# Are Any Radio Stations in Your Market Playing Round-the-Clock Christmas Music? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 10, 2004, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-radio-stations-in-your-market-playing-round-the-clock-christmas-music/279186 "2004-12-10T19:06:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-radio-stations-in-your-market-playing-round-the-clock-christmas-music/279186/1 "2004-12-10T19:06:40Z")
There are two radio stations in the Springfield, Illinois radio market that are playing Christmas music 24/7. **90.5 WIBI** has, since Thanksgiving, been playing Christmas songs, both old and modern, performed by contermporary Christian music artists such as Steven Curtis Chapman, the Catinas, etc. (they’re normally a CCM station). That’s about 90% of their Christmas playlist. The other 10% consists of some of the old “classics” such as _White Christmas_ by Bing Crosby, _The Christmas Song_ by Nat King Cole, etc. I’ve also heard some José Feliciano, the Carpenters, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra (_Christmas Eve Sarajevo_), and an ear-splittingly bad performance of _The Prayer_ by Celine Dion and Andrea Boccelli (I much prefer the Charlotte Church/Josh Groban version), among other non-CCM Christmas songs. **93.9 WMHX** has been playing what WIBI plays (minus the contemporary Christian stuff) plus a bunch of songs from the $4.99 CD bin at Target. Christmas stuff by Kenny G, Gloria Estefan, Mariah Carey, Ronny Milsap, Alabama, etc. Also, when I’ve driven through Saint Louis, I’ve noticed that **Red 104.1 KRDA** has been playing Christmas songs by Frank Sinatra, Harry Connick Jr., and the like. Any radio stations in _your_ area doing this? I’d be especially interested to hear from non-US Dopers. ---
**Author:** ![Jammer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df705f/32.png) [@Jammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jammer)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-radio-stations-in-your-market-playing-round-the-clock-christmas-music/279186/2 "2004-12-10T19:22:42Z")
Yes, but I can’t remember the call letters of the station at the moment. I do believe it is 99.5 on the FM dial in the Greensboro, NC area. Jammer ---
**Author:** ![PsychoBabble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@PsychoBabble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PsychoBabble)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-radio-stations-in-your-market-playing-round-the-clock-christmas-music/279186/3 "2004-12-10T19:27:31Z")
St. Louis also has 102.5 but it hasn’t been Christmas music that I really like. ---
**Author:** ![Caricci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Caricci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caricci)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-radio-stations-in-your-market-playing-round-the-clock-christmas-music/279186/4 "2004-12-10T19:55:06Z")
There are two in the Providence area. Don’t know the call letters, but one is Lite FM and one is 103.3 on the dial. It’s kind of hard to rock out in my SUV on the way to daycare with two stations down that way. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-radio-stations-in-your-market-playing-round-the-clock-christmas-music/279186/5 "2004-12-10T20:12:07Z")
107.7 in Orlando(ish). ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-radio-stations-in-your-market-playing-round-the-clock-christmas-music/279186/6 "2004-12-10T20:50:09Z")
Is this a new thing? In the NYC area, 95.5 WPLJ is doing this, and they’re a pretty big station. I’m surprised they would give up a whole month to it. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-radio-stations-in-your-market-playing-round-the-clock-christmas-music/279186/7 "2004-12-10T20:52:01Z")
Oldies 93…93.1 in the triad area. WMQX FM ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-radio-stations-in-your-market-playing-round-the-clock-christmas-music/279186/8 "2004-12-10T21:04:32Z")
I’m pretty sure that one Clear Channel station in each market is programming Christmas music. 97.1 - Dallas/Ft. Worth & Washington, DC 99.5 - Greensboro, NC 104.5 - Philadelphia 107.7 - Orlando(ish:)) ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-radio-stations-in-your-market-playing-round-the-clock-christmas-music/279186/9 "2004-12-10T21:07:41Z")
We’ve got three, or so I’m told. If we were NYC or LA, I’d understand having that many. I pretty much just listen to NPR anyway, so it doesn’t affect me. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-radio-stations-in-your-market-playing-round-the-clock-christmas-music/279186/10 "2004-12-10T21:37:51Z")
KOIT here. Just in case they thought I wouldn’t avoid them 100% of the time. ---
**Author:** ![Chastain86](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Chastain86](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chastain86)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-radio-stations-in-your-market-playing-round-the-clock-christmas-music/279186/11 "2004-12-10T21:41:58Z")
I worked for a radio station for 2 years that did this. By December 15th I wanted to jam a jingle bell up my Program Director’s ass. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-radio-stations-in-your-market-playing-round-the-clock-christmas-music/279186/12 "2004-12-10T22:22:09Z")
XM Radio. Four channels playing different varieties. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-radio-stations-in-your-market-playing-round-the-clock-christmas-music/279186/13 "2004-12-10T22:25:37Z")
I know of one in Chicago (but there could be more) - WLIT 93.9 FM (“soft rock, less talk”). All contemporary. I only know because a produce store I go to plays it. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-radio-stations-in-your-market-playing-round-the-clock-christmas-music/279186/14 "2004-12-10T23:01:19Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > I know of one in Chicago (but there could be more) - WLIT 93.9 FM (“soft rock, less talk”). All contemporary. More Clear Channel. ---
**Author:** ![Kid\_A\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Kid\_A\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kid_A_1)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-radio-stations-in-your-market-playing-round-the-clock-christmas-music/279186/15 "2004-12-10T23:02:10Z")
At least one of the Detroit stations is doing it. All the local fast food places are tuned on to that station, that’s why I’m having my food to go. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-radio-stations-in-your-market-playing-round-the-clock-christmas-music/279186/16 "2004-12-11T00:03:50Z")
The odd thing about the Christmas season on the radio is that it ends just when it should be beginning. That is, December 25 is the _first_ of the twelve days of Christmas, yet that’s the _last_ day you will hear any Christmas songs on the radio. ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-radio-stations-in-your-market-playing-round-the-clock-christmas-music/279186/17 "2004-12-11T01:29:10Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > **90.5 WIBI** has, since Thanksgiving, been playing Christmas songs, both old and modern, performed by contermporary Christian music artists such as Steven Curtis Chapman, the Catinas, etc. (they’re normally a CCM station). That’s about 90% of their Christmas playlist. The other 10% consists of some of the old “classics” such as _White Christmas_ by Bing Crosby, _The Christmas Song_ by Nat King Cole, etc. I’ve also heard some José Feliciano, the Carpenters, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra (_Christmas Eve Sarajevo_), and an ear-splittingly bad performance of _The Prayer_ by Celine Dion and Andrea Boccelli (I much prefer the Charlotte Church/Josh Groban version), among other non-CCM Christmas songs. I wonder if it’s a corporate thing. WIBI is a member of the “New Life Media Network” and so is Champaign/Urbana’s WBGL 91.7, which is also playing this same sort of stuff. So, WBGL 91.7 Champaign/Urbana, 88.1 Decatur, 88.5 Terre Haute, and 104.7 in Chicagoland. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-radio-stations-in-your-market-playing-round-the-clock-christmas-music/279186/18 "2004-12-11T01:39:24Z")
In a word, no. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-radio-stations-in-your-market-playing-round-the-clock-christmas-music/279186/19 "2004-12-11T02:05:19Z")
> [@Paul in Saudi](#): > > In a word, no. On on _that_ note, I think I’ll move this thread from IMHO to Cafe Society. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-radio-stations-in-your-market-playing-round-the-clock-christmas-music/279186/20 "2004-12-11T02:28:50Z")
80 Clear Channel-owned stations are doing this, and more than 250 in total. At least a dozen cities have _three_ all-Christmas stations, including Indianapolis, Detroit, Columbus, Ohio and Virginia Beach. It was pioneered a few years ago as a sort of desperation stunt by a failing station, which got a tremendous ratings boost out of it. And so do the majority of the stations that do so now. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-radio-stations-in-your-market-playing-round-the-clock-christmas-music/279186.md?page=2)