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CHFI Officially Jumps To All-Christmas-All-The-Time
As regular as a laxative taker, CHFI started its annual all-Christmas-all-the-time sked on Monday, the day after the Santa Claus Parade. The endless debates about this format will likely be ignited here again, but even those of us who despise this yearly Yule-ery foolery have to admit it brings in good numbers.
I can't remember the last time I listened to 98.1, but it certainly won't happen between now and January!
Still, as this article from the Chicago Tribune shows, the non-stop ho ho ho-ing has a proven lasting impact.
So what are the top songs played, at least down south? According to the Trib article, the most spins nationally in 2016 came from the following, proving if nothing else, that when it comes to Christmas, "oldies" is not a dirty word.
Song Artist 2016 spins Year
"Feliz Navidad" Jose Feliciano 35,223 1970
"Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" Brenda Lee 33,342 1962
"A Holly Jolly Christmas" Burl Ives 32,629 1965
"Jingle Bell Rock" Bobby Helms 32,245 1962
"All I Want For Christmas" Mariah Carey 31,377 1994
"The Christmas Song" Nat King Cole 29,772 1949
"Christmas Eve Sarajevo" Trans-Siberian Orchestra 28,293 1995
"It's the Most Wonderful Time" Andy Williams 27,086 1963
"White Christmas" Bing Crosby 24,113 1944
"It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Xmas" Johnny Mathis 23,911 1986
Last edited by RadioActive (November 20, 2017 9:58 am)
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Re: CHFI Officially Jumps To All-Christmas-All-The-Time
Well, the ageist sarcasm aside, the list above proves that it's actually the older stuff that gets the most airplay. Apparently Christmas music is immune to the "just play the new stuff" mentality.
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Thread Starter- mace
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Re: CHFI Officially Jumps To All-Christmas-All-The-Time
I also like "The Little Drummer Boy" Harry Simmeon Chorale- 1958 and "The Christmas Song" Chestnuts Roasting etc. Nat King Cole-1947?? I am not against Christmas music. 2 or 3 songs an hour mixed into the regular format is fine. 24/7 Christmas tunes send me on spin cycle and definitely gets me out of the holiday spirit. Unfortunately, I am in the minority as most people do like it. The ratings explode on A/C stations that make the switch. Interestingly, on the few country formatted stations that flip, the ratings are a disaster. Country music fans don't like their format messed with and will not hesitate to switch stations.
- Dale Patterson
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You can argue the merits 'till you're blue in the face, but it is a proven ratings booster. I still think they start it too early, and the playlists are too narrow. It's generally a tune-out factor for me, but I will listen from time-to-time.
Last edited by Dale Patterson (November 20, 2017 11:05 am)
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Re: CHFI Officially Jumps To All-Christmas-All-The-Time
grilled.cheese wrote:
I can't stand the "pop" Christmas music. I prefer the old classical type stuff. I feel old. Time to yell at a cloud.
That's where Jewel 88five would come in handy...whenever they decide to go all Christmas.
- Peter the K
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I'm reminded of the time, a few years ago, when I stopped into a Walmart on a Sunday evening on my home to pick up a few things. They were playing christmas music but whatever system they were using was having issues.
They were playing Alison Moyet's Coventry Carol on continuous repeat. I was hearing it over and over and to make matters worse, it was a sunday evening so there wasn't really much noise in the store to cover the music. It's not a bad song, but once is more than enough.
I was in and out of there in 15 minutes. I felt sorry for the staff who had to endure it for who knows how long.
Last edited by Peter the K (November 20, 2017 5:30 pm)
- ckg927
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Re: CHFI Officially Jumps To All-Christmas-All-The-Time
Here in Buffalo, once WTSS(Star 102.5)pulls the trigger on going all-Christmas(this year, they did it on November 7th...I think), I pull the trigger on removing it from my car's pre-sets.
Let me make this clear: I have NOTHING against Christmas music. Just a station starting it THAT early.
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Re: CHFI Officially Jumps To All-Christmas-All-The-Time
CHAY at 93.1 in Barrie becomes the latest to convert to all Christmas. They flipped the switch on Friday.
Never has the New Year seemed so far away!
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