Stations gearing up for all-holiday music

How long before a Salt Lake area radio station makes the switch to all-holiday music?

Probably not long, and possibly even later this week or early next week …

Cincinnati's contemporary Christian station WAKW (Star 93.3) was perhaps the made the switch to all-holiday tunes on Friday, Oct. 29.

Now more than a dozen stations across the United States are playing nothing but Christmas music, according to Inside Radio.

Sure it seems early, but several times in past, Salt Lake stations were the first in the nation to switch to holiday tunes. Apparently this year is an "off" year.

KOSY (FM-106.5) is one station that I expect will go all-holiday very soon.

Why are some stations beginning holiday music so early? Advertising-wise, it seems to be a bonanza, just like holiday shopping is for retail stores.

The "Jack-FM" station in Kansas City understands some listeners do not favor early holiday music and so it is sponsoring another "Save Thanksgiving" campaign this year. (Go to: pressreleases.kcstar.com to read about this.)

Bill West, program director or KSFI ("FM-100") reports his station is putting the final touches on its Christmas programming and should be starting it very soon.

"We have extensively researched the songs and artists to bring the Wasatch Front the very best holiday entertainment possible," he stated.

"Plus, we also have local artists who we will feature throughout the season, including having them at our annual Christmas Concerts at South Towne Center. We kick off those concerts with Jim Brickman on Nov. 16 at noon."

KSFI has also teamed up this year with Norbest Turkeys to award listeners Christmas cash and free Norbest turkeys five times a day (8:15, 9:15 and 11:15 a.m., and 1:15 and 4:15 p.m.) every workday.

KSFI will cap off the season with the FM 100.3 "One Hundred Hours of Christmas" beginning Dec. 21 — 100 hours of Christmas music with limited interruptions all the way through Christmas Day.

What are radio's most popular holiday tunes?

Radio-Info.com and Nielsen BDSradio, in conjunction with Billboard, have released a list of the 100 most played holiday songs on adult contemporary radio stations in 2009, as monitored between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31.

The top 10 are:

1. "A Holly Jolly Christmas," by Burl Ives.