Magic 98.3: Continuous Holiday Favorites

[wmgcbs]

It seems like some time last night or late afternoon, WMGQ flipped to all-Christmas music. I've always enjoyed the variety of songs they play (although some of them are just "out there").

It's also a little awkward talking about "Christmas Favorites," and then having a jingle shout "Continuous Soft Rock... Magic 98.3." But, whatever.

The timing was a little strange. You'd figure all the people who wanted Christmas music would have switched to WLTW already through Christmas. Regardless, I'm enjoying it -- more so than their regular format for sure. It's nice to have an alternative for Christmas music in Central Jersey.

 

[blueclaws1210]

They switched to christmas music at 5pm on friday, i heard them do it they played alica keys "falling". then they played christmas music and stated that they were playing " christmas favorites " and have played more christmas music since.

 

[kevtronics]

Over in Allentown, PA, 100.7 WLEV is playing Christmas music on nights and weekends, and during weekdays they have their normal AC format with some Christmas music mixed in. That's what Magic 98.3 should have done. Now, anyone who doesn't want to hear all-Christmas music at work will have to switch to Fresh, WLEV, or maybe WCBS-FM or even CD 101.9.

Especially given the large Jewish and South Asian population in central NJ, I'm surprised that Magic made the switch to all-Christmas 24/7 this year. If the 7-11 store that's literally right next door to the Magic/WCTC studios switches to some other station, then they'll know they made a mistake!

 

[nd2023]

I don't think I even heard the radio at all at that particular 7-11.
Even if they had a radio, they would only be able to hear Magic 98.3 since it's right next to the tower.
Many stores in New Brunswick that usually have Magic on still have it on now.

 

[wmgcbs]

I think that this may work out for them. Some people may not have been ready for Christmas music when 106.7 started in November, but now that we're only a little over two weeks before Christmas, more people may be inclined to enjoy it and leave it on. I don't know... I've had on WLTW since November, and I'm just enjoying Magic for a change in the music. WMGQ hasn't gone all-Christmas since '05, so maybe it was time for them to try it again. I hope it works for them.

 

[kevtronics]

I don't think I even heard the radio at all at that particular 7-11.
Even if they had a radio, they would only be able to hear Magic 98.3 since it's right next to the tower.

I can get all the other stations, including 97.9 and 98.7 from NYC, just fine on my car radio while driving by the WMGQ tower. With FM and TV towers, there's the "umbrella effect", where the signal doesn't really reach ground level until a few miles away.

 

[amfmsw]

AC WFPG-FM in AC plays all Christmas music weekends, "The Breeze" stations as well. I enjoy it.

 

[mjb1124]

I was in that 7-Eleven last night, and they were playing, of all stations, KTU.

 

[kevtronics]

Of course the effect of this late switch to all-Christmas has yet to be seen, but lately WMGQ's ratings have been on a noticeable upswing. They seem to not only be holding their own against Lite and Fresh, but are actually (re)gaining ground.

John Lisk sounds a lot happier and at ease now that he has the afternoon shift, and is pulling it off better than Tim Tefft, who always sounded like a stiff news anchor trying, and failing, to be personable (maybe they should've let him replace Tom Ortuso on WCTC). But yet, Debbis Mazella is either voicetracked or just a good liner card reader, because she sounds neither live nor lively on 98.3.

Magic's audio processing is also among the best on the dial. It is clearly tuned for TSL (Time Spent Listening), because it is a lot easier on the ears than the harsh, edgy "New York City sound" on Lite and Fresh. It is neither bright nor loud, but for Magic's format and demographic, it's just right.

 

[kevtronics]

BTW, I just got an e-mail from Debbie saying that she is indeed live on WMGQ... not Memorex.