As iHeartMedia flipped dozens of its stations across the country today to Christmas music, one newcomer joined the ranks dropping its regular brand in the process.
Hot AC “103.9 Kiss-FM” 1450 WSDV/103.9 W280EV Sarasota FL went all-Christmas at 5pm today as “103.9 Santa-FM“. The station had its first foray playing holiday music in 2021 where it went to a split identity keeping its regular format during the daytime, but playing “Kissmas” music on evenings and weekends.
iHeartMedia announced today the return of their iHeartRadio Holiday Special, a broadcasted event hosted by Mario Lopez. This two-hour special event will feature interviews with Alicia Keys, Backstreet Boys, Dan + Shay, John Legend and Meghan Trainor discussing their favorite holiday songs and traditions. The special will broadcast across iHeartMedia’s AC and Classic Hits stations nationwide and on the iHeartRadio app on November 23 at 7 p.m. local time.
Every holiday season, iHeartMedia converts music radio stations in its key markets to all Christmas music through Christmas Day. Each year, these stations continue to have the largest audiences of all radio stations in each market – often doubling the audience size from non-holiday programming – making iHeartMedia the No. 1 holiday music listening destination.
This season, iHeartMedia’s annual station flip to Christmas music kicks off today, November 11 at 5 p.m. local time, with more than 80 stations across the country broadcasting the season’s festive music from today’s biggest artists as well as holiday classics from Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and more around-the-clock.