This Christmas Eve, I was in the car with my sister and when I went into the gas station to fill up some gas, they were blasting K-Earth 101 so i decided to get in the holiday spirit and put it on their Holiday Classics special. But once I did, a voiceover of Gary Bryan came on the air speaking about the "Holiday Spirit" which led my sister to flip it to KOST. This got me thinking, do stations that flip to a Christmas music format or just overall start doing Christmas music for a little while tend to shut up and just play Christmas music, similar to many CHR radio stations in order to keep listeners?
-
Get involved.
We want your input!
Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.
After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.
After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/
Thanks in advance and have fun!
RadioDiscussions Administrators
SHUT UP AND PLAY THE...HOLIDAY HITS?
- Thread starter radiojomo
- Start date
calguy said:
Would you want to hear DJ's chatter between every song or every 2 songs on Christmas eve?
DJ's add life to a station and make it appealing to listen to, as long as they don't go overboard. Maybe some stations should adapt a time during "sensitive hours" on a holiday like Christmas, where talking or other PSA's would be minimal at best, so that the listeners are not annoyed by too much chatter and fewer Christmas songs.
Christmas Eve is a special time for families to hear holiday music, nothing else.
Of course a station needs jocks..I enjoy hearing them, as long as whatever they have to say, is kept somewhat brief and to the point.
"Christmas Eve is a special time for families to hear holiday music, nothing else."
I hear there are some all Christmas CDs available for purchase. Or, try Pandora.
Radio is generally something many people listen to while alone in their car, office, workshop, etc...
The companionship of a good personality is a plus for most people, even at Christmas.
Radio is not YOUR personal jukebox. The minute radio stations attempt to do this, they fail.
I love radio, but when my wife and I sit down for a meal, we put in a CD that fits the evenings mood.
I hear there are some all Christmas CDs available for purchase. Or, try Pandora.
Radio is generally something many people listen to while alone in their car, office, workshop, etc...
The companionship of a good personality is a plus for most people, even at Christmas.
Radio is not YOUR personal jukebox. The minute radio stations attempt to do this, they fail.
I love radio, but when my wife and I sit down for a meal, we put in a CD that fits the evenings mood.
Oldies 76 makes a very good point here...
That's why the basic Drake instructions of "say what you gotta say, then SHUT UP" still survives.
The best jocks are the ones who can be concise and say what they have to say in a matter of seconds, then move to the next element.
It's even more important in markets like yours where PPM is now in place. Once the music stops, you have mere seconds to say what you have to say before listeners start pushing buttons.
How 'bout that? Drake was not only right in the 60's...he's even more right today.
That's why the basic Drake instructions of "say what you gotta say, then SHUT UP" still survives.
The best jocks are the ones who can be concise and say what they have to say in a matter of seconds, then move to the next element.
It's even more important in markets like yours where PPM is now in place. Once the music stops, you have mere seconds to say what you have to say before listeners start pushing buttons.
How 'bout that? Drake was not only right in the 60's...he's even more right today.
I spent the holidays in Orange County. The Christmas music on KOST was excelent. Bryan Simmonds was great as allways with just the right amount of talk. On the other hand, KRTH was loaded with "canned" syrupy talk. I listened just long enough to hear Englebert Humperdink followed by Eartha Kitt. Those tunes would be of no interest to even the upper reaches of 25 to 54.
oldies76 said:
Then those families should, perhaps, play their favorite music on CDs or an MP3 player.
I really enjoy it when I see the "audience" judged as a monolithic, unified entity. Often, this view comes from a poster's own personal situation.
The fact is that a huge, enormous, humongous portion of the population is not with family on Christmas Eve... they may be single, or single or divorced parents, or in a retirement home or truckers and emergency employees on the job even if it is Christmas Eve.
Such people on Christmas would love to hear a bit of DJ warmth, perhaps some listener phoners, as well as the songs. Radio has a big chance to engage such listeners on that night, and should not miss the chance... for example, as a PD I gave Christmas Eve and day off to family folks, and New Years off to the singles set... so there were live people on the air sharing with others like them on each occasion.
Perhaps I can throw some perspective on this. My approach to doing the holiday format is to do a much more pared down variation on the station's regular format. Less talk, more music. I do the format and all that my programmer requires and add some info where applicable. On Christmas even less. We do no traffic in the afternoon on Christmas day and my back-sells become very short and sweet. At that point I see the air-staff as station identifiers and greeters more than personalities.
I do believe that one can go overboard, so I try to be aware of when I might go too far. Being a jock, I prefer a station to have someone moving the proceedings along and hopefully we got it right this year. If another station gave a more produced, more talkative show they may just be trying to set themselves apart from their competitor, and that's not a bad thing either as long as they don't overdo it. Many years ago when KFI was music, KOST and KFI had the same programmer. We only went all Christmas on Christmas Eve and Day and it was pre-produced. I was the voice for both stations and as I recall we kept talk to a minimum. I heard a station doing something similar this Christmas and while there was more talk, it was very close to what we used to do. This isn't a bad way to go either. I feel that it's much better than a syndicated show which has no localization or personalities from that station involved. But everyone has their own way of doing it. To each their own.
Happy Holidays!
I do believe that one can go overboard, so I try to be aware of when I might go too far. Being a jock, I prefer a station to have someone moving the proceedings along and hopefully we got it right this year. If another station gave a more produced, more talkative show they may just be trying to set themselves apart from their competitor, and that's not a bad thing either as long as they don't overdo it. Many years ago when KFI was music, KOST and KFI had the same programmer. We only went all Christmas on Christmas Eve and Day and it was pre-produced. I was the voice for both stations and as I recall we kept talk to a minimum. I heard a station doing something similar this Christmas and while there was more talk, it was very close to what we used to do. This isn't a bad way to go either. I feel that it's much better than a syndicated show which has no localization or personalities from that station involved. But everyone has their own way of doing it. To each their own.
Happy Holidays!
A
angelbec
Guest
As usual KOST is the leader in this genre. I have been listening to the station for over 20 years and continue to listen even though I have not agreed with many of the changes. However - such is life... and everyone has to earn a living.
My one burning question is why was there not a "Christmas Wish" this year? A very good friend of mine was a recipient many years ago and it changed her life?
Was this due to the economy? Will it come back next year?
In any event - listening to the Christmas music on this station has been a tradition and will continue hopefully for many years to come. Best of luck to the staff and Happy New Year to everyone!!!
My one burning question is why was there not a "Christmas Wish" this year? A very good friend of mine was a recipient many years ago and it changed her life?
Was this due to the economy? Will it come back next year?
In any event - listening to the Christmas music on this station has been a tradition and will continue hopefully for many years to come. Best of luck to the staff and Happy New Year to everyone!!!
- Status