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Holiday Music Starts...

M

mediawatcher

Today being October 25 -- two months until Christmas -- what is this group's predictions as to when your local market radio stations will play full time holiday music? Please be specific by station and date.

Also what are your thoughts about stations playing this format?
 
Wednesday, November 1st.....ummmmm, KDAT? Or will ol' Mix 96.5 beat them too it? I'll go with KDAT. It hurts my head too much to think about it!
 
You can talk to programming at KDAT and they will swear on a stack of Bibles as the COMPLAINTS and threats roll in , that even though even their regular listeners beg them to not start so early .,....."the research proves that the person that starts first wins the ratings war." Meanwhile throwing listeners to Z and KHAK and worse yet to CD listening.

Programming will also swear that every idea is their own and they never copy the competition (in radio everything is re-done) , and yet when the press interviews them on why they started so early , they will respond with an answer a five year old will give..."Well Mix started it! We had to follow suit."

You would think they would learn from last year . I predict Mix will start first on some internet streaming station so they can say they "won" and will try to win the affections of their listeners by waiting but making it well-known if you are in the holiday music mood , they can help you in their internet station or whatever the heck that is called, and if you are not...they will stay holiday music free longer than the other guys. Then again MIX might read this and do the opposite just to not be predictable.
As for KDAT ...they reportedly have bets within the office about what their PD will do ,.....they say he changes his mind by the minute. I bet he has his office radio tuned into MIX as we speak , with a fully loaded holiday music schedule ready at the touch of the button. I only pity the poor people on the receiving end and the jocks that have to try to do damage control , while KHAK and Z have a celebration. They should send thank yous to both stations for the extra listeners each holiday book.
 
Not to be too technical, but there is no Winter book...it's fall only, from Sep 1-Dec 19...but I'm guessing the cold weather has gotten to you. Ha ha ha...

And both WMT and KDAT had bumps in the meaningless 12+...

So did most stations with the exception of KHAK, MRY, and FMW in '05

While I'm not privy to the breakouts at the moment, I have seen them many times in the past. Perhaps you're injecting a bit too much of your own personal view into an otherwise solid bit of research about Christmas music. I hate it myself...but it does work.

Yes, many many many many complaints come in...but that's always the case no matter what is happening on the air. Very few people call to compliment unless they're asked to...(which is mostly true of all businesses and products).

So grit your teeth like I do.

BTW: My guess is November 2nd @ 7:20am for Mix....7:22am for KDAT. No reason other than it's a Thursday and it's in the middle of the quarter hour.

If they had any brains over there at CC, they'd play off the fact they'll start it first by having a big listener contest to guess the exact date and time they begin instead of the same ole same ole. "Surprise! We're playing Christmas music!"

So yes, the WAY they are doing it is boring, but you can't argue with the fact that they are.
I would suggest...build some anticipation...build some buzz...make fun of yourself...make fun of an imaginary PD issuing an order that all must obey...etc...
 
You will notice I said holiday book, not winter book.....I almost wrote fall book but it didn't seem right to say since YES, it does seem like winter. BRRRR.

Halloween and Thanksgiving fall into the "Holiday book" as does Christmas, even though it is really over before the ACTUAL holiday ,,,,,it is the holiday season...that is why I referred to it as a holiday book.
If the fall book didn't contain the HOLIDAYS,,, I think KDAT and MIX would do better...another reason I refer to it as the HOLIDAY book, sorry if my terms bothered you a bit. I don't think the jocks that are forced to play non-stop holiday music when it is sunny and 70 degrees (as it was last year on day 1) are to blame for the ratings dive during the HOLIDAY book...and I don't think the Jocks that easily win ratings during the "Holiday Book " are fully due credit for the listeners they receive due to the other guys playing non-stop tunes early

As far as injecting too much of my personal opinion that is what Media Watcher asked for... (my prediction and my thoughts) and that is what I responded with. I also didn't say the research was false ....I just reported what I heard the reasoning was. I will , however state now that I do think it is nuts, but that doesn't mean it wasn't proven somewhere at sometime. I am not arguing that ...I am just saying what I have witnessed to be true.

I think the idea of a Crazy program director promo demanding Christmas music would be neat and actually probably accurate. ... ha ha.
Thank you!
 
Yes, thank you for your opinions on the subject.

I am interested in what the readers and contributors to this forum have to say about their local market. Its very interesting to see how each station may position itself for the ratings either directly or as a result of what the other station does.

Keep the opinions coming...
 
Will2change... you seem to know quite a bit about KDAT... has your shadow grace the hallways of Cumulus Media before?
 
I have friends at both KDAT and Mix and know much about both of them. Radio people love to talk shop, so I hear it all whether I want to or not.
I did write to the PD of KDAT last year regarding the holiday music and he invited me to tune into KHAK until the holiday music was over.

I am in CR for a short time visiting friends but will head home soon. I sure hope my last song I hear on my way out of town is a holiday tune, so I can giggle as I depart.

How about you...what station are you involved with Disco Jonn?
 
PS: I thought you might find this amusing...I just got a call from my son who
announced he wants to be in radio like his godfather...heaven help me !!
(His Godfather is my friend who currently works in radio)
 
I also have friends a both stations KDAT & Mix. I think the first day either one of the stations will change to all Christmas Music is when we hit a warm day in November. Last year it was almost 80° that day when Mix pulled the trigger around 8 in the morning and KDAT fired back around 2 that afternoon. One thing that they might have going for them this year is the Fall has been colder than normal.

You can hear me every day Monday - Friday and on weekends as well. I will narrow it down. On the FM dial somewhere between 88.1 and 107.9.
 
Hey, now that is narrowing it down.....now I know who you are,
you're Keith Urban. ;)
 
Speaking of Keith Urban Will.....does anyone know what has happened to Bear from KHAK?? I have tuned in a few times over the last couple of weeks and he is gone. I can't imagine he'd take vacation in the middle of the ratings. Anyone hear??

The Stick
 
Don't know where Da Bear is. Interesting. Are you Bobby Hanson? Not you Stickman....I meant Disco Jon.
 
Good call Funny Candy company...I was thinking he wasn't on 5 days a week and on weekends, but I think he does do work for that new Cumulus station in the APAC building? Or does he?

Stickman...I don't like to be the "BEAR-er" of personal info , but sources did say he is facing some legal charges and is temporarily(?) off the air , but still employed there. I don't feel comfortable revealing more and feel guilty saying that much.
I wish him well, but if they are looking to replace him , I certainly hope they do not seek yet ANOTHER BEAR...as that would be ...well, unBEARABLE!
GRRRR!
 
Maybe they could hire a "BIGGER" (evil snicker) talent and call him Bear L. (Barrel) and run promos like "Come see Bear L. Bare ALL" as he gets naked on the KDAT billboard. (Heck, that would sell some early EGGNOG! Bring on Bear L. AND holiday music!). I am only saying this because Will2 mentioned criminal charges. If he is found to be innocent.....I will cry in my bear...I mean beer tonight!
Bear D. (I was the one who looked like Grizzly Adams.....get it, BEARD?) Okay, I'll stop.
 
Funny Candy Co perhaps has inhaled too much of that funny candy..(chuckle)

I feel bad about Bear's rumored situation and don't wish to make light of that...I was only answering Stickman's question and was "honored":) that I knew something Stickman did not and he was addressing me. I kind of think as Stickman as the Great Almighty OZ .
It sounds as if you don't realize that BEAR is a KHAK employee not a KDAT employee.

Re-read your posting...come on what were you on when you posted?

Although I must admit I think you hit the nail on the head(in an earlier posting before the candy) guessing the identity
of Disco Jonn. If you look back at former postings you can really learn a lot about someone , once an idea is placed in your head. I cannot believe I forgot about Bobby Hansen. He is an awesome guy , but enjoys gossip more than most girls I know. (sorry for a sexist comment..and no offense to Bobby...he cracks me up and is a very nice dude....then again I guess we here on this sight are all guilty of that) ;D
All in fun of course!
 
KDAT and KHAK are sister stations. I figured the hideous sight of the new "Bear" dancing on the KDAT billboard would drive up eggnog sales (DAT listeners are notoriously weak stomached...that's why they like the "lighter fare") enabling them to keep down their share of holiday tunes. So, the new Bear could help both stations at once. That's how talented Bears are, ya know? Why mess with it? I know that Bear works for KHAK. However, I do enjoy my Candy.
Love,
Britta
 
FunnyCandyCo said:
KDAT and KHAK are sister stations. I figured the hideous sight of the new "Bear" dancing on the KDAT billboard would drive up eggnog sales (DAT listeners are notoriously weak stomached...that's why they like the "lighter fare") enabling them to keep down their share of holiday tunes. So, the new Bear could help both stations at once. That's how talented Bears are, ya know? Why mess with it? I know that Bear works for KHAK. However, I do enjoy my Candy.
Love,
Britta
Click to expand...


Britta...is that really you?

I worked with you 19 years ago in the land of Mr. Mann with nightly knife/gun fights in the immediate vicinity of our studios.

1987 station Christmas party: you as Vanna White and we all got FRUIT BASKETS for our Christmas bonus???!!!

Look at my screenname. If you're really B.L.M., you'll know who I am! :)
 
Sorry, I was being sarcastic. Just another night that FCC claims he's an hot blonde jock from CR's past. Nice to meet you, though MN.
 
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