Yes as we all know Christmas flips are already starting, playing the usual holiday staples. But are there stations that skip some of the usual holiday favorites for some reason or another? For example, do stations that are normally Christian radio drop some songs because they're considered inappropriate for their audience?
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Christmas stations that don't play certain standards
- Thread starter installLSC
- Start date
In my experience, many Christian and religious-based stations will only play music that's reflective of the "true meaning of Christmas" in their view - meaning the story of the birth of Jesus and all that surrounds that. Few play foofy Christmas songs, novelty tunes or anything about the image of Santa Claus - primarily created by Coca-Cola's marketing team.
In general, I find that the library of holiday music aired by most stations is surprisingly limited and repetitive, especially the Christmas content found on stations owned by the larger groups. I tend to flip around once the repetition on one particular station has become too much to take, and to get some variety. There are dozens of renditions of many popular holiday songs, but many stations seem to stick with just 1 or maybe 2, in rotation for the entire season. There's really no reason to have "Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time" by Paul McCartney in heavy rotation as some stations tend to do annually, and Mariah Carey sang more than just 1 Christmas song. At least one of my favorites from Mariah was only heard for one season, then it seemingly vanished. Some of the most well-done holiday music isn't sung by Justin Bieber or Mariah or even Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani, but few stations seem to air music outside a relatively smallish group of artists and songs. For instance, a few Christmases ago I was visiting some family up north. It was a few days after Christmas, all the stress leading up to the holiday was gone, I was driving in the early evening and it was snowing a bit. I was listening to a smaller, independent station and the song "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" done acapella by a group called Straight, No Chaser came on and I though it was incredibly well done. I personally haven't heard it aired on any major station since, but it's become a personal favorite.
In general, I find that the library of holiday music aired by most stations is surprisingly limited and repetitive, especially the Christmas content found on stations owned by the larger groups. I tend to flip around once the repetition on one particular station has become too much to take, and to get some variety. There are dozens of renditions of many popular holiday songs, but many stations seem to stick with just 1 or maybe 2, in rotation for the entire season. There's really no reason to have "Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time" by Paul McCartney in heavy rotation as some stations tend to do annually, and Mariah Carey sang more than just 1 Christmas song. At least one of my favorites from Mariah was only heard for one season, then it seemingly vanished. Some of the most well-done holiday music isn't sung by Justin Bieber or Mariah or even Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani, but few stations seem to air music outside a relatively smallish group of artists and songs. For instance, a few Christmases ago I was visiting some family up north. It was a few days after Christmas, all the stress leading up to the holiday was gone, I was driving in the early evening and it was snowing a bit. I was listening to a smaller, independent station and the song "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" done acapella by a group called Straight, No Chaser came on and I though it was incredibly well done. I personally haven't heard it aired on any major station since, but it's become a personal favorite.
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Christmas is a nostalgic holiday, it's no shock the "hits" are the ones that test as favorites.
This needs no further qualification.
That was more true in the past than now. Many Christian ACs have no problem with playing Santa or novelty tunes nowadays, especially since a fair number of them have done quite well flipping to an all-Christmas format in recent years. For that matter, a lot of contemporary Christian artists now include Santa or novelty tunes on their Christmas releases, some of which get airplay on many of those stations.
With that said, the further you get into the sacred music-type formats, the less likely Santa/novelty tunes are to show up. Also, a smattering of Christmas tunes are still going to be off limits to Christian stations -- i.e., I don't know of too many Christian stations that will take a chance on playing any straightahead version of "Baby, It's Cold Outside."
WRCM Charlotte NC used to do this before K-Love took over.
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of course there is. It’s playing the hits.
Yep, just like Christmas Wrapping by the Waitresses. Songs that test really well get more airplay. That's how music radio works.
Our "NPR" station will play whatever Christmas music we have. We dont limit it to only certain types.... and if we g et a request and have it, we'll play it, whatever it is.. and if we dont have it and can find it, we'll get it.
WE have local music hosts 8-9am and 12noon to 4pm weekdays, 7 to 9pm friday nights
www.kskopublicradio.com
We begin playing 1 christmas song per hour december 1st in local host hours..... 2 songs per hour 2 weeks later and 12noon to 4pm friday the 24th will be all christmas.
WE have local music hosts 8-9am and 12noon to 4pm weekdays, 7 to 9pm friday nights
www.kskopublicradio.com
We begin playing 1 christmas song per hour december 1st in local host hours..... 2 songs per hour 2 weeks later and 12noon to 4pm friday the 24th will be all christmas.
But will you be playing the original version of: 'Baby It's Cold Outside'? Somehow I doubt it.
Without getting into album/alternative rock, country or urban versions of the format, here are four versions of the format, three of which I believe are on Sirius/XM or are similar to the ones which are, and one which I wish was there but hope is somewhere online. The fourth one sounds a lot like what the Bob Jones University station did. I could hear it in the car by driving 10 miles west. When it changed to talk, the music continued online for a while.
1. The traditional Christmas songs, secular and Christian, performed in the traditional style and mostly by the traditional artists such as Nat King Cole, Perry Como, Ray Conniff, Bing Crosby, Percy Faith and Andy Williams, and people such as Michael Buble who really do it right. No Mannheim Steamroller except "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and possibly "Deck the Halls". No former Beatles. No Mariah Carey. No Beach Boys.
2. Christmas songs, traditional and not traditional, performed in traditional and non-traditional styles, mainly by artists familiar to adult contemporary radio.
3. Songs about Christmas performed by performers who are popular today, probably not traditional style, though many of the songs are traditional.
4. Quiet and dignified, mostly Christian, lots of instrumentals, lots of choirs, or orchestras or organs, or solo instruments. No fun or funny stuff.
1. The traditional Christmas songs, secular and Christian, performed in the traditional style and mostly by the traditional artists such as Nat King Cole, Perry Como, Ray Conniff, Bing Crosby, Percy Faith and Andy Williams, and people such as Michael Buble who really do it right. No Mannheim Steamroller except "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and possibly "Deck the Halls". No former Beatles. No Mariah Carey. No Beach Boys.
2. Christmas songs, traditional and not traditional, performed in traditional and non-traditional styles, mainly by artists familiar to adult contemporary radio.
3. Songs about Christmas performed by performers who are popular today, probably not traditional style, though many of the songs are traditional.
4. Quiet and dignified, mostly Christian, lots of instrumentals, lots of choirs, or orchestras or organs, or solo instruments. No fun or funny stuff.
This is why I ignore 90% of the stations that flip to Christmas music. Many have the same 100 recordings from the same artists and they play them on repeat - well - with 8-10 minutes of commercials in between sets. For God's sake...Mariah Carey did ten other songs on that album! Not just the famous single! Occasionally you'll find a station that plays Mariah's 'Santa Claus is Coming to Town' or 'Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)', very occasionally her gorgeous version of 'O Holy Night' where she hits an unbelievable high note at the end of the song.
"Jesus, Born on This Day" is a *beautiful* song with a children's choir. Also Mariah. I have only heard that song on Warm 106.9 in Seattle, nowhere else. But that was years ago - like with other Christmas stations - they have trashed all the non-hits. Novelty songs don't even get played anymore. Warm was known for 'Stop the Cavalry' by the Cory Band as a staple. It was unique to Seattle radio. It hasn't been played in a long time. Last time they did, they promoted what time the song would play on the radio...
There are a few stations that do this seasonal format correctly in my opinion - my nearby 'Cherry FM' KARY in Yakima, WQPW in Valdosta, KKRB in Klamath Falls, and (for the 48 hours around Christmas Eve-Day) WSBZ Fort Walton Beach.
The Yakima station skews pretty old but does mix in some newer stuff. Case in point, I turn the channel when that stupid 'Text Me Merry Christmas' comes on by Straight No Chaser. But who else will play Barry Manilow's 'Because It's Christmas' followed by Lorrie Morgan's 'Merry Christmas to Me' in the *same* set of songs? The latter wasn't even on her Christmas album, it was on an obscure compilation album with a bunch of other country artists. Amazing how a Yakima radio station hasn't gone to the same hundred songs yet, I applaud them for continuing what they do best. KKRB spins a lot of very interesting songs, ranging from Christian artists (Michael W. Smith) to R&B (Jeffrey Osborne, Four Tops) to novelty holiday songs from the Ren & Stimpy album! And of course, The Seabreeze puts a dash of holiday into the Gulf waters every December - I love their mix of smooth jazz Christmas music. Great soundtrack while wrapping presents. They have been the substitute since WNWV Cleveland flipped to JenY.
"Jesus, Born on This Day" is a *beautiful* song with a children's choir. Also Mariah. I have only heard that song on Warm 106.9 in Seattle, nowhere else. But that was years ago - like with other Christmas stations - they have trashed all the non-hits. Novelty songs don't even get played anymore. Warm was known for 'Stop the Cavalry' by the Cory Band as a staple. It was unique to Seattle radio. It hasn't been played in a long time. Last time they did, they promoted what time the song would play on the radio...
There are a few stations that do this seasonal format correctly in my opinion - my nearby 'Cherry FM' KARY in Yakima, WQPW in Valdosta, KKRB in Klamath Falls, and (for the 48 hours around Christmas Eve-Day) WSBZ Fort Walton Beach.
The Yakima station skews pretty old but does mix in some newer stuff. Case in point, I turn the channel when that stupid 'Text Me Merry Christmas' comes on by Straight No Chaser. But who else will play Barry Manilow's 'Because It's Christmas' followed by Lorrie Morgan's 'Merry Christmas to Me' in the *same* set of songs? The latter wasn't even on her Christmas album, it was on an obscure compilation album with a bunch of other country artists. Amazing how a Yakima radio station hasn't gone to the same hundred songs yet, I applaud them for continuing what they do best. KKRB spins a lot of very interesting songs, ranging from Christian artists (Michael W. Smith) to R&B (Jeffrey Osborne, Four Tops) to novelty holiday songs from the Ren & Stimpy album! And of course, The Seabreeze puts a dash of holiday into the Gulf waters every December - I love their mix of smooth jazz Christmas music. Great soundtrack while wrapping presents. They have been the substitute since WNWV Cleveland flipped to JenY.
The FISH here in Nashville plays "Linus & Lucy," and that isn't even remotely "Christmas." That music turns up in ALL "Peanuts" specials.
Music Choice also has "Lunus & Lucy" as one of their Christmas offerings. It's one of the tracks from the album "A Charlie Brown Christmas" by the Vince Gauraldi Trio.
A secular tune from an (otherwise) Christmas album.
Linus & Lucy is played several times in A Charlie Brown Christmas, so it's a Christmas song.
"A Few of My Favorite Things" is a Christmas song too, even though it has nothing to do with Christmas. It gets played during the Christmas season in "The Sound of Music." There are a few brief lines that sort of sound Christmas-like, such as "Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eye lashes" and "Door Bells and Sleigh Bells and Schnitzel with Noodles."
And "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch" gets frequent airplay, even though the song never mentions Christmas. It's from "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."
"A Few of My Favorite Things" is a Christmas song too, even though it has nothing to do with Christmas. It gets played during the Christmas season in "The Sound of Music." There are a few brief lines that sort of sound Christmas-like, such as "Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eye lashes" and "Door Bells and Sleigh Bells and Schnitzel with Noodles."
And "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch" gets frequent airplay, even though the song never mentions Christmas. It's from "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."
Linus & Lucy is played year-round on KOAZ 'The Oasis' in Albuquerque. It's the smooth jazz version with David Benoit. I have never heard that version on any 'Christmas' station, only those that are smooth jazz - the old KWJZ Seattle used to play it, as did KTWV in L.A.
I heard 'Celebrate Me Home' by Kenny Loggins played in the middle of the summer on a soft rock station once. It was KXXO Olympia. About 10 yrs ago.
My Favorite Things is a Christmas song to the PDs. Julie Andrews' version is beautiful and often gets played. I think the Tony Bennett version gets a lot of airplay too.
Oh, one more thing about Mariah. Not many stations run her version of 'Joy to the World', but it's stunning. You hear a little bit of the traditional hymn, all decked out for '90s synth-pop, and then a tribute to Three Dog Night in the middle of the song. Gosh, I love that rendition.
I heard 'Celebrate Me Home' by Kenny Loggins played in the middle of the summer on a soft rock station once. It was KXXO Olympia. About 10 yrs ago.
My Favorite Things is a Christmas song to the PDs. Julie Andrews' version is beautiful and often gets played. I think the Tony Bennett version gets a lot of airplay too.
Oh, one more thing about Mariah. Not many stations run her version of 'Joy to the World', but it's stunning. You hear a little bit of the traditional hymn, all decked out for '90s synth-pop, and then a tribute to Three Dog Night in the middle of the song. Gosh, I love that rendition.
My favorite rendition of "O Holy Night" is by Celine Dion. While I haven't yet listened to any stations playing holiday music in 2021 (I usually don't until turkey day), I don't often hear it played, as most stations tend to stick with the better-known Josh Groban version.
One of my favorite (but lesser-known) Mariah Carey Christmas songs is "Oh Santa! To me it's just a fun tune and I like the melody. However, it usually gets skipped completely in favor of "All I Want For Christmas" or one of her better-known holiday standards. Speaking of Mariah, I remember a few years ago she was due to sing at Rockefeller Center and she angered the sound tech(s) by showing up incredibly late for her rehearsal. As I guess their form of "payback" they recorded only her voice with the melody and backing tracks buried in the background. It somehow made it's way onto YouTube and to say she sounded rough was an understatement.
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