Christmas Music Takes Over At Oldies 103 (Boston)

[meegbear]

In what’s become an annual tradition in Boston, Monday morning at 8:30 am Santa declared it ‘all Christmas music all the time’ on Oldies 103. Starting at 6 this morning the music station put away all of its normal 60s and 70s tunes, and turned its airwaves into one big Christmas party.

Oldies started the holiday tradition in 2003, and the response has been great. In fact the programming is so popular, the switchover has come earlier each year. Last year the Oldies airwaves turned into a Christmas fest on the 15th of November, and the year before it was on the 17th.

Santa & Mrs. Claus joined Dale Dorman & the morning crew at Oldies 103 to kick off the 5th annual Holiday Music Marathon.

In a live interview, Santa praised the station for its decision to play the holiday music, but said he wished the weather is Massachusetts was colder. Jolly Old Saint Nick explained that he’s used to the frigid temperatures of the North Pole, and explained that the reindeer didn’t come with him because they too prefer the snow.

http://wbztv.com/topstories/local_story_316083024.html

[Breeze54]

1. Thanks for the warning!!

:grr:

I'm already getting pissed off and hitting the mute button for the "holiday" ads too!

[meegbear]

3. Bloody ridiculous!

I wish they'd give a rest.

[Breeze54]

4. I know and they're really

pushing it this year too, imho. Even NYC put up 'the tree' way early this year!

And the TV morning shows and local news are acting like Xmas is a week away! :grr:

[MotorCityMan]

2. Well, Detroit station WNIC, FM 100.3, started November 1st

All Christmas, all the time.

I had the station on my shower radio, for their news, weather and traffic reports in the morning. Just too early to be hearing about "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" and "Rudolph..."

[meegbear]

5. Damn!

Be avoiding that station for a few weeks.

[caty]

6. I'm in the Detroit area also.

I'll be listening to CD's in the car till it's over. A Christmas song once every half hour---fine. But nonstop. Drives me crazy. I think they do it to help the retail stores. Gets everyone thinking about Christmas and they might start shopping earlier and buy more in the long run. I think the stores in Michigan will have a poor turnout this year.

[ThatsMyBarack]

21. Christmas in November....

....makes me want to start my Xmas shopping even LESS! :grr:

[devilgrrl]

7. Jesus H. Christ - It isn't even Thanksgiving yet!!!!

:banghead:

[azmouse]

8. Not surprised by this anymore.

Our cable system has music channels and one of the channels has switched to Xmas music already.

Somebody make it stop!!! :cry:

[edbermac]

9. Dale Dorman?? Is he still alive??

First heard him back in the 70's. What is he, about 80 years old?

[meegbear]

11. I know, I was shocked too ...

Maybe they did some phonetic recordings of him and they splice the sounds together to make it seem he's still here.

[Mrs.Matcom]

15. nope still alive and kicking!!

http://www.oldies1033.com/pages/22637.php?contentType=4&contentId=123061

Looks like he is on the morning show...wow, he looks wicked old! ugh...I feel wicked old now :D

[meegbear]

23. Me too ...

I remember him back from Channel 56, doing voice overs and such. Him and "Creature Double Feature" were the station's biggies.

[Deja Q]

10. KQQL, our local oldies station, will probably do the xmas thing nonstop too.

A bit early, I thought, but a few years ago I recall xmas trees in Target in AUGUST. Comparing then to now, not everything is as premature as some claim.

still, going to a bookstore only to listen to some dead white git from 1940 croon about Saint Nick or Rudolph's sick; it's just not me cup of tea, you see...

[WritingIsMyReligion]

12. WHOM 94.9, the light-rock station here in P-Town, will switch over the day after Thanksgiving.

Or so I assume--I sure HOPE it isn't any earlier.

Big Hits Y 100.9 usually does a switchover as well, but I think theirs isn't until the beginning of December. Both these stations do all-XMas-no-commercial-breaks starting at like 6 PM on 12/24 until the end of 12/25, which at least is handy for holiday parties on Christmas.

[meegbear]

13. WCRB Classical radio does a 24 non-stop starting Xmas eve ...

all classical versions, no commercials; that I like. Tracks like 'O Tannenbaum' played on the harp are quite pleasant.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

14. That's pretty cool.

I don't mind the X-Mas music--there are a TON of stations here I listen to, all of which normally have classic rock, so when I get sick of hearing 20 different versions of "Little Drummer Boy" or whatever, I can just switch over to another station. :D

[supernova]

18. WCPE here will plays classical holiday music

also.

I love tuning it it because it's definitely a break from the hurly burly. You can listen on line too.

http://theclassicalstation.org/

[supernova]

16. SUNY 93.9 here does that

been doing it oh at least 7 or 8 years now.

Kinda fun, sometimes I hear something new. Other times it's a repeat of dogs barking jingle hell. x(

I really enjoy new versions of older carols. Or groups like the Mideval Babes.

edit: Can't wait to get my Mac laptop back from the shop. Gonna load up my iPod with MY xmas CDs. :-)

edit2: That station's only redeeming feature is that they have Whoopi Goldberg on in morning drive time. Other times, it's candy pop hell.

[tigereye]

17. I like Christmas music the week or two before Christmas

either on the alternative station here, or classical for motets, and medieval carols. Or even jazz on our jazz station.


I remember when I thought Thanksgiving was too early!


I just heard x-mas music in the Borders today.... :(

[MissMillie]

19. they lost me

I don't mind adding some Christmas music to the play list, but anyone that goes all Christmas, all the time, nothing but, 2 weeks before Thanksgiving.... forget it.

I'd like to be able to enjoy Christmas.

I don't want to be sick of it before the first week of December is done.

[hedgehog]

20. Our all time favorite Christmas programming appeared without

warning one Christmas Eve between A Ceremony of Carols and live from St. Olaf's on our local NPR station. Suddenly, we were treated to the radio western featuring Sheriff Harry Butt and his fight with the Naked Brothers, Stark and Buck. It went on for about half an hour and had us rolling on the floor.

[Kat45]

22. Dale Dorman is still around??!!

Man, he was on the radio when I was a kid. And I'm a long way from being a kid now.

[YankeyMCC]

24. Funny Story related to Xmas carolls

"All Seated on the Ground" by Connie Willis: http://www.asimovs.com/_issue_0712/allseated.shtml

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

25. My wife called in a panic yesterday..

She works at a clothing retailer...

"They're playing Christmas carols!!"

Sucks to work in retail. Me and my office can just stream Air America all day long!

[meegbear]

26. Now THAT sucks ...

treat her right when she gets home.