FM Stations Opt for Christmas Music ... Before Thanksgiving - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

AKA · 11-24-2003, 02:56 PM

A-Caroling They Will Go

Stations Opt for Christmas Music ... Before Thanksgiving

By David B. Caruso
The Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA (Nov. 24) - It's not even Thanksgiving yet, but on radios nationwide it's beginning to sound a lot like Christmas. More than two dozen FM music stations ditched regular programing this month in favor of an all-Christmas-music format, with plans to keep the carols coming until Dec. 26.

Somewhere between 200 to 300 more are expected to follow suit in the next few weeks, ensuring that listeners from Pennsylvania to Dixie's sunny shore will either get that fix of "Home for the Holidays" they've been craving - or go mad from repetitions of "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer."

The changeovers mark a dramatic shift for many of the stations trying them.

Just a few years ago, it was unorthodox for DJs to start spinning holiday tunes more than a day or two before Christmas. Playing "Deck the Halls" before Thanksgiving was considered downright taboo - worse than opening all your presents on Christmas Eve.

But the number of stations experimenting with the format has surged since 2001, and programers say it's for one simple reason: ratings.

"It has been a proven home run in market after market," said Brian Check, a regional vice president of programming for Clear Channel Communications at WSNI-FM in Philadelphia.

"Maybe it's the mood of the country. Maybe after 9/11, and with the war, people want an early pick-me-up, I'm not sure," he said. "But audience demand is what's driving this."

The shifts, which have happened almost exclusively at adult-contemporary stations that normally play easy-listening pop, have sent ratings soaring almost everywhere they have been tried.

This year the trend has even touched off holiday music arms races, with rival stations angling to see who would go all-Christmas first.

Last year, WSNI - Sunny 104.5 - became Philadelphia's first station to try a full month of Christmas songs, and was rewarded with a ratings bonanza.

This year, rival WBEB-FM, one of the city's most listened-to stations, was determined not to be left out. Both stations went all-holiday within a few hours of each other on Nov. 12.

"I probably spent most of the first six months of this year wearing out a pair of shoes kicking myself in the rear end for not doing it last year," said Blaise Howard, vice president and general manager of WBEB, which is also known as B101.

In Kansas City, KUDL-FM and adult contemporary rival KSRC-FM both flipped the all-Christmas switch on Nov. 14. San Francisco's KBAY-FM and KOIT-FM made the change on Nov. 18, as did WLIT-FM and WNND-FM in Chicago. New York's WNEW-FM started on Nov. 13, with rival WLTW-FM expected to follow soon.

As might be expected, the changeovers haven't pleased everyone.

Nancy Esbensen, of Havertown, Pa., posted a protest petition on the Internet after the two Philadelphia stations made their switch.

"By the time Christmas gets here, we are going to be sick and tired of hearing 'Blue Christmas' on the radio. And that would be a shame," she said. "There is a time and a place for everything, and Thanksgiving is the cutoff."

Two New Orleans stations, WCKW-FM and rival WLMG-FM, jumped to the all-Christmas format early this week, but switched back when listeners complained.

Philadelphia's WBEB and WSNI both acknowledged that they received many complaints that they started too early.

"In all my years of programing, I've never had to handle such a polarizing issue as Christmas music," Check said, although he quickly added that similar criticism last year melted by early December.

The phenomenon does beg the question: how early will the stations go?

One Charlotte, N.C., station, WSSS-FM, started playing Christmas music at the stroke of midnight on Halloween.

Tom Taylor, who edits the daily industry newsletter Inside Radio, said the trend may continue as long as people keep feeling the need for an emotional lift.

"There's the economy. There's the war. A lot of people could probably use a little smile, and what gets people smiling more than Christmas?"

Brian Damage · 11-24-2003, 03:05 PM

The old station that I used to work for WNEW in NYC is playing all Christmas, all the time.

MonarC · 11-24-2003, 03:20 PM

Brian Damage · 11-24-2003, 03:24 PM

AllIWantIsYourClutch · 11-24-2003, 05:12 PM

Ahhhhhhhhh I love when radio stations play all Christmas music. The one that I like the best is starting the tday after Thanksgiving. *excitement*

Mr. Stefani · 11-24-2003, 05:13 PM

Oh god this station here is christmas music 24/7. My mom always has it on. Death to whoevers idea that was.

SBTB Geek · 11-24-2003, 05:42 PM

Hollow · 11-24-2003, 06:05 PM

YAAAAAAAY CHRISTMAS MUSIC!!!!!!

Hollow · 11-24-2003, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SBTB Geek

good singer + christmas music = MUST GET ALBUM!!!! yaaaaaaaaay. :nonexistentsmiley:

SBTB Geek · 11-24-2003, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sArAh123¼
good singer + christmas music = MUST GET ALBUM!!!!

Exactly.

Penny Lane · 11-25-2003, 04:25 PM

Beatles Christmas music rocks!

musicradio77 · 11-26-2003, 05:13 PM

Back in October, a radio station in the Hudson Valley had switched from oldies to Christmas music for a weekend and then to country music. I sometimes usually listened to Christmas 94.3 throughout the weekend since last month before changing it to Kicks 94.3 for today's country music. Q-92.1 in Poughkeepsie would play all Christmas music until December 26th. In some cases, Lite-FM 106.7 is going to play holiday music until Christmas Day and CBS-FM will play continuous holiday music from Christmas Eve until Christmas Day. And by the way, WNEW 102.7 will tweak its format again once it finishes playing soft holiday music, the station now calls itself "102.7" on the air, leaving off the "Blink!" tag with which it launched a new format this year according to the Daily News.

MaydayMalonesGirl · 11-26-2003, 05:17 PM

102.7 (New York) started playing all Christmas music a few weeks ago.

Dude111 · 11-12-2023, 01:43 PM

I heard Christmas music on a station here on Halloween!!! (And it wasnt GOOD stuff either)

JO Sweet Heart · 11-12-2023, 05:56 PM

My newest favorite Christmas recording was released this past Friday, and it only gets better the more that I listen to it.

God bless you and Mason always!!!

Holly (a girl who only loves him more and more every day)

11-24-2003, 02:56 PM	#1
AKA Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Posts: 15,746	FM Stations Opt for Christmas Music ... Before Thanksgiving A-Caroling They Will Go *Stations Opt for Christmas Music ... Before Thanksgiving* By David B. Caruso The Associated Press PHILADELPHIA (Nov. 24) - It's not even Thanksgiving yet, but on radios nationwide it's beginning to sound a lot like Christmas. More than two dozen FM music stations ditched regular programing this month in favor of an all-Christmas-music format, with plans to keep the carols coming until Dec. 26. Somewhere between 200 to 300 more are expected to follow suit in the next few weeks, ensuring that listeners from Pennsylvania to Dixie's sunny shore will either get that fix of "Home for the Holidays" they've been craving - or go mad from repetitions of "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer." The changeovers mark a dramatic shift for many of the stations trying them. Just a few years ago, it was unorthodox for DJs to start spinning holiday tunes more than a day or two before Christmas. Playing "Deck the Halls" before Thanksgiving was considered downright taboo - worse than opening all your presents on Christmas Eve. But the number of stations experimenting with the format has surged since 2001, and programers say it's for one simple reason: ratings. "It has been a proven home run in market after market," said Brian Check, a regional vice president of programming for Clear Channel Communications at WSNI-FM in Philadelphia. "Maybe it's the mood of the country. Maybe after 9/11, and with the war, people want an early pick-me-up, I'm not sure," he said. "But audience demand is what's driving this." The shifts, which have happened almost exclusively at adult-contemporary stations that normally play easy-listening pop, have sent ratings soaring almost everywhere they have been tried. This year the trend has even touched off holiday music arms races, with rival stations angling to see who would go all-Christmas first. Last year, WSNI - Sunny 104.5 - became Philadelphia's first station to try a full month of Christmas songs, and was rewarded with a ratings bonanza. This year, rival WBEB-FM, one of the city's most listened-to stations, was determined not to be left out. Both stations went all-holiday within a few hours of each other on Nov. 12. "I probably spent most of the first six months of this year wearing out a pair of shoes kicking myself in the rear end for not doing it last year," said Blaise Howard, vice president and general manager of WBEB, which is also known as B101. In Kansas City, KUDL-FM and adult contemporary rival KSRC-FM both flipped the all-Christmas switch on Nov. 14. San Francisco's KBAY-FM and KOIT-FM made the change on Nov. 18, as did WLIT-FM and WNND-FM in Chicago. New York's WNEW-FM started on Nov. 13, with rival WLTW-FM expected to follow soon. As might be expected, the changeovers haven't pleased everyone. Nancy Esbensen, of Havertown, Pa., posted a protest petition on the Internet after the two Philadelphia stations made their switch. "By the time Christmas gets here, we are going to be sick and tired of hearing 'Blue Christmas' on the radio. And that would be a shame," she said. "There is a time and a place for everything, and Thanksgiving is the cutoff." Two New Orleans stations, WCKW-FM and rival WLMG-FM, jumped to the all-Christmas format early this week, but switched back when listeners complained. Philadelphia's WBEB and WSNI both acknowledged that they received many complaints that they started too early. "In all my years of programing, I've never had to handle such a polarizing issue as Christmas music," Check said, although he quickly added that similar criticism last year melted by early December. The phenomenon does beg the question: how early will the stations go? One Charlotte, N.C., station, WSSS-FM, started playing Christmas music at the stroke of midnight on Halloween. Tom Taylor, who edits the daily industry newsletter Inside Radio, said the trend may continue as long as people keep feeling the need for an emotional lift. "There's the economy. There's the war. A lot of people could probably use a little smile, and what gets people smiling more than Christmas?"

11-24-2003, 03:20 PM	#3
MonarC The truth will set you free Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 05, 2002 Location: 3rd Stone From The Sun Posts: 9,525	Attached Images

11-25-2003, 04:25 PM	#11
Penny Lane Butter Pie Forum Icon Join Date: Jul 03, 2001 Location: Beneath the blue suburban skies Posts: 51,261	Beatles Christmas music rocks! Attached Images
	__________________ Vulgarity is no substitute for wit- Lady Violet Crawley

11-26-2003, 05:13 PM	#12
musicradio77 Disney Expert Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 14, 2003 Location: Brooklyn, NY USA Posts: 6,475	Back in October, a radio station in the Hudson Valley had switched from oldies to Christmas music for a weekend and then to country music. I sometimes usually listened to Christmas 94.3 throughout the weekend since last month before changing it to Kicks 94.3 for today's country music. Q-92.1 in Poughkeepsie would play all Christmas music until December 26th. In some cases, Lite-FM 106.7 is going to play holiday music until Christmas Day and CBS-FM will play continuous holiday music from Christmas Eve until Christmas Day. And by the way, WNEW 102.7 will tweak its format again once it finishes playing soft holiday music, the station now calls itself "102.7" on the air, leaving off the "Blink!" tag with which it launched a new format this year according to the Daily News.
	__________________ Musicradio77 Productions

11-12-2023, 05:56 PM	#15
JO Sweet Heart Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Mar 11, 2012 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 7,883	My newest favorite Christmas recording was released this past Friday, and it only gets better the more that I listen to it. God bless you and Mason always!!! Holly (a girl who only loves him more and more every day)
	__________________ Go here to check out my most favorite singer, James Otto, when you can!

11-24-2003, 03:05 PM	#2
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	The old station that I used to work for WNEW in NYC is playing all Christmas, all the time.

11-24-2003, 03:24 PM	#4
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107

11-24-2003, 05:12 PM	#5
AllIWantIsYourClutch peaceout. Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 02, 2001 Location: Illinois. Posts: 53,424	Ahhhhhhhhh I love when radio stations play all Christmas music. The one that I like the best is starting the tday after Thanksgiving. excitement

11-24-2003, 05:13 PM	#6
Mr. Stefani Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Jul 15, 2001 Posts: 20,757	Oh god this station here is christmas music 24/7. My mom always has it on. Death to whoevers idea that was.

11-24-2003, 05:42 PM	#7
SBTB Geek Smooth Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 21, 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 6,004

11-24-2003, 06:05 PM	#8
Hollow Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 16, 2001 Posts: 30,406	YAAAAAAAY CHRISTMAS MUSIC!!!!!!

11-26-2003, 05:17 PM	#13
MaydayMalonesGirl ACID! POLICEHHHH! Forum Star Join Date: Apr 24, 2003 Location: in a van down by the river. Posts: 18,393	102.7 (New York) started playing all Christmas music a few weeks ago.

11-12-2023, 01:43 PM	#14
Dude111 Forum Legend Join Date: Nov 05, 2013 Posts: 36,486	I heard Christmas music on a station here on Halloween!!! (And it wasnt GOOD stuff either)