I was just thinking that it was about time for KOST (103.5 FM) to start playing holiday music when I noticed: They are already playing holiday music. It began this year on Friday, November 11th at 8 a.m.
Being that it is not even Thanksgiving yet, it would be easy to make fun of the switch being so early again this year. But the results speak for themselves – as soon as the holiday music starts, the ratings jump upwards. Besides, when I do make fun of the early move, I get emails chastising me for knocking what many consider one of the highlights of the season. So this year, I won’t.
And of course timeline-wise, it could be considered late … stores like Costco are probably sold out of Christmas items already. Unfortunately for me, between that and the fact that the local Sears store is gone, I can’t do all my shopping late on the evening of December 23rd anymore. But I digress.
The station is also offering a chance to win four-packs of tickets to a private holiday party at Disneyland to be held on December 7. You can win tickets by listening, shopping at Smart and Final, following KOST on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and watching KTLA Channel 5… see the station website for more details: https://kost1035.iheart.com/
KOST has been making this switch yearly since 1999, and it is always a ratings winner.
More Holidays
One holiday station just not enough for you? Good thing we have SiriusXM available, Between the satellite and streaming, the service offers 19 holiday choices, most of which started on November 1st. Choices on the bird include:• Holiday Traditions – Channel 71 – “traditional” holiday music• Holly – Channel 104 – Contemporary• Holiday Soul – Channel 49 – Soul, Rhythm and Blues, Motown• Country Christmas – Channel 55 – Country (obviously)• Acoustic Christmas – Channel 6 – acoustic holiday tunes• Jolly Christmas – Channel 14 – “upbeat feel-good holiday hits”• Plus, a few more
Streaming channels include classical carols, smooth jazz, kid-friendly tunes, Latin music, “rockin’” music, Jingle Jams (hip-hop), instrumentals, all Mannheim Steamroller, and more.
You can get the full lineup of channels including the start and end dates at siriusxm.com.
But There’s More…
Nineteen holiday music channels not enough for you? Accuradio’s got you covered. The free streaming service has over 100 holiday music channels – 111 to be exact, which I believe breaks the record they set last year when they hit 100.
Acoustic, Reggae, Brazilian, Celtic, Channel O (songs that being with the letter “O”), Christmas Oldies, Christmas Party, Country, Standards, Classica, Choral, Easy Listening, Latin, Holiday Spice, mixed channels, decades, wide playlists, Hungry for Christmas (songs that mention food), K-pop, Old-fashioned, and even one station dedicated to playing dozens and dozens of artists performing Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” Or a channel dedicated to nothing but “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” Even jingles and music you’d hear on TV are available.
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I think you get the idea.
If you’ve never tried AccuRadio, you owe it to yourself to check it out at AccuRadio.Com. The service features music for just about every taste and even allows you to combine different formats into one. All formats are curated by a real person, and not just an algorithm … that and the personalization set it apart from most – if not all – other streaming services.
Other Choices
I know that Saul Levine’s Mount Wilson Broadcasting station group will be presenting holiday music as well; I’ve reached out to Levine and will have the information once it is available. If the past is any indication, expect Go Country 105 to start playing holiday tunes sometime just before or after December 1st, and I expect he’ll offer some online streams or HD Radio sub channels as well.