The holiday season is in full swing, and radio stations across the country are gearing up for the festive season. But when do they start playing Christmas music? Some stations have already begun the holiday cheer, with more than two dozen radio stations switching to Christmas tunes since November 1st, the day after Halloween. The New 96.1 in Buffalo, for instance, kicked off their Christmas music format on Saturday with Mariah Carey's iconic 'All I Want for Christmas Is You'.
The station's website, thenew961.com, announced, 'It is the day many people across Western New York have been waiting for, Christmas music is officially back in the 716.' They plan to play a mix of traditional and contemporary Christmas music, featuring artists like Frank Sinatra, Pentatonix, Bing Crosby, Madonna, and Andy Williams, as well as fan favorites such as 'Dominic the Donkey', 'Snow Miser', and 'The 12 Pains of Christmas'.
As of Tuesday, The New 96.1 appears to be the only station in Upstate New York to have fully embraced the Christmas music format, but others are expected to follow suit. In Syracuse, Y94FM typically changes its playlist in mid-November, and Classic Hits Sunny 102 is anticipated to become 'Santa 102' closer to the opening of Lights on the Lake in Liverpool on November 17th.
Interestingly, some radio stations start the holiday season even earlier. The Wave 103.1 in Utah switched to 'Christmas 103' on October 7th, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. For those who can't get enough of the holiday tunes, SiriusXM's Holiday Traditions channel (Ch. 602) offers a year-round festive fix, while other satellite radio channels like Holly (Ch. 79), Country Christmas (Ch. 606), Hallmark Channel Radio (Ch. 105), and Jimmy Fallon’s Holiday Seasoning Radio (Ch. 15) provide additional seasonal music.
But why do radio stations play Christmas music before Thanksgiving? It's not just the Christmas spirit that drives this decision; it's also about money and ratings. A study of 102 radio stations that changed formats for the 2024 holiday season saw significant increases in their audience, with 34.4% more cume and 17.7% more average quarter-hour (AQH) listeners among adults 18 and older compared to the rest of the year. The format also reaches audiences during key shopping moments, boosting both reach and action.
Katz Media Group's study revealed, 'The story was the same across the board. Audiences were tuning in and staying tuned in for holiday favorites, with consistent average increases in listenership.'
Over 400 radio stations across the U.S. switched to Christmas music last year, and some may continue playing holiday tunes beyond December 25th. The New 96.1 in Buffalo, for instance, plans to play all Christmas music 'until Christmas Day and beyond'.
As the holiday season progresses, radio stations will continue to play Christmas music, creating a festive atmosphere for listeners. Whether it's traditional or contemporary, the holiday tunes will keep audiences engaged and in the spirit of the season.
