early Christmas music before Thanksgiving

[patriot578]

Don't worry, I am not trying to rush things to Christmas, but this is one topic that intrigued me a couple of years ago. I had honestly not even heard of this ever happening, until after Christmas 2002, I had read on 100000watts.com (when they used to be a free site) in the archives about stations flipping to Christmas music before Thanksgiving, later on to find out it started in 2001 with trying to help people cope with the terrorist strikes. Strangely enough, during middle of November 2003, I e-mailed 101.9 to see if it would be possible to see if they could do that experiment. Although I got no written response, I tuned into the station several days later (I think it was the Friday 2 weeks before Thanksgiving) and they had the Christmas songs spinning non-stop. I didn't find out that 92.3 (then "Lite" 92.3) had done the same thing. When I turned them on that Monday following that first weekend, I found that they came back from their commercial break playing just regular music, and they said they would intersperse regular with Christmas. 101.9 decided to do the same thing almost simultaneously, as apparently both stations were receiving complaint calls. Up until the following Tuesday (the Tuesday before Thanksgiving), both stations decided that overnight from 7 PM to 5 AM, they would play non-stop Christmas music.

Does anyone think 101.9 might try it again this year, or at least some station in the New Orleans area? I know 101.9 just went back to starting the day after Thanksgiving in 2004, which they had normally done. I actually enjoyed listening to some early Christmas music back in 2003. Maybe they should play Christmas music on the weekend before Thanksgiving to get people in the spirit, then go back to regular music, then flip back to Christmas music on that Wednesday, as I like the idea of listening to it while preparing Thanksgiving food.

 

[RFLA]

I didn't find out that
> 92.3 (then "Lite" 92.3) had done the same thing. When I
> turned them on that Monday following that first weekend, I
> found that they came back from their commercial break
> playing just regular music, and they said they would
> intersperse regular with Christmas. 101.9 decided to do the
> same thing almost simultaneously, as apparently both
> stations were receiving complaint calls. Up until the
> following Tuesday (the Tuesday before Thanksgiving), both
> stations decided that overnight from 7 PM to 5 AM, they
> would play non-stop Christmas music.
>
> Does anyone think 101.9 might try it again this year, or at
> least some station in the New Orleans area? I know 101.9
> just went back to starting the day after Thanksgiving in
> 2004, which they had normally done. I actually enjoyed
> listening to some early Christmas music back in 2003.


I think both staions learned their lesson a couple of years ago with that stunt. Each was trying to beat each other to the punch (with then WCKW Lite 92.3) being first, then a few days later LMG to keep from loosing their ratings bonanza they get around Christmas... But as you said, too many people calling saying it's not Christmas time yet (even though it doesn't stop Walmart doing it in October)made both wait till the normal time...

I say status quo for LMG this year... Why (Blank) up tradition? Besides, most that flip early in November use it for filler while flipping formats....

Even though 100K watts is now commercial, They do keep the tradition of allowing free access to the Christmas flips every year, even though last years list got dated at times.....

RFLA