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Expected listener behavior for Christmas music format

F

fordranger797

I was curious about this question, as I feel we spend a lot of time talking about which radio stations flip to Christmas (at what time), but so much about how listeners consume to the content.

Speaking for my own behavior, I may check in to see which radio stations in my market flip early, but I am not a listener to the Christmas music format anytime in November. Every time the holiday season comes around, I will often listen to the Christmas music format on the days leading up to Christmas (and on Christmas Day itself), but rarely do I tune in anytime before December 22nd. Most Christmas playlists tend to be pretty small, so listening every day for an entire month gets pretty old for me.

So what behaviors and trends exist among listeners during the holiday season? Christmas music radio stations consistently put up big numbers around the holidays, but are the listeners typically there for the entire season, or are they jumping in closer to Christmas (like I tend to do)?
 
fordranger797 said:
I was curious about this question, as I feel we spend a lot of time talking about which radio stations flip to Christmas (at what time), but so much about how listeners consume to the content.

Speaking for my own behavior, I may check in to see which radio stations in my market flip early, but I am not a listener to the Christmas music format anytime in November. Every time the holiday season comes around, I will often listen to the Christmas music format on the days leading up to Christmas (and on Christmas Day itself), but rarely do I tune in anytime before December 22nd. Most Christmas playlists tend to be pretty small, so listening every day for an entire month gets pretty old for me.

So what behaviors and trends exist among listeners during the holiday season? Christmas music radio stations consistently put up big numbers around the holidays, but are the listeners typically there for the entire season, or are they jumping in closer to Christmas (like I tend to do)?
Click to expand...

The article at the below link will, I think, answer most of your questions.

cloudcovermusic.com

Holiday Songs during U.S. Holidays | Survey & Insights

Explore how Americans engage with holiday music from favorite songs to listening habits and retail preferences. Based on a survey of 1,016 participants.
cloudcovermusic.com cloudcovermusic.com


Also, though not directly on your topic, the below article from NPR may also be of interest.



And then there is this information from the very reputable Cat's:

insights.katzradiogroup.com

Katz Radio Group Sound Answers Release 74

Katz Radio Group is updating the marketplace regularly with new insights on America's perceptions and behaviors toward audio, communities, and brands.
insights.katzradiogroup.com insights.katzradiogroup.com


Finally, here's an article from Chartmetrics that tracks the hows and whys the Christmas song listening season is lengthening from 2024.

hmc.chartmetric.com

Why the Season for Holiday Music is Getting Longer

Christmas music's ability to move the needle is no secret, but the ever-expanding holiday season is amplifying its influence on pop culture.
hmc.chartmetric.com hmc.chartmetric.com


Enjoy!
 
In my case I like to listen to all Christmas music for weeks beforehand, and if I can find it, afterward. The commercial stations don't tend to limit themselves to the good kind. I switched to regular music for now but later I'm going back to an all-Christmas station which plays the good stuff.

Incidentally, I just heard Bing. I can hear him year round on the stations I listen to online. Nat Cole, Ray Conniff, and Perry Como too.
 
Expected listener behavior for the Christmas format includes:
- Watch out
- Do not cry
- Do not pout (please consult your December staff memo for further details why.)

Unexpected listener behavior for the Christmas format includes:
- Breaking bats on Johnny's head
- Hiding frogs in their sister's beds
- Spilling ink on their mother's rugs
- Making Tommy eat some bugs
- Buying gum with penny slugs
- Putting tacks in their teacher's chair
- Tying a knot in Susie's hair
- Doing a dance on their mother's plants
- Climbing a tree, tearing their pants
- Filling sugar bowls with ants.

This is all I know.
 
Bongwater said:
Expected listener behavior for the Christmas format includes:
- Watch out
- Do not cry
- Do not pout (please consult your December staff memo for further details why.)

Unexpected listener behavior for the Christmas format includes:
- Breaking bats on Johnny's head
- Hiding frogs in their sister's beds
- Spilling ink on their mother's rugs
- Making Tommy eat some bugs
- Buying gum with penny slugs
- Putting tacks in their teacher's chair
- Tying a knot in Susie's hair
- Doing a dance on their mother's plants
- Climbing a tree, tearing their pants
- Filling sugar bowls with ants.

This is all I know.
Click to expand...
You forgot that the PPM meter knows when you’re sleeping and knows when you’re awake!
 


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