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Will We See An Earlier Flip To Christmas Music This Year In The Boston Market?

In some years the switch was pulled after election day and before Veteran's Day; wouldn't be surprised if they did it in first wk of Nov. The
money beckons. And last year...

InsideRadio 2020:
"Westport Communications AC “North Shore 104.9” WBOQ Boston unwrapped the holidays on Monday, Nov. 2 with a promise to keep the yuletide tunes flowing until 2021. "
 
In recent years, iHeart-owned WSRS 96.1 Worcester flips in early November. 106.7 WMJX, owned by Audacy, switches a week or two before Thanksgiving. As mentioned above, 104.9 WBOQ Gloucester, which changed its format from Classic Hits to AC, flipped last year on November 1, no doubt trying to get an advantage over WMJX.

Some years ago, when they were co-owned, 105.7 WROR was the Christmas station while WMJX simply added a few holiday songs per hour from Thanksgiving through Christmas. But now that WROR is owned by Beasley and WMJX by Audacy, it's the opposite. Beginning in 2011, WMJX became the Christmas station while WROR simply adds a few holiday tunes per hour leading up to Dec. 25. WMJX even plays Christmas music all year long on its HD2 subchannel.
 
It changed from WROR to WMJX following the flip of then-WODS to the Amp brand and CHR format.

The main question is will a new player enter the game. The only way I see that happening is if a company is looking to flip a station. I can't think of any in Boston that are looking like we may see an imminent flip. Plus, what format hole exists? The only two are modern Rock and Alternative. As much as they are my two personal favorites, Alternative is floundering across multiple major markets. 105.3 in SF was flipped. People in Dallas are stating that KVIL should be flipped, as there are low numbers regarding listeners. And nobody has even tried modern-Rock here since WAAF was sold almost two years ago. We've been leaning on stations from NH and RI that can be picked up on the fringe of the market.

So, my answer to the OP is no. I see the usual holiday music players in the game this year.
 
Least said:
It changed from WROR to WMJX following the flip of then-WODS to the Amp brand and CHR format.

The main question is will a new player enter the game. The only way I see that happening is if a company is looking to flip a station. I can't think of any in Boston that are looking like we may see an imminent flip. Plus, what format hole exists? The only two are modern Rock and Alternative. As much as they are my two personal favorites, Alternative is floundering across multiple major markets. 105.3 in SF was flipped. People in Dallas are stating that KVIL should be flipped, as there are low numbers regarding listeners. And nobody has even tried modern-Rock here since WAAF was sold almost two years ago. We've been leaning on stations from NH and RI that can be picked up on the fringe of the market.

So, my answer to the OP is no. I see the usual holiday music players in the game this year.
Click to expand...
I still think that a 90s centric Dance/Rhythm Station is worth a shot!
 
Gregg. said:
In recent years, iHeart-owned WSRS 96.1 Worcester flips in early November. 106.7 WMJX, owned by Audacy, switches a week or two before Thanksgiving. As mentioned above, 104.9 WBOQ Gloucester, which changed its format from Classic Hits to AC, flipped last year on November 1, no doubt trying to get an advantage over WMJX.

Some years ago, when they were co-owned, 105.7 WROR was the Christmas station while WMJX simply added a few holiday songs per hour from Thanksgiving through Christmas. But now that WROR is owned by Beasley and WMJX by Audacy, it's the opposite. Beginning in 2011, WMJX became the Christmas station while WROR simply adds a few holiday tunes per hour leading up to Dec. 25. WMJX even plays Christmas music all year long on its HD2 subchannel.
Click to expand...
Isn't WSRS owned by CUMULUS?
 
Gregg. said:
In recent years, iHeart-owned WSRS 96.1 Worcester flips in early November. 106.7 WMJX, owned by Audacy, switches a week or two before Thanksgiving. As mentioned above, 104.9 WBOQ Gloucester, which changed its format from Classic Hits to AC, flipped last year on November 1, no doubt trying to get an advantage over WMJX.

Some years ago, when they were co-owned, 105.7 WROR was the Christmas station while WMJX simply added a few holiday songs per hour from Thanksgiving through Christmas. But now that WROR is owned by Beasley and WMJX by Audacy, it's the opposite. Beginning in 2011, WMJX became the Christmas station while WROR simply adds a few holiday tunes per hour leading up to Dec. 25. WMJX even plays Christmas music all year long on its HD2 subchannel.
Click to expand...

Magic switches on a Friday before Thanksgiving week. This year it falls on Nov. 19th.
 
There is a new trend happening in radio these days. There is, in-fact an audience for positive and upbeat "feel good" music! It is not so much of a format, than a positive attitude instead, just saying. Perhaps the Boston Market is just too miserable to be happy anyway instead.
 
Retro said:
I still think that a 90s centric Dance/Rhythm Station is worth a shot!
Click to expand...
A "Star 93.7" that was 90s focused? Would that be fragmented, the same as David speaks of Spanish language music formats?

I would see the Ace of Base music of the 90s to not be able to fill a whole station, and I see it as different than the Boy Band and Britney era that ended the decade. Perhaps a 90s Pop focused station, but would that be viable. I can see it ran jockless, like Big 103, Jack-FM, or the new classic Hip Hop station in New York.
 
Retro said:
There is a new trend happening in radio these days. There is, in-fact an audience for positive and upbeat "feel good" music! It is not so much of a format, than a positive attitude instead, just saying. Perhaps the Boston Market is just too miserable to be happy anyway instead.
Click to expand...
The thing with that is that it's a pendulum. The 50s were more upbeat, to swing toward anti-establishment in the 60s to mid-70s. It got more upbeat in from the mid-70s to the early 90s, just to swing back to anti-eatablishment. That lasted until 2010-ish, where it swung back. I see us very close to the swing going back to anti-establishment.
 
Least said:
A "Star 93.7" that was 90s focused? Would that be fragmented, the same as David speaks of Spanish language music formats?

I would see the Ace of Base music of the 90s to not be able to fill a whole station, and I see it as different than the Boy Band and Britney era that ended the decade. Perhaps a 90s Pop focused station, but would that be viable. I can see it ran jockless, like Big 103, Jack-FM, or the new classic Hip Hop station in New York.
Click to expand...
More like C&C Music Factory, Boys to Men, Paula Abdul, Bobby Brown, Mariah Carey, Naughty By Nature, Londonbeat, etc. etc. All of that dance/R&B and Pop Oriented type sound.
 
Last edited:
Retro said:
I still think that a 90s centric Dance/Rhythm Station is worth a shot!
Click to expand...
Late 80's CHR should be a thing. Expose, Will to Power, Pebbles, Sweet Sensation, Milli Vanilli, Seduction, Taylor Dayne, Jody Watley, Frankie goes to Hollywood, Paula Abdul, Boy Meets Girl, Roxette, Lisa Lisa, Corina, Sly Foxx, Madonna, Stevie B, Debbie Deb, The Jets, Linear, Nu Shooz, The Cover Girls, Noel, Company B..... Now that station would clean up in the ratings.... but no no, can't have any of that in Boston!
 
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