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WHO WILL GO ALL-CHRISTMAS FIRST? WODS OR WROR?
- Thread starter blackgold
- Start date
I know I am old, 50+, but part of my nostalgia is for the true variety Top 40 radio offered in the 60's through mid-80's. I loved how a sappy yet foot-tapping Tony Orlando & Dawn song would segue into Led Zeppelin, then Stevie Wonder, then some funk, early disco, R&B, a love song, soft rock, hard rock, power ballad, etc.! It has been a revelation to listen to some of the airchecks of WRKO, WABC New York, and other classic stations of that era. That being said, I LOVED how stations like WRKO and pre-all-news WBZ would gradually increase the Christmas spirit by peppering their usual mix of Top 40 & recent oldies with Christmas songs. Around Dec. 1, a few days after the turkey soup and turkey sandwiches FINALLY were gone, a touch of Jingle Bell Rock or Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree was like the return of a long-lost friend. By the 15th, the mix had increased from about 10% to about 30-35%, then by the 22rd close to half. On Christmas Eve afternoon, on BZ's last deejay shift, all the songs were Christmas, between listeners hamming it up at the Downtown Crossing remote truck. The final step was WBZ's 24 straight hours starting at 6 P.M. WRKO continued the blend through Christmas Day. Northeast Airchecks.com has a classic Mike Addams Christmas Day track in which he sounds so relaxed, probably after enjoying a little too much cheer prior to his shift.
Now of course, with Internet radio and Music Choice, among others, we have seasonal music available all the time. I would love to see one of the major Boston stations adopt the retro approach mentioned above as a return to a more relaxed easing into the Christmas season. This now-unique approach may even result in some ratings rewards! Sound impossible? Not really. The oldies stations have recently been delving into Barry Scott Lost 45-type songs and more one-hit wonders from the 70's and 80's. WCBS-FM in New York and WODS here have been playing a lot of "A-has" by the likes of Argent and Dexy's Midnight Runners, not to mention an occasional play of A-Ha's one hit.
Now of course, with Internet radio and Music Choice, among others, we have seasonal music available all the time. I would love to see one of the major Boston stations adopt the retro approach mentioned above as a return to a more relaxed easing into the Christmas season. This now-unique approach may even result in some ratings rewards! Sound impossible? Not really. The oldies stations have recently been delving into Barry Scott Lost 45-type songs and more one-hit wonders from the 70's and 80's. WCBS-FM in New York and WODS here have been playing a lot of "A-has" by the likes of Argent and Dexy's Midnight Runners, not to mention an occasional play of A-Ha's one hit.
Hey, guess what? All you get on WBZ at Christmas is their "Christmas Carol" program with Gary Lapierre as Ebenezer Scrooge and Carl Stevens as Fred. They gave up on Christmas music back in the 90s. Why can't 'BZ News Radio 1030 forget its format for 24 hours and go all Christmas? The old WHDH used to do a 24 hour Christmas show(until 1987) and the old WJIB had their Christmas Festival of Music sponsored by BayBank(then Fleet, and now Bank Of America). The old WWEL and WHUE would do their Christmas Festivals of Music on Christmas Eve and Day, and they were fantastic! I remember the old WMEX's Steve Fredricks would devote his Christmas Eve show to Christmas music and readings, and(when it was WITS) the Merv Griffin Christmas show with over 50 national celebrities and great holiday music. In the final hour, he told the Christmas story from Luke's Gospel, punctuated with great songs by Percy Faith, Jim Nabors and others.
And who could forget Oedipus's nearly 3 decades of Christmas Eve shows on WBCN? (I have 2 editions from 2 years apart, and they are jewels in the Christmas music crown!) Mix 104.1 does have 18 hours of Hot AC Christmas music on Christmas Eve and morning before they go back to the old mumbo jumbo at noon on Christmas Day. Kiss 108 and Jam'n 94.5? Forget it! And Mike 93.7 just does its usual bullcrap over the holiday(although it does sneak in some great Yuletide hits). And who could ever forget the 12 hour Christmas shows by Kris Eric Stevens and the Tuesday Productions "Christmas Album?" Yeah, those were the days, my friend, for Christmas radio programming.
And who could forget Oedipus's nearly 3 decades of Christmas Eve shows on WBCN? (I have 2 editions from 2 years apart, and they are jewels in the Christmas music crown!) Mix 104.1 does have 18 hours of Hot AC Christmas music on Christmas Eve and morning before they go back to the old mumbo jumbo at noon on Christmas Day. Kiss 108 and Jam'n 94.5? Forget it! And Mike 93.7 just does its usual bullcrap over the holiday(although it does sneak in some great Yuletide hits). And who could ever forget the 12 hour Christmas shows by Kris Eric Stevens and the Tuesday Productions "Christmas Album?" Yeah, those were the days, my friend, for Christmas radio programming.
F
fmradio1
Guest
OK, October 1st is coming up, which means the all-Christmas flips start. I know WODS & WROR won't go until mid-November most likely, but with other markets signing on Christmas formats in the next few days, it's a cheap excuse to revive this old thread!
This is the way I would do it.
Around Nov. 1, a TOUCH of Jingle Bell Rock or Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree was like the return of a long-lost friend. By the 15th, the mix can increase from about 10% to about 30-35%, then by the 22rd close to half. Thanksgiving itself would be Christmas music FREE then at midnight Friday morning you can go FULL TILT!
Around Nov. 1, a TOUCH of Jingle Bell Rock or Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree was like the return of a long-lost friend. By the 15th, the mix can increase from about 10% to about 30-35%, then by the 22rd close to half. Thanksgiving itself would be Christmas music FREE then at midnight Friday morning you can go FULL TILT!
My beef is going ALL Christmas BEFORE Thanksgiving
I WANT WROR AND WODS to REFRAIN from going all Christmas until after December 1st. Then, they should add Christmas music from 10% from Decmeber 1st. until the 7th. 35% from December 8th. through the 14th. 50% from the 15th. through the 21st., 75% from the 22nd. througn the 24th. and 100% from noon Christmas Eve until noon the Day after Christmas. And then, during the week between Christmas and New Years, they can play 50% Christmas music and 50% their regular format. They can go back to their regular format on New Year's Day! What do you say, folks?
Mike said:
What? You actually think it is the PD that calls the shots these days?
blackgold said:
no.
JJ Wright said:
Thank you JJ, couldn't have said it better....get a life, WHO CARES!
Apparently quite a few people! We're sick of being told to start buying presents in October & yes, Christmas music before December 1st ruins the specialness of the holiday for quite a few of us! YOU get a life! If it's so unimportant to you, don't post here! Simple as that!12 In a Row said:
C
cjf68
Guest
The larger issue is this: Will this be the last year that this could happen?
............May be that one year from now WBZ Newsradio is now on 103.3 as
a simulcast?? Who knows??
............May be that one year from now WBZ Newsradio is now on 103.3 as
a simulcast?? Who knows??
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