November is always a tumultuous time for people who have strong feeling about when to begin listening to Christmas music . Any day afterThanksgivingis unremarkably fair game , but many aChristmasenthusiast has blasted Mariah Carey ’s “ All I desire For Christmas Is You ” on November 1 ( or even in the first place ) . When radio set stations startle transmit vacation melodic phrase all day long , however , it ’s a pretty satisfying indication the listening season has formally lead off . This year , that ’s happening a little before than common .
According toVariety , more than 80 radio stations across the United States have already switched to playingChristmas songsonly . Many made the flip this calendar week , but some actually did it as far back as late September . The decision to start the solemnisation early happened mainly for two reasons . First , radio receiver programmers thought people could use a morale boost amid thecoronaviruspandemic .
“ Because of what 2020 has been like we croak earlier than most age , ” John Peake , computer program director for Los Angeles station KOST , toldVariety . “ We did a pretty thoroughgoing survey with listeners asking , ‘ Is it OK to go ahead of time , do you want Christmas or holiday music early this year ? ’ And it was a resounding ‘ Yes . ’ ” It ’s not the first clip radio host have turn to Christmas euphony to facilitate auditor brave out the long month ofmask - wearingand social distancing — like initiativeshappened over the summertime .
The other understanding for an early start is also related to thepandemic . With so many of us put to work from home ( and run fewer place in general ) , program ratings have plummeted . commuter train are no longer listening to theradioduring their morning time and eventide drives , and offices are no longer playing pleasant background knowledge medicine all day long . According to Peake , KOST double its listenership during the vacation - only broadcast each year , so he likes to begin as early as ( most of ) the audience deems acceptable . That ’s usually before Thanksgiving , whichnot everyone value .
“ We get that , ‘ Let ’s hold off ' til after Thanksgiving ! ’ ” KOST host Ellen K toldVariety . “ But I have to tell you , I did n’t take heed from any of them this dawning . It was all , ‘ have ’s go . ’ ”
[ h / tVariety ]
