMY Award-winning band Metallica will have a dedicated channel on XM Radio, it was announced today. Beginning August 16, "Mandatory Metallica" (XM 51), will provide fans with music from the entire Metallica catalog, including rare live recordings from the band's personal archives, extensive interviews with the band and more. Metallica guitarist and singer James Hetfield, drummer Lars Ulrich, guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo will serve as hosts for the six-week long channel.

In addition, the channel will also air interviews with other artists who will share their thoughts about Metallica's musical contributions, including Linkin Park, Slipknot, Disturbed, Guns n Roses, Chris Cornell, Ashes Divide, Blackstone Cherry, Five Finger Death Punch, Atreyu, Skid Row, Cinderella, Mastodon, Judas Priest, Dragonforce, Triumph, Tesla and many others.

Metallica is one of the most influential and commercially successful rock bands, selling 100 million albums worldwide. Since their formation in the early 1980s, Metallica has released nine studio albums, one live album and one EP. Death Magnetic, the band's 10th studio album will be released worldwide on Friday, September 12.

"Mandatory Metallica" is the latest limited run artist-branded channel to be offered by XM, which have included Led Zeppelin, Michael Jackson, George Strait, Coldplay and Kenny Chesney.

"Mandatory Metallica" (XM 51) will be available on XM from August 16 through September 30. Programming information will be available online at https://www.xmradio.com/metallica.