Christmas Music 24/7

[ocer]

Just remember much of Los Angeles is rapidly becoming not much of European decent. Much of Mexico is warmer than Los Angeles in the winter, Central America is certainly warm year-round and South America has just begun summer days before Christmas day.

True but there's plenty of non-caucasian people who celebrate Christmas too. Plus this is KOST we're talking about. That's got to be a pretty white station to begin with.

 

[Radknowski]

Even more southern locations like Buenos Aires and Santiago have climates much like LA, not "wintery" like Buffalo.

Believe me, nothing says Happy Holidays like waking up to four feet of show in your driveway on Christmas morning in Buffalo. Nothing like firing up the snow thrower and cutting through the snow to put a person in a holiday mood. I suspect most readers in LA haven't experienced the thrill (and childlike joy) of lake effect snow. [/sarcasm]

"Ho-Ho-Ho, Step Into Christmas."

To be fair, snow melts ('round about June or July.) The ground doesn't move, the mud doesn't slide and the wild fires don't burn. And there have been plenty (alright, a few) Christmases in Buffalo when there hasn't been any snow on the ground. "What's that green stuff in front of the house?!" It happens, but we usually pay for it dearly within a week or two.

Still, if I had my druthers, I'd rather be sitting on the beach at Point Dume on December 25th with a bottle of Toasted Head Chardonnay.

 

[oldies76]

South America is mostly in the tropics, and that includes Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, much of Brazil and Perú; there the weather is pretty much the same all year with minor changes in precipitation.

Off the topic here but,

As for Peru, only the eastern half, the Selva (Jungle) and the far, northern areas near Ecuador have tropical characteristics. The vast coastal strip leading to the western slopes of the Andes and south to Chile is dry as a bone. Only about a half-inch of garua (drizzle) falls from low clouds annually in Lima, Peru, where I am from.

These low clouds are similiar to Southern California's marine layer and June gloom.

By the way, I was in Lima in '06 and heard a nice station called "La Inovidable" (spelling??) 103.7. They play a huge selection of Latin Oldies and Classic Hits, like Leo Dan and others. Any word on how this station is doing nowadays?

 

[angelbec]

I am known as a total "wuss" Californian. If the temperature drops below 65 degrees I am moaning and have 6 sweaters on. I would die if I ever had to move back East. With that being said - I would one year love to go to New York to see the Macy's Parade for Thanksgiving and experience snow.

 

[davideduardo]

South America is mostly in the tropics, and that includes Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, much of Brazil and Perú; there the weather is pretty much the same all year with minor changes in precipitation.

Off the topic here but,

As for Peru, only the eastern half, the Selva (Jungle) and the far, northern areas near Ecuador have tropical characteristics. The vast coastal strip leading to the western slopes of the Andes and south to Chile is dry as a bone. Only about a half-inch of garua (drizzle) falls from low clouds annually in Lima, Peru, where I am from.

That, in fact, is why I said "much of Perú." Even the desert area is topical, as there is a definition for tropical deserts which are different from those in temperate zones, like the Sonoran Desert. Minor point, though. I've programmed and consulted in Lima, Ica, Trujillo, Iquitos and Tarapoto, so have been through quite a bit of the Peruvian climate. The hardest thing was to be in Iquitos, Perú, since in school we were taught that Iquitos is part of Ecuador and always would be.

By the way, I was in Lima in '06 and heard a nice station called "La Inovidable" (spelling??) 103.7. They play a huge selection of Latin Oldies and Classic Hits, like Leo Dan and others. Any word on how this station is doing nowadays?

Inolvidable is the direct descendant of Omega AM & FM, put on the air in about 1983 by the Archdiocese of Lima. I provided the programming, Beautiful Music under the name of "Musica en Flor" to Omega FM, and helped the pastoral efforts of 660 AM. I have not seen ratings for a while, but in the very young countries of Latin America, oldies stations don't do very well.

 

[davideduardo]

Just remember much of Los Angeles is rapidly becoming not much of European decent. Much of Mexico is warmer than Los Angeles in the winter, Central America is certainly warm year-round and South America has just begun summer days before Christmas day.

True but there's plenty of non-caucasian people who celebrate Christmas too. Plus this is KOST we're talking about. That's got to be a pretty white station to begin with.

Keep in mind that the term is "Non-Hispanic white" since most Hispanics are classified in the US Census as white. Arbitron puts all who are not African American (race) or Hispanic (culture) as "Other" which means non-Hispanic whites, Asians, etc.

That said, KOST has 3% Black and 30% Hispanic cumers, and 66% "other."

 

[Huff]

I have not seen ratings for a while, but in the very young countries of Latin America, oldies stations don't do very well.

Lima ratings - August 2008:

http://www.cpi.com.pe/descargas/RADLIM08.pdf

 

[davideduardo]

I have not seen ratings for a while, but in the very young countries of Latin America, oldies stations don't do very well.

Lima ratings - August 2008:

http://www.cpi.com.pe/descargas/RADLIM08.pdf

Interesting. Inolvidable has a nice profile, especially in upper income. That's probably why it has more retransmitters than any other CPR station. In most places, whether it is Argentina or Mexico or Puerto Rico, pop oldies just don't seem to work well.

 

[john77]

The only question for me is which station will take KOST's place in amongst the 12 FM presets in my car once it flips this month. Last year, I put KLOS there. I wonder who will be the "lucky" station this year?

 

[Nick Gerard]

The only question for me is which station will take KOST's place in amongst the 12 FM presets in my car once it flips this month. Last year, I put KLOS there. I wonder who will be the "lucky" station this year?

From the shameless self-promotion department, let me suggest KKJZ 88.1. Even if the music is unfamiliar to you, it'll be a refreshing change from the rigid, structured environment of commercial FM.

Nick Gerard

 

[scooty430]

Good choice with KLON. Especially because they are the only ones left carrying Chuck Cecil. Of course, you have to be able to pick up the signal. (I listen online.)

KLOS is a good holiday choice, because they usually do a big A to Z countdown that is really fantastic. The rest of the time they are musical wallpaper.

 

[nmoore6676]

Just as long as someone plays "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer" they can start the Christmas music anytime after Thanksgiving so far as I am concerned. As for retail they are going to push it this year because of the anticipated drop in sales due to economic concerns. It is kind of hard to put up a tree and lay out the gifts when your home may be repossessed. As long as I can afford batteries for the boombox I'm fine, I picked a freeway overpass where most of the stations come in just fine. ;D

 

[scooty430]

Jhani Kaye, your Christmas music sucks a$$, but one thing is true: You don't play Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer. Thank you.

Now, knowing you, you would play it to death if it "tested well with my demo," but still, we might as well give you a compliment.

PS - If you stop playing Mannheim Steamroller, I will be your BFF. Seriously, they are awful. Please stop. Think of the children.

 

[4UH8SIMBKAGN]

From InsideRadio.com today for new Christmas stations: Clear Channel's ACs KOSY-FM, Salt Lake City and WNIC, Detroit are among two big-market additions. Despite the early date, two markets -- Milwaukee and Grand Rapids -- already have two holiday-themed stations.

 

[davideduardo]

Jhani Kaye, your Christmas music sucks a$$, but one thing is true: You don't play Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer. Thank you.

KOST, in December of 2007, was ranked (in your favorite 12+) as second int he market, only beaten by KLVE, the only Spanish language station playing Christmas music. KOST's share was nearly 2 full points above that of the prior month, so obviously lots of people liked it. So much was it liked that in December, the KOST diary cume went from 1.1 million to 1.5 million... 400,000 more people than usual months.

Obviously, Jhani's Christmas selections were excellent.

 

[Michael Rivers Kramer]

Jhani Kaye, your Christmas music sucks a$$, but one thing is true: You don't play Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer. Thank you.

KOST, in December of 2007, was ranked (in your favorite 12+) as second int he market, only beaten by KLVE, the only Spanish language station playing Christmas music. KOST's share was nearly 2 full points above that of the prior month, so obviously lots of people liked it. So much was it liked that in December, the KOST diary cume went from 1.1 million to 1.5 million... 400,000 more people than usual months.

Obviously, Jhani's Christmas selections were excellent.

Not to take away from Jhani, but he's been at KRTH for a while, not KOST.

 

[scooty430]

Jhani Kaye, your Christmas music sucks a$$, but one thing is true: You don't play Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer. Thank you.

KOST, in December of 2007, was ranked (in your favorite 12+) as second int he market, only beaten by KLVE, the only Spanish language station playing Christmas music. KOST's share was nearly 2 full points above that of the prior month, so obviously lots of people liked it. So much was it liked that in December, the KOST diary cume went from 1.1 million to 1.5 million... 400,000 more people than usual months.

Obviously, Jhani's Christmas selections were excellent.

I'm not sure if they're still using Jhnai's playbook. As the last poster pointed out, the guy's been at K-Earth for a few years now.

But when he was there, you are right. He did a good job.....for THAT station. It was an easy listening station, and playing Barry Manilow and other artists of that ilk makes perfect sense in that context.

Bringing that playlist to K-Earth? No thanks. Bad fit.

 

[davideduardo]

Not to take away from Jhani, but he's been at KRTH for a while, not KOST.

And the Christmas "system" with minor exceptions continues on. Jhani did the first all Christmas in LA, and since oldies / classic hits share immensely with AC, it would be natural that, with all that experience, he would do a fine job for KRTH.

 

[Michael Rivers Kramer]

Not to take away from Jhani, but he's been at KRTH for a while, not KOST.

And the Christmas "system" with minor exceptions continues on. Jhani did the first all Christmas in LA, and since oldies / classic hits share immensely with AC, it would be natural that, with all that experience, he would do a fine job for KRTH.

Certainly, Jhani knows what he is doing!

 

[hamNcheese]

Not to take away from Jhani, but he's been at KRTH for a while, not KOST.

And the Christmas "system" with minor exceptions continues on. Jhani did the first all Christmas in LA, and since oldies / classic hits share immensely with AC, it would be natural that, with all that experience, he would do a fine job for KRTH.

Certainly, Jhani knows what he is doing!

And Ms.Prado has done quite well upholding the tradition the past few years.