Bob Dylan to Host Radio Show

XM Satellite radio announced yesterday that they have signed a contract with music icon Bob Dylan to host his own radio show beginning in March. The gravely-voiced folk singer seems to be pleased with the arrangement. In a statement yesterday, he said "a lot of my own songs have been played on the radio, but this is the first time I've ever been on the other side of the mike."

The deal is the latest in a ratings war between the two major satellite radio companies, XM and Sirius, who are struggling to make their businesses viable in a mainstream environment. Sirius is poised to launch the Howard Stern show is less than four weeks and the acquisition of Dylan seems to be an attempt on the part of XM to match their main competitors' star power. Other celebrities that are contributing to satellite radio include Eminem and Jimmy Buffet, who have offered their brand names to Sirius and Snoop Dogg who will be producing a show on one of XM's rap stations, The Rhyme.