All Chrismas KOLA

[Radknowski]

All Christmas All The Time racks up serious ratings for soft and hot ACs. Statistically, I get it. Viscerally, I can't warp my brain around it. What a weird art form. What kind of people are attracted to the format. Eternal optimists? Shiny happy people? There has to be a profile. I'm not making value judgments; different strokes for different folks. I'm out of the demo, although I have a few Christmas favorites of my own: Charles Brown and the Eagles' version of Please Come Home...; Clarence Carter's Back Door Santa, Chuck Berry's Run Rudolph Run, ELP's Father Christmas, even All I Want For Christmas by Mariah Carey (the lady can belt out a tune) are good songs in their proper time. NPR, Classic Rock and Blues is where I spend most of my radio listening time. Wouldn't it be interested to read an essay by H. L. Mencken on the topic of All Christmas music stations? Since that's not gonna happen any time soon, I suppose this board will serve the purpose.

 

[scooty430]

I envision the typical light-FM Xmas music fan (especially those already into it mid-November) with lots of knick-knacks crowding their furniture, perhaps a collection of Smurfs or those little ceramic cherubs with rosy cheeks. They probably also frequent Applebee's and favor pants with elastic waist bands. The percentage with "big hair" is probably higher than the regular population. They aren't fans of Stephen Colbert, and they probably have copies of Reader's Digest, People, and maybe the Enquirer in their house. The bathroom toilet has one of those furry things on the lid. They go to Disneyland a lot and love the song "It's A Small World." WalMart is preferred over Target, and when they aren't listening to Xmas music, they enjoy country music. Just my guess....

 

[Element9]

I envision the typical light-FM Xmas music fan (especially those already into it mid-November) with lots of knick-knacks crowding their furniture, perhaps a collection of Smurfs or those little ceramic cherubs with rosy cheeks. They probably also frequent Applebee's and favor pants with elastic waist bands. The percentage with "big hair" is probably higher than the regular population. They aren't fans of Stephen Colbert, and they probably have copies of Reader's Digest, People, and maybe the Enquirer in their house. The bathroom toilet has one of those furry things on the lid. They go to Disneyland a lot and love the song "It's A Small World." WalMart is preferred over Target, and when they aren't listening to Xmas music, they enjoy country music. Just my guess....

My neices have worked for about seven years in medium type department stores like Target and audio visual and specialty retail stores. Now in college, they tell stories are worthy of The Santaland Diaries. Scooty, you're profile is pretty close to the mark as it relates to elastic waist bands and big hair... and lots of make-up. Don't know about the bathroom toilets, the gnomes, country music or even WalMart. But while my neices are subject to mind number Christmas music belching from the stores' PA and radio stations, the cellulite-endowed queens seem to be lovin' it. It appears to be a favorite of the 50+ pantsuit sisterhood. Hell, I as long as they're spending money, life's grand.

 

[davideduardo]

I envision the typical light-FM Xmas music fan (especially those already into it mid-November) with lots of knick-knacks crowding their furniture, perhaps a collection of Smurfs or those little ceramic cherubs with rosy cheeks. They probably also frequent Applebee's and favor pants with elastic waist bands. The percentage with "big hair" is probably higher than the regular population. They aren't fans of Stephen Colbert, and they probably have copies of Reader's Digest, People, and maybe the Enquirer in their house. The bathroom toilet has one of those furry things on the lid. They go to Disneyland a lot and love the song "It's A Small World." WalMart is preferred over Target, and when they aren't listening to Xmas music, they enjoy country music. Just my guess....

The actual profile is more on the side of suburban non Hispanic white soccer moms in above average income households... that is part of why they do it.

 

[djmimi]

Those of us who are mommys who still believe in Christmas can relate...in spite of the scrooges who stopped believing in Santa Claus.

 

[emailfailed]

I envision the typical light-FM Xmas music fan (especially those already into it mid-November) with lots of knick-knacks crowding their furniture, perhaps a collection of Smurfs or those little ceramic cherubs with rosy cheeks. They probably also frequent Applebee's and favor pants with elastic waist bands. The percentage with "big hair" is probably higher than the regular population. They aren't fans of Stephen Colbert, and they probably have copies of Reader's Digest, People, and maybe the Enquirer in their house. The bathroom toilet has one of those furry things on the lid. They go to Disneyland a lot and love the song "It's A Small World." WalMart is preferred over Target, and when they aren't listening to Xmas music, they enjoy country music. Just my guess....

If you've spent anytime in the Inland Empire... There is a reason why KOLA would flip their format to the sounds of Christmas so soon.

 

[Beachdog]

I envision the typical light-FM Xmas music fan (especially those already into it mid-November) with lots of knick-knacks crowding their furniture, perhaps a collection of Smurfs or those little ceramic cherubs with rosy cheeks. They probably also frequent Applebee's and favor pants with elastic waist bands. The percentage with "big hair" is probably higher than the regular population. They aren't fans of Stephen Colbert, and they probably have copies of Reader's Digest, People, and maybe the Enquirer in their house. The bathroom toilet has one of those furry things on the lid. They go to Disneyland a lot and love the song "It's A Small World." WalMart is preferred over Target, and when they aren't listening to Xmas music, they enjoy country music. Just my guess....

If you've spent anytime in the Inland Empire... There is a reason why KOLA would flip their format to the sounds of Christmas so soon.

I think you're right, like David said: "suburban non Hispanic white soccer moms in above average income households."

Smart move on KOLA's part.

 

[JustPastBuffalo]

Hmm. All Christmas music. So-Cal. No snow. Seems strange. But just once, I'd like to give it a try.

 

[scooty430]

Those of us who are mommys who still believe in Christmas can relate...in spite of the scrooges who stopped believing in Santa Claus.

Hey.....I make Xmas mix CDs, so it's not that I'm a Scrooge.

It's just when it's...

- 24/7
- before Thanksgiving, or on October 1, like CBS-FM New York did
- sung by Barry Manilow and Air Supply.....

Then you wonder, what is the profile of the person enjoying that?

 

[KOOL Listener Lauren]

- sung by Barry Manilow and Air Supply.....

Then you wonder, what is the profile of the person enjoying that?

I don't think Christmas music targets any more specific of a profile than just an average person who would happen to enjoy listening to Christmas music, whether it's Barry Manilow, Air Supply, The Pretenders, or the Jackson Five. Christmas music is all pretty much the same handful of songs redone by other artists and groups. It's just more about the spirit of the holiday, and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" by Dean Martin, for example, could still be enjoyed just as much as when it came out. Plus, I don't believe any of these songs charted anyway. I don't know how you could really target much more with Christmas music.

 

[jrplbg]

Would be interested to see if the incidents of holiday suicides in southern California has gone up since KOST started playing all xmas music.

 

[calguy]

Would be interested to see if the incidents of holiday suicides in southern California has gone up since KOST started playing all xmas music.

Doubt you could find any research that would give you an answer. If you ask me the current economy would have more to do with suicides about now than anything else. I'm sure that there are many former radio people who've contemplated it. Between Clear Channel and CBS I'm sure there are many...

 

[scooty430]

Point taken. I think, though, there's a difference between enjoying modern and/or "light" Xmas music, and being into the classics, regardless of the titles. That's why XM separated their three channels, most likely.

For example, Rudolph sung by Ella Fitzgerald or Dean Martin is going to get my vote, but if it's Kenny Rogers or Michael Bolton, I'm going to reach for the dial (or the exit if it's a store and I don't have to be there...)

And let's not even discuss the horrid Mannheim Steamroller.

 

[djmimi]

I don't think Christmas music targets any more specific of a profile than just an average person who would happen to enjoy listening to Christmas music, whether it's Barry Manilow, Air Supply, The Pretenders, or the Jackson Five. Christmas music is all pretty much the same handful of songs redone by other artists and groups. It's just more about the spirit of the holiday, and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" by Dean Martin, for example, could still be enjoyed just as much as when it came out. Plus, I don't believe any of these songs charted anyway. I don't know how you could really target much more with Christmas music.

agree...nice to hear the Xmas Chestnuts done in a variety of styles, cheesy, classy, soulfully or otherwise...