Art Bell's Dark Matter

Lore & Background

Art Bell, creator and former host of Coast to Coast AM, ceased regularly hosting that program in 2003. In early 2013, a Sirius XM Radio representative contacted Bell via social media about developing a new satellite radio talk show, which became Art Bell's Dark Matter. The show was formally announced on July 30, 2013, with Sirius XM Radio president Scott Greenstein stating it would be 'uncensored, unrestricted, uncluttered and utterly unique.' Dark Matter premiered with theoretical physicist Michio Kaku as its first guest, a frequent guest on Bell's previous programs. Bell hosted from a new studio built by Sirius XM in a guest house at his rural residence in Pahrump, Nevada. The program's announcer was Ross Mitchell, its producer was Paul Bowman, and associate producer Evan Winkofsky operated the boards from Washington, D.C. The closing theme was 'Midnight in the Desert,' written and performed by Crystal Gayle for Art Bell.

Reader's Guide

Art Bell's Dark Matter represents a brief but notable chapter in the history of paranormal-themed radio. It marked Art Bell's return to full-time hosting after a decade away from regular duties on Coast to Coast AM. The show's exclusive satellite radio format on Sirius XM allowed for an uncensored approach, but technical difficulties with internet streaming and disputes over piracy led to its abrupt end after less than two months. Bell's insistence on free streaming via his website was refused by Sirius XM, resulting in a mutual agreement to cease production on November 4, 2013. The show's legacy includes its influence on Bell's subsequent project, Midnight in the Desert, which launched in 2015 on a different platform. Dark Matter demonstrated both the enduring appeal of Bell's style and the challenges of adapting his format to subscription-based satellite radio.

Did You Know?

• Dark Matter was the first program hosted by Art Bell full-time since his departure from regularly hosting Coast to Coast AM in 2003.
• The show's closing theme song, 'Midnight in the Desert,' was written and performed by Crystal Gayle for Art Bell.
• Dark Matter's first guest was theoretical physicist Michio Kaku, a frequent guest on Bell's previous programs.
• The show ended after a dispute with Sirius XM Radio over technical difficulties streaming the show live via the Internet and unauthorized third-party streaming.

Origins and the Sirius XM Partnership

Art Bell's Dark Matter emerged from a nearly ten-year absence from full-time radio hosting. After stepping back from Coast to Coast AM in 2003, Bell made only sporadic appearances on the program, including his final 2010 Halloween special titled "Ghost to Ghost." In early 2013, a Sirius XM Radio representative found Bell through social media and pitched him on developing a new satellite radio talk show. Following a formal announcement on July 30, 2013, Sirius XM president and chief content officer Scott Greenstein described the upcoming program as "uncensored, unrestricted, uncluttered and utterly unique." The show officially premiered on September 16, 2013, with theoretical physicist Michio Kaku as its inaugural guest, a longtime familiar face from Bell's earlier Coast to Coast AM broadcasts. The program was exclusive to Sirius XM's subscription-based satellite platform, marking Bell's first full-time hosting role in nearly a decade and a fresh creative chapter after years of hiatuses and conflicts with Premiere Networks.

Format, Studio, and Production Team

Dark Matter ran live Monday through Thursday from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Eastern Time on Sirius XM's Indie Talk Channel 104, with immediate reruns following each broadcast and weekend re-airings in the same nighttime slots. Bell specifically requested that the network avoid daytime replays, insisting the show only air when "the mood is right." True to his Coast to Coast AM tradition, he opened phone lines for listener call-ins, making the program heavily audience-driven. The production was anchored in a purpose-built studio that Sirius XM constructed in a guest house at Bell's rural property in Pahrump, Nevada. Former Coast to Coast AM announcer Ross Mitchell crafted the show's intro and bumper spots, while Paul Bowman served as radio producer and associate producer Evan Winkofsky operated the boards remotely from Washington, D.C. The program closed each night with "Midnight in the Desert," a song written and performed by Crystal Gayle specifically for Bell.

The Abrupt End and the Streaming Dispute

Less than two months after its September 16 debut, Dark Matter came to a sudden halt. On November 4, 2013, Bell publicly announced he was ceasing all production and broadcasting of the show. The rupture centered on a dispute with Sirius XM over live Internet streaming. Bell reported that Sirius XM subscribers were experiencing technical difficulties accessing the show live online, which undermined the caller-driven format that was central to the program. He also cited unauthorized piracy and live streaming of Dark Matter through third-party websites. Bell proposed a remedy: allow the show to stream live and free from his own artbell.com website. Sirius XM declined. Negotiations broke down, and Bell took to his Facebook page to announce the end, writing: "Sometimes when you are 'all in' you win, sometimes lose. By mutual agreement, Dark Matter will no longer air as of tonight." The entire run lasted barely seven weeks.

Legacy, Aftermath, and the Road Ahead

Dark Matter's brief life cast a long shadow over Bell's later career. In spring 2015, he announced a reborn version called Midnight in the Desert, set to debut July 20, 2015, streaming live from midnight to 3 a.m. Eastern, Monday through Friday, via his website or the TuneIn app, with terrestrial AM, FM, and shortwave stations relaying the feed. However, on December 11, 2015, Bell permanently stepped down as host, citing concerns for his family's safety after reporting multiple incidents of firearms being discharged at and near his Pahrump property that fall. Producer Heather Wade assumed hosting duties for roughly two and a half years, later starting her own competing show, Kingdom of Nye, from the same Pahrump studio. Former Coast to Coast guest host Dave Schraeder replaced Wade in May 2018. Meanwhile, Premiere Networks continued rebroadcasting archival Coast to Coast AM episodes under the title Somewhere in Time with Art Bell, reportedly against Bell's wishes. In October 2022, Dark Matter Digital Network and Dark Matter News announced plans to relaunch together.