It's the Magic of Christmas

[awp69]

what is missing is that radio listeners don't listen to "formats"  they listen to music they like.  classifying formats in sub categories is only discussion which is what we do here.

You're right, but there's also discussion about what belongs on those formats. Yes, The Planet does play music in the "Active Rock" format, but they sell themselves as a New Rock station, which is misleading because they don't play a wide representation of music that is in the new rock/modern rock format. They're very niche compared to other rock stations. They play Avenge Sevenfold, but still throw in something like Oasis. Most of their sub-format or whatever you want to call it is harder rock that only appeals to a certain audience. So it's strange when they do play Oasis but refuse to play a lot of other new bands that would fit along perfectly along side that. It's not just all about format to me, it's also about making that format work. And to me the Planet is a mess (and I'm not just saying that because they don't play music I like).

Anyway, as carolinaradio mentioned, the station doesn't do very well ratings wise so I'm not sure how they even survive with the music they play regardless of the format they're in.

 

[wnc40]

I realize this well never happen, but I miss Power 93... Of course I also miss WANS, 99.9 Kiss Fm in its CHR days and WCKN... all great CHR's at the time, and what a battle between them. And now, none of them left.

 

[carolinaradio]

what is missing is that radio listeners don't listen to "formats" they listen to music they like. classifying formats in sub categories is only discussion which is what we do here.

You're right, but there's also discussion about what belongs on those formats. Yes, The Planet does play music in the "Active Rock" format, but they sell themselves as a New Rock station, which is misleading because they don't play a wide representation of music that is in the new rock/modern rock format. They're very niche compared to other rock stations. They play Avenge Sevenfold, but still throw in something like Oasis. Most of their sub-format or whatever you want to call it is harder rock that only appeals to a certain audience. So it's strange when they do play Oasis but refuse to play a lot of other new bands that would fit along perfectly along side that. It's not just all about format to me, it's also about making that format work. And to me the Planet is a mess (and I'm not just saying that because they don't play music I like).

Anyway, as carolinaradio mentioned, the station doesn't do very well ratings wise so I'm not sure how they even survive with the music they play regardless of the format they're in.

I agree. The Planet has one of the unique (not in a good way) rock mixes I've heard. Like I've said, the best thing for the station if they want to stay rock is to completely re-launch, IMO. Maybe they're pleased with it being the second lowest rated (measured) signal in the market typically. If this station performs well somewhere, somehow, it seems like it would just barely get by. It's just amazing that it's gone on as long as it has with no changes or improvements.

I liked Charlie @ 106.3. Entercom has another "adult hits" station, in Greensboro, 98.7 Simon - it's frequently in the top 3 in that market. I feel that Charlie might have done well here if given more of a chance. Too bad Entercom didn't put Charlie on 93.3 (or talk on 93.3 and left 106.3 alone) so it could've stayed around, and just sacked The Planet. I heard somewhere that Entercom flipped Charlie because they felt it had too much overlap with sister stations WSPA and WROQ, but who knows if that was true. If that was the case, why did they flip TO Charlie in the first place? I would have been in radio heaven if we still had Charlie alongside MY's updated sound, but oh well

 

[wnc40]

I live in NW North Carolina in the Triad DMA, and 98.7 Simon is a very well programmed station. I enjoy listening to Simon. And, there is not a station like it in Charlotte or GSP.

 

[carolinaradio]

I live in NW North Carolina in the Triad DMA, and 98.7 Simon is a very well programmed station. I enjoy listening to Simon. And, there is not a station like it in Charlotte or GSP.

Yeah, we had 106.3 Charlie FM (also an Entercom station like Simon), but like I said, it wasn't given enough of a chance IMO.

 

[vchimpanzee]

Personally, I feel that all-Christmas should even be just on more Easy Listening stations built for an even older crowd. But we really don't have any of those around Greenville.

There is WMUU, and they do it, but as is true for the rest of the year, it's way more conservative than would you hear on other stations.

I copied several hours of music from WMUU's online playlist if anyone wants to compare them to My and Magic. It may be hard to read in this format, but that's how it copied. I hope I haven't violated any rules by doing this.

:17 PM O Holy Night by Jan Mulder, piano/orch from Ecossaise Christmas 3:14 PM O Come All Ye Faithful by Westminster Choir from Christmas With the Westminster Choir 3:11 PM White Christmas by Philharmonic Symphony from Silent Night 3:09 PM Go Tell It On The Mountain by Johnny Mann Singers from We Wish You a Merry Christmas 3:06 PM Have Yourself a Merry Little C by Percy Faith Orchestra from Christmas Is.. 2:57 PM So Blest a Sight by Robert Shaw Chorale from Christmas with the Robert Shaw Chorale 2:56 PM Good King Wenceslas by Canadian Brass from Christmas With The Canadian Brass 2:52 PM The First Noel by Musica Sacra from Christmas Carols 2:49 PM Joy To The World by ALERT Chorale from Good Christian Men Rejoice 2:48 PM As with Gladness Men of Old by SMS Chorus from Rejoice 2:47 PM Christmas is Coming by Longines Symphonette from Christmas at the Fireside 2:45 PM The Angel Gabriel by Chapel Choir of Emmanu from Veni, Veni, Emmanuel 2:41 PM Silent Night by Cambridge Singers from Christmas with the Cambridge Singers 2:40 PM I Saw Three Ships by BJU Handbell Choir from Joy to the World 2:39 PM Wassail Song by Robert Shaw Chorale from Songs Of Angels 2:28 PM O Little Town of Bethlehem by Majesty Chorale & Orch from The Joy of Christmas 2:24 PM March of the Toys by Boston Pops from The Little Drummer Boy: Christmas… 2:20 PM O Come All Ye Faithful by King's College Choir, from On Christmas Night 2:17 PM I Wonder As I Wander by BJU Chorale from Proclaim His Birth 2:14 PM O Sanctissima by Rita Ford Music Boxes from A Music Box Christmas
2:11 PM Angels We Have Heard (medley) by Miller-Rowe Consort from Come & Rejoice 2:07 PM Christmas Songs by Hupfeld Phonoliszt vio from Christmas Bells 2:05 PM Sleigh Ride by David Osborne, piano from Home For The Holidays 1:56 PM Of the Father's Love Begotten by Clare College Choir from Christmas in Cambridge 1:54 PM Angels from the Realms of Glor by Golden Hymn Choir from Golden Hymn Collection 1:51 PM All On a Christmas Morning by Voices of Jimmy Joyce from This is Christmas: Complete Alfred S.… 1:47 PM In the Bleak Midwinter (Rasbac by Rushingbrook Children' from The Most Wonderful Birthday Of All 1:43 PM Silent Night by Atlanta Sacred Chorale from This Christmastid 1:42 PM God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen by Robert Shaw Chorale from Christmas with the Robert Shaw Chorale 1:41 PM O Tannenbaum (O Christmas Tree by Philadelphia Brass Ens from A Festival Of Carols in Brass 1:38 PM He Is Born, the Divine Christ by Roberto Alagna, tenor from Our Christmas Songs for You 1:35 PM O Little Town/It Came Upon the by Miller-Rowe Consort from Come & Rejoice 1:33 PM Oh, mi Belen! by Philip Brunelle Ensemb from Welcome Christmas 1:26 PM What Child Is This by London Symphony Orches from A Festival Of Christmas Carols 1:24 PM We Wish You a Merry Christmas by The King's Singers from A Little Christmas Music 1:20 PM Once in Royal David's City by Independent Presbyteri from A Christmas Legacy 1:16 PM In the Bleak Midwinter by St. Michael's Singers from Coventry Carols 1:12 PM The Little Drummer Boy by Boston Pops Orchestra from A Christmas Festival 1:10 PM O Little One Sweet by Arturo Delmoni & Frien from Rejoice! A String Quartet Christmas,… 1:07 PM Do You Hear What I Hear by Cincinnati Pops/Childr from Christmas With The Pops 12:57 PM The Blessed Son of God by Winchester Cathedral C from Christmas Fantasy 12:54 PM And the Glory of the Lord by Independent Presbyteri from A Christmas Legacy 12:50 PM The Lamb by The King's Singers from King's Singers Christmas 12:48 PM O Little Town of Bethlehem by String Quartetinner/ from A Christmas Celebration 12:46 PM What Child is This by Heidi Haase, dulcimer/ from Tidings of Comfort and Joy 12:43 PM O Come All Ye Faithful by Frank Chacksfield Orch from Christmas Joy 12:39 PM Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine by Gregg Smith Singers from Christmas Carolling Through the Ages 12:36 PM Home for the Holidays by David Osborne, piano from Home For The Holidays 12:27 PM Good Christian Men Rejoice by Joemy Wilson/hammered from Gifts, vol 2 12:24 PM Glory to God by Majesty Music Chorus from Season of Light 12:22 PM Jingle Bells by Canadian Brass from Christmas With The Canadian Brass 12:19 PM Good Christian Men, Rejoice by Galliard Brass Ensembl from A Christmas Celebration vol I 12:16 PM The Souling Song by Robert DeCormier Singe from A Victorian Christmas 12:13 PM Where Shepherds Lately Knelt by Atlanta Sacred Chorale from Where Shepherds Lately Knelt 12:11 PM Carol of the Bells by ALERT Chorale from Good Christian Men Rejoice 12:09 PM Deck the Halls by New American Guitar E from Remake of C208, C114, C238 11:54 AM In dulci jubilo (Sung in Germa by Roberto Alagna, tenor from Our Christmas Songs for You 11:50 AM The Snow Lay on the Ground by Heavenly Harp Ensemble from Heavenly Harps 11:49 AM Joy To The World by Westminster Brass from Christmas Celebration 11:46 AM Deck the Halls by The Sammes Chorus & Si from Mantovani's Christmas Favourites 11:44 AM Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Sile by Joemy Wilson/hammered from Gifts, vol 2 11:40 AM Carol of Christmas by Sixteen Singing Men from Carols of Christmas 11:36 AM The Twelve Days of Christmas by Atlanta Sacred Chorale from This Christmastid 11:28 AM Good King Wenceslas by The King's Brass from Christmas in Europe 11:27 AM We Wish You a Merry Christmas by Sally Harmon - piano from A Cozy Christmas 11:25 AM Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabel by Harvard Glee Club from A Christmas Celebration vol I 11:22 AM In the Bleak Midwinter by Principle Music Orches from To God All Praise & Glory--A Christmas… 11:19 AM Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming by The Cambridge Singers from Christmas Star 11:16 AM Adagio-Allegro-Adagio (from Ch by Newman & Oltman, guita from A Christmas Pastorale 11:14 AM Ding Dong Merrily on High by Musica Sacra from Christmas Carols 11:11 AM O Come, Little Children by Rita Ford Music Boxes from A Music Box Christmas 11:09 AM Infant Holy, Infant Lowly by Kurt Kaiser, piano from Christmas Favorites 11:08 AM Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy by Boston Pops Orchestra from Pops Christmas Party 10:57 AM O Come, O Come, Emmanuel by Paul S. Jones, piano from Impromptu: Meditative Hymn Improvisation… 10:56 AM He Is King of Kings by The Western Wind from A Christmas Celebration vol II 10:52 AM Christmas Lullaby by Majesty Chorale from The Spirit of Christmas 10:48 AM Angels We Have Heard on High by Vienna Boy Choir from Together At Christmas 10:44 AM Dearest Emmanuel by Newman & Oltman, guita from A Christmas Pastorale 10:42 AM We Wish You a Merry Christmas by Tanglewood Festival Ch from Joy to the World 10:39 AM Were You There On Christmas Ni by Adelaide Girls Choir from A Universal Christmas 10:35 AM O Come O Come Emmanuel by Chris Lee/Bronn Journe from Classic Christmas 10:34 AM O Christmas Tree by Johnny Mann Singers from We Wish You a Merry Christmas 10:27 AM A Virgin Unspotted by Robert Hale & Dean Wil from Hale & Wilder Sing Christmas: The Legacy 10:24 AM Go Tell It On the Mountain by Sherrill Milnes/Cincin from Christmas With The Pops 10:22 AM Silent Night/Away in a Manger by Foundation Brass Quint from On Christmas Day 10:19 AM Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers by Richard Szeremany, org from The Carols of Christmas 10:13 AM Silver Bells by Larry Mayfield, piano from Meditations for Christmas 10:10 AM Coventry Carol by Choir of Trinity Colle from Carols from Trinity 10:08 AM Allon, gay, gay bergeres by Robert Shaw Chorale from Christmas with the Robert Shaw Chorale 10:05 AM White Christmas by Mantovani from Mantovani's Christmas Favourites 9:56 AM No Room at the Inn by Robert DeCormier Singe from A Victorian Christmas 9:53 AM What Child Is This? by Robert Hale, baritone from Hale & Wilder Sing Christmas: The Legacy 9:50 AM Joy To The World by St. Michael's Singers from Gloria! 9:49 AM Angels We Have Heard on High by 1st Pres. Church of Ft from Christmas With The Pops 9:47 AM O Holy Night by Mantovani from The Christmas Album 9:43 AM Wexford Carol by Choir Emmanuel Coll Ca from Veni, Veni, Emmanuel: Carols from… 9:40 AM Christmas Songs by Carl Frei book-organ from Christmas Bells 9:38 AM O Come All Ye Faithful by David Osborne, piano from Home For The Holidays 9:36 AM Emmanuel by Wilds A Cappella Chora from Christmas Card 9:35 AM Sleigh Ride by Double Biphone from Christmas Bells 9:26 AM Angels' Dance by St. Olaf College Orche from Christmas at St. Olaf 9:21 AM Come, Let Us Adore Him by Carolyn Hamlin, organ from Thy Power Displayed 9:19 AM Rejoice and Be Merry by Cambridge Singers from A Christmas Festival/My Christmas 9:16 AM Somewhere in my Memory:Home Al by Children's Chorus from Our Favorite Things 9:15 AM O Come O Come Emmanuel by Empire Brass from Remake of C208, C114, C238 9:10 AM My Favorite Things by Emile Pandolfi, piano from Sleigh Ride 9:07 AM Silent Night by Kelly Smith Mowrer from Christmas Reflections 9:03 AM Adeste Fideles by Andrea Bocelli, tenor from A Christmas Festival/My Christmas 8:54 AM In the Bleak Midwinter by King's College Choir, from On Christmas Night 8:52 AM Deck the Halls by Vienna Boy Choir from Together At Christmas 8:46 AM This is the Truth Sent from Ab by Chapel Choir of Emmanu from Veni, Veni, Emmanuel 8:44 AM The First Noel by BJU Handbell Choir from Joy to the World 8:41 AM Here We Come A-Carolling by Carol McClure, harp from Remake of C208, C114, C238 8:40 AM Up Good Christian Folk and Lis by Choir of Trinity Colle from Carols From Trinity 8:37 AM The Shepherd's Carol by Cambridge Singers from A Christmas Festival/My Christmas 8:28 AM Fum, Fum, Fum by Foundation Brass Quint from On Christmas Day 8:23 AM Silent Night by Virgil Fox, organ from A Virgil Fox Christmas 8:18 AM Christmas Bells by Joemy Wilson/hammered from Gifts III Christmas Music from Around… 8:15 AM Merry Christmas, Merry Christm by Boston Pops/Tanglewood from Holiday Pops 8:13 AM Gloria in Excelsis by Robert Shaw Chorale from Christmas With Robert Shaw 8:10 AM O Christmas Tree by Mantovani from Christmas Joy 8:08 AM We Wish You a Merry Christmas by Philadelphia Orchestra from Time-Life Treasury of Christmas, Vol. 2 7:58 AM Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine by Mannheim Steamroller from Christmas in the Aire 7:54 AM O Come All Ye Faithful by Miller-Rowe Consort from Come & Rejoice 7:52 AM The Holly and the Ivy by New York Choral Artist from O Come All Ye Faithful 7:49 AM The Birthday of a King by Kenon Renfrow, piano from It's Christmas 7:43 AM White Christmas by Carreras, Domingo, Pav from The Three Tenors Christmas 7:41 AM Carol of the Bells by Nidarosdomens Jentekor from A St. Olaf Christmas in Norway 7:37 AM Gesu Bambino by Mike Shrock, trumpet from Carols of the Bells 7:35 AM I Saw Three Ships by London Symphony Orches from A Festival Of Christmas Carols 7:24 AM Carol of the Birds/Carol of th by Robert Shaw Chorale from Christmas with the Robert Shaw Chorale 7:22 AM Sussex Carol by Cambridge Singers from Christmas with the Cambridge Singers 7:21 AM God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen by Westminster Brass from Christmas Celebration 7:18 AM Deck the Hall by Original Silver Cornet from Cornets For Christmas 7:13 AM It Came Upon the Midnight Clea by Emile Pandolfi - piano from Do You Hear What I Hear 7:13 AM Fum, Fum, Fum (in Spanish) by Kathleen Battle, sopra from A Christmas Celebration 7:10 AM Angels We Have Heard on High by Golden Harps from Christmas with the Golden Harps 7:08 AM What Sweeter Music by Philip Brunelle Ensemb from Welcome Christmas 6:55 AM O Come All Ye Faithful by Joemy Wilson/hammered from Gifts, vol 2

 

[carolinaradio]

No comparison. The only instrumentals you will hear on any commercial all-Christmas station are Mannheim Steamroller, TSO, Kenny G, John Tesh, Vince Guaraldi, David Foster.

 

[awp69]

Regardless of the playlist, I'm counting the days until the new year. I'll be playing Christmas music at my house during the holidays, but I cringe every time I get in the car now at what I'll have to listen to.

Just keeping my fingers crossed that MY doesn't do something stupid after the holidays.

 

[vchimpanzee]

No comparison. The only instrumentals you will hear on any commercial all-Christmas station are Mannheim Steamroller, TSO, Kenny G, John Tesh, Vince Guaraldi, David Foster.

WMUU airs commercials. Very sophisticated and easygoing ones.

I was surprised to see they played Mannheim Steamroller.

 

[carolinaradio]

I can't wait for this Christmas music to be over, but even more than that, to see how the competition between 98.9 and 102.5 plays out next year. The fact that 98.9 is going to have a new PD in the new year kind of makes it interesting. As mentioned in another thread, will 98.9 try to be even more upbeat/modern to compete with 102.5, or stay older to differintiate? Back in the fall, 98.9 started getting a little more aggressive with new AC music compared to before, and the older music was more upbeat...I guess in response to the changes at MY.

We've seen one full book from MY, and it was a good one, but I don't know if that was because the station was different and a lot of people were sampling it, or if it really was popular. The newness will wear off at some point (I think they've taken the newness of the July change away by going Christmas) after a couple of books. I just hope all Christmas doesn't hurt them in the fall/winter books. I don't think we'll see any big changes from MY after Christmas, at least for a while....I mean, they'll probably add new songs, but nothing really drastic. They had been going in even more of a hot AC direction a couple of weeks before the switch to Christmas. Hopefully they don't regress back in to an AC sound. One thing: after the Christmas music concludes, that seems like a great time to ditch Delilah.

 

[radiolives]

Well you have about 10 more days untill the regular Adult Contempary music comes back.

 

[awp69]

Well you have about 10 more days untill the regular Adult Contempary music comes back.

Well, I just hope it's still regular AC on Magic and Hot AC on MY (and, please, please, no Delilah after the New Year).

 

[radiolives]

If Magic is smart they will stay the same road they have been on before going Christmas Music.

 

[MarkSC]

what is missing is that radio listeners don't listen to "formats" they listen to music they like. classifying formats in sub categories is only discussion which is what we do here.

You're right, but there's also discussion about what belongs on those formats. Yes, The Planet does play music in the "Active Rock" format, but they sell themselves as a New Rock station, which is misleading because they don't play a wide representation of music that is in the new rock/modern rock format. They're very niche compared to other rock stations. They play Avenge Sevenfold, but still throw in something like Oasis. Most of their sub-format or whatever you want to call it is harder rock that only appeals to a certain audience. So it's strange when they do play Oasis but refuse to play a lot of other new bands that would fit along perfectly along side that. It's not just all about format to me, it's also about making that format work. And to me the Planet is a mess (and I'm not just saying that because they don't play music I like).

Anyway, as carolinaradio mentioned, the station doesn't do very well ratings wise so I'm not sure how they even survive with the music they play regardless of the format they're in.

I agree. The Planet has one of the unique (not in a good way) rock mixes I've heard. Like I've said, the best thing for the station if they want to stay rock is to completely re-launch, IMO. Maybe they're pleased with it being the second lowest rated (measured) signal in the market typically. If this station performs well somewhere, somehow, it seems like it would just barely get by. It's just amazing that it's gone on as long as it has with no changes or improvements.

I liked Charlie @ 106.3. Entercom has another "adult hits" station, in Greensboro, 98.7 Simon - it's frequently in the top 3 in that market. I feel that Charlie might have done well here if given more of a chance. Too bad Entercom didn't put Charlie on 93.3 (or talk on 93.3 and left 106.3 alone) so it could've stayed around, and just sacked The Planet. I heard somewhere that Entercom flipped Charlie because they felt it had too much overlap with sister stations WSPA and WROQ, but who knows if that was true. If that was the case, why did they flip TO Charlie in the first place? I would have been in radio heaven if we still had Charlie alongside MY's updated sound, but oh well

You might want to check out 97.7. Cox just launched "Chuck", a version of the Jack variety format. I'm guessing it's a translator tied to one of Cox's HD2 primary signals. Coming in pretty well in Simpsonville.