Too early for holiday music? Many radio stations say no

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BY JEFF KORBELIK / Lincoln Journal Star

The weather outside is far from frightful.

And it’s doubtful Santa is checking any lists — let alone twice — yet.

But that hasn’t stopped Omaha radio station Star 104.5 (KSRZ 104.5 FM) from playing holiday music already.

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(liquidlibrary.com)

(liquidlibrary.com)

Star 104.5, which calls itself “The Christmas Station,” began playing only Christmas music on Nov. 7, just a week after Halloween and 15 days before Thanksgiving turkeys hit the oven.

Program director J. Pat Miller, a former Lincoln on-air personality, said Star 104.5 is far from jumping the gun.

Two stations in Kansas City and another in Milwaukee let the little drummer boy loose on Halloween. Another station in Chicago began ringing silver bells on Nov. 2.

“When is too early?” Miller queried. “That’s our listener’s decision. This is a great opportunity to play the music that so many listeners associate with some of their warmest memories.”

Mommy hasn’t started kissing Santa Claus yet in Lincoln — unless you count B107’s (KBBK 107.3 FM) on-demand service. The adult contemporary station streams holiday music 24/7 on its Web site this time of year, a practice it started three years ago.

When will Elvis begin crooning about Blue Christmases on B107? That’s a highly guarded secret, according to management of the station owned by NRG Media. They don’t want the competition to know when Rudolph will guide the sleigh.

The competition — The Breeze (KBZR 102.7FM) — however has no such qualms. The station will begin ringing jingle bells the day after Thanksgiving, mixing holiday and adult contemporary music.

Austin Michael, operations manager for The Breeze’s parent company, Chapin Enterprises, said stations begin playing holiday music early because they’ve seen boosts in ratings.

Here we thought it was about spreading Christmas cheer.

“I’ve actually argued with my father about this one year,” said Michael, a former Lincoln morning show host on a station that once featured holiday music as early as Nov. 2. 

“He is so vehement that it should be after Thanksgiving,” Michael said. “He’s a traditionalist.”

  So when is it too early for Michael?

“Let’s go with the Fourth of July,” he laughed.

Reach Jeff Korbelik at 473-7213 or jkorbelik@journalstar.com.

Love Christmas music this early? Or do you hate it? Tell us your thoughts below.