XM Satellite Radio unveiled March 27 that it will add10 new commercial-free music channels and seven regional news and talk channels to its lineup by the end of summer.

On March 1, XM added two new music channels: Big Tracks, focusing on classic rock from the late 70’s onward, and XM Chill. During April and May, XM will add eight more commercial free channels.

XM also will introduce six new regional news and talk channels that provide regional news coverage across the continental United States. The channels, along with a recently added news radio station out of Cincinnati, are being provided by Clear Channel Communications and will comprise a new category dubbed “Regional News, Talk & Music Channels.”

The category will include four music channels programmed by Clear Channel which will begin running commercials in May and will be grouped separately from XM’s music channels. Clear Channel gained control of the four music channels following a 1998 investment in XM, and an arbitration panel ruled earlier this year that Clear Channel could run advertising on the stations.