With the calendar turning past Halloween to November, the holiday season has kicked off with a bang as over a dozen stations have made the move to Christmas music.
Great Eastern Radio launched the first station this year to move to holiday music as it debuted 97.9 WXMS Au Sable NY/Burlington VT on October 1. Later that day it was followed by Cumulus Media’s usually early adopter in Oldies “Z104” 103.9 WWIZ Middlesex PA/Youngstown OH. Growing Christian Foundation went into stunt mode with “All Christmas 104.5” on its just acquired KZIU-FM Newport/Spokane WA as well.
Last week brought two more stations moving to Christmas music as PMB Broadcasting’s “103.7 Lite-FM” WLTC Cusetta/Columbus GA began on October 25 and Cumulus Media Soft AC “Magic 97.9” KQFC Boise followed on Friday.
As we reported earlier today, Neuhoff Media began stunting on the former Rhythmic CHR “Hot 100.7” WWHX Normal/Bloomington IL ahead of a format change after Christmas.
iHeartMedia Variety Hits “104.1 The Spot” KVDU Houma/New Orleans became a first time convert to Christmas music this morning. As the station continues to run on low power following the destruction of its tower by Hurricqne Ida in August and continues to maintain its regular branding, we’re not yet sure what to make of its long-term format plans. But it was also joined by at least ten other stations making their regular seasonal move to holiday music.
Making the shift today were:
- Townsquare Media Soft AC “103.9 The Breeze” WPBZ Rensselaer/Albany NY
- Horizon Broadcasting AC “104.1 The Peak” KWPK Sisters/Bend OR
- Audacy Hot AC “Star 102.5” WTSS Buffalo NY
- Pillar of Fire Christian AC “Star 93.3” WAKW Cincinnati
- Audacy AC “Magic 98.9” WSPA-FM Spartanburg/Greenville SC
- iHeartMedia Hot AC “Mix 94.5” WMXL Lexington KY
- SummitMedia Hot AC “Mix 106.9” WVEZ Louisville KY
- Riverbend Communications AC “Classy 97” KLCE Blackfoot/Pocatello ID
- Cumulus AC “Lite Rock 100.7” 1340 KRMD Shreveport LA
We expect some of the larger market stations to follow suit later this week. iHeartMedia AC “99.9 KEZ” KESZ Phoenix is already promoting it will shift on Thursday at 7:30am. Other regular early November converts are usually WLIT Chicago, WNIC Detroit, and KOST Los Angeles. Most major markets will likely see at least one station shift right around the start of the December PPM and CDM surveys on Thursday, November 11 to get two full survey periods with the ratings boost the music provides this time of the year.
Note: Since many people ask every year, we will not be providing a complete up-to-date list of every station shifting to Christmas music. We will only be noting stations that will be listed on our annual Post-Christmas Format Change Watchlist.