The first Christmas song I heard was on Monday on Rdio 2 during Simon's show. He interviewed the lead singer of Bellowhead and played their new single, Jingle Bells and it's fabulous.
Kind of off-topic but local pub karaoke the other night I heard someone 'singing' Shakey's 'Merry Xmas Everyone' - I was understandably distraught. :-)
Usually it's Heart (surprise surprise) that start the ball rolling thinking they know best by playing Xmas chuff in mid November.
David Lloyd posted something on his blog a few weeks back about this. Apparently his research showed that the majority of people wanted to hear Christmas songs at the start of December. For me, December 16th is early enough. Shame that these things are decided by research rather than the innate wisdom of the PC.
David Lloyd posted something on his blog a few weeks back about this. Apparently his research showed that the majority of people wanted to hear Christmas songs at the start of December. For me, December 16th is early enough. Shame that these things are decided by research rather than the innate wisdom of the PC.
I don't know what the policy of Radio 2 is these days but a few years ago their policy was to play a few Christmas songs in the first two weeks of December before then ramping up the amount of plays in the next 10 or so days in the run up to Christmas. Which seems very sensible to me otherwise people get fed up of hearing the same Christmas songs by mid December.
people get fed up of hearing the same Christmas songs by mid December.
How, then, does that explain the massive spike in audience American AC stations enjoy every year when they go ALL Christmas for an entire month?
Look at Lite FM in New York - consistently rates number 1 all year, then in December it typically adds about a third again.
I'm not advocating that here - it really would be overkill for British listeners - but David Lloyd is right, there is certainly an appetite for a smattering of Christmas songs from the start of Dec, albeit not from the grumpy old men of Digital Spy.
The first Christmas song I heard was on Monday on Rdio 2 during Simon's show. He interviewed the lead singer of Bellowhead and played their new single, Jingle Bells and it's fabulous.
He did apologise for playing a Xmas song so early though.:)
pretty sure ASDA FM had one on today and I expect Heart will start w/c 25/11
Mid dec is plenty early enough for me - and I am a proud humbug !!
Mid December is plenty early enough for me as well. If I hear them before then I channel hop to avoid them the same old Christmas tosh over & over does my head in.
“If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.”
Also the quality of the answer received depends on the quality of question asked. Market research certainly has its place, but the timing of Christmas music should be a little more common sense and should be applied like seasoning on a meal.
David Lloyd posted something on his blog a few weeks back about this. Apparently his research showed that the majority of people wanted to hear Christmas songs at the start of December. For me, December 16th is early enough. Shame that these things are decided by research rather than the innate wisdom of the PC.
There has been some talk of Magic Christmas rather than Smooth Christmas this year?
The Magic TV station has started blocks of back to back Christmas songs http://www.magic.co.uk/magictv
One possibility is Buaer rebadging Absolute 90s on DAB to become Magic Christmas radio, but the OFT decision on the takeover is now not till about Dec 20th!
I'm sure their is a community radio station out there somewhere with Mr Wacky in the morning *clowns horn ex* who played Slade - Merry Christmas yesterday
Smooth Radio Christmas was up and running at the start of November last year.
With a high rotation it soon got pretty boring compared with some of the internet Xmas stations. Smooth Xmas was ok for an evening as background music if you had your friends round but for a long listen no go unless you like Wham, Slade and Wizard etc over and over.
Mikes Mike
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Usually it's Heart (surprise surprise) that start the ball rolling thinking they know best by playing Xmas chuff in mid November.
Agreed.
had last christmas on this morning around 0710
How, then, does that explain the massive spike in audience American AC stations enjoy every year when they go ALL Christmas for an entire month?
Look at Lite FM in New York - consistently rates number 1 all year, then in December it typically adds about a third again.
I'm not advocating that here - it really would be overkill for British listeners - but David Lloyd is right, there is certainly an appetite for a smattering of Christmas songs from the start of Dec, albeit not from the grumpy old men of Digital Spy.
Crazy isn't it, a business that listens to its consumers. It'll never work.
He did apologise for playing a Xmas song so early though.:)
Henry Ford on market research:
“If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.”
Mid dec is plenty early enough for me - and I am a proud humbug !!
Mid December is plenty early enough for me as well. If I hear them before then I channel hop to avoid them the same old Christmas tosh over & over does my head in.
Also the quality of the answer received depends on the quality of question asked. Market research certainly has its place, but the timing of Christmas music should be a little more common sense and should be applied like seasoning on a meal.
There was no need, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The Magic TV station has started blocks of back to back Christmas songs
http://www.magic.co.uk/magictv
One possibility is Buaer rebadging Absolute 90s on DAB to become Magic Christmas radio, but the OFT decision on the takeover is now not till about Dec 20th!
www.radiocaroline.co.uk
http://www.therevolution962.com/revolution-christmas/
Marc's show is much cooler..
Asda have been playing them since 10th October, possibly earlier :eek:
Smooth Radio Christmas was up and running at the start of November last year.
With a high rotation it soon got pretty boring compared with some of the internet Xmas stations. Smooth Xmas was ok for an evening as background music if you had your friends round but for a long listen no go unless you like Wham, Slade and Wizard etc over and over.