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Christmas coming REALLY early?

Warm 106.9 is all Santa, all the time as of today! No "Santa" yet on 101.5. Wonder if KSWD's willingness to flip a day early will result in an interesting Holiday book?
 
I understand Christmas formats increase ratings in the short term. Has anyone ever done a study of how that effects the regular format when they return? I don't know the answer, just asking...
 
I understand Christmas formats increase ratings in the short term. Has anyone ever done a study of how that effects the regular format when they return? I don't know the answer, just asking...
Anecdotally, and just judging from "meaningless" 6+ figures non-industry people are privy to, WRCH invariably returns to pre-Christmas audience levels, which indicates that there is little if any lasting anger over the flip among non-radio geeks. The listeners who don't like the seasonal music drift off to other stations for a month or so and return to WRCH after Christmas, while the listeners whose primary station before the flip was some other station go back to that station. Hartford has strong-performing Hot AC, Country and Classic Hits stations that don't go all-Christmas (WTIC-FM, WWYZ and WHCN) and appeal to the same demo that likes Christmas music, so it's logical to assume that listeners here are used to the November/December routine and don't get bent out of shape over it like some in this forum do.
 
It is my experience that many people flip away from the Christmas station until mid December, then it's everywhere. After Christmas, the ratings go back to normal. That being said, that evidence is just my personal experience, the ratings show that the Christmas music does well throughout the season.
 
It is my experience that many people flip away from the Christmas station until mid December, then it's everywhere. After Christmas, the ratings go back to normal. That being said, that evidence is just my personal experience, the ratings show that the Christmas music does well throughout the season.
But the holiday period numbers show that a whole lot more people are flipping TO the Christmas station than flipping away from it. I don't know if anyone has ever done a survey on how big a turnoff Christmas formats really are. For all we know, there may be a considerable "silent majority" of AC listeners who stick with their favorite station over the holiday period, even including some in the "get off my lawn" male demo. After all, we don't see huge jumps for male-skewing formats like classic rock and sports at the same time the Christmas stations are cleaning up, but Hot AC and country, which lean female, do see a bit of share erosion.
 
But the holiday period numbers show that a whole lot more people are flipping TO the Christmas station than flipping away from it. I don't know if anyone has ever done a survey on how big a turnoff Christmas formats really are. For all we know, there may be a considerable "silent majority" of AC listeners who stick with their favorite station over the holiday period, even including some in the "get off my lawn" male demo. After all, we don't see huge jumps for male-skewing formats like classic rock and sports at the same time the Christmas stations are cleaning up, but Hot AC and country, which lean female, do see a bit of share erosion.
Men put up with it for the most part. The female TSL and cume multiply. But the important thing is that the core all-year-long cume stays and becomes, with every passing year, more loyal to the station (as far as "play a bad song and I'm gone" loyalty exists).

And it is important to recognize that the average PPM participant cumes 6 stations in a 7-day period so a lot of those seasonal changes are really just modifications of regular listening behaviour in terms of TSL but not cume.
 
I understand Christmas formats increase ratings in the short term. Has anyone ever done a study of how that effects the regular format when they return? I don't know the answer, just asking...
Yes, and in some cases, there is an 8 to 12 week halo effect with higher numbers, but those stations tend to level off at the traditional levels if no other competitive change in the market has been made. There is no evidence that any AC station that is the established "Christmas station" loses audience in the long run.
 
Men put up with it for the most part. The female TSL and cume multiply.
Sort of like this time of the season when my wife watches all the Holiday Baking, Holiday Cookie, Holiday Decorating contests on Food Network. I go downstairs and watch something else. Usually Curb Your Enthusiasm. Doesn't mean I won't watch those channels ever again. Just wait till the holidaze are over.
And it is important to recognize that the average PPM participant cumes 6 stations in a 7-day period so a lot of those seasonal changes are really just modifications of regular listening behaviour in terms of TSL but not cume.
Just looking to hang onto them for at least one quarter hour.
 
Sort of like this time of the season when my wife watches all the Holiday Baking, Holiday Cookie, Holiday Decorating contests on Food Network. I go downstairs and watch something else.
Don't forget the month or more of sappy Christmas and Holiday movies on the Hallmark Channel! :) SNL did a pretty funny skit, parodying those holiday baking championship shows. It's available on YouTube.
 
SNL will have their Xmas special this next week. Gosh, I love when they show the 'schweedy balls' segment with Alec Baldwin. Hilarious!
 
SNL will have their Xmas special this next week. Gosh, I love when they show the 'schweedy balls' segment with Alec Baldwin. Hilarious!
SNL reprised that sketch about 1/2 dozen times, but none were as good as the original. The one with Betty White discussing all facets of the flavor/texture of her "dusty muffin" came in a close second IMO, though.

I believe it was SNL cast member Molly Shannon who said her parents were in the audience the night she performed in the Schweddy Balls scetch. One thing that helped her keep a straight face is that, inside, she was dying of embarrassment saying and doing all those things in front of them.
 
Where I worked in the 90s and 00s we heard it all, and had to put it on tape, CD, hard drive, and you'd be surprised how you're able to compartmentalize whatever music you have to hear while editing, dubbing, transferring, etc., especially when you have to hear the same songs several times over (different formats, QC process, etc.). It just goes with the territory. Nothing like hearing nonstop Christmas music in July.
 
Been there, done that. When I was in the Northwest Boy Choir a number of years ago, we started Christmas music at camp. When was that you ask? Usually the last week of July. I think performing choir, the top level, only started a few weeks before lessons and carols began, but I unfortunately never made it to that level.
 
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