U2 at the Sphere Premiering Sunday 8pm Eastern

Original Story by Aaron J Sams (2024-03-12)

Update: March 16, 2024

With the announcement of U2’s Final Show in Las Vegas airing on SiriusXM on Sunday we’re seeing a lot of questions once again about access to the station. We’ve added some questions and answers below. At the end of the article you can find our original notes about this show and the ad on SiriusXM.

The following questions are answered:

  • When will it air?
  • What is U2 X-Radio?
  • Can I get U2 X-Radio / SiriusXM where I live?
  • Is there any other way to hear the live broadcast?
  • Do I need to subscribe?
  • Will this be available on demand?
  • Is this audio or video?
  • Was this filmed?
  • Will it be the full show aired?
  • What is the interview ahead of the concert?
  • When’s the last time U2 streamed a show?
  • Where can I find out more about the last show?

When will it air?

The interview will air at 7pm Eastern, with the live show airing at 8pm Eastern. For those in the Pacific time zone that’s 4pm Pacific / 5pm Pacific.

Today, March 16, U2 X-Radio has included “Beautiful Day” from the broadcast in the rotation on the station. It’s been heard twice as of now.

What is U2 X-Radio?

U2 X-Radio is a subscription based radio station airing on the satellite radio network SiriusXM. It debuted on July 1, 2020, and has been airing continuously since that time. The station is available via satellite radio, and also has streaming options making it available via the Internet. U2’s station is on channel 32.

Can I get U2 X-Radio / SiriusXM where I live?

The SiriusXM help pages share “You can enjoy SiriusXM Satellite Radio within the 48 contiguous US states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico (with some limitations), Canada, up to 150 nautical miles out into the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and the Great Lakes.” Although there is an Internet feed as well it is limited to subscribers who live in the above regions. (Occasionally the internet feed can be heard during free trials worldwide.)

Is there any other way to hear the live broadcast?

U2 have sent out an email announcing the SiriusXM broadcast which shares at the end, “And watch this space for updates about how you can hear this exclusive new interview and final #U2UVSphere show on additional platforms in the coming weeks.” They have not yet announced details on where this may air. But it sounds like there are options being explored outside of the SiriusXM station itself.

Do I need to subscribe?

Right now it does not appear that there is a free listening event underway, so the station is subscriber only. However, look around, there’s a number of offers available offering a three month free trial. You can sign up to listen for three months and cancel before you are charged. Please note, however, that you will need to set up an account and provide a credit card registered to an address in the listening area to sign up for a trial.

Will this be available on demand?

U2 X-Radio provides a lot of content on demand, allowing listeners to tune in at a later date. Not all of the station content is made available on demand. Notable exclusions from on-demand programming has included the Discotheque weekly show. In the past broadcasts of concerts have not been made available on demand. There is no way to know in advance if this is an item that will be available on demand. The show will be replayed throughout the week, likely each day. The schedule will likely update to show these airings soon.

Is this audio or video?

This is an audio broadcast. SiriusXM’s U2 X-Radio is audio based and does not have a video component.

Was this filmed?

The final show at Sphere was not filmed. Thus it is unlikely that it will ever be shown as a film. The three shows pior to the final show were filmed. These are being worked on for a film of U2 at Sphere, which is rumoured will show at Sphere itself, at least initially.

Will it be the full show aired?

Radio host Jenny Huston on U2 X-Radio called it a complete show when announcing the broadcast. Additionally the email sent by U2.Com shares, “The March 2 Vegas finale was monumental and full of surprises. Daniel Lanois on stage with the band to play ‘One’. A long-distance duet with Neil Finn (via remote recording) during ‘Don’t Dream It’s Over’. The perfect end to the band’s landmark 40-night stand in the Nevada desert: The encore, ‘40’. And more.” If anything was expected to be cut it would be items that require additional rights clearances such as the Crowded House song, or Daniel Lanois’ appearance. Their mention in the press surrounding this stream bodes well for it to be a somewhat complete show.

The snippet of The Beatles’ “Blackbird” is not included at the end of “Beautiful Day”, which has been shared already by the station. So other snippets may have been edited out as well.

What is the interview ahead of the concert?

On February 29, U2 stopped into Zoo Station, a pop-up shop and exhibit at the Venetian. While there, Bram, Adam, Bono and The Edge sat and did an interview with opening DJ Pauli the PSM and creative director Gavin Friday. The interview was taped, and is being broadcast an hour before the full show broadcast. So tune in early to hear this broadcast. The broadcast includes a brief musical interlude of U2 performing “Dancing in the Moonlight”.

When’s the last time U2 streamed a show?

The last full show that U2 streamed was the Apollo show in 2018, which was organized in conjunction with SiriusXM. It aired on July 13, 2018, and was featured daily on U2’s channel at the time The U2 Experience for about a week. The show happened just two days prior. It was later released as a fan club gift in 2021. We took a look at other concerts that were streamed over time back in 2016.

Where can I find out more about the last show?

In our Show Archive we keep all of our updates about live performances in one spot. Our main page for U2:UV Live at Sphere lists all of the dates that U2 played at Sphere, starting in September 2023, and ending on March 2, 2024. This main page also contains links to news stories relating to the shows, a guide to Zoo Station, and more.

The individual show page for the final show is available here. It includes the set list performed, details about the performance, special guests, and more.

Update: March 13, 2024

Jenny Huston announced the special and the interview today on U2 X-Radio at the start of the show. She confirmed the details below, and further confirmed that the show will be the “complete live performance” from the final night at Sphere, March 2, 2024. The interview with Bono, Edge, Adam and Bram airs at 7pm Eastern, followed by the concert at 8pm Eastern. (4pm Pacific / 5pm Pacific)

Original Story: March 12, 2024

Thanks to U513Bearcat, we can share the content of the ad on SiriusXM radio which is airing on stations outside of U2 X-Radio. The ad opens with the familiar sound of Rocky O’Riordan’s voice “As U2’s history making residency at the Las Vegas Sphere draws to a close hear the final performance.” Bono then comes in, “40 nights. Every night a surprise.” The Edge then shares, “The technology is an aid, but the audience is the key thing.” We then hear Rocky’s voice again, “along with the story behind it” and an unknown voice saying “It’s going to change the way THAT people enjoy music going forward.”

The ad wraps up with “U2 at the Sphere, premiering on Sunday, 8pm Eastern 5pm Pacific on U2 X-Radio, channel 32, and in the all new SiriusXM App.

It appears the final live show at Sphere will be streamed on U2 X-Radio on March 17. The show which ended a forty show run at the venue, happened on March 2, 2024.

The U2 X-Radio station does not have the program listed in the upcoming schedule, and these ads do not yet appear to be running on U2 X-Radio itself. They have been heard on multiple other channels across SiriusXM in the last few days. Many thanks to everyone who brought these to our attention.

Ahead of the Sphere special airing, the station will air a one hour interview with the band (Bram van den Berg, Bono, Edge and Adam Clayton) which will be a discussion with Gavin Friday and Pauli the PSM, Atomic MC. Gavin Friday acted as Executive Director and Band Consultant for this run of 40 shows. Pauli the PSM opened each night in Las Vegas performing from a Trabant which moved through the crowd, warming up fans with a wide mix of songs. This interview was recorded at Zoo Station, U2’s pop-up shop in Las Vegas, ahead of the final weekend of shows. The interview will air at 7pm Eastern / 4pm Pacific and will be followed by the Sphere special, “U2 at the Sphere”.

SiriusXM is a subscriber only system which airs in the United States and Canada. It is not available outside of those regions, and in those regions is only available with a monthly subscription. U2 have had a station, channel 32, on Sirius XM since July 2020.

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