Christmas Music In Boston

[Retro]

I haven't tuned into the radio hardly at all during this past week and a half. I have read that selected AC stations across the Country are temporarily playing Christmas Music for either all or part of the day, to help spread some so-called cheer during this time of emergency.

I read that WWLI in Providence has started programing this, for at least part of the day anyway. Is anyone aware if any other stations either in Boston or adjacent markets done this too?

Just curious, and thank you in advance!

 

[raccoonradio]

So far nothing but the HD2 of WMJX plays all Christmas about 11 months of the year.When the main signal goes all Yule, the reg format goes on the Hd2

 

[CTListener]

So far nothing but the HD2 of WMJX plays all Christmas about 11 months of the year.When the main signal goes all Yule, the reg format goes on the Hd2

Other posters are reporting the return of Santa and Frosty and Rudolph in Detroit and Philadelphia. Nothing here in Hartford yet, either, but I have a feeling ACs nationwide will flip to ho-ho for at least a few days as this crisis continues.

 

[Retro]

Radio Ink has reported that:

KEZK, St. Louis
KYXY, San Diego

Are now playing Christmas music also.

 

[Retro]

Other posters are reporting the return of Santa and Frosty and Rudolph in Detroit and Philadelphia. Nothing here in Hartford yet, either, but I have a feeling ACs nationwide will flip to ho-ho for at least a few days as this crisis continues.

I was kinda wondering if besides WMJX, if those 2 other stations breaking a 1 share (WODS and WJMN) could perhaps consider flipping to the format as well?

 

[CTListener]

I was kinda wondering if besides WMJX, if those 2 other stations breaking a 1 share (WODS and WJMN) could perhaps consider flipping to the format as well?

Probably not, as they serve a demographic that's not as receptive to holiday music as WMJX's is. Remember, those low ratings are only the meaningless 6+ numbers. The big brass know exactly how those stations are performing among the listeners their advertisers want to reach, and since neither has even hinted at a format flip or even a tweak, those numbers must be satisfactory. No one outside the business will ever see those numbers, though.

 

[blackgold]

How about some Holy Week music instead?

 

[davideduardo]

How about some Holy Week music instead?

The traditional music played in many parts of the world during Holy Week is classical.

And that brings up an important issue. Classical music, as we know it in the US, is the music of white Europeans. As America becomes more diverse, that is not always the traditional music of our citizens and residents. So it is now hard to say what the appropriate music for Easter is, even for Christians.

But that is a separate issue involving the transition of the nation into a more diverse society. And, since radio and the media in general reflect transitions and changes, but don't single-handedly make the change themselves, this is a very large and separate subject.

Up until the late 70's and early 80's, in much of Latin America secular radio stations would run instrumental music Wednesday and Thursday, and Classical on Good Friday. Some would not broadcast at all. None would run commercials on Good Friday.

The US had no such strict tradition or custom in the past, although there is one exception: Puerto Rico.

In Puerto Rico in 1968, newly reformatted Top 40 WKAQ, consulted by Mike Joseph, kept the hot hits format going on Holy Friday. Listeners responded by torching the station studios and taking it off the air. In subsequent years, they toned down the format, removing DJs, jingles, commercials and songs that were too up-tempo or with less than "reverent" lyrics.