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B98.5 & The Fish - Two Very Different Approaches to Christmas

R

RoddyFreeman

The past few years when I listened to The Fish's all-Christmas music, it really didn't sound all that different from B98.5's. Yes, The Fish played some CC artists, but both stations emphasized the pop songs.

This year, the 2 stations sound completely different. Did I not listen to The Fish long enough to notice in years past, or is this year really a change?

B98.5 is playing all popular Christmas songs, ones that everyone knows. And of course, the songs are being played over and over...and over, which is okay since it's just a month. B98.5's imaging, with Steve & Vikki alternated with comments about Christmas, sounds excellent. And, somehow the music seems to sound great with the station's processing.

The Fish is playing a lot of the pop songs but done by Christian Contemporary artists. And there are a lot of songs that are somewhat more religious and unfamiliar (at least to me). Additionally, The Fish is mixing in some really pop stuff by pop artists, such as the Ronettes. Overall, Fish's sound is somewhat softer and slightly solemn.

I find it interesting that B98.5 went all-Christmas an hour or so after The Fish. I guess B98.5 didn't want to lose one listener to The Fish, although I doubt they would have this year. Of course, I'm not the B98.5 PD, but I would have promoted B98.5 as the holiday music station the week before Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving week, saying it all starts Thanksgiving night at 7 with Delilah.
 
The Fish has always played a lot of Christmas standards performed by CCM artists, and some "Messiah"-like choir pieces.

I've been getting my Christmas fix from B98.5 this year (I don't like hearing standards mangled by Third Day over and over) and satellite, but last year Fish did a LOT of repeats with a narrow playlist--moreso than B98.5.

One interesting piece--Fish played the Ray Conniff Singers a lot last year, now B98.5 seems to be doing that.
 
well you know how i hate to be negative, but not only is B98point5 playing the same old songs over and over right now, but they seem to be playing the very SAME songs as last year. i would love it if they would freshen it up occasionally
 
B98 isn't worried about the Fish or whether they started airing X-Mas music before they did. In the first full week of X-Mas music B's ratings nearly doubled and it'll only get better week to week as it did last year.

art
 
I wonder how this type of format became "famously" known as the Christmas "holiday" station format? It seems like this is being done on very similar formats across the nation.
 
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