Today at 12 PM, Audacy's WRCH finally flipped to Christmas music. They did not beat out Red Wolf's WBMW in Pawcatuck for the first flip in Connecticut, unlike last year. However, they did beat out Connoisseur's WEBE in Westport to flip to Christmas. Many more stations may flip to Christmas over the next week, so stay tuned!
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WRCH has Officially Made the Flip to Christmas Music.
- Thread starter FN32 DXer
- Start date
Nothing surprising here. WBMW and WRCH are always the first two to flip to all Christmas in the state of Connecticut. WEBE usually flips later in the season. Audacy's WMAS in Springfield hasn't flipped yet, thought the past 2 Sundays there has been Christmas music on the station during part of the syndicated Jim Brickman Show. Also WBMW's license may say "Red Wolf", but the company is called "Full Power Radio."
Isn't that odd? WRCH and WMAS are both owned by Audacy. Yet WRCH has flipped to Christmas music while WMAS has not. I suppose WMAS will wait till the day after Thanksgiving.
These days, the majority of stations that go all-Christmas do it by the Friday before Thanksgiving. Lite-FM in NYC went all-Christmas this past Friday. But most iHeart AC stations, I think about 80 stations, this year made the transition on Nov. 5, including KOST Los Angeles, WLIT Chicago, KDGE Dallas, KODA Houston, WASH Washington and WSRS Worcester.
These days, the majority of stations that go all-Christmas do it by the Friday before Thanksgiving. Lite-FM in NYC went all-Christmas this past Friday. But most iHeart AC stations, I think about 80 stations, this year made the transition on Nov. 5, including KOST Los Angeles, WLIT Chicago, KDGE Dallas, KODA Houston, WASH Washington and WSRS Worcester.
WMAS has historically flipped Thanksgiving week or on Thanksgiving itself. However, they flipped on November 14 last year, most likely due to the pandemic. Springfield gets Christmas music via WRCH and WSRS as of right now, and they have no de facto Christmas station yet.
Nor do New Haven and Bridgeport until WEBE flips. New Haven can turn to WRCH for now. What is the alternative farther down the coast but not yet into the comfortable reception zone for NYC signals? One of the Long Island stations?
Down on the shoreline, WEBE (107.9) has gone Christmas as well, no idea when the flip happened. Are all of our region's usual Christmas stations now accounted for? And are there any newcomers to the format?
And with the new week, WJMJ (88.9 Hartford + translators 93.1 Hamden and 107.1 New Haven) has started sprinkling seasonal tunes into its playlist. One or two per hour to start, most likely increasing as the holiday nears. Looking over yesterday's playlist, I saw only one traditional carol, that being "Silent Night," sung by Jewel. Otherwise, plenty of snow and Santa and chestnuts and Lennon and Jose and, yes, Mariah, but also oddities like the Waitresses' "Christmas Wrapping" and Kylie Minogue's take on "Santa Baby."
The Whale is doing Christmas music?
Sorry, WRCH, got my numbers crossed.
WRCH flipped back before sister Auducy stations Magic 106.7 Boston and B101.1 Philly were still playing Christmas into Sunday. 1 Audacy station in South Carolina Magic 98.9 is still playing Christmas music till possible New Years Day I would assume
Meanwhile at 88.9, WJMJ Hartford continues with winter and Christmas music through the 12th day (Epiphany).
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