Stop the Radio Madness

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Sunday, November 14, 2010

Jeff Derderian, Media Critic

It's already started.

With 42 more days to go until Christmas, you can now hear non-stop Christmas music on Rhode Island FM radio. Didn't we just get done with putting away Halloween decorations?

WSNE-93.3 is already pumping out xmas tunes 24/7. They started more than a week ago. The next station to do it here in Providence will be Lite Rock 105. At least that station is showing some creativity with it. On their website, listeners can click which music format they would prefer.

After Thanksgiving
Radio stations used to start playing Christmas music only AFTER Thanksgiving, but the trend here and across the country is for stations to go earlier and earlier. About 400 - stations around the country play "round the clock Christmas music". Lite Rock 105 Program Director and afternoon drive host, Tony Bristol says his station gives people a choice via the internet. " Lite Rock 105 FM dot com is giving listeners a choice to hear Christmas music right now or continue listening to Lite Rock music. We are offering two stream opportunities. Just click on the kind of music you want to stream".

So does Bristol think the playing of Christmas tunes will get earlier and earlier? "I hope not. We need to celebrate one holiday at a time on Lite Rock 105". Lite will start the ho-ho music on November 19th.

Most played Christmas song?
For the record, Bristol says the most played Christmas Song last year was Holly Jolly Christmas by Burl Ives.

Happy Listening!

Jeff Derderian is a former television news reporter and anchor both in Providence and Boston. He is one of the founders of the Station Education Fund. He can be reached at [email protected]