I wasn't planning on bringing up this subject this early but since our neighboring regions have already done so on this board, we might as well be represented too.
For a number of years I have been a very strong advocate of doing the Christmas format and starting it even before Thanksgiving. I won't go into all the reasons why (again) here but this year, I am taking a different position. No surprise - People are anxious and worried. There's a lot of belt tightening going on.
A shame the Christmas season has turned into a big retail sales event and not what it should be. With all the financial and political uncertainty happening, playing music that brings to mind gift-giving and spending money, could be a very risky thing for a station such as WEJZ or WSOS to do full time early.
AC stations are a natural for the Christmas format. I don't envy the position the GM and PDs are in as they make the holiday music decision. IMHO, the risks of going full-throttle this year outweigh the benefits. Playing holiday favorites are OK but I hope they just start out sparingly, perhaps tie a promotion to a holiday song once an hour with an emphasis on helping people during the financial crunch and doing a just a bit more 10 days before Christmas.
The other day I was in one of the big stores at the mall and they already had Christmas trees and decorations out. While this is not scientific, I heard a lady have a tizzy fit with her husband over the decorations. She got pretty loud talking about how much she lost in her 401K. I always love getting first hand info from people so I asked one of the sales clerks there if they are getting any flack about the decorations being up this early. Man, I got an earful. The public is very nervous. I'd be very careful with all the HO HO HOs as it could be a turn-off.
Hopefully this is a topic of interest. I'd like to read your take on this.
For a number of years I have been a very strong advocate of doing the Christmas format and starting it even before Thanksgiving. I won't go into all the reasons why (again) here but this year, I am taking a different position. No surprise - People are anxious and worried. There's a lot of belt tightening going on.
A shame the Christmas season has turned into a big retail sales event and not what it should be. With all the financial and political uncertainty happening, playing music that brings to mind gift-giving and spending money, could be a very risky thing for a station such as WEJZ or WSOS to do full time early.
AC stations are a natural for the Christmas format. I don't envy the position the GM and PDs are in as they make the holiday music decision. IMHO, the risks of going full-throttle this year outweigh the benefits. Playing holiday favorites are OK but I hope they just start out sparingly, perhaps tie a promotion to a holiday song once an hour with an emphasis on helping people during the financial crunch and doing a just a bit more 10 days before Christmas.
The other day I was in one of the big stores at the mall and they already had Christmas trees and decorations out. While this is not scientific, I heard a lady have a tizzy fit with her husband over the decorations. She got pretty loud talking about how much she lost in her 401K. I always love getting first hand info from people so I asked one of the sales clerks there if they are getting any flack about the decorations being up this early. Man, I got an earful. The public is very nervous. I'd be very careful with all the HO HO HOs as it could be a turn-off.
Hopefully this is a topic of interest. I'd like to read your take on this.